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Roulette Records

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Roulette Records
Parent companyEMI (1989–2013)
Warner Music Group (2013–present)
Founded1957 (1957)
FounderGeorge Goldner
Joe Kolsky
Morris Levy
Phil Kahl
Defunct1989 (1989)
Distributor(s)Blue Note Records (1989–2013)
Rhino Entertainment (pop catalogue; North America)
Parlophone (worldwide jazz; international pop catalogues)
GenreVarious
Country of originU.S.
LocationNew York City, New York

Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed director.

The label had known ties to New York City mobsters.[1] Levy ran the label with an iron fist.[2] In 1958 Roost Records was purchased. Goldner subsequently bowed out of his partnership interest in Roulette and, to cover his gambling debts, sold his record labels Tico, Rama, Gee and—years later—End and Gone to Levy, who grouped them into Roulette. Peretti and Creatore later left Roulette and worked as freelance producers for RCA Records throughout the 1960s. They co-founded Avco Records in 1969. In 1971 Roulette took over the catalog of Jubilee Records.

History

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During the late 1950s, Roulette scored hits by Buddy Knox, Jimmy Bowen, The Playmates, Jimmie Rodgers, Ronnie Hawkins, The Delicates, and Frankie Lymon as well as releasing albums by Pearl Bailey, Dinah Washington and Count Basie.

During the early 1960s, Roulette issued recordings connected to the twist dance craze, such as "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee and the Starliters. They also released a rare album of "twist songs" by Bill Haley & His Comets, Twistin' Knights at the Roundtable. Other major 1960s hits for the label include "Two Faces Have I" by Lou Christie. A group of United States Marines called The Essex recorded the hit "Easier Said Than Done" while based at Camp Lejeune, NC, in 1963. In 1964, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay first recorded together on Roulette while in the nine-member Au Go Go Singers, the house band for the Cafe Au Go Go in New York City.

In the UK Roulette's records were issued on EMI's Columbia label. In April 1965, the UK music magazine NME reported that Roulette had agreed to offer a sponsored show to the UK pirate radio radio station Radio Caroline. The hour-long show, recorded in the US by disc jockey Jack Spector, was to be broadcast five evenings a week. The contract covered a two-year period and was worth over £10,000 to the station.[3]

Tommy James (left) has stated that Morris Levy (right) hid royalties from the Shondells' biggest hits

According to Tommy James of Tommy James and the Shondells, whose "Hanky Panky", "I Think We're Alone Now", "Mirage", "Mony Mony", "Crimson and Clover" and many others were released during his time at the label, Roulette was a front business for the Genovese crime family.[4] James estimates that the label kept $30 million-$40 million of the group's royalties but afforded it total artistic freedom, whereas another label would have tampered with its formula and might have dropped the group early on.[1] Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Roulette was one of the industry's major distributors, handling records for many leading labels.

Levy was the key financial backer for the rap music label Sugar Hill Records, which was founded in 1979 by the husband-and-wife team Joe and Sylvia Robinson. Sugar Hill released the first Top 40 rap single, "Rapper's Delight", in 1979. In the early 1980s, the Robinsons bought Levy out.

In 1981, Henry Stone turned to Levy to help prevent the demise of TK Records, so they set up Sunnyview Records under the Roulette umbrella. In 1986, Levy was arrested, tried and convicted for extorting money from an FBI informant, John LaMonte, but he died in Ghent, New York, before serving any time in prison. In 1989, Roulette Records was sold to a consortium of EMI and Rhino Records, the latter of which was later acquired by Warner Music Group. Rhino would control Roulette’s pop catalogue in the USA, Canada and Mexico, while EMI acquired Roulette’s jazz catalogue worldwide, plus the international distribution of Roulette’s pop catalogue.[5] As of 2013, Warner Music Group now has worldwide rights to the Roulette catalogue as a result of acquiring EMI’s Parlophone label.[6][7]

Following their 1989 acquisition, Rhino and EMI began issuing large royalty checks to former Roulette artists. Tommy James recalled that his checks were in amounts in six or seven digits. Roulette was notorious for not paying royalties to its artists, who had to rely on concerts and personal appearances for their income.[1]

Until 2013, EMI used the Roulette name for the reissue of old Roulette-label material. In the US, Blue Note Records handled the Roulette jazz catalogue for release on the Roulette Jazz label until 2013. It was one of the units of Parlophone that Universal Music was required to sell to Warner Music Group to comply with international regulators.

Roulette Records artists

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Discography

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[edit]

Roulette Records 25000 Popular Series of LP records began in 1957 and ran until 1968.[8]

