London Label Listing and info Pete Smith

London by Pete Smith First on Soul Source in 1997

LONDON-AMERICAN

This giant label is perhaps the most important collector's label of all time, spanning 3 decades and churning out rarity after rarity, with some of the most valuable items from the rock and roll era going way into four figures. London deserves a book to itself (an excellent complete discography was published by record Information Services in the 80's and should still be available) so here is just a basic bit of information on the rather confusing prefixing system that the label used. All London singles have the prefix HL. This is then followed by the number, or in many cases, an extra letter before the number e.g. HLK, HLU etc. This third letter is a code for exporting. HL refers to 'Home London', whilst the third letter, let's just say for instance 'A' (making the prefix HLA) means that the record could be exported to all countries except the USA, Canada and South America.

London were an early convert to the 7" 45 rpm format and many of their early releases are highly prized. All releases on London featuring gold lettering on a black background should be snapped up immediately, even if it's by the likes of Pat Boone.

HLU 8853 was probably the first 'silver top' release, in April 1959. This sees the top half of the label change from plain black to silver, with the London logo at the top. The last triangular centre release was released in February 1960 (HLU 9050). The silver top label ran until 1967 when, alongside it's parent company Decca, it reverted to a plain label with a boxed logo at the top. This has thrown up a few anomalies: Charlie Rich's Love Is After Me is common as a black label, but rare as a silver top, even though it was never officially deleted in silver top format.

In the 50's, demos were always on two one sided discs, and so consequently over the years many of the pairings have been split up. If you truly want to own a demo of Barrett Strong's Money, then you'd need to track down two demos instead of one.

This process must have been phased out in 1960 as The Miracles' Shop Around is a double sided demo. All of the single sided demos are orange and feature a matrix number rather than a catalogue number. The catalogue number is often hand written on the label. 60's London demos came in a bewildering variety of styles. Very early 60's demos are usually orange with the 'Decca' style outer ring but no indication as to which is the A side. 1961-63 saw yellow, white and orange demos, notable for a large thin A which touches the sides of the label. Often the only information on the label of this type of demo is artist/title/number. Next demo was usually yellow or orange and featured a similar layout to the silver top issue and utilised the Decca style outer ring and featured a small A in the top left corner. This design seems to have been used until late 1969, when it was replaced with a maroon label demo with a box logo.

Interesting London facts!

8856 (Marv Johnson) and 8998 (Paul Gayten) were the first Motown records ever released in the UK. Although the label of the Johnson release credits the source as being United Artists, they licensed the record from Berry Gordy after it had become a local hit. Both of these singles had triangular centres and were also released as 78's.

Initial copies of Del Shannon's Runaway (9317) inadvertantly featured 9356 The Snake by Maximillian on the B side. The latter is a popular mod sound.

9291 Al Tousan was, as one might have guessed, Allen Toussaint, though some copies carry the mis-spelling Al Poussan.

Lou Johnson's London singles list the US label as being both Big Top and Big Hill, depending which single you come across. The UK release of the classic Unsatisfied runs about 5 seconds longer than the US original!

9393 (Bobby Parker), 9410 (Chris Kenner), 9451 (Ike & Tina Turner), 9513 (Barbara George) were all reissued on the Sue label.

9908 Round Robin was a protoge of Chubby Checker and was responsible for a short lived dance craze around the Philadelphia area called The Slauson.

10037 The American Poets had to undergo the name extension to avoid confusion with Scottish beatmeiseters The Poets (see also 'Manchesters' Playboys).

10070 Darrell Banks's magnificent double-sider appeared as a London demo before being swiftly withdrawn and reissued on Stateside three weeks later. The London demo gives the incomplete title to the B side (Our Love instead of Our Love (Is In The Pocket)), while the Stateside red and white demo gets the title of the top side wrong (Open The Door Of Your Heart instead of To). No silver top copies of Open The Door To Your Heart are known to exist - although someone knows someone who's cousin's sisters next door neighbour once saw a copy! If a silver top copy were to be found it would surely realise £1000+.

