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Tops Records was a Los Angeles-based record label owned by Tops Music Enterprises, both founded in 1947 by Carl L. Doshay and Sam Dickerman. After a prolific and profitable run, Tops merged with PRI Records in 1958, which in turn, sold to a group of investors in 1960, then went bankrupt in about 1962. Its assets — which included a huge library of recordings — were sold to Pickwick Records, a label that had been its main competitor throughout the 1950s.[1] Pickwick's assets were purchased by PolyGram Records in the late 1970s.

Selected artists

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Many of Tops releases were produced as low-priced knock-offs of hits. Some of the artists used pseudonyms.

Pseudonymous artists
George Jones made some his first records for Tops under the name Hank Smith & The Nashville Playboys

Selected staff

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Late 1940s
  • Carl L. Doshay (1917–2010), founder and president
  • Sam Dickerman (1915–2000), founder and vice president
  • Corky Carpenter (pseudonym of Amos Randolph Carpenter; 1922–1986), A&R
  • Harold Spina, A&R
  • Dave Pell, producer
1960s
  • Louis Capone, joined Tops in October 1962 as Vice President
  • Norm Wieland, joined Tops January 2, 1962, as sales manager; he previously had been in sales for Billboard in New York[2]


Discography (incomplete)

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First release

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Borney Bergantine (1909–1952) (music)
Betty Peterson Blasco (née Betty Peterson; 1918–2006) (words)
Blasco Music, Inc.
Betty Peterson was the wife of the publisher, Louis O. Blasco (1903–1954)
Sunny Skylar (1913–2009) (w&m)

Selected singles, 78 and 45 rpm

[edit]
45s were also released under the "Hollywood Hit Club" label, a Tops label
  • 45–R280 (1956)
Side A: "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Heartbreak Hotel"
Hank Smith and the Nashville Playboys
Side B: "Juke Box Baby" / "Rock Island Line"
Bud Roman / Scat Benny

10-inch 33+1⁄3 rpm LPs issued with a paper sleeve

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Tops Masterpieces (series)