Catalog Album Artist Notes
25001 Calypso with the Playmates The Playmates
25002 Barrelhouse Moe Wechsler
25003 Buddy Knox Buddy Knox
25004 Jimmy Bowen Jimmy Bowen
25005 Italy The DiMara Sisters
25006 Charleston Bonnie Alden
25007 Memories of Hal Kemp Henry Jerome Orchestra
25008 Showplace of the Nation Radio City Music Hall Orchestra
25009 Tyree Glenn at the Embers Tyree Glenn
25010 Dorothy Donegan at the Embers Dorothy Donegan
25011 Polka Ted Tyle
25012 Pearl Bailey A Broad Pearl Bailey
25013 Frankie Lymon at the London Palladium Frankie Lymon
25014 Kay Martin and Her Bodyguards Kay Martin
25015 Dixiecats Jazz All Stars
25016 Pearl Bailey Sings for Adults Only Pearl Bailey
25017 Copa Girl Dori Anne Gray
25018 Songs My Mother Loved Milton Berle
25019 Hi-Fi Harmonica Leo Diamond
25020 Jimmie Rodgers Jimmie Rodgers
25021 Pajama Party Various Artists
25022 Accordion in Hi-Fi Jo Ann Castle
25023 Musical Themes of Hollywood U.S.A. Jack Schaindlin & Symphony of the Air
25024 Let's Dance Tony Pastor and Orchestra
25025 Jamaica Lennie Hayton
25026 The Long Hot Summer (Soundtrack) Alex North
25027 Guy Pastor and His Dad Tony Pastor and Orchestra
25028 Italy Revisited The DiMara Sisters with the Tony Dannon Orchestra
25029 Curtain Going Up Original Dukes of Dixieland
25030 Gospel Songs Stamps-Baxter Quartet
25031 Let's Do the Polka Ted Tyle Orchestra
25032 Oriental Delight Hank Mardigian Sextet
25033 The Number One Ballads Jimmie Rodgers
25034 David Niven Reads the World's Most Famous Love Letters David Niven
25035 Cowboy Foy Willing & The Riders of the Purple Sage
25036 Rock 'n Roll Frankie Lymon
25037 St. Louis Blues Pearl Bailey
25038 Dixieland at Carnegie Hall Various Artists
25039 Coffee, Cigarettes and Memories Jeri Southern
25040 Emil Coleman at the Waldorf Astoria Emil Coleman
25041 With Love Fernando Lamas Two tracks arranged by Astor Piazzolla
25042 Jimmie Rodgers Sings Folk Songs Jimmie Rodgers
25043 At Play with the Playmates The Playmates
25044 When Good Fellows Get Together Hugo & Luigi with Their Family Singers
25045 Noro Morales at the Harvest Moon Ball Noro Morales
25046 Song Stylist Extraordinaire Valerie Carr
25047 On My Way to Heaven Lee Russell & Wayfarers
25048 Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen Buddy Knox/Jimmy Bowen Split album
25049 Greece Peter Kara Orchestra
25050 Tyree Glenn at the Roundtable Tyree Glenn
25051 Italia con Pier Angeli Pier Angeli
25052 A Long, Long Kiss Canta Maya
25053 Steve Allen at the Roundtable Steve Allen
25054 Love Songs a LaRosa Julius LaRosa
25055 La Guitarra: The Genius of Rolando Valdes-Blain Rolando Valdes-Blain
25056 Hello Nice People Henry Jerome Orchestra
25057 His Golden Year Jimmie Rodgers
25058 Swingin' My Way Through College Maynard Ferguson Orchestra
25059 Rock and Roll Record Hop Various Artists
25060 At Home with the Barry Sisters The Barry Sisters
25061 Emotions of Jose Duval Jose Duval Arranged by Astor Piazzolla
25062 Cha Cha Italiana The DiMara Sisters
25063 Pearl Bailey Sings Porgy and Bess and Other Gershwin Melodies Pearl Bailey
25064 Swingin' Marchin' Whistlin' Buddy Williams and his Golden Echo Music
25065 Lennie Hayton Introduces Scandinavian Suite No. 1 Lennie Hayton
25066 Hawaiian Luau William Kealoha Orchestra
25067 Woody Herman Sextet at the Roundtable Woody Herman Sextet
25068 Cuttin' Capers The Playmates
25069 Honky Tonk Piano Moe Wechsler
25070 Dixieland in High Society Don Redman and the Knights of the Roundtable
25071 TV Favorites Volume 1 Jimmie Rodgers
25072 Basie Swings, Bennett Sings Count Basie and Tony Bennett
25073 Themes from the Hip Bud Wattles Orchestra
25074 Folk Songs of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee
25075 Try a Little Tenderness Tyree Glenn with Strings
25076 Turk Murphy and His Jazz Band at the Roundtable Turk Murphy and His Jazz Band
25077 Shy Cathy Carr
25078 Ronnie Hawkins Ronnie Hawkins
25079 It Seems Like Only Yesterday Hal McIntyre Orchestra
25080 Dixieland at the Roundtable Salt City Six
25081 Twilight on the Trail Jimmie Rodgers
25082 Joe Reisman Salutes the All-Time Instrumental Favorites Joe Reisman
25083 On the Sunny Side Julius LaRosa
25084 Broadway Show Stoppers The Playmates