10090 Little Hank's Mister Bang Bang Man was one of the late 60's most in-demand items, having been withdrawn after being on sale for a few weeks. Issues would appear to be scarcer than demos, quantity wise. It was eventually reissued on Monument in 1970 to meet with 'discotheque' demand.

The 70's releases by Chubby Checker, Bunny Sigler, Bobby Paris, Yvonne Baker etc were credited to ABKCO Records. These are in fact all Cameo/Parkway recordings, the masters of which are owned by and leased from Alan B. Klein Co.

A handful of American labels had their first UK releases here on exclusively designed labels which incorporated their logo: London Atlantic, London Monument and London Dot being the best known.

8856 MARVJOHNSON Come to me / Whisper 50/70

8998 PAUL GAYTEN The hunch / Hot cross buns 50/70

9088 BARRETT STRONG Money (that's what I want) / Oh I apologise 50/80

9112 BO DIDDLEY Road runner / My story 25/40

9176 LITTLE WALTER My babe / Blue midnight 20/30

9209 SHIRLEY & LEE Let the good times roll / Keep loving me9226 IKE & TINA TURNER A fool in love / Thse way you love me

9265 MARV JOHNSON Happy days / Baby baby

9266 ROSIE & ORIGINALS Give me love / Angel baby

9276 MIRACLES Shop around / Who's lovin' you 40/70

9319 GENE McDANIELS A hundred pounds of clay / Take a chance on love 8/12

9358 BEN E. KING Stand by me / On the horizon 5/10

9366 MIRACLES Ain't it baby / The only one I love 40/70

9392 BOBBY PARKER Watch your step / Steal your heart away 20/25

9399 MAR-KEYS Last night / Night before 10/15

9410 CHRIS KENNER I like it like that / Part 2 8/12

9448 GENE McDANIELS Tower of strength / The secret 7/10

9449 MAR-KEYS Morning after / Diana 6/10

9451 IKE & TINA TURNER It's gonna work out fine / Won't you forgive me 6/10

9463 JUSTIN JONES Dance by yourself / Love 20/30

9481 SHOWMEN It will stand / Country fool 30/40

9496 ROBERT KNIGHT Free me / The other half of man 10/15

9510 MAR-KEYS Foxy / One degree North 8/12

9523 ARTHUR ALEXANDER You better move on / A shot of rhythm and blues 15/30

9544 BEN E. KING Hermit of misty mountain / Don't play that song 9565 FALCONS I found a love / Swim

9570 BENNY SPELLMAN Fortune teller / Lipstick traces 30/60

9571 SHOWMEN The wrong girl / I love you can't you see 55/75

9586 BEN E. KING Too bad / My heart cries for you 10/15

9595 BOOKER T. & the MG'S Green onions / Behave yourself 5/15

9631 BEN E. KING Walking in the footsteps of a fool / I'm standing by 8/15

9643 MEL TORME Coming home baby / Right now 8/20

9680 JIMMY HUGHES My lovin' time / I'm qualified 12/20

9681 SHEPHERD SISTERS Don't mention my name / What makes little girls cry 8/15

9689 JERRY JACKSON Gypsy eyes / Turn back9699 DRIFTERS On Broadway / Let the music play 6/12

9720 BARBARA LEWIS Hello stranger / Think a little sugar 10/20

9730 JAMES BROWN Prisoner of love / Choo choo9733 VOLUMES Sandra / Teenage paradise9743 RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS Little latin lupe lu / I'm so lonely 12/20

9749 DORIS TROY Just one look / Bossa nova blues 10/18

9750 DRIFTERS Rat race / If you don't come back 6/12

9757 GARNELL COOPER Green monkey / Long distance 12/20

9763 SOLOMON BURKE Stupidity / Can't nobody love you 12/20

9765 DARLENE LOVE Wait til my Bobby gets home / Take it from me 15/20

9768 HIGH KEYES Que sera sera / Daddy ooh long legs 8/15

9778 BEN E KING The beginning of time / I (who have nothing)

9779 BARBARA LEWIS Straighten up your heart / If you love her9805 LOU JOHNSON Magic potion / Reach out for me 20/35

9809 DYNAMICS Misery / I'm the man 20/30

9814 RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS My babe / Fe fi fidily I oh9820 CHARMETTES Please don't kiss me again / What is a tear 15/20