  • L100 – Six All-Time Favorites Series
  • L101 – Six All-Time Hits, John Laurenz (195?)
  • L103 – Instrumental All-Time Hits / Western All-Time Hits (with vocal)
The Plainsmen / Ozie Waters (né Vernon Scott Waters; 1903–1979) (vocals)
  • L105 – Tops Presents Square Dances: Six All-Time Favorites, Virg Honeycutt & His Cimarron Rangers (195?)
  • L900 – Tops Masterpieces Series
Issued with a cardboard sleeve that was open at the top and had foldover flaps down the left and right sides of the back of the jacket
  • L901 – Organ Favorites, Beverly Laine (195?)
  • L902 – Strauss Waltzes, Royal Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L903 – Favorite Hymns, Christian Chapel Choir (195?)
  • L904 – Polka Party, Polkateers (195?)
  • L905 – American Waltzes, Jack Owens with Roy Shields Orchestra (195?)
  • L906 – Music for Listening, Al Sack Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L907 – South of the Border Favorites, Al Sack Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L908 – Rhumba Favorites, Henry King (195?)
  • L909 – All Time Favorites, Tops All Star Orchestra (195?)
  • L910 – Lena Horne Sings, Lena Horne (195?)
  • L911 – "William Tell Overture" and "Dance of the Hours," Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L912 – Piano Favorites, Sondra Bianca (195?)
  • L913 – Die Fledermaus Overture, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L914 – Nutcracker Suite, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L915 – Cole Porter Hits, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
  • L916 – Oklahoma, Tops All Star Orchestra (195?)
  • L917 – Pop Concert, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L918 – South Pacific, Hal Lomen Orchestra (né Halsten Ole Lomen; 1913–1991) (195?)
  • L919 – Irving Berlin Hits, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
  • L920 – Larry Clinton Plays For Dancing, Larry Clinton Orchestra (195?)
  • L921 –
  • L922 –
  • L923 – Twilight on the Trail, John Laurenz with Joe Venuti Orchestra (195?)
  • L924 – Rhapsody in Blue, Richard Berkman, piano (195?)
  • L925 – George Gershwin Favorites, All Star Cast (Various Artists) (195?)
Artists include: Jeannie McKeon, Lena Horne & Phil Moore Orchestra, Eddie Krawll, Allen Shrader Orchestra, Roy Bargy Orchestra, and the Al Sack Orchestra
  • L926 – Square Dance Party (With and Without Calls), Cimarron Rangers (195?)
  • L927 – Music for Dreaming, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
  • L928 – Junior Jazz at the Auditorium, Various Artists (195?)
1954 all-star session with Howard McGhee, Jack McVea, Lucky Thompson, Irving Ashby, Jimmy Bunn, Red Callender, and Jackie Mills
  • L929 – Jazz Technocracy, Earle Spencer & His Orchestra (195?)
  • L930 – Hot Piano, Wilbert Baranco & His Orchestra (195?)
  • L931 – Moanin' Low, Lena Horne (195?)
  • L932 – Latin Rhythms, Henry King & His Orchestra (195?)
  • L933 – Kiddie Favorites (195?)
  • L934 – Sentimental Favorites, Barclay Allen at the Piano; Vocals by John Laurenz (195?)
  • L935 – Hawaiian Favorites, Akoni Loni & His Islanders (195?)
  • L936 – Honky Tonk Piano, Lew "Ace" Raymond (195?)
  • L937 – Peer Gynt Suite, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
  • L938 – Warsaw Concerto, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
  • L939 – Scheherezade, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
  • L940 – Roumanian Rhapsody, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
  • L941 – Western Favorites, Various Artists (195?)
Artists include Ozie Waters, Bob Sandy, the Plainsmen, and the Rhythm Rangers
  • L942 – Rigoletto: Acts I & II, Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House, Rome (195?)
  • L943 – Rigoletto: Acts III & IV, Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House, Rome (195?)
  • L944 – Songs of Faith, Family Altar Quartet (195?)
  • L945 – Barber Shop Ballads, Four Rhythmaires (195?)
Lew Raymond, Organ
  • L946 – Music for Lovers, John Laurenz (195?)
  • L947 – Caravan of Favorites, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
  • L948 – Jazz Jamboree, Earl Spencer & His Orchestra (195?)
  • L949 – Music for Romance, Roy Bargie & His Orchestra (195?)
  • L950 – Pop Serenade, All Star Cast (Various Artists) (195?)
  • L951 – Cool and Crazy!, All Star Swing Orchestras (Various Artists) (195?)
  • L952 – Over the Rainbow, Phil Moore, piano (195?)
  • L953 –
  • L954 – Richard Berkman Plays Great Piano Gems, Richard Berkman (195?)
  • L955 – Stephen Foster Favorites, Eddie Truman
  • L956 –
  • L957 – Songs You Remember, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
  • L958 – Music for Dining
  • L959 – Music to Love By, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (1957)
  • L960 – Music for Sweethearts, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
  • L961 – Parade of Favorites, Jay Wilbur conducts the Melbourne Concert Orchestra (195?)
  • L962 – One Night of Love, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
  • L963 – Memories of You
  • L964 – Music for Reminiscing
  • L965 – World Favorites, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
  • L966 – Serenade for Strings
  • L967 – Favorites for Listening
  • L968 – Music for Moonlight
  • L969 – Songs from the Heart
  • L970 – Moonlight Cocktails, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
Jay Wilbur Concert Orchestra
  • L971 – Candlelight Favorites
  • L972 – Concert for Listening
  • L973 – Concert of Favorites
  • L974 – Songs of the Dawn, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Jay Wilbur
  • L975 – Midnight Serenade, Jay Wilbur (195?)
  • L976 – Musical Gems
  • L977 – Light Classical Favorites
  • L978 – Caprice for Strings
  • L979 – Melodies on the Move
  • L980 – Soft Lights and Sweet Music
  • L981 – Music for Relaxing, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Jay Wilbur
  • L982 – Songs for Young Lovers
  • L983 – Down Memory Lane
  • L984 – Songs of the Open Road
  • L985 – Concert Americana
  • L986 - Music for Midnight
  • L987 – Ballet Music
  • L988 – Favorite Overtures
  • L989 – Classical Favorites (Vol. I)
  • L990 – Classical Favorites (Vol. II)