25085 Go Ahead & Rock Rock Rock Buddy Johnson Orchestra featuring Ella Johnson
25086 Shepherd and His Flock Bill Shepherd Orchestra
25087 Happy Organ Bob Wyatt
25088 Music for Wise Guys Turk Murphy
25089 Great American Waltzes Joe Reisman
25090 Born to Be Blue Anne Phillips
25091 Jack Teagarden at the Roundtable Jack Teagarden
25092 Relax'n with Chico Randall Chico Randall
25093 Rock n' Roll Bandstand Various Artists
25094 Ev'ry Hour, Ev'ry Day Valerie Carr
25095 It's Christmas Once Again Jimmie Rodgers
25096 Memorie di Roma The DiMara Sisters Arranged by Astor Piazzolla
25097 Christmas Carols St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir
25098 On the Beach (Soundtrack) Ernest Gold Musical Score from the film.
25099 Sounds in the Night Sam Marowitz
25100 Marc of Fredericks Marc Fredericks and Orchestra
25101 More Songs for Adults Only Pearl Bailey
25102 Mr. Dynamo Ronnie Hawkins
25103 When the Spirit Moves You Jimmie Rodgers
25104 Once More with Feeling Billy Eckstine
25105 Polka! Polka! Polka! Kenny Bass
25106 Original Hit Records Various Artists
25107 A Thousand Miles Away The Heartbeats
25108 Salute Italia Al Caiola
25109 Woo Hoo The Rock-A-Teens
25110 On Stage Alan Gale
25111 Island Paradise William Kealoha Orchestra
25112 Dixieland at the Roundtable Sharkey Bonano
25113 Smooth and Rocky Rocky Cole with The Al Cohn Orchestra
25114 Instrumental Imports Joe Reisman
25115 Let's Have a Ball Tyree Glenn
25116 Songs of the Bad Old Days Pearl Bailey
25117 Accent Italino The DiMara Sisters
25118 Las Vegas Late Show Jack Ross Quartet
25119 Jazz Maverick Jack Teagarden
25120 The Folk Ballads of Ronnie Hawkins Ronnie Hawkins
25121 Folk Scene U.S.A. The Cumberland Three
25122 Neapolitan Memories Doreen
25123 Jimmy Durante at the Copacabana Jimmy Durante
25124 Ivory and Bone Al Lerner
25125 Naughty But Nice Pearl Bailey
25126 Italiano U.S.A. Lou Monte
25127 New Sensations in Sound Lou Monte
25128 At Home with Jimmie Rodgers: An Evening of Folk Songs Jimmie Rodgers
25129 Swings for Dancers Richard Maltby
25130 Sing Along with Emmett Kelly Emmett Kelly
25131 Banjo & Calls Sing Along Various Artists
25132 Civil War Almanac Volume 1: The Yankees The Cumberland Three
25133 Civil War Almanac Volume 2: The Rebels The Cumberland Three
25134 Italy Volume 2 The DiMara Sisters
25135 Voice of Hawaii William Kealoha
25136 Side by Side The Barry Sisters
25137 Ronnie Hawkins Sings the Songs of Hank Williams Ronnie Hawkins
25138 Tyree Glenn at London House in Chicago Tyree Glenn
25139 Wait for Me The Playmates
25140 In Love for the Very First Time Wanda Stafford
25141 It's Happy Polka Time Kenny Bass & His Polka Poppers
25142 St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir
25143 You Talk Too Much Joe Jones
25144 The Best of Pearl Bailey Pearl Bailey
25145 Fidoodlin' Spade Cooley
25146 Grimm's Hip Fairy Tales Mort Linsey
25148 Swing Folksongs Richard Maltby
25149 That's Paris Tony Osborne Orchestra
25150 The Folk Song World of Jimmie Rodgers Jimmie Rodgers
25151 Melodie O'Italia The DiMara Sisters
25152 Dream Bar Willie Restum
25153 Return to Rome Rudy Adamo
25154 It Happened One Night Dorothy Donegan
25155 Pearl Bailey Sings Songs of Harold Arlen Pearl Bailey
25156 We Belong Together The Barry Sisters
25157 Shalom The Barry Sisters
25159 Murray the "K's" Sing Along with the Original Golden Gassers! Various Artists
25160 The Best of Jimmie Rodgers Folk Songs Jimmie Rodgers
25161 My Name...Jose Jimenez Bill Dana
25162 Pat Harrington, Jr. as Guido Panzini and Bill Dana as Kookie as Ever Pat Harrington, Jr. and Bill Dana
25163 Enzo Stuarti Enzo Stuarti
25164 The Gospel in Words & Music Rev. Adam Clayton Powell
25165 Top Polka Million Sellers Kenny Bass & His Orchestra
25166 Doin' the Twist at the Peppermint Lounge Joey Dee and the Starliters
25167 Happy Sounds Pearl Bailey with the Louis Bellson Orchestra
25168 Hey, Let's Twist Various Artists
25169 Twistin' at the Roundtable with the Orchids The Orchids
25170 Dinah '62 Dinah Washington
25171 All the World is Twistin Joey Dee and the Starliters
25172 Twistin' at the Miami Beach Peppermint Lounge Seven Blends
25173 Back at the Peppermint Lounge Joey Dee and the Starliters
25174 Twistin' Knights at the Roundtable Bill Haley and His Comets