9832 BARBARA LEWIS Snap your fingers / Puppy love9837 CRYSTALS Uptown / Little boy (withdrawn)

9875 VIBRATIONS My girl Sloopy / Daddy woo woo

9881 RUBY & THE ROMANTICS Much better off than I've ever been / Our everlasting love 10/15

9886 DRIFTERS One way love / Didn't it 6/10

9897 DON & DEWEY Get your hat / Annie Lee9908 ROUND ROBIN Kick that little foot Sally Ann / Slauson party 20/35

9917 LOU JOHNSON Wouldn't that be something / Always something there to remind me 15/30

9918 BARBARA LYNN Oh baby ( we got a good thing goin') / Unfair

9925 BILL BLACKS COMBO Little queenie / Boo-ray 15/30

9926 WILLIE MITCHELL Secret home / 20-75 7/12

9932 TOMMY TUCKER Oh what a feeling / Wine bottles 20/40

9935 RUBY & the ROMANTICS I cry alone / When you're young and in love

9953 DOBIE GRAY The 'in' crowd / Be a man 8/20

9959 CAROLYN CARTER I'm thru / It hurts 15/20

9970 SOUL SISTERS Good time tonight / Foolish dreamer 20/35

9974 TINA BRITT The real thing / Teardrops fell 20/35

9976 RONETTES You baby / Is this what I get for loving you

9977 BARBARA MASON Keep him / Yes I'm ready 12/20

9981 LENNY WELCH Darling take me back / Time after time 8/12

9983 BURT BACHARACH / TONY MIDDLETON My little red book / What's new pussycat 15/25

9987 BABY WASHINGTON Only those in love / The ballad of Bobby Dawn9990 JAMES BROWN Papa's got a brand new bag / Part II 6/20

