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Sue Records

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Sue Records
Founded1957
FounderJuggy Murray and Bobby Robinson
StatusDefunct
GenreR&B, rock and roll, pop
Location265 West 54th Street
New York, New York, U.S.

Sue Records was also the name of a Louisiana-based record company which owned Jewel Records (Shreveport record label).

Sue Records ("The Sound of Soul") was an American record label founded by Henry 'Juggy' Murray and Bobby Robinson in 1957.[1] Subsidiaries on the label were Symbol Records, Crackerjack Records, Broadway Records and Eastern Records.[2][3] Sue also financed and distributed A.F.O. Records owned by Harold Battiste in New Orleans.

History

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In 1957, Juggy Murray partnered with Bobby Robinson to create Sue Records in New York City.[1] The label's first release was "Vengeance (Will Be Mine)" by the Matadors later that year. Sue's first hit record came in 1958 with "Itchy Twitchy Feeling" by Bobby Hendricks which peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100. Success continued into the sixties with a handful of singles by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner between 1960 and 1962. "Mockingbird" by brother-and-sister duo Inez and Charlie Foxx was a hit on the subsidiary label Symbol in 1963. Sue also had hits on the charts with "Stick Shift" by the Duals, "Hurt by Love" by Inez Foxx and "That's How Heartaches Are Made" by Justine "Baby" Washington. Sue also released early recordings by the soul singer Don Covay and albums by the soul-jazz organist Jimmy McGriff.[1] Guitarist Jimi Hendrix signed his first recording contract with Sue in 1965, but no recordings were released.[4][5]

Murray initially released his records in the UK through Decca's London Records but switched to a licensing deal with Island Records in 1964.[2] This deal resulted in a split in the ownership of the Sue name. Island used the label to distribute Sue in the UK. Problems began when Island also leased discs from other US labels that interested them and released them on UK Sue too - which was not in the agreement. Murray terminated the agreement and returned to Decca in 1966.[1]

After failing to chart in the U.S., Murray sold the Sue masters to United Artists Records in 1968. A reissue of the "Harlem Shuffle" by Bob & Earl made the Top 10 in Britain in 1969.[1] Murray retained rights to the Sue name and constantly attempted to re-activate the label until his death in 2005. The Sue Records catalog eventually ended up with EMI, and then with Universal Music Group upon EMI's being bought out in 2012.

EMI released a 4-CD box-set The Sue Records Story: The Sound of Soul in 1994, while Ace Records later released four volumes of The UK Sue Label Story.

Discography

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Sue Records were best known for their R&B and Rock 'n' Roll singles but released a number of LPs between 1958 and 1966 featuring popular and jazz artists.[6][7]

Sue LP-2000 Popular/R&B Series

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Catalog No. Album Artist Details
LP-2001 The Soul of Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner
LP-2002 Stick Shift The Duals
LP-2003 Dance with Ike and Tina Turner and Their Kings of Rhythm Ike & Tina Turner instrumental album - Tina Turner does not sing on any tracks
LP-2004 Dynamite! Ike & Tina Turner
LP-2005 Don't Play Me Cheap Ike & Tina Turner
LP-2007 It's Gonna Work Out Fine Ike & Tina Turner

Sue LP/STLP-1000 Popular/Jazz Series

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Catalog No. Album Artist Details
LP-1011 Have Mood, Will Call Will Davis Trio
LP-1012/STLP-1012 I've Got a Woman Jimmy McGriff
LP-1013/STLP-1013 One of Mine Jimmy McGriff
LP-1014/STLP-1014 That's How Heartaches Are Made Baby Washington
LP-1015/STLP-1015 The New Sound of Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson
LP-1016/STLP-1016 Groove House Ray Bryant
LP-1017/STLP-1017 Jimmy McGriff at the Apollo Jimmy McGriff
LP-1018 Christmas with McGriff Jimmy McGriff
LP-1019 Live at Basin Street East Ray Bryant
LP-1020/STLP-1020 Jimmy McGriff at the Organ Jimmy McGriff
LP-1021 The Sue Story Various Artists Compilation of singles - also released as Old Goodies
LP-1022/STLP-1022 I Can't Stand It Soul Sisters
LP-1023/STLP-1023 So Far Away Hank Jacobs
LP-1024/STLP-1024 Like Dixie, But... Dick Vance and His Dixieland Kings
LP-1025/STLP-1025 Speak Your Piece Joe Thomas and Bill Elliott
LP-1026 Scandal in Montego Bay Percy Dixon and His Merry Boys
LP-1027 Mockingbird Inez Foxx Reissue of Symbol 4400
LP-1028/STLP-1028 Jack and Julie Jack Melady and Julius Ehrenwerth Reissue of Sue LP-8000 Things with Strings
LP-1029/STLP-1029 Yours Truly Jack and Julie Jack Melady and Julius Ehrenwerth
LP-1030/STLP-1030 "Sweets" for the Sweet "Sweets" Edison
LP-1031/STLP-1031 Joan Shaw in Person Joan Shaw
LP-1032/STLP-1032 Cold Turkey Ray Bryant
LP-1033/STLP-1033 Topkapi Jimmy McGriff
LP-1034 I Have a Dream The Juggy Murray Orchestra arranged by Fred Norman
LP-1035/STLP-1035 Flip Phillips Revisited Flip Phillips
LP-1036/STLP-1036 Soul Ray Bryant
LP-1037/STLP-1037 Inez & Charlie Foxx Inez and Charlie Foxx
LP-1038/STLP-1038 The Greatest Hits of Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner Compilation
LP-1039/STLP-1039 Blues for Mister Jimmy Jimmy McGriff
LP-1040 Another Step Forward Spoken word album documenting civil rights speeches
LP-1041/STLP-1041 Hits Au-Go-Go Jimmy Oliver and the Soul Twisters
LP-1042/STLP-1042 Only Those in Love Baby Washington
LP-1043/STLP-1043 A Toast to Jimmy McGriff's Greatest Hits Jimmy McGriff Compilation
LP-1044 In Sweden Don Gardner and Dee Dee Ford