25175 Let's All Twist at Peppermint Lounge Dale Hawkins and His Escapades
25176 The Most of the Twist Various Artists
25177 The Dixie Sound of Jack Teagarden Jack Teagarden
25178 Brilliant Big Band Ballads and Blues Richard Maltby
25179 15 Million Sellers Jimmie Rodgers
25180 In Love Dinah Washington
25181 Come On, Let's Play with Pearlie Mae Pearl Bailey
25182 Two Tickets To Paris (Soundtrack) Various Artists
25183 Drinking Again Dinah Washington
25184 The Trombone Artistry of Tyree Glenn Tyree Glenn
25185 This Was Burlesque Ann Corio Original Cast Album
25186 How to Strip for Your Husband Ann Corio Orchestra conducted by Sonny Lester
25187 Songs for the John Jackie Kannon
25188 Hit Movie Themes in Italiano The DiMara Sisters
25189 Back to the Blues Dinah Washington
25190 Modern Dance Band Sounds of Country & Western Hits Sonny Lester Orchestra
25191 Murray the K Presents Golden Gassers for Hand Holders Various Artists
25192 Murray the K Presents Golden Gassers for a Dance Party Various Artists
25193 Bossa Nova Tito Puente
25195 About Good Little Girls and Bad Little Boys Pearl Bailey
25196 The Next One Will Kill You Morey Amsterdam
25197 Joey Dee Joey Dee
25198 The Barry Sisters in Israel The Barry Sisters
25199 Folk Songs Jimmie Rodgers
25200 Lowdown Back Porch Blues Louisiana Red
25201 The Funniest New Comic Since the Last New Comic Dave Turner
25202 How to Belly Dance for Your Husband and His Friends Little Egypt and the Sonny Lester Orchestra
25203 At Home with That Other Family Leonard Gaines and Gwen Davis
25204 Tapped Wires Will Jordan and Rhonda Brown
25205 Don Sherman at the Playboy Club Don Sherman
25206 Bossa Nova Italian Style The DiMara Sisters
25207 Golden Goodies Volume 1 Various Artists
25208 Lou Christie Lou Christie
25209 Golden Goodies Volume 4: Goodies for a Dance Party Various Artists
25210 Golden Goodies Volume 2 Various Artists
25211 Golden Goodies Volume 3 Various Artists
25212 Golden Goodies Volume 7 Various Artists
25213 Golden Goodies Volume 9 Various Artists
25214 Golden Goodies Volume 8 Various Artists
25215 Golden Goodies Volume 5 Various Artists
25216 Golden Goodies Volume 6 Various Artists
25217 Golden Goodies Volume 10 Various Artists
25218 Golden Goodies Volume 12 Various Artists
25219 Golden Goodies Volume 11 Various Artists
25220 Dinah '63 Dinah Washington
25221 Dance-Dance-Dance Joey Dee
25222 C'est la Vie Pearl Bailey
25223 Old Country Polka Kenny Bass
25224 More How to Strip for Your Husband Ann Corio Orchestra conducted by Sonny Lester
25225 More How to Belly Dance for Your Husband Little Egypt Orchestra conducted by Sonny Lester
25228 Rendezvous in Istanbul The Gomidas Band
25229 Rendezvous in Greece The Gomidas Band
25230 Rendezvous in Armenia The Gomidas Band
25231 Strike Up the Band Tony Bennett and Count Basie Reissue of 25072 with different track order
25232 Ragtime U.S.A Ralph Sutton
25233 Gospel Concert: The Ward Singers Recorded Live Clara Ward
25234 Easier Said Than Done The Essex
25235 A Walkin' Miracle The Essex
25236 And Now...The Missing Otis Trio The Missing Otis Trio
25237 Meetin' The Followers
25238 Instrumental Golden Goodies Volume 13 Various Artists
25239 Golden Goodies Volume 14 Various Artists
25240 Golden Goodies Volume 15 Various Artists
25241 Golden Goodies Volume 16 Various Artists
25242 Golden Goodies Volume 17 Various Artists
25243 Portrait of Mr. T Jack Teagarden
25244 In Tribute Dinah Washington
25245 Organ Dynamics Bob Wyatt
25246 Young and Lively The Essex featuring Anita Humes
25247 Golden Goodies of 1963 Volume 18 Various Artists
25248 Your Favorite Groups and Their Golden Goodies Volume 19 Various Artists
25249 20 Original Winners Volume 1 Various Artists
25250 Jerry Blavatt Presents the Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon The Teenagers
25251 20 Original Winners Volume 2 Various Artists
25252 Hootenanny Nashville Gene & Jerry
25253 A Stranger on Earth Dinah Washington
25254 Good Guy Jack Spector Presents 22 Original Winners Various Artists
25255 The Best of Ronnie Hawkins Ronnie Hawkins
25256 Golden Goodies Goodies Various Artists
25257 The Magic World of Italy Various Artists
25258 The World of the Barry Sisters The Barry Sisters
25259 The Risque World of Pearl Bailey Pearl Bailey
