Argo Records

{{Short description|American record label}}

{{for|the British label|Argo Records (UK)}}

{{Infobox record label

| name = Argo Records

| image =

| image_size =

| parent = Chess Records

| founded = {{start date|1955}}

| founder = Leonard Chess
Phil Chess

| fate =

| defunct = {{end date|1965}}

| status = Inactive

| distributor =

| genre = Jazz, blues

| country = U.S.

| location = Chicago, Illinois

}}

Argo Records was a record label in Chicago that was established in 1955 as a division of Chess Records.Edwards, D & Callahan, M. [http://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/chesscheck.html The Chess Story], accessed September 12, 2012{{Cite book| last = Cook| first = Richard| year = 2005| title = Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia| publisher = Penguin Books| location = London| isbn = 0-141-00646-3| page = 17}}

Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Cohodas, Nadine (2000). Spinning Blues into Gold: The Chess Brothers and the Legendary Chess Records. New York: St. Martins. {{cite web|url=http://www.bluestogold.com/index2.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 19, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204194237/http://www.bluestogold.com/index2.html |archive-date=February 4, 2017 }}

Although Chess was a blues label, the Argo division began to record jazz in 1955 and over decades attracted some big names: Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Barry Harris, Illinois Jacquet, Ahmad Jamal, Ramsey Lewis, James Moody, Max Roach, Red Rodney, and Ira Sullivan.{{cite book|last1=Gardner|first1=Mark|editor1-last=Kernfeld|editor1-first=Barry|title=The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz|date=2002|publisher=Grove's Dictionaries Inc.|location=New York|isbn=1-56159-284-6|page=65|volume=1|edition=2nd}}

Argo also recorded pop, blues, and calypso. Its first big hit was by Clarence "Frogman" Henry, whose song "Ain't Got No Home" came out in 1956.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p86008/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Clarence "Frogman" Henry Biography by Bill Dahl |publisher=Allmusic.com |access-date=September 2, 2011}} By 1960, rhythm and blues performers on the label included Etta James and the Dells.Edwards, D & Callahan, M. [http://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/argo4000.html Argo Album Discography, Part 2 (1961–1965): Pop/Blues/Folk Series], accessed September 12, 2012

Argo changed its name in 1965 to Cadet Records when the company discovered that an Argo Records already existed in the UK.Brack R. [https://books.google.com/books?id=HSkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10 Chess 'Withdraws' Argo Name], Billboard, October 9, 1965. pp. 8–10. As with its parent label and British Argo, the catalog is owned by Universal Music Group. Argo was one of several record labels to lose master recordings in the 2008 Universal fire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/11/magazine/universal-fire-master-recordings.html|title=The Day the Music Burned|last=Rosen|first=Jody|date=June 11, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 2, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Discography

=Jazz Series (1956–1965)=

align="center" | class="wikitable sortable" | bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

! Catalog number !! Title !! Artist

LP-601

| Melodies by Al Hibbler

| {{sortname|Al|Hibbler}}

LP-602

| Chamber Music of the New Jazz

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal}}

LP-603

| Flute 'n the Blues

| {{sortname|James|Moody|James Moody (saxophonist)}}

LP-604

| Lonely One

| Pinky Winters

LP-605

| Without Sauce

| {{sortname|Dick|Lane|nolink=1}}'s Quartet

LP-606

| Doorway to Dixie

| {{sortname|Cy|Touff}}, Miff Mole and Mike Simpson

LP-607

| Norman Simmons Trio

| {{sortname|Norman|Simmons|Norman Simmons (musician)}}

LP-608

| Zoot

| {{sortname|Zoot|Sims}} Quartet

LP-609

| Chicago Scene

| {{sortname|Ira|Schulman|nolink=1}}, Sandy Moose and Eddie Baker

LP-610

| Count 'Em 88

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-611

| Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Swing

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis}}

LP-612

| Young John Young

| {{sortname|John|Young|John Young (jazz pianist)}} Trio

LP-613

| Moody's Mood for Love

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-614

| Chubby's Back

| {{sortname|Chubby|Jackson}}

LP-615

| Dick Lane Quartet

| {{sortname|Dick|Lane|nolink=1}} Quartet

LP-616

| Chet Chats

| {{sortname|Chet|Roble|nolink=1}}

LP-617

| Time on My Hands

| Seymour and His Heartbeat Trumpet

LP-618

| Many Moods

| {{sortname|Al|Russ|nolink=1}} Orchestra

LP-619

| My Memories

| Melavano and Orchestra

LP-620

| Out on a Limb with Clark Terry

| {{sortname|Clark|Terry}}

LP-621

| MJT+3

| MJT+3

LP-622

| Jazz Exponents

| Jazz Exponents

LP-623

| MAX

| {{sortname|Max|Roach}} Quintet

LP-624

| Johnny Griffin

| {{sortname|Johnny|Griffin}} Quartet

LP-625

| I'm Entitled to You!!