Other Releases

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  • LP-3001: Thank You, Lord - National Independent Gospel Singers of Atlanta Georgia (1960)
  • LP-8000: Things with Strings - Julie & Jack (1963)
  • SSLP-8801: Let's Work Together - Wilbert Harrison

Selected singles

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Catalog

No.

Release

date

US US

R&B

Single (A-side, B-side) Artist
706 Jun 1958 25 5 "Itchy Twitchy Feeling"

b/w "A Thousand Dreams"

Bobby Hendricks
730[8] Jul 1960 27 2 "A Fool In Love"

b/w "The Way You Love Me"

Ike & Tina Turner
735[8] Nov 1960 82 5 "I Idolize You"

b/w "Letter from Tina"

Ike & Tina Turner
745 Jun 1961 25 "Stick Shift"

b/w "Cruising"

The Duals
749[8] Jun 1961 14 2 "It's Gonna Work Out Fine"

b/w "Won't You Forgive Me"

Ike & Tina Turner
753[8] Nov 1961 38 4 "Poor Fool"

b/w "You Can't Blame Me"

Ike & Tina Turner
757[8] Mar 1962 50 9 "Tra La La La La"

b/w "Puppy Love"

Ike & Tina Turner
765[8] Jun 1965 89 "You Should'a Treated Me Right"

b/w "Sleepless"

Ike & Tina Turner
767[9] Jul 1962 116 16 "A Handful Of Memories"

b/w "Careless Hands"

Baby Washington
766 Aug 1962 96 "Send For Me (If You Need Some Lovin)"

b/w "Bless You"

Barbara George
770[10] Oct 1962 20 5 "I've Got A Woman (Part I)"

b/w "I've Got A Woman (Part II)"

Jimmy McGriff
777[10] Dec 1962 50 12 "All About My Girl"

b/w "M.G. Blues"

Jimmy McGriff
783[9] Mar 1963 40 10 "That's How Heartaches Are Made"

b/w "There He Is"

Baby Washington
795 Oct 1963 91 19 "So Far Away"

b/w "Monkey Hips And Rice"

Hank Jacobs
799 Jan 1964 46 8 "I Can't Stand It"

b/w "Blueberry Hill"

Soul Sisters
10-001[10] Apr 1964 79 19 "Kiko"

b/w "Jumpin' At The Woodside"

Jimmy McGriff
45-129[9] May 1965 73 10 "Only Those In Love

b/w "The Ballad Of Bobby Dawn"

Baby Washington
144 Jun 1966 41 "I Was Born A Loser"

b/w "My Luck Is Bound To Change"

Bobby Lee
Sue 11 Jul 1969 32 "Let's Work Together (Part 1)"

b/w "Let's Work Together (Part 2)"

Wilbert Harrison One Man Band

Subsidiary labels

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Symbol Records

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Symbol was launched in 1958 and lasted until 1966. The label issued 47 singles and one album, most which were produced by Murray. Brother-and-sister duo Inez & Charlie Foxx were the label's most successful artist. Their hit single, "Mockingbird" reached #2 on the Billboard R&B chart and #7 Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1963.[11] Inez Foxx had a few solo singles reach the charts. It wasn't until 1966, that another artist on the label had a hit record. "She Blew a Good Thing" by The Poets peaked at #45 on the pop chart and #2 on the R&B chart.[12] Artist who recorded on the label include King Coleman, Art Lassiter, the Hollywood Flames, the Shockettes, and the Parliaments.[13]

Albums

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  • 1963: Inez Foxx – Mockingbird

Selected singles

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Catalog

No.