25260 The World of Dinah Washington Dinah Washington
25261 The World of Jack Teagarden Jack Teagarden
25262 Music to Stop Smoking By Sal Salvador Quartet
25263 20 Original Winners Volume 3 Various Artists
25264 20 Original Winners Volume 4 Various Artists
25265 Melodie d'Italia The DiMara Sisters
25266 Polish Songs Ray Budzilek
25267 Yiddish Songs Patsy Abbott
25268 Wedding Polkas Kenny Bass
25269 Dinah Washington Dinah Washington Compilation
25270 What's New The New Group
25271 Songs by James Van Heusen Pearl Bailey
25272 Let's Go Bobo! Willie Bobo
25273 WFUN Good Guys Various Artists
25274 Drums!, Drums!, Drums! Olatunji
25275 Rockin' in the 25th Century The Spacemen
25276 My Fair Lady Goes Latin Tito Puente
25277 Race! Sandy Baron
25278 By Jupiter & Girl Crazy Jackie Cain & Roy Kral
25279 Polynesian Rendezvous Daphne Walker and George Tumahai
25280 They Call Us Au Go-Go Singers The Au Go-Go Singers
25281 Love Songs from a Cop Joe E. Ross
25282 Songs I Sang with Guy Lombardo Kenny Gardner
25283 Cascading Voices Hugo & Luigi
25284 I Sing in a Pub Kim Cordell
25285 Jewish Folk Songs Joey Adams and Sholom Secunda
25286 More Italian Songs Mama Never Taught Nicola Paone
25287 More Polish Songs Mama Never Taught Ray Budzilek
25288 Greek Songs Mama Never Taught Me The Four Coins
25289 The Best of Dinah Washington Dinah Washington
25290 20 All Time No. 1 Hits Various Artists
25291 WMAK Jet Set-22 Winners Various Artists
25292 Life with Liz and Dick Heywood Kling
25293 20 Original Winners of 1964 Various Artists
25294 The Greatest Hits of Little Anthony and the Imperials Little Anthony and the Imperials
25295 WHK Good Guys Various Artists
25297 England's Newest Singing Sensations The Hullaballoos
25298 Organ Shindig Dave "Baby" Cortez
25299 And Now Rudy Valentyne
25300 For Women Only Pearl Bailey
25301 More of Frankie Randall Frankie Randall
25302 The Tiffiny Singers The Tiffiny Singers
25303 50 Best Loved Italian Songs The DiMara Sisters
25304 20 "Big Boss" Favorites: 10 Great Hits of 1964 - 10 Great Oldies Hits Various Artists
25306 Music of the Middle East The John Berberian Ensemble
25307 WING Lively Guys Various Artists
25308 The Many Faces of the Detergents The Detergents
25309 Polka Spectaculars Kenny Bass and his Polka Poppers
25310 The Hullaballoos On Hullabaloo The Hullaballoos
25311 German Songs Mama Taught Me Duke Marsic
25312 Live from the Ratfink Room Jackie Kannon
25313 Sincerely Derek Martin
25314 Tales The Dixie Drifters
25315 Tweetie Pie Dave "Baby" Cortez
25316 Shame and Scandal in the Family Shawn Elliott
25317 The Detective Don Adams
25318 Searching the Gospel Pearl Bailey
25320 Polish Songs Mama Never Taught Me Ray Budzilek
25321 Slovenian Songs Mama Taught Me Duke Marsic and His Happy Slovenians
25322 Music for Batman and Robin The Spacemen
25323 Sam and Dave Sam & Dave
25324 Live at the Taft Charlie Drew
25325 Polka Memories Kenny Bass & Polka Team
25326 The Exciters The Exciters
25328 Dave "Baby" Cortez In Orbit Dave "Baby" Cortez
25329 Etta Jones Sings Etta Jones With Junior Mance, Kenny Burrell, Frank Wess, Joe Newman, Milt Hinton
25330 Honky Tonk a-la Mod! Bill Doggett
25331 Strike Up the Band Tony Bennett & Count Basie
25332 Lou Christie Strikes Again Lou Christie Stereo reissue of Lou Christie Strikes Back
25333 WWIN Astro Jocks Present 20 Original Winners Various Artists
25334 This Hombre Called Lemon Ken Lemon
25336 Hanky Panky Tommy James and the Shondells
25337 WOL- Soul Brothers Various Artists
25338 K-BOX Dusty Discs Various Artists
25339 The Matadors Meet the Bull Sonny Stitt
25343 What's New!!! Sonny Stitt
25344 It's Only Love Tommy James and the Shondells
25245 Man in Love Steve Rossi
25346 I Keep Comin' Back! Sonny Stitt
25347 Color Me OBG: Station WDRC Various Artists
25348 KGFJ Sounds of Success Various Artists
25349 Canzone D'Amore Ray Allen
25350 Our Anniversary Shep and the Limelites
25351 Aqui Se Habla Espanol Johnny Richards
25352 Songs of My People Tova Ronni
25353 I Think We're Alone Now Tommy James and the Shondells
25354 Parallel-a-Stitt Sonny Stitt
25355 Something Special! The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells
25356 Ma Vie Steve Rossi
25357 Gettin' Together Tommy James and the Shondells

