Hit Record Label (Jenny & Jewels Etc) Some Info

[Pete S]

Found a compilation called The Girl Groups Of Hit Records, thought the sleeve notes were interesting..

 

The Hit Records label was one of countless labels trying to cash in on the success of major artists and their hits of the day, All the artists names were for the most part fictitious, even though there were a few who used their own names like Bobby Russell...most, however, used fake names. Sandy Posey used Betty York, Betty Richards, and Sandy. Bobby Russell also used Thhe Jalopy five. Ray Stevens did background vocal for Speedy Gonzolez. Dot Hester and Clara & Cleftones and Dacrons and Gleams are all 16 year old Alpha Zoe...her pic is on the cover...one of few if any others to exist for this historic label. Olso on Hit were Benny Lattimore Brown who used the name Lattimore. Sammy Moore is Sam Morre of Sam & Dave. If its a hit...it's amazing!

[Jerry Hipkiss]

...and several people used the name Leroy Brown, Herbert Hunter being one of them...and Jenny and the Jewels were apparently The Avons (Ref-o-Ree etc.)...funny how these things come round, I came by some of that info last week, Tony Rounce knows a lot more, and there's some info on Dave Rimmer's site as well. Nice one Pete!

[Robbk]

The Ink Spots used their own name, as did a few other '50s groups and single artists.  But most used fake names, and most cuts were made by Caucasian non-stars (many of whom had had their own commercial records released, but mostly with no success at all.  Many of them also recorded "covers" of hits by hit artists on other budget "cover" labels.

[Rom1]

A lot of (more or less) interesting Motown covers on this budget label (Alpha Zoe "beat me to the punch", Gerry & the georgettes "Quicksand", Clara Wilson "My guy"...), but also original tracks as (popcorn classic) Bobby Brooks "Wise like soloman"

[Md Records]

"Some Day" credited to "Thomas Henry" on "Spar" but credited to "Leroy Jones" on "Hit"

[Kris Holmes]

Leroy Jones definitely one of the "cross artist" names.  There was a whole website on Hit which connected a lot of the dots, really interesting, interviews with artists etc.  A kind of interesting thing is that a lot of the Hit 45s are actually really early examples of stereo 45s.