9994 LOU JOHNSON Unsatisfied / A time to love, a time to cry 30/60

9998 BONNIE & the TREASURES Home of the brave / Our song 15/20

9999 AL DE LORY Traffic jam / Yesterday10003 CASTAWAYS Liar, liar / Sam 12/15

10004 WILLIE MITCHELL That driving beat / Everything's gonna be alright 6/15

10009 INEZ & CHARLIE FOXX Hummingbird / If I need anyone

10010 LENNY WELCH Run to my lovin' arms / Coronet blue 8/15

10014 VOGUES Five o'clock world / Nothing to offer you 6/10

10020 STRANGELOVES Night time / Rhythm of love 10/15

10024 DARROW FLETCHER The pain gets a little deeper / My judgement day 40/60

10037 AMERICAN POETS She blew a good thing / Out to lunch 35/70

10038 EXCITERS Weddings make me cry / You better come home 15/25

10039 WILLIE MITCHELL Bad eye / Sugar T10057 JOE SIMON Long hot summer / A teenager's prayer 10/20

10059 JIMMY BEAUMONT You've got too much going for you / I never loved her anyway 30/75

10062 DONALD HEIGHT Talk of the grapevine / There'll be no tomorrow 35/50

10069 INTRUDERS Up and down the ladder / United 20/30

10070 DARRELL BANKS Open the door to your heart / Our love (Demo only) 250

10078 MARGARET WHITING Nothing lasts forever / Wheel of hurt 4/6

10081 IKETTES Whatcha gonna do / Down down10083 IKE & TINA TURNER A love like yours / Hold on baby

10085 WILLIE MITCHELL Mercy / Sticks and stones

10090 LITTLE HANK Mr. Bang Bang Man / Don't you know (Withdrawn) 30/50

10094 BARBARA LYNN You left the water running / Until I'm free

10102 KNICKERBOCKERS Please don't love him / Can you help me

10103 FREDDIE SCOTT Are you lonely for me baby / Where were you

10104 CHARLIE RICH Love is after me / Pass me by 15/20

10107 TOMMY G & the CHARMS I know what I want / I want you so bad

10114 MARGARET WHITING Just like a man / The world inside your arms 4/6

10116 DONALD HEIGHT 365 days / I'm willing to wait 25/35

10120 FORUM The river is wide / I fall in love 6/9

10121 EARL HARRISON Humphrey stomp / Can you forgive me 30/50

10123 FREDDIE SCOTT Cry to me / No one could ever love you

10129 EDDIE FLOYD You set my soul on fire / Will I be the one

10139 FREDDIE SCOTT Am I grooving you / Never you mind

10146 WILSON PICKETT Billy the kid / I don't want no part time love

10155 IKE & TINA TURNER I'll never need more than this / Save the last dance for me 4/6

10162 JERRYO Karate boogaloo / The pearl 5/15

10164 HELENA FERGUSON My terms / Where is the party 25/40

10169 FANTASTIC JOHNNY C Boogaloo down Broadway / Look what love can make you do 5/10

10174 BRENDA & the TABULATIONS Hey boy / When you're gone 6/12

10180 HESITATIONS Push a little harder / Born free 10181 GEORGE TORRENCE & NATURALS So Iong goodbye / Lickin' stick 5/10

10186 WILLIE MITCHELL Soul serenade / Buster Browne

10212 FANTASTIC JOHNNY C Hitch it to the horse / Cool Broadway

10215 WILLIE MITCHELL Prayer meeting / Rum Daddy

10217 IKE & TINA TURNER We need an understanding / It sho' ain't me 4/6

10220 ERMA FRANKLIN The right to cry / Don't catch the dog's bone 4/6

10224 WILLIE MITCHELL Up hard / Beale Street mood

10227 MARGARET WHITING Can't get you out of my mind / Maybe just once more

10230 UNIFICS Court of love / Which one should I choose

10233 JACKIE LEE The duck / Dancing in the street 4/6

10235 ROYAL GUARDSMEN So right ( to be in love) / Baby lets wait

10246 WILLIE MITCHELL Everything's gonna be alright / Mercy 4/6

10250 INEZ & CHARLIE FOXX Mockingbird / Hummingbird 4/6

10258 BILLY ADAMS Why don't you believe me / I need your love 4/6

10262 RAY BARRETTO Acid / Mercy mercy baby 4/6

10267 IKE & TINA TURNER I'll never need more than this / A love like yours 4/6

10268 DOBIE GRAY The in crowd / Be a man 4/6

10269 LOU JOHNSON Always something there to remind me / Message to Martha 4/6

10274 BOBBY BENNETT Baby try me / Big New York 4/6

10280 MARTHA VELEZ Tell mama / Swamp man 4/6

10282 WILLIE MITCHELL Young people / Kitten corner 4/6

10293 INTRIGUES In a moment / Scotchman rock 8/12

10352 DONNIE ELBERT Where did our love go / That's if you love me 3/5

10354 PONDEROSA TWINS + ONE Hey girl / You send me 4/6

10370 DONNIE ELBERT A little piece of leather / If I can't have you 3/5

10418 BOBO MR SOUL HItch-hiking to heartbreak / She's my woman

10464 HAMMOND BROTHERS & MAGGIE Soul over easy / Garbage man 3/4

10469 LARRY SAUNDERS On the real side / Let me be the special one 8/12

10479 MILT MATTHEWS All these changes / When kids rule the world 5/8

10480 McCOYS Fever / Hang on sloopy 3/5

10483 BILL BLACK'S COMBO Little Queenie / Boo ray 4/6

10489 ACE CANNON Sea cruise / Peace in the valley 4/6

10491 BARBARA MILLS Queen of fools / (Make it last) take your time 4/6

10507 JACK ASHFORD Do the choo choo / Version 2 4/5

10514 JEAN PLUM Look at the boy / Back at you 4/5

10515 CHUBBY CHECKER At the discotheque / Slow twistin' 4/6

10518 BUNNY SIGLER Girl don't make me wait / Let the good times roll 4/6

10545 WILLIE MITCHELL The champion / Part 2 5/6

10553 BOBBY PARIS Night owl / You didn't say a word (by Yvonne Baker) 5/6

10557 CHUBBY CHECKER You just don't know / Two hearts make one love 5/6

10579 RAY CHARLES Compared to what / Now that we've found each other 3/5