25358

The Fallen Angels The Fallen Angels
25359 Don't Walk, Dance! Carlos Malcolm
25360 This Is My Song Ray Allen
25361 The Big Three Featuring Cass Elliot The Big Three

42000 Pop series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
42000 The Big Three Featuring Cass Elliot The Big Three Reissue of 25361
42001 The Spanish Side of Jazz Candido, Machito and Willie Bobo
42002 Back On Broadway Pearl Bailey
42003 Very Special Envoy Very Special Envoy
42004 Cole Porter Songbook Pearl Bailey
42005 Something Special! The Best of Tommy James and the Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells reissue of 25355
42006 Yours Truly Jimmie Rodgers
42007 Forever Yours Little Anthony and the Imperials
42008 Roman Guitar Al Caiola
42009 Fantail Bobby Watson
42010 The Rabble The Rabble
42011 It's A Long Way Down The Fallen Angels
42012 Mony, Mony Tommy James & the Shondells
42013 Lalolé: The Latin Sound of Lalo Schifrin Lalo Schifrin reissue of Tico Records LP
42014 The Best of Dinah Washington Dinah Washington
42015 The Kid from Red Bank Count Basie
42016 A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry Joe Williams
42017 Count Basie & Billy Eckstine Count Basie and Billy Eckstine
42018 Count Basie & Sarah Vaughan Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan
42019 You're Mine, You Sarah Vaughan
42020 How to Strip for Your Husband Ann Corio reissue of 25186
42021 How to Belly Dance for Your Husband Little Egypt & Sonny Lester Orchestra reissue of 25202
42022 Let's Sing Yiddish original cast
42023 Crimson and Clover Tommy James and the Shondells
42024 The Queen Does Her Thing La Lupe
42025 Don Cooper Don Cooper
42026 Mario Bertolino Sings Songs of Naples Mario Bertolino
42027 Remember How Great, Vol. 1 Various Artists
42028 Remember How Great, Vol. 2 Various Artists
42029 Remember How Great, Vol. 3 Various Artists
42030 Cellophane Symphony Tommy James and the Shondells
42031 Remember How Great, Vol. 4 Various Artists
42032 Remember How Great, Vol. 5 Various Artists
42034 This Time Mario Bertolino
42035 Make Someone Happy Sonny Stitt
42036 Arzachel Arzachel
42037 Charisma Charisma
42038 Thundertree Thundertree
42039 Clarence "Frogman" Henry is Alive and Well Living in New Orleans Clarence Henry
42040 The Best of Tommy James and The Shondells Tommy James and the Shondells
42041 Alan Freed's Memory Lane Various Artists reissue of End 314
42042 Alan Freed's Top 15 Various Artists reissue of End 315
42043 Roots and Branches Don Crawford
42044 Travelin' Tommy James and the Shondells
42045 The Best of Ronnie Hawkins Featuring His Band Ronnie Hawkins
42046 Bless The Children Don Cooper
42047 Morganmasondowns Morgan Mason Downs
42048 Stardust Sonny Stitt
42049 Morning Dew Morning Dew
42050 Maybe The Three Degrees
42051 Tommy James Tommy James
42052 Alive N Kickin' Alive N Kickin'
42053 George Nardello George Nardello
42054 Beasts and Fiends Charisma
42055 Would You Understand My Nakedness? Don Crawford
42056 Ballad of C.P. Jones Don Cooper
42057 Hog Heaven Hog Heaven
42058 Dust Bowl Clementine Dust Bowl
42060 Brand X Oscar Brand
42061 Rosko Reads the Giving Tree and Other Selected Poems William (Rosko) Mercer
42062 Christian of the World Tommy James
42063 Babatunde Olatunji Babatunde Olatunji