Release

date

US US

R&B

UK Single (A-side, B-side) Artist Notes
900 Dec 1958[8] A: "The Chicken Scratch"

B: "June's Blues"

The Commandos Billboard review (Feb 9, 1959)[14]
901 Jan 1959 A: "So Loved Am I"

B: "Cute Little Girl"

Jesse Johnson Billboard review (Jan 26, 1959)[15]
909 Aug 1960 A: "Shortnin' Bread"

B: "Let's Shimmy"

King Coleman
912 1962 A: "It's Alright"

B: "Mr. Loneliness"

Art Lassiter
919[16] Jun 1963 7 2 A: "Mockingbird"

B: "Jaybirds"

Inez & Charlie Foxx
922[17] Sep 1963 113 A: "He's The One You Love"

B: "Broken Hearted Fool"

Inez Foxx Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Nov 2, 1963)[18]
924[17] Oct 1963 96 34 A: "Hi Diddle Diddle"

B: "Talk With Me"

Inez Foxx
926[17] Dec 1963 91 28 A: "Ask Me"

B: "I See You My Love"

Inez Foxx
20001[17] Apr 1964 54 12 40 A: "Hurt By Love"

B: "Confusion"

Inez Foxx
201[19] Sep 1964 124 A: "La De Da I Love You"

B: "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Inez & Charlie Foxx
296 Mar 1965 A: "I Feel Alright"

B: "My Momma Told Me"

Inez & Charlie Foxx Cash Box review (Mar 12, 1965)[20]
214 Feb 1966 45 2 A: "She Blew A Good Thing"

B: "Out To Lunch"

The Poets

Crackerjack Records

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Crackerjack was launched in 1961 and released its last record in 1964. Artist on that label included The Spy Dels, Ike Turner's Kings Of Rhythm, Eddie Carlton, Linda And The Del Rios, Pearl Woods, The Dramatics, Derek Martin, Chuck Leonard, and Betty Green.

Eastern Records

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Eastern was launched in 1964 and lasted until 1966. The label produced the singles "The Real Thing" by Tina Britt which reached #20 on the R&B chart in 1965,[21] and "Time Waits For No One" by Eddie & Ernie which reached #34 on the R&B chart in 1965.[22] Geraldine Jones, Johnny Starr, and Duke Daniels also recorded on the label.

Broadway Records

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Singles were released on Broadway between 1964 and 1966. Artists on the label included Tommy Andre, Johnson Sisters, Ocie Smith, Sandra Phillips, The Inverts, Johnny Burton, and The Thieves.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Juggy Murray". The Independent. April 20, 2005. Archived from the original on 2022-05-25.
  2. ^ a b "English Issue For Sue On Island" (PDF). Billboard. December 21, 1963. p. 18.
  3. ^ "2 Hits From Sue". Billboard. April 24, 1965. p. 17.
  4. ^ Hendrix, Jimi (2012). Hendrix on Hendrix: Interviews and Encounters with Jimi Hendrix. Chicago Review Press. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-61374-322-5.
  5. ^ Mayer, Harry Shapiro, Michael Heatley, Roger. Jimi Hendrix Gear. Voyageur Press. p. 45. ISBN 978-1-61060-421-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Both Sides Now: Sue Album Discography accessed August 1, 2019
  7. ^ Jazzlists: Sue Records 1000 series discography accessed August 1, 2019
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Ike & Tina Turner Chart History". Billboard.[dead link]
  9. ^ a b c "Baby Washington Chart History". Billboard.
  10. ^ a b c "Jimmy McGriff Chart History". Billboard.
  11. ^ "Charlie Foxx Chart History". Billboard.
  12. ^ Simmons, Rick (2013). Carolina Beach Music from the '60s to the '80s: The New Wave. Charleston, SC. ISBN 978-1-61423-864-5. OCLC 905904231.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^ "Symbol Album Discography". www.bsnpubs.com.
  14. ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records" (PDF). Billboard. February 9, 1959. p. 51.
  15. ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records" (PDF). Billboard. January 26, 1959. p. 51.
  16. ^ "Inez & Charlie Foxx Chart History". Billboard.
  17. ^ a b c d "Inez Foxx Chart History". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Bubbling Under The Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. November 2, 1963. p. 20.
  19. ^ "Inez & Charlie Foxx Songs Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF, US & UK hits charts.
  20. ^ "Record Reviews: Best Bet" (PDF). Cash Box: 12. March 13, 1965.
  21. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 46.
  22. ^ "Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles" (PDF). Billboard. February 27, 1965. p. 45.
  23. ^ "Record Reviews: Best Bets" (PDF). Cash Box: 12. March 7, 1864.
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