| {{sortname|Chubby|Jackson|nolink=1}}

LP-626

| Cookin'

| {{sortname|Paul|Gonsalves}}

LP-627

| Ramsey Lewis and his Gentle-men of Jazz

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}}

LP-628

| At the Pershing: But Not for Me

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-629

| Sonny Stitt

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt}}

LP-630

| The Colorful Strings of Jimmy Woode

| {{sortname|Jimmy|Woode}}

LP-631

| Swinging the Loop

| {{sortname|Vito|Price}}

LP-632

| Theme for the Tall One

| {{sortname|Bess|Bonnier|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-633

| This Is Me, J. C. Heard

| {{sortname|J. C.|Heard}} and Orchestra

LP-634

| Lateef at Cranbrook

| {{sortname|Yusef|Lateef}}

LP-635

| 2:38 A.M.

| {{sortname|Ralph|Sharon}} Quartet and Friend

LP-636

| Ahmad Jamal Trio Volume IV

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-637

| Last Train from Overbrook

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-638

| Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-639

| Relaxin' with Sandy Mosse

| {{sortname|Sandy|Mosse}}

LP-640

| Marian McPartland at the London House

| {{sortname|Marian|McPartland}}

LP-641

| Touff Assignment

| {{sortname|Cy|Touff|nolink=1}}

LP-642

| Lem Winchester and the Ramsey Lewis Trio

| {{sortname|Lem|Winchester}} and Ramsey Lewis

LP-643

| Red Rodney Returns

| {{sortname|Red|Rodney}}

LP-644

| Breakin' It Up

| {{sortname|Barry|Harris}} Trio

LP-645

| An Hour with the Ramsey Lewis Trio

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-646

| Jamal at the Penthouse

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-647

| [Unissued]

| {{sortname|Will|Green|nolink=1}}

LP-648

| James Moody

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-649

| Remember the Oldies

| Various Artists

LP-650

| Taylor Made Jazz

| {{sortname|Billy|Taylor}}

LP-651

| Holiday on the Riviera

| {{sortname|Caesar|Giovannini}}

LP-652

| Where There's Fire... There's Smokey Stover and his Original Firemen

| {{sortname|Smokey|Stover|nolink=1}}'s Original Firemen

LP-653

| The Last of the Big Plungers

| {{sortname|Al|Grey}} and The Basie Wing

LP-654

| Blue Lou

| {{sortname|Lou|McGarity}} Big Eight

LP-655

| A Night at the Vanguard

| {{sortname|Kenny|Burrell}} Trio

LP-656

| Fanfare of Hits

| Various Artists

LP-657

| Jazz

| {{sortname|Herb|Pilhofer|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-658

| Richard's Alamac

| {{sortname|Richard|Evans|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-659

| The Legend of Bix

| Metropolitan Jazz Octet

LP-660

| Mighty High

| {{sortname|Milt|Buckner}}

LP-661

| Burnin'

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}}

LP-662

| Happy Moods

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-663

| Early in the Morning

| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria}} with the Ramsey Lewis Trio

LP-664

| Meet the Jazztet

| {{sortname|Art|Farmer}} and Benny Golson

LP-665

| Stretching Out

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-666

| Hey! It's James Moody

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-667

| Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing, Volume 2

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-668

| The Music of Quincy Jones

| {{sortname|Benny|Bailey}}, Joe Harris, Åke Persson and the Quincetet

LP-669

| Introducing Roland Kirk

| {{sortname|Roland|Kirk|Rahsaan Roland Kirk}} and Ira Sullivan

LP-670

| Please Mr. Organ Player

| {{sortname|Milt|Buckner|nolink=1}}

LP-671

| The Ramsey Lewis Trio in Chicago

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-672

| Big City Sounds

| {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}} and Benny Golson

LP-673

| Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-674

| Jubilee

| {{sortname|Smokey|Stover|nolink=1}}'s Original Firemen

LP-675

| Home Cookin'

| {{sortname|Richard|Evans|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-676