3000 Pop Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
3001 Christian of the World Tommy James
3002 Ilmo Smokehouse Ilmo Smokehouse
3003 The Best of Basie Count Basie & His Orchestra
3004 Harlem River Drive Harlem River Drive
3005 Another Shade of Black Don Crawford
3006 Murmur of the Heart Soundtrack
3007 My Head, My Bed and My Red Guitar Tommy James and the Shondells
3008 Very Special Love Tony Darrow
3009 What You Feel is How You Grow Don Cooper
3010 Now We're Even Clinic
3011 Fluff Fluff
3012 Fur Coats and Blue Jeans Deidre McCalla
3013 Ecstasy, Passion & Pain Ecstasy, Passion & Pain
3014 Truth Truth
3015 So Much Love The Three Degrees
3016 Out Among Em' Love Child's Afro Cuban Blues Band
3017 Way to No. 1 Poison
3018 Sunshine Sunshine
3019 The Atomic Mr. Basie Count Basie
3020 Transformed Trini Lopez

Birdland Jazz Series

[edit]

The Roulette 52000 Birdland Series of 12 inch LPs commenced in 1958 and consists of 124 album releases over 10 years.[9]

Catalog Album Artist Notes
52001 Life Is a Many Splendored Gig Herb Pomeroy Orchestra
52002 Appearing Nightly Mitchell-Ruff Duo
52003 Basie Count Basie Orchestra aka E=MC2 and The Atomic Mr. Basie
52004 Movin' In Specs Powell & Co.
52005 A Man Ain't Supposed to Cry Joe Williams
52006 Kenya-Afro Cuban Jazz Machito & His Orchestra
52007 Count Basie Presents Eddie Davis Trio + Joe Newman Eddie Davis Trio and Joe Newman
52008 The Rites of Diablo Johnny Richards
52009 Locking Horns Joe Newman & Zoot Sims Rerelease of Rama Records LP
52010 Southern Breeze Jeri Southern
52011 Basie Plays Hefti Count Basie & Orchestra
52012 A Message from Newport Maynard Ferguson
52013 Mitchell-Ruff Duo Plus Strings and Brass Mitchell-Ruff Duo
52014 Joe Newman with Woodwinds Joe Newman
52015 Monday Night at Birdland Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Billy Root and Lee Morgan
52016 Jeri Southern Meets Johnny Smith Jeri Southern
52017 'Round Midnight Dee Lawson
52018 Sing Along with Basie Count Basie, Joe Williams, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
52019 Eddie Davis Trio Featuring Shirley Scott, Organ Eddie Davis Trio
52020 Sweet Talk Kitty White
52021 Memories Ad-Lib Count Basie & Joe Williams
52022 Another Monday Night at Birdland Hank Mobley, Curtis Fuller, Billy Root and Lee Morgan
52023 Sweetenings Harry "Sweets" Edison
52024 Basie One More Time Count Basie Orchestra
52025 Jazz for Juniors Mitchell-Ruff Duo
52026 Machito with Flute to Boot Machito
52027 A Message from Birdland Maynard Ferguson Orchestra
52028 Breakfast Dance and Barbecue Count Basie and His Orchestra featuring Joe Williams
52029 Basie/Eckstine Incorporated Count Basie & Billy Eckstine
52030 Joe Williams Sings About You Joe Williams
52031 Piano Portraits by Phineas Newborn Phineas Newborn, Jr.
52032 Chairman of the Board Count Basie
52033 Everyday I Have the Blues Joe Williams with Count Basie and His Orchestra
52034 Jazz Mission to Moscow Mitchell-Ruff Duo
52035 Illinois Jacquet Plays Cole Porter Illinois Jacquet
52036 Dance Along with Basie Count Basie and His Orchestra
52037 The Sound of Music Mitchell-Ruff Duo
52038 Maynard Ferguson Plays Jazz for Dancing Maynard Ferguson
52039 That Kind of Woman Joe Williams
52040 England's Ambassador of Jazz Johnny Dankworth
52041 Patented by Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison Quintet
52042 In the Vernacular John Handy III
52043 I Love a Piano Phineas Newborn, Jr.
52044 Not Now, I'll Tell You When Count Basie
52045 School of Rebellion Bill Russo
52046 Dreamy Sarah Vaughan
52047 Newport Suite Maynard Ferguson
52048 My Crying Hour Cora Lee Day
52049 Gretsch Drum Night at Birdland Various Artists
52050 The Most Volume 1 Various Artists
52051 String Along with Basie Count Basie
52052 No Cover, No Minimum Billy Eckstine
52053 The Most Volume 2 Various Artists
52054 Just the Blues Joe Williams & Count Basie
52055 Let's Face the Music and Dance Maynard Ferguson
52056 Kansas City Suite Count Basie & His Orchestra
52057 The Most Volume 3 Various Artists
52058 No Coast Jazz John Handy Quartet
52059 Collaboration Johnny Dankworth
52060 The Divine One Sarah Vaughan
52061 Count Basie/Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan & Count Basie
52062 The Most Volume 4 Various Artists
52063 Seven Deadly Sins Bill Russo
52064 Maynard '61 Maynard Ferguson
52065 Basie at Birdland Count Basie
52066 Sentimental and Melancholy Joe Williams
52067 Gretsch Drum Night Volume 2 Various Artists
52068 Two's Company Maynard Ferguson & Chris Connor
52069 Together Joe Williams & Harry "Sweets" Edison
52070 After Hours Sarah Vaughan
52071 Have a Good Time with Joe Williams Joe Williams
52072 Count Basie Swings, Tony Bennett Sings Count Basie & Tony Bennett
52074 Together for the First Time Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington
52075 The Most Volume 5 Various Artists
52076 "Straightaway" Jazz Themes Maynard Ferguson
52078 Conga Soul Candido
52079 Soul Brother Harold Corbin
52080 A Night at Count Basie's Lee Perri Trio
52081 The Best of Basie Count Basie
52082 You're Mine You Sarah Vaughan
52083 Maynard '62 Maynard Ferguson
52084 Si! Si! M.F. Maynard Ferguson
52085 Swingin' Night at Birdland Joe Williams
52086 The Legend Count Basie
52087 Big Band Jazz from the Summit Louis Bellson
52088 Lalo = Brilliance Lalo Schifrin
52089 The Best of Basie Vol. 2 Count Basie
52090 Maynard '63 Maynard Ferguson
52091 Snowbound Sarah Vaughan
52092 The Explosive Side of Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan
52093 Back to Basie & the Blues Count Basie Orchestra & Joe Williams Compilation
52094 The Best of Birdland Volume 1 John Coltrane / Lee Morgan split album
52095 Skin Burns Ron Burns
52096 Jazz from Abroad Johnny Dankworth
52097 Bobo's Beat Willie Bobo
52098 The Mighty Two Louis Bellson & Gene Krupa
52099 Basie in Sweden Count Basie
52100 Star Eyes Sarah Vaughan
52101 Message from Maynard Maynard Ferguson
52102 One Is a Lonesome Number Joe Williams
52103 The Great Reunion Louis Armstrong & Duke Ellington
52104 The Lonely Hours Sarah Vaughan
52105 New Kind of Love Joe Williams
52106 Easin' It Count Basie
52107 Maynard '64 Maynard Ferguson
52108 We Three Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, & Joe Williams
52109 The World of Sarah Vaughan Sarah Vaughan
52110 The World of Maynard Ferguson Maynard Ferguson
52111 The World of Basie Volume 1 Count Basie
52112 Sweet 'n' Sassy Sarah Vaughan
52113 Back with Basie Count Basie
52114 My Fair Lady Johnny Richards
52115 The Return of Bud Powell Bud Powell
52116 Sarah Sings Soulfully Sarah Vaughan
52117 Big Band Scene '65 Count Basie/Maynard Ferguson
52118 Sarah + 2 Sarah Vaughan
52119 Live! Billy Strayhorn
52120 Explorations Louis Bellson/Lalo Schifrin
52121 Jazz John Handy
52122 Afro-Jazziac Herbie Mann & Machito
52123 Sarah Slightly Classical Sarah Vaughan
52124 Quote, Unquote John Handy Compilation

5000 Jazz Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
5000 Finally, Betty Carter Betty Carter
5001 'Round Midnight Betty Carter
5002 Stardust Sonny Stitt Reissue of What's New!!
5003 Backgammon Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
5004 Songs of the Bad Old Days Pearl Bailey
5005 Now It's My Turn Betty Carter
5006 The Nonet Lee Konitz
5007 Evening Breeze Leo Wright
5008 Gypsy Folk Tales Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers
5009 Estimated Time of Arrival Bobby Watson

2-LP Birdland Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
1 The Count Basie Story Count Basie
2 The Birdland Story Various Artists

500 Comedy Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
501 Saloon Society Bill Manville
502 Prose from the Cons Jackie Kannon and the Convicts of Southern Michigan Prison
503
504
505 Live! Jackie Kannon
506 Let's Play Strike! Transit Strike Interviews
507 The Truth About the Green Hornet Marty Allen and Steve Rossi

800 Soundtrack Series

[edit]

All of the soundtracks in this series were for films released in the United States during 1966.

