Great and somewhat underappreciated label which lasted from the late 60s into the early 80s.
Man behind it appeared to be John Bennings as reported in Billboard Magazine on 10 August 1968. Anyone have any information on Bennings and the label?
Ostensibly a label built around Lily Fields as she featured on releases right through the life of the label .. although she briefly appeared on Paramount, Chumley and Sunburst in the mid 70s and then returned. Information on Lily Fields seems to be fairly sparse though ....
Any information on the other artists ? The northern scene is well acquainted with Hoagy Lands , Ronnie Mitchell and Billy Sha Rae but what of the others? Is Top Shelf the same outfit as on Lo Lo Records ?
The discography of Dave Rimmer and John Reed on Soulfulkindamusic (trust Dave doesn't object to it being reproduced here) has some gaps though . Anyone have information on these gaps ?
Spectrum
101 - Lilly Fields - How You Give Me Love / On The Weekend - ?
102 - Ronnie Mitchell - Soul Touch / Back In Business - 1968
103 - Lillie Fields - I've Been Discovered / The Price Is Right - 1968
104 - Ronnie Mitchell - Hang Loose / A Man Ain't no Stronger Than His Heart - 1968
105 - Louis Younger - Night Chick / A Friend In Need - 1968
106 - Reggie Lavong b/w The Shiloh Pentecostal Choir - Skin Deep / Peace Happiness & Joy - ?
107 - Lillie Fields - Crying Candle / A Boy In A Mans World - ?
108 - Louis Younger - Loneliness Won't Leave Me / Night Chick - ?
109 - ?
110 - ?
111 - Bernard Smith - Never Let Me Go / Man Without Peace - ?
112 - Lillie Fields - I've Been Discovered / On The Weekend - ?
113 - Ronnie Mitchell - Back In Business / Loving Is A Pleasure - 1969
114 - Billy Sha-Rae - Do It / Crying Clown - 1969
115 - Soul Serveres - I Got It / I Got It (Part 2) - 1969
116 - Lily Fields & Hoagy Lands - Beautiful Music / Crying Candle - 1969
117 - Lily Fields - I've Forgotten To Cry / I'll Get Along Somehow - ?
118 - Lily Fields & Hoagy Lands - Sweet Soul (Brother) / A Boy In A Mans World - 1970
119 - Top Shelf - Stop And Listen (Open Your Heart) / Let Them Keep On Talking - ?
120 - Billy Sha-Rae - I'm Gone / Lets Do it Again - ?
121 - Lily Fields - The Price Is Right / No Sad Songs - ?
122 - Hoagy Lands - Why Didn't You Let Me Know / Do You Know What Life Is All About - 1971
123 - Lily Fields - How You Give Me Love / I Can't Stand This Hurt - ?
124 - Top Shelf - You're Hurting Me / Doggone Baby I Love You - ?
125 - Angela Simpson - Little Children Part I / Little Children Part II - 1972
126 - Hoagy Lands & Lily Fields - Beautiful Music / When Love Comes - 1971
127 - Lily Fields - I Have A Dream / Abraham, Martin And John - 1971
128 - Lily Fields & The Family - Once You Understand / Help Me Make It Through The Night - 1971
129 - Hoagy Lands - Reminisce / Why Didn't You Let Me Know - 1971
130 - Hoagy Lands - Do It Tight / A Man Ain't No Stronger Than His Heart - 1972
131 - ?
132 - ?
133 - ?
134 - ?
135 - Monarch - Dirty Music / Music Man - ?
136 - ?
137 - Bad Bascomb - Funk City / Crocodile - ?
138 - Lily Fields Bad Bascomb Band - The Weekend / Disco Santa - ?
139 - Lily Fields - Pleasure Me / I'll Get Along Somehow - ?
140 - Hoagy Lands - The Bell Ringer / The Bell Ringer (Instrumental) - 1976
141 - Lily Fields - Lover / Honestly I Love You - 1976
142 - ?
143 - Bad Bascomb Band - Do It Twice / Funk City - (12" has the same number) - ?
144 - ?
145 - Lily Fields - He's A Wonder - Pt 1 / He's A Wonder - Pt 2 - ?
160 - Tommy Clark b/w Lily Fields - What Cha Gonna Do (A Mind) / He's A Wonder - (12") 1982
161 - Tommy Clark b/w Lily Fields - What Cha Gonna Do (A Mind) / He's A Wonder - 1982
Discography by John Reed
A personal fave on the label: