Firstly I would like to say how much I admire collectors who collect labels/artists. I have never had the discipline to do this personally & have always collected randomly, however I am thinking of starting to collect labels & wanted to start with Okeh, one of the most iconic Chicago labels.

From a Soul/Northern Soul perspective where do collectors of the label start, is it just the 6ts output/period ?, or is there a logical release number to start with ?. I would like to collect only WD, so what is the crack with the big red 'A', which releases have these, is there a definitive list or is it just pot luck ? are these rarer ?. I would also like to know if any of the releases came with picture sleeves or coloured vinyl (I'm only interested in USA first presses BTW).

Is there a styrene/vinyl issue with Okeh releases ( were there issues in both ?) & are there East & West Coast label variations ?.

What is considered to be the hardest/rarest release from the 6ts period.

Thank you very much for any information.

Happy New Year

Russ

For me, my starting point was when Carl Davis joined Okeh around 62/63. For me its collecting issues rather than WD's.

  On 06/01/2011 at 09:46, John Reed said:

For me, my starting point was when Carl Davis joined Okeh around 62/63. For me its collecting issues rather than WD's.

Thank you John..........them pesky WD's look so damn sexy tho', 'specially them big red 'A's..........anyone know the date Carl Davis joined

Okeh ?.

Best Russ

This is a quote from here:

https://www.bsnpubs.com/columbia/okeh/okeh.html

In June, 1962, Dave Kapralik, the head of the A&R department at Columbia, hired veteran Chicago producer Carl Davis as an A&R producer for the Columbia label and in April, 1963, made him the A&R director for OKeh. Davis immediately hired Curtis Mayfield as an Associate Producer; Mayfield was at that time a singer/songwriter with the Impressions and a much-respected figure in the Chicago music scene. Davis and Mayfield were able to rejuvenate the label and within a year OKeh became a major soul label. Almost all of the hits on OKeh were written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Carl Davis in Chicago. The sound that Davis and Mayfield created is often called "Chicago Soul". The music featured brass instruments and highly melodic vocals, and was the foundation for the later Chicago rock sound of groups like the Buckinghams, Mob, Mauds, and the Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago], who picked up on the brass, especially. The "Chicago Soul" records did not have the hard rock and roll beat that characterized the Motown and Stax soul records of the time, but reflected an easier, more relaxed, mood. Carl Davis had huge hits with Major Lance, and moderate chart hits with Ted Taylor, Walter Jackson, Billy Butler and the Enchanters and the Artistics.

  On 06/01/2011 at 10:01, John Reed said:

This is a quote from here:

https://www.bsnpubs.c.../okeh/okeh.html

In June, 1962, Dave Kapralik, the head of the A&R department at Columbia, hired veteran Chicago producer Carl Davis as an A&R producer for the Columbia label and in April, 1963, made him the A&R director for OKeh. Davis immediately hired Curtis Mayfield as an Associate Producer; Mayfield was at that time a singer/songwriter with the Impressions and a much-respected figure in the Chicago music scene. Davis and Mayfield were able to rejuvenate the label and within a year OKeh became a major soul label. Almost all of the hits on OKeh were written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Carl Davis in Chicago. The sound that Davis and Mayfield created is often called "Chicago Soul". The music featured brass instruments and highly melodic vocals, and was the foundation for the later Chicago rock sound of groups like the Buckinghams, Mob, Mauds, and the Chicago Transit Authority [Chicago], who picked up on the brass, especially. The "Chicago Soul" records did not have the hard rock and roll beat that characterized the Motown and Stax soul records of the time, but reflected an easier, more relaxed, mood. Carl Davis had huge hits with Major Lance, and moderate chart hits with Ted Taylor, Walter Jackson, Billy Butler and the Enchanters and the Artistics.

Cool........thx

Russ

A white demo in a company sleeve is something else Russ

Most of the records are styrene but I have a few like Major Harris and a copy of Um Um Um that are vinyl.

Some of the early stuff is good as well but never been into the 78's.

Thank you Tony, hope you are well buddy. Happy New Year.

Best Russ

  On 06/01/2011 at 09:18, Russ Vickers said:

Firstly I would like to say how much I admire collectors who collect labels/artists. I have never had the discipline to do this personally & have always collected randomly, however I am thinking of starting to collect labels & wanted to start with Okeh, one of the most iconic Chicago labels.

Russ

And so at last you join the fold.

Get ready to start buying BAD records!!

Regards,

Dave

Hi Russ Happy New Year to you as well, are you about this month or still in Baghdad selling those carpets.

I had seen a few jukebox EPs as well as some picture sleeves like Walter Jackson Up Hill, Major Lance Umm, Monkey Time, but The Seven Souls has a European picture cover so not sure if the US copy has as well.

Ooops forgot about the purple vinyl pressings as well.

Edited January 6, 201114 yr by Prophonics 2029

Hi Russ, I'm pretty sure that my demo copies of 'Delilah' and 'Found True Love' are Vinyl not too sure about my Major Harris I think it's styrene, I'll check when I get home. Maybe some of the earlier ones were vinyl and later ones styrene.