Catalog Album Artist Notes
801 A Study in Terror John Scott
802 The Russian Adventure Aleksandr Lokshin
803 Sleeping Beauty Boris Khaykin
804 The Peach Thief Simeon Pironkov
805 Four in the Morning John Barry

80000 Original Cast Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
80001 Showgirl: Carol Channing Live Carol Channing

10 Original Cast Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
11 Billy Noname Original Cast

100 Echoes Series

[edit]

Reissue series from used by the label during 1973. Not all these albums have "Echoes of An Era" somewhere in the title - some do, some don't. They are two-album sets.

Catalog Album Artist Notes
101 Echoes of an Era: The Maynard Ferguson Years Maynard Ferguson
102 Echoes of an Era: The Count Basie Years Count Basie
103 Echoes of an Era: The Stan Getz Years Stan Getz
104 Echoes of an Era: The Dinah Washington Years Dinah Washington
105 Echoes of an Era: The Sarah Vaughan Years Sarah Vaughan
106 [10] Diz 'n' Bird: The Beginning Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker
107 Echoes of an Era: Count Basie with Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan Count Basie, Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan
108 Echoes of an Era: Music to Keep Your Husband Happy Sonny Lester
109 Echoes of an Era: The Louis Armstrong Years Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong
110 Echoes of an Era: The Maynard Ferguson and Herbie Mann Years Maynard Ferguson and Herbie Mann
111 Echoes of an Era Jack Tatum, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell & B. Taylor
112 Echoes of a Rock Era: The Early Years Various Artists
113 Echoes of a Rock Era: The Middle Years Various Artists
114 Echoes of a Rock Era: The Later Years Various Artists
115 Echoes of a Rock Era Various Artists
116 Echoes of an Era: Message From Newport/Newport Suite Maynard Ferguson
117 Echoes of an Era: Queen of the Blues Dinah Washington
118 Echoes of an Era: The Best of Count Basie Count Basie
119 Echoes of an Era: The Best of Stan Getz Stan Getz
120 Echoes of an Era: The Best of Charlie Parker Charlie Parker
121 Echoes of an Era Johnny Dankworth and Billy Strayhorn
122 Echoes of an Era: Maynard Ferguson '61/Si! Si! M.F. Maynard Ferguson
123 Echoes of an Era Stan Getz and Sonny Stitt
124 Echoes of an Era: Kansas City Suite/Easin' It Count Basie
125 Echoes of an Era: The Immortal Dinah Washington Dinah Washington
126 Echoes of an Era Count Basie, Stan Getz and Sarah Vaughan
127 Echoes of an Era: Birdland Live at Carnegie Hall Various Artists
128 Echoes of an Era Joe Newman, Zoot Sims, John Coltrane and Ray Draper
129 Echoes of an Era Jackie McLean Quintet and Sextet
130 Echoes of an Era: Bantu Afrika Randy Weston
131 Echoes of an Era Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers
132 Echoes of an Era: Vernacular John Handy

59000 Original Rock N' Roll Hits Series

[edit]

This was the label's final effort at repackaging its old recordings.

Catalog Album Artist Notes
59001 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 1 Various Artists
59002 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 2 Various Artists
59003 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 3 Various Artists
59004 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 4 Various Artists
59005 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 5 Various Artists
59006 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 6 Various Artists
59007 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 7 Various Artists
59008 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 8 Various Artists
59009 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 50s, Volume 9 Various Artists
59010 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 10 Various Artists
59011 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 11 Various Artists
59012 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 12 Various Artists
59013 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 13 Various Artists
59014 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 14 Various Artists
59015 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 15 Various Artists
59016 Original Rock 'N Roll Hits of the 60s, Volume 16 Various Artists

9000 African Series

[edit]

These albums, which were acquired by Roulette for U.S. distribution, were recorded in the continent of Africa.

Catalog Album Artist Notes
9001 Songs of New Nations The De Paur Chorus
9002 Life in the Bush Various Artists
9003 Music of West Africa Various Artists
9004 Dahomey Guinee Various Artists

65000 International Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
9001 Uhuru Afrika Randy Weston
65002 Around the World in Percussion Louis Bellson

75000 Classical Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
75001 J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1 & 2 Harry Newstone and the Hamburger Kammerorchester
75002 J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 & 4 Harry Newstone and the Hamburger Kammerorchester
75003 J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6 Harry Newstone and the Hamburger Kammerorchester

100 Demo Series

[edit]
Catalog Album Artist Notes
100 Roulette Presents a Demonstration of the New Dimensional Sound of Dynamic Stereo Various Artists

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "For Tommy James, the past is the future". Blog.chron.com. July 5, 2010. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
  2. ^ Broven, John (February 26, 2009). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. ISBN 9780252032905. Retrieved July 22, 2013 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 145. CN 5585.
  4. ^ Simpson, Dave (30 July 2019). "How we made I Think We're Alone Now: Tommy James and Tiffany on their shared hit". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  5. ^ SANCHEZ, JESUS (June 2, 1989). "Rhino Records, EMI Buy Roulette's Labels : Owners Plan to Re-Release Music From Catalogue Morris Levy Compiled". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2018 – via LA Times.
  6. ^ "The Roulette Story by Various Artists". apple.com. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original on June 5, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  7. ^ "Warner Music Group Completes Acquisition of Parlophone Label Group". Warner Music Group. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  8. ^ Edwards, D. & Callahan, M., Roulette Album Discography, Part 1 Archived November 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 9, 2015
  9. ^ Edwards, D. & Callahan, M. Roulette Album Discography, Part 3 Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine, accessed November 10, 2015
  10. ^ From personal copy