| Playtime

| {{sortname|Buddy|Rich}} and His Buddies

LP-677

| The Thinking Man's Trombone

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}}

LP-678

| Art

| {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}}

LP-679

| Moody with Strings

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-680

| More Music from the Soil

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-681

| Take a Number from 1 to 10

| {{sortname|Benny|Golson}}

LP-682

| Sing No Sad Songs for Me

| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}}

LP-683

| Sonny Stitt at the D. J. Lounge

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}}

LP-684

| The Jazztet and John Lewis

| {{sortname|John|Lewis|John Lewis (pianist)}}, Art Farmer and Benny Golson

LP-685

| Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-686

| Never on Sunday

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-687

| Sound of Christmas

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-688

| The Jazztet at Birdhouse

| {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}} and Benny Golson

LP-689

| The Al Grey - Billy Mitchell Sextet

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} and Billy Mitchell

LP-690

| Dorothy Ashby

| {{sortname|Dorothy|Ashby}}

LP-691

| All of You

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-692

| Themes and Things

| {{sortname|John|Young|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-693

| The Sound of Spring

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-694

| Deep Roots

| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}}

LP-695

| Another Bag

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-696

| Look Out! Look Out!

| {{sortname|Red|Holt|nolink=1}}

LP-697

| Dig Him!

| {{sortname|Gene|Ammons}} and Sonny Stitt

LP-698

| Just Jug

| {{sortname|Gene|Ammons|nolink=1}}

LP-699

| Just for Kicks

| {{sortname|Eldee|Young}} and Company

LP-700

| Snap Your Fingers

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} and Billy Mitchell

LP-701

| Country Meets the Blues

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-702

| Midnight Mood

| {{sortname|Milt|Buckner|nolink=1}}

LP-703

| Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-704

| Soul Cookin'

| {{sortname|Thornel|Schwartz}} and Bill Leslie

LP-705

| Bossa Nova

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-706

| Blues on the Other Side

| {{sortname|Mike|Mainieri}} Quartet

LP-707

| Breakthrough

| {{sortname|Gene|Shaw|Clarence Shaw}} Quintet

LP-708

| Trumpet Caliente

| {{sortname|Don|Goldie|nolink=1}}

LP-709

| Rearin' Back

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}}

LP-710

| Diggin' the Chicks

| {{sortname|Bill|Leslie|nolink=1}}

LP-711

| Night Song

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} and Billy Mitchell

LP-712

| Macanudo

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-713

| A Touch of Pepper

| {{sortname|John|Young|nolink=1}}

LP-714

| Soul Merchant

| {{sortname|Sam|Lazar}}

LP-715

| Pot Luck

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-716

| Free

| {{sortname|Benny|Golson|nolink=1}} Quartet

LP-717

| Basie Is Our Boss

| {{sortname|Frank|Foster|Frank Foster (jazz musician)}}

LP-718

| Having a Ball

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}}

LP-719

| Poinciana

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-720

| For Swingers Only

| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}}

LP-721

| French Cookin'

| {{sortname|Budd|Johnson}}

LP-722

| The Message

| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet}} with Kenny Burrell

LP-723

| Barefoot Sunday Blues

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-724

| Signifyin'

| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson}}

LP-725

| Great Day

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-726

| Debut in Blues

| {{sortname|Gene|Shaw|nolink=1}}

LP-727

| Ready and Willing

| {{sortname|Herman|Foster}}

LP-728

| Here's Love

| {{sortname|Hank|Jones}}

LP-729

| World of Travel

| {{sortname|Jimmy|Grissom|nolink=1}}

LP-730

| Move on Over

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}}

LP-731

| Boss Bone

| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}}

LP-732

| Bach to the Blues

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-733

| Naked City Theme

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-734

| Possum Head

|{{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}}

LP-735

| Desert Winds

| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet|nolink=1}}

LP-736

| Ya! Ya!

