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Joe's Music Rack Part of YOUR KEY TO COLLECTIBLES©
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Started in 1946 by Lew Chudd and concentrating on local Mexican groups and ethnic folk artists. It produced a number of 10-inch LPs, which for a time was very popular in the Southwest. In late August/early September of 1947, Lew Chudd started a popular record series consisting of rhythm and blues/jazz recordings. By 1949, he was tapping into the rhythm and blues artists of New Orleans, which was largely ignored by the major record companies. He was the first to sign Antoine ("Fats" Domino) Dominique, a 22 year old piano player who sang with a Creole accent. In addition to "Fats", Imperial recorded T-Bone Walker, Smiley Lewis, Lil' Son Jackson. Most of these recordings were made in New Orleans, with the Dave Bartholomew band as accompaniment. Bartholomew served as the Artists & Repertoire (A & R) man for Imperial (Chudd), and was the arranger for many of the sessions. Bartholomew's band was popular in New Orleans at the time, and had two albums under his own name on the label.
In 1957, he signed, the young Ricky Nelson, who many at the time believed would over take Elvis Presley.
In 1958, Imperial was one of the first labels to issue stereo albums. They used a disctinctive black stereo label for those issues until the label was sold.
In 1960, Lew Chudd bought Aladdin Records catalog and reissued many of the masters on Imperial. Then in 1963 Minit Records of New Orleans was acquired from Joe Banashak. Imperial was the distributor for Minit from 1961, and with the acquisition of Minit, Imperial obtained the contracts of Irma Thomas, with that incredible voice, and Ernie K-Doe. Later in 1963, Imperial lost "Fats" Domino and Ricky Nelson to rival labels.
In 1964, Chudd sold the label to Liberty Records. Under Liberty's management, the label enjoyed success from such artists as Irma Thomas, Johnny Rivers, Jackie DeShannon, Classics IV and Cher.
During the British Invasion years, Liberty (whose recordings were distributed by EMI in the UK) licensed artists including The Hollies, Billy J. Kramer with The Dakotas and The Swinging Blue Jeans from EMI, and they were released on the Imperial label. The most successful years for Imperial was from mid 1964 to early 1968 with records on the charts. In 1968, Transamerica Corporation, who owned United Artists, bought the Liberty/Imperial Labels and merged them with UA. Then, by 1970 the label was gone with its artists being transferred to United Artists. EMI now owns the Imperial Records catalogue.
Lew Chudd, 86, the founder of Imperial Records, died on June 15, 1998 of heart failure in Los Angeles.
Source for above: Schwann Catalogs; Wikipedia; http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117477730.html
We have no association with IMPERIAL RECORDS or any one in the recording industry.
Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed here (all of which are out of print),
we suggest you go back to our Label page and see what we have now,
(remember we up date all the time so the list will change.)
This list is incomplete:
LP-101 Harley Luse - Square Dances [1950] [12"]
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LP-102 Eva Decker - American Folk Dances [1950] [10"]
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LP-103 Bill Mooney and His Cactus Twisters - Square Dances [1951] [12"]
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LP-104 Betty Kay - American Folk Dances [1950] [10"]
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LP-105 Bill Mooney and His Cactus Twisters - Square Dance With Calls [1951] [12"]
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DJLP-1 Various Artists - Imperial Sampler [10"]
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IMP-501 Carl Myles - Square Dances [1950]
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IMP-502 Lee Bedford Jr. - Square Dances With Calls [1950]
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IMP-503 Bill Mooney and His Cactus Twisters - Bill Mooney and His Cactus Twisters [1950]
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IMP-504 Mel Day - Square Dances [1950]
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IMP-505 Lee Bedford Jr. - Square Dances [1950]
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IMP-506 Manuel Acuna Quartet - Mexican Folk Dances [1950]
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IMP-507 Manuel Acuna - Spanish Folk Dances [1950]