I'm sure someone much cleverer than me can confirm

  On 06/01/2011 at 09:18, Russ Vickers said:

Firstly I would like to say how much I admire collectors who collect labels/artists. I have never had the discipline to do this personally & have always collected randomly, however I am thinking of starting to collect labels & wanted to start with Okeh, one of the most iconic Chicago labels.

From a Soul/Northern Soul perspective where do collectors of the label start, is it just the 6ts output/period ?, or is there a logical release number to start with ?. I would like to collect only WD, so what is the crack with the big red 'A', which releases have these, is there a definitive list or is it just pot luck ? are these rarer ?. I would also like to know if any of the releases came with picture sleeves or coloured vinyl (I'm only interested in USA first presses BTW).

Is there a styrene/vinyl issue with Okeh releases ( were there issues in both ?) & are there East & West Coast label variations ?.

What is considered to be the hardest/rarest release from the 6ts period.

Thank you very much for any information.

Happy New Year

Russ

Russ just bite the bullet and buy buy them on Canadian EPIC lol

  On 06/01/2011 at 09:18, Russ Vickers said:

I am thinking of starting to collect labels & wanted to start with Okeh, one of the most iconic Chicago labels.

I think its a bit late to start collecting Okeh by numbers.

Unless you have a lot of money, you are going to have to buy a lot of records you will not like very much.

It was different in the old days before a lot of records had been discovered, it was worth collecting full labels because you would get some good semi/unknown records at a very cheap price.

In the 1970's for instance, I took a chance on a white demo of Johnny Robinson "Gone But Not Forgotten" because it was cheap and on a Okeh demo, but those days are long gone because collectors/sellers just about know everything on the big labels!! Price guides have spoiled label collecting, as the dealers know all the prices!

But to answer your question, if I was going to collect Okeh I would start around 7151 and upwards, because thats where my favorites are!!

also, if you're deciding to run the label in the 60s, it's not exactly a chicago label as so many of the tracks have absolutely nothing to do with chicago and the label wasn't based in chicago. maybe you should just try to collect the okeh chicago productions which are the classic titles anyways? you'll avoid buying lots of crappy titles too.

Russ,

Piss taking aside, if you're gonna start collecting labels why not start with something less daunting, (and financially crippling), than Okeh? You really want to spend 500 quid on a Sandi Sheldon Demo etc?

I'd choose a smaller, more interesting label like SoulVille/Jaywalking for instance. Won't break the bank, a diverse A & R roster, but will take a while to complete. Carnival is another that I enjoyed collecting. I wouldn't even contemplate starting on Okeh nowadays. Maybe once the arse has completely dropped out the oldies scene maybe.

Regards,

Dave

SOME OF THE EARLY OKEH LIKE BIG MAYBELLES iIVE GOT A FEELIN ARE QUITE HARD ON 45

THEN THE QUESTION IS WHAT ABOUT THE SOUL/RNB 78S DO YOU WANT TO COLLECT THEM AS WELL?

Can I throw Loma into the mix as well. Brilliant soul of all styles and a decent amount released.

I have been picking up bits and bobs and nothing over $20 so far.

Thank you everyone for all of your replies, a lot of food for thought, I just hope I have the discipline not to go off at too many tangents . I think Dave's suggestion of maybe starting with a less daunting label initially is good advise.

Thanks everyone.

Russ

Russ, do yourself a favour mate.....DON'T collect a label, just collect good records <----chunky's tip of the day

  On 07/01/2011 at 14:40, Val (Chunky) said:

Russ, do yourself a favour mate.....DON'T collect a label, just collect good records <----chunky's tip of the day

Too true. I started doing it with Curtom, Invictus and yellow Stax. Ended up with tunes I didn't like and Lena Zavaroni records which is not really something to brag about.

Val/John..............

To be honest thats what I have been doin for all these years, but got to thinkin' about label collectors, I aint gonna own all the 'odd' records that I would like ever, so maybe I'm missing summat & might get 'the' buzz from completing label runs instead, like I mentioned before, dont think I have the discipline to be honest.......I'm always searching for 'my' next big thing & whilst I hopefully find some damn good records along the way, its a never ending search. Once you get em, it all starts again..........its an illness & its never ending .

Russ

Collecting labels as Dave has said is neigh on impossible now particularly for the big labels.

You have to be prepared to buy something even when you know you don't like it and to pay a price that will stop you buying something you do like.

I'd think very carefully before starting something that may be impossible to finish. As a collector there's nothing more frustrating.

  On 07/01/2011 at 17:10, ged parker said:

Collecting labels as Dave has said is neigh on impossible now particularly for the big labels.

You have to be prepared to buy something even when you know you don't like it and to pay a price that will stop you buying something you do like.

I'd think very carefully before starting something that may be impossible to finish. As a collector there's nothing more frustrating.

Too right Ged. Ask any one of a hundred Golden World collectors that's still awaiting Dickie and The Ebbtides! :lol

Regards,

Dave