LP Records

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  • L1501 – Square Dance Party
  • L1502 – Lena Horne
  • L1503 – Nutcracker Suite
  • L1504 – Classic Favorites
  • L1505 – Music For Listening
  • L1506 – Porter and Berlin Favorites
  • L1507 – Music To Love By, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (1957)
  • L1508 – Jazz Greats
  • L1509 – Honky Tonk Piano
  • L1510 – Twelve Top Hits, the then current best–selling songs as listed by the nation's leading disk jockeys
  • L1511 – Rock & Roll with Scatman Crothers
  • L1512 – Organ Favorites
  • L1513 – Favorite Hymns
  • L1514 – All–Time Favorites
  • L1515 – World's Greatest Overtures
  • L1516 – Piano Recital
  • L1517 – Hawaiian Favorites
  • L1518 – Rock and Roll With Joe Houston
  • L1519 – Themes From The Movies
  • L1520 – Strauss Waltzes
  • L1521 – Modern Jazz
  • L1522 – Sweet Georgia Brown
  • L1523 – Page Cavanaugh
  • L1524 – Music For A Lonely Night
  • L1525 – Christmas Favorites
  • L1526 – Party Favorites
  • L1527 – Music For Day Dreaming
  • L1528 – Charlie Ventura
  • L1529 – Holiday In Italy
  • L1530 – 24 Kiddie Favorites
  • L1531 – Time On My Hands
  • L1532 – Concert in Jazz, Earle Spencer and his Orchestra
  • L1533 – Barrelhouse Piano
  • L1534 – HiFi Piano
  • L1535 – A Night In Havana
  • L1536 – Rhapsody In Blue
  • L1537 – My Fair Lady
  • L1538 – Holiday In France
  • L1539 – Scheherezade
  • L1540 – A Tribute To Eddie Duchin
L1541–L1550 (??)
  • L1551 – Silhouettes Holiday for Strings
L1552–L1556 (??)
  • L1557 – Penthouse Serenade
Jay Gordon Concert Orchestra
L1558–L1560 (??)
L1564–L1569 (??)
  • L1570 – Pied Pipers Tribute to Tommy Dorsey]]
  • L1571 –
  • L1572 – The Roaring 20's (Banjo in Hi-Fi) (1957)
Paul Martin and His Old Timers, featuring the banjo of Paul Martin
Curt Massey and Martha Tilton
L1578–L1587 (??)
  • L1588 – Sons of the Purple Sage
  • L1589 – Robert Alda With Orchestra
Roy Sebastian, conductor
L1590 (??)
L1592–L1605 (??)
L1607–L1626 (??)
Arranged and conducted by Jerry Gray
  • L1628 –
  • L1629 –
  • L1630 –
  • L1631 –
  • L1632 –
  • L1633 –
  • L1634 – South Pacific
  • L1635 – Johnny Desmond ‎Swings
  • L1636 –
  • L1637 –
  • L1638 –
  • L1639 –
  • L1640 –
  • L1641 –
  • L1642 –
  • L1643 –
  • L1644 –
  • L1645 –
  • L1646 –
  • L1647 –
  • L1648 –
  • L1649 –
  • L1650 –
  • L1651 – Let's All Sing
  • L1652 – Gigi
  • L1653 – Top Western Hits
  • L1655 – The Gay 90s with Beatrice Kay
  • L1665 – Harmonica Favorites, George Fields (1959)
  • L1666 – Tops Sampler (1959)
L1667–L1759 (??)
  • L1760 – The Shining Star, Kay Starr (vocalist)

CL Series

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  • CL1639 – All Star Blues

References

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Inline citations
  1. ^ "Tops/Mayfair Story," by Mike Callahan, David Edwards, and Patrice Eyries, Both Sides Now (newsletter of Michael A. Callahan; born 1945), McKinney, Texas (article last updated April 15, 2007)
  2. ^ "Norm Wieland Joins Tops Records Staff," Billboard, January 5, 1963, pg. 37


Category:Record labels established in 1947 Category:Blues record labels Category:Defunct record labels of the United States Category:1947 establishments in California

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