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IMP-508 James O'Flynn - Folk Dances From Ireland [1950]
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IMP-509 Juan Torrado - Sambas [1950]
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IMP-510 Canadian Bagpipe Band - Scottish Folk Dances [1951]
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IMP-511 Yascha Borowsky - Gypsy [1951]
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IMP-512 Dominic Saragusa - Folk Dances From Italy [1951]
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IMP-513 Various Artists - Folk Dances From Czechoslovakia [1951]
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IMP-514 Various Artists - Folk Dances From Germany [1951]
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IMP-515 Various Artists - Russian Folk Dances [1951]
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IMP-516 Manuel Acuna - Spanish Folk Dances [1951]
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IMP-517 Manuel Acuna - Spanish Folk Dances [1951]
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IMP-518 Eva Decker - American Old Time Dances [1951]
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IMP-519 Robert Hamilton - Broom Waltzes [1951]
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IMP-520 Amador Bagasao Quartet - Folk Dances of the Philippine Islands [1951]
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IMP-521 Hurtado Brothers - Marimba Music [1952]
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IMP-522 Raymond Usera - Mambo Rhythms [1952]
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IMP-523 Glencoe Highlanders - Folk Music From Scotland [1952]
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IMP-524 Manuel Acuna - Manuel Acuna Orchestra [1952]
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IMP-525 Manuel Acuna - Manuel Acuna Orchestra [1952]
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IMP-526 Louie - German Folk Dances [1952]
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IMP-527 Erik Lundquist - Baltic Folk Dances [1952]
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IMP-528 Manuel Acuna - Manuel Acuna Orchestra [1953]
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IMP-529 Gaylord Carter - Hawaiian Melodies [1953]
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IMP-530 Gaylord Carter - Gaylord Carter At The Organ [1953]
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IMP-531 Manuel Acuna - Songs Of Old Mexico [1953]
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IMP-532 Gaylord Carter - Gaylord Carter [1953]
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IMP-533 Gaylord Carter - Gaylord Carter [1953]
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IMP-534 Tolin Moran - Rhumba Rhythms [1953]
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IMP-535 Gaylord Carter - Wedding Bells [1953]
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IMP-536 Harley Luse - American Folk Dances [1954]
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IMP-537 Bill Mooney - Square Dances [1954]
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IMP-538 Betty Kay - American Folk Dances [1954]
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IMP-539 Bill Mooney - Square Dances [1954]
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IMP-540 Harley Luse - Square Dances [1954]
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IMP-541 Adolph Hofner - Adolph Hofner Orchestra [1955]
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IMP-542 Manuel Acuna - Music Of The Americas [1955]
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IMP-543 Mario Hurtado - Marimba Music [1955]
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IMP-3001 St. Paul's Choir - Religious Hymns [1950
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IMP-3002 Charlie Ventura - Charlie Ventura Septet [1950]
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IMP-3003 Robert Simms Organ - Sacred Hymns [1953]
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IMP-3004 Slim Whitman - Slim Whitman [1955]
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IMP-3005 Frank Assunto & Dukes Of Dixieland - Dixieland Jazz From New Orleans [1954]
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IMP-3006 Charlie Mariano Quartet - Charlie Mariano Quartet Volume 1 [1955]
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IMP-3007 Charlie Mariano Quartet - Charlie Mariano Quartet Volume 2 [1955]
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IMP-3008 Raymond Usera - Raymond Usera Orchestra [1955]
