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 =
| 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
| {{sortname|James|Moody|James Moody (saxophonist)}} |
LP-604
| Lonely One |
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
| {{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
| {{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
| {{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
| {{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
| {{sortname|Yusef|Lateef}} |
LP-635
| 2:38 A.M. | {{sortname|Ralph|Sharon}} Quartet and Friend |
LP-636
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-637
| {{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
| {{sortname|Red|Rodney}} |
LP-644
| {{sortname|Barry|Harris}} Trio |
LP-645
| An Hour with the Ramsey Lewis Trio | {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-646
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-647
| [Unissued] | {{sortname|Will|Green|nolink=1}} |
LP-648
| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}} |
LP-649
| Remember the Oldies | Various Artists |
LP-650
| {{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
| {{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
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-663
| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria}} with the Ramsey Lewis Trio |
LP-664
| {{sortname|Art|Farmer}} and Benny Golson |
LP-665
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-666
| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}} |
LP-667
| Ahmad Jamal At The Pershing, Volume 2 | {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-668
| {{sortname|Benny|Bailey}}, Joe Harris, Åke Persson and the Quincetet |
LP-669
| {{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
| {{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
| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} |
LP-678
| Art | {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}} |
LP-679
| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}} |
LP-680
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-681
| {{sortname|Benny|Golson}} |
LP-682
| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}} |
LP-683
| Sonny Stitt at the D. J. Lounge | {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}} |
LP-684
| {{sortname|John|Lewis|John Lewis (pianist)}}, Art Farmer and Benny Golson |
LP-685
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-686
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-687
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-688
| {{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
| {{sortname|Dorothy|Ashby}} |
LP-691
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-692
| Themes and Things | {{sortname|John|Young|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-693
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-694
| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}} |
LP-695
| {{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
| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} and Billy Mitchell |
LP-701
| {{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
| {{sortname|Thornel|Schwartz}} and Bill Leslie |
LP-705
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-706
| {{sortname|Mike|Mainieri}} Quartet |
LP-707
| Breakthrough | {{sortname|Gene|Shaw|Clarence Shaw}} Quintet |
LP-708
| Trumpet Caliente | {{sortname|Don|Goldie|nolink=1}} |
LP-709
| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}} |
LP-710
| Diggin' the Chicks | {{sortname|Bill|Leslie|nolink=1}} |
LP-711
| {{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
| {{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
| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} |
LP-719
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-720
| {{sortname|Lorez|Alexandria|nolink=1}} |
LP-721
| {{sortname|Budd|Johnson}} |
LP-722
| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet}} with Kenny Burrell |
LP-723
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-724
| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson}} |
LP-725
| {{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
| {{sortname|Hank|Jones}} |
LP-729
| World of Travel | {{sortname|Jimmy|Grissom|nolink=1}} |
LP-730
| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}} |
LP-731
| {{sortname|Al|Grey|nolink=1}} |
LP-732
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-733
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-734
|{{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}} |
LP-735
| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet|nolink=1}} |
LP-736
| Ya! Ya! | {{sortname|Budd|Johnson|nolink=1}} |
LP-737
| {{sortname|Oliver|Nelson}} and his Orchestra |
LP-738
| {{sortname|Art|Farmer|nolink=1}} |
LP-739
| Mo' Rock | {{sortname|Baby Face|Willette}} |
LP-740
| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}} |
LP-741
| The Ramsey Lewis Trio at the Bohemian Caverns | {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-742
| {{sortname|Sahib|Shihab}} |
LP-743
| Carnival Sketches | {{sortname|Gene|Shaw|nolink=1}} |
LP-744
| {{sortname|Sonny|Stitt|nolink=1}} with Bennie Green |
LP-745
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-746
| {{sortname|Illinois|Jacquet|nolink=1}} |
LP-747
| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}} |
LP-748
| {{sortname|Budd|Johnson|nolink=1}} |
LP-749
| {{sortname|Baby Face|Willette|nolink=1}} |
LP-750
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio with Jean DuShon |
LP-751
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-752
| Cool | {{sortname|Rune|Ofwerman|nolink=1}}'s Piano |
LP-753
| {{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
| {{sortname|James|Moody|nolink=1}} |
LP-757
| {{sortname|Ramsey|Lewis|nolink=1}} Trio |
LP-758
| {{sortname|Ahmad|Jamal|nolink=1}} |
LP-759
| {{sortname|Lou|Donaldson|nolink=1}} |
LP-1078
| {{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 |
LP-4003
| At Last! |
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 |
LP-4010
| Brilliant! The Trumpet of Don Goldie | Don Goldie |
LP-4011
| Etta James |
LP-4012 |
LP-4013
| 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 |
LP-4019
| Stand By! | King Fleming Trio |
LP-4020
| House Warmin'! | Howard McGhee and the Blazers |
LP-4021 |
LP-4022
| Let Me In/Music, Music, Music |
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 |
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 |
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 |
LP-4038
| Composer's Choice |
LP-4039
| Make Way for Jean DuShon |
LP-4040
| Etta James |
LP-4041
| Dick Williams Kids Sing for Big People (and Little People Too) |
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 |
LP-4047
| Jammin' with the Windjammers | The Windjammers |
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/argo.htm Argo discography]
{{All Platinum Records}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Defunct record labels of the United States
Category:American jazz record labels
Category:Record labels established in 1956