| {{sortname|Budd|Johnson|nolink=1}}

LP-737

| Fantabulous

| {{sortname|Oliver|Nelson}} and his Orchestra

LP-738

| Perception

| {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}}

LP-739

| Mo' Rock

| {{sortname|Baby Face|Willette}}

LP-740

| Comin' on Strong

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-741

| The Ramsey Lewis Trio at the Bohemian Caverns

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-742

| Summer Dawn

| {{sortname|Sahib|Shihab}}

LP-743

| Carnival Sketches

| {{sortname|Gene|Shaw|nolink=1}}

LP-744

| My Main Man

| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}} with Bennie Green

LP-745

| More Sounds of Christmas

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-746

| Bosses of the Ballad

| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet|nolink=1}}

LP-747

| Cole Slaw

| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}}

LP-748

| Off the Wall

| {{sortname|Budd|Johnson|nolink=1}}

LP-749

| Behind the 8 Ball

| {{sortname|Baby Face|Willette|nolink=1}}

LP-750

| You Better Believe Me

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio with Jean DuShon

LP-751

| The Roar of the Greasepaint

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-752

| Cool

| {{sortname|Rune|Ofwerman|nolink=1}}'s Piano

LP-753

| Testifyin' Time

| {{sortname|Bunky|Green}}

LP-754

| Spectrum

| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet|nolink=1}}

LP-755

| Choice! The Best of the Ramsey Lewis Trio

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-756

| Cookin' the Blues

| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}}

LP-757

| The In Crowd

| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio

LP-758

| Extensions

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}}

LP-759

| Musty Rusty

| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}}

LP-1078

| At the Spotlite Club Vol. 1

| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio

=Pop/Blues/Folk Series (1961–1965)=

align="center" | class="wikitable sortable" | bgcolor="#CCCCCC"

! Catalog number !! Title !! Artist

LP-4000

| The Eyes of Love

| Osborne Smith

LP-4001

| Johnny Hamlin Quintet

| Johnny Hamlin Quintet featuring Marci Miller

LP-4002

| Space Flight

| Sam Lazar

LP-4003

| At Last!

| Etta James

LP-4004

| Misty Night

| King Fleming Trio

LP-4005

| The Three Souls

| The Three Souls

LP-4006

| Morris Grants Presents JUNK

| Various Artists

LP-4007

| Drum Sum

| Buck Clarke Quintet

LP-4008

| Drums, Drollery And Drivel

| Professor Paradiddle

LP-4009

| You Always Hurt the One You Love

| Clarence Henry

LP-4010

| Brilliant! The Trumpet of Don Goldie

| Don Goldie

LP-4011

| The Second Time Around

| Etta James

LP-4012

| Dodo's Back!

| Dodo Marmarosa

LP-4013

| Etta James

| Etta James

LP-4014

| [Unissued]

|

LP-4015

| Playback

| Sam Lazar

LP-4016

| For the First Time

| Shelley Moore

LP-4017

| Brown Gal

| Bonnie Graham

LP-4018

| Etta James Sings for Lovers

| Etta James

LP-4019

| Stand By!

| King Fleming Trio

LP-4020

| House Warmin'!

| Howard McGhee and the Blazers

LP-4021

| The Buck Clarke Sound

| Buck Clarke

LP-4022

| Let Me In/Music, Music, Music

| The Sensations

LP-4023

| The Campus Singers at the Fickle Pickle

| The Campus Singers

LP-4024

| I'm on My Way

| Willie Wright

LP-4025

| Etta James Top Ten

| Etta James

LP-4026

| The Blues, Volume 1

| Various Artists

LP-4027

| The Blues, Volume 2

| Various Artists

LP-4028

| Cheer Up Me Lads

| The Outsiders

LP-4029

| Martin Yarbrough Showcase

| Martin Yarbrough

LP-4030

| Folk Swinger

| Dean DeWolf

LP-4031

| Folk Festival of the Blues

| Various Artists

LP-4032

| Etta James Rocks the House

| Etta James

LP-4033

| Road of Blue

| The Campus Singers

LP-4034

| The Blues, Volume 3

| Various Artists

LP-4035

| High Tide: The Folk Songs of Dean DeWolf

| Dean DeWolf

LP-4036

| Dangerous Dan Express

| The Three Souls

LP-4037

| The Soul of Blues Harmonica

| Shakey Horton

LP-4038

| Composer's Choice

| Johnny Nash

LP-4039

| Make Way for Jean DuShon

| Jean DuShon

LP-4040

| The Queen of Soul

| Etta James

LP-4041

| Dick Williams Kids Sing for Big People (and Little People Too)

| Dick Williams

LP-4042

| The Blues, Volume 4

| Various Artists

LP-4043

| Mixed Moods

| Martin Yarbrough

LP-4044

| Soul Sounds

| The Three Souls

LP-4045

| The Real George Kirby

| George Kirby

LP-4047

| Jammin' with the Windjammers

| The Windjammers

See also

References

{{reflist}}