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IMP-3009 George Girard - George Girard Band [1955]
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LP-9001 Glencoe Highlanders - Scotch Pipings [7/56][Mono]
Green Hills O' Tyrol/Millbank Cottage/Atholl And Breadalbane Gathering/74th Farewell To Edinburgh/Blowers Of Edinburgh/
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LP-9002 Manual S. Acuna Orchestra - Moment Of Truth (Music of the Bullring) [1956][Mono]
Madre Del Corderro/Fado Blanquita/Alma Andaluza/Alegrias/Espana Cani/Manton De Manila/Garrotin/
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LP-9003 Slim Whitman - Slim Whitman Favorites [1956] [Mono][Stereo LP-12100]
Love Song Of The Waterwheel/Bandera Waltz/Beautiful Dreamer/Rose Marie/Talk To The Waves/Indian Love Call/
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LP-9004 Fats Domino - Rock And Rollin' [1956] (3-57, #17) [Mono][Stereo LP-12387]
The Fat Man/Tired Of Crying/Goin' Home/You Said You Love Me/Going To The River/Please Don't Leave Me//
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LP-9005 Danny "Kalauana" Stewart - Hawaiian Favorites [1956] [Mono]
Na Lei O Hawaii/Lovely Hula Hands/Hawaiian War Chant/Little Brown Gal/Fair Hawaii/Sweet Leilani/
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LP-9006 Sonny Criss - Jazz U.S.A. [1956][Mono]
Willow Weep For Me/These Foolish Things/Blue Friday/Sunday/More Than You Know/Easy Livin'/Alabamy Bound/
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LP-9007 Anayogu Ukonu and Afro-Calypsonians - Afro U.S.A. [1956] [Mono][Stereo on LP-12003]
Bo Bo Wor Foro Satide/Ada Lee/War Dance/I'm Serious/Afro-Maringa/Mhuru-Gi-Nanya (I Love You)/
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LP-9008 Manual S. Acuna - Mexican Folk Dances [1956] [Mono]
Jarabe Tapatio/Zandunga/Chiapanecas/Espuelas/Mas Bonito Pie/Mananitas/Cielito Lindo/Tanchera/Mexican Schottis/Corrido/
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LP-9009 Fats Domino - Rock And Rollin' With Fats [1956] (11-56, #18)[Mono][Stereo on LP-12388]
My Blue Heaven/Swanee River Hop/Second Line Jump/Goodbye/Careless/I Love Her//
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LP-9010 "Wild" Bill Davis - "Wild" Bill Davis On Broadway [1956] [Mono]
Autumn Leaves/Invitation/Cubano Chant/My Funny Valentine/Perdido/Take The "A" Train/I Miss You So/I Remember April/
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LP-9011 Raymond Usera Orchestra - Mambo! [1956] [Mono]
Caribbean Mambo/Gold Coast Mambo/Highlight Mambo/Park Avenue Mambo/Hay Que Tener/Mambiando El Mambo/Riff A La Iznaga/
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LP-9012 Mario Hurtago Orchestra - Marimba Music [1956] [Mono] Adelita Linda/Rumbarimba/Solamente Una Vez/Paquita/Tu Promesa/Altos Tren/Porque Enganar/Que Quieres Mas De Mi
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LP-9013 James O'Flynn Orchestra - Irish Folk Dances [1956] [Mono] Medley: Irish Washerwoman-Connaught Man-Father O'Flynn/Stack Of Barley/ Medley: Wind That Shakes The Barley-Rakes O'Mallow-Fairy Reel/ Medley: Miss MacCleod's Reel-Peas Upon A Teacher- White Cockade/Medley: O'Donnell Abu-James O'Flynn/ Medley: Rickett's Hornpipe-Fischer's Hornpipe- Duranges Hornpipe/Medley: Paddy Whack-Rory O'Moore-Larry O'Gaff/ Medley: Garry Owen-Paddy O'Rafferty-Spring O'Shellalagh
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LP-9014 Roy Harrison Orchestra - Music At Midnight [1956] [Mono]
All Alone/Dusk/Lover/Kiss Me Again/Autumn Leaves/Night And Day/Time On My Hands/Say It With Music/
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LP-9015 "Wild" Bill Davis - "Wild" Bill Davis In Hollywood [1956] [Mono]
Supposin'/Jealousy/High And The Mighty/Tenderly/Let's Fall In Love/At Dawn With Davis/Mr. Wonderful/
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LP-9016 Roy Harrison Orchestra - Care Free Mood [1956] [Mono]
Until Tomorrow/Temptation/Chesapeake Bay/I'm Getting Sentimental Over You/Negra/Deep Purple/Fascinating Rhythm/
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LP-9017 Roy Harrison Orchestra - Music In A Tender Mood [1956] [Mono]
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen/Londonderry Air/Two Little Girls In Blue/Goodnight Ladies/Carolina Moon/
Camptown Races/
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LP-9018 Roy Harrison Orchestra - Music For Lovers [1956] [Mono]
Saint Louis Blues/Siesta/String Operation/Oh What A Beautiful Morning/I'll See You Again/Liza/Mood Indigo/
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LP-9019 Reginald G. Marshall Orchestra - Music For Romantic Moments [1956] [Mono]
Adios Muchachos/When Day Is Done/I'll See You Again/Time On My Hands/Dream Waltz/Phil The Fluter's Ball/Summertime/
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LP-9020 Sonny Criss - Go Man! [1956] [Mono]
Summertime/Memories Of You/Wailin' With Joe/How Deep Is The Ocean/Blues For Rose/Man I Love/
Until The Real Thing Comes Along/
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LP-9021 Leonard Rosenman - Tribute To James Dean [1956][Mono]
Theme From "East Of Eden"/Cal's Dance/Nocturne/Vindication Of Cal/Giant/There's Never Been Anyone Else But You/
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LP-9022 Ernie Freeman - Ernie Freeman Plays Irving Berlin [1956][Mono]
Alexander's Ragtime Band/How Deep Is The Ocean/Heat Wave/Say It Isn't So/Always/Blue Skies/Reaching For The Moon/
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LP-9023 Bill Mooney & Cactus Twisters - Square Dances [1956][Mono]
My Gal Sal/Beer Barrel Polka/Spinning Wheel/Little Brown Jug/"H"/En El Rancho Grande/You Are My Sunshine/
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LP-9024 Sonny Criss - Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter [1956][Mono]
What Is This Thing Called Love/Night And Day/Love For Sale/Just One Of Those Things/Anything Goes/
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LP-9170 Fats Domino - Twistin' The Stomp [1962][Mono]
Twistin' The Spots/The Twist Set Me Free/I Know/Every Night/Town Talk/Wait And See//
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LP-9083 Ray Martin & Orchestra - Love Of My Life [1959][Mono][Stereo on LP-12018]
Melodie D'Amour/Many Times/My One And Only Love/Minstrel Melody/Message Of Love/Plaisir D'Amour/Vivre/
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LP-9183 Jungle Drums - Jungle Drums [1962][Mono][Stereo on LP-12183]
Bo-Bo-Wero-Foro-Satide/Ade Le/I'm Serious/Afro-Maringa/
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LP-9232 Rick Nelson - Million Sellers [1963][Mono][Stereo on LP-12232]
Travelin' Man/Never Be Anyone Else But You/It's Late/My One Desire/I Wanna Be Loved/Young Emotions//
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9339 The Hollies - Stop! Stop! Stop! [1966]
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LP-12003 Anayogu Ukonu and Afro-Calypsonians - Afro U.S.A. [1958] [Stereo][Mono on LP-9007]
Bo Bo Wor Foro Satide/Ada Lee/War Dance/I'm Serious/Afro-Maringa/Mhuru-Gi-Nanya (I Love You)/Where Is My Mama/Sapara/
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LP-12018 Ray Martin & Orchestra - Love Of My Life [1959][Stereo][Mono on LP-9083]
Melodie D'Amour/Many Times/My One And Only Love/Minstrel Melody/Message Of Love/Plaisir D'Amour/Vivre/
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LP-12100 Slim Whitman - Slim Whitman Favorites [1966] [Electronic Stereo][Mono LP-9003]
Love Song Of The Waterwheel/Bandera Waltz/Beautiful Dreamer/Rose Marie/Talk To The Waves/Indian Love Call/China Doll/
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LP-12183 Anyaogu Ukonu - Jungle Drums [1962][Stereo][Mono on LP-9183 Bo-Bo-Wero-Foro-Satide/Ade Le/I'm Serious/Afro-Maringa/ Mhuru-Gi- Nanya/Where Is My Mama/Sapara/Agnese/Okorobia Oboli/Klenwua
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LP-12232 Rick Nelson - Million Sellers [1963][Stereo][Mono on LP-9232]
Travelin' Man/Never Be Anyone Else But You/It's Late/My One Desire/I Wanna Be Loved/Young Emotions//
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12320 Cher - Cher [1965]
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12358 Cher - With Love [1967]
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LP-12387 Fats Domino - Rock And Rollin' [1968][Stereo][Mono LP-9004]
The Fat Man/Tired Of Crying/Goin' Home/You Said You Love Me/Going To The River/Please Don't Leave Me//
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LP-12388 Fats Domino - Rock And Rollin' With Fats [1968][Stereo][Mono on LP-9009
My Blue Heaven/Swanee River Hop/Second Line Jump/Goodbye/Careless/I Love Her//
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1561351 James "Sugar Boy" Crawford & The Shaweez - New Orleans Classics [1985][Pathe Marconi (France) catalogue]
Morning Star/You Gave Me Love/She's Gotta Wobble (When She Walks)/I Don't Need You/The Facts/It's Over/I Need Your Love//
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1561451 T-Bone Walker - Hot Leftovers [1985]
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Cher, The Hollies, James "Sugar Boy" Crawford & The Shaweez, Sonny Criss