ALBUM REVIEW
THE HISTORY OF DOT RECORDS - VOLS. 1 & 2 -
(Varèse Sarabande CDs # VSD 5686 & VSD 5687)
These 1996 releases, though far from complete, convey a good impression
of the scope of the Dot label. Though Dot turned out to be principally
a "pop" label, it also ventured into the R&B, Rock 'N' Roll, and Country
arenas. Samplings of all these styles are present in this set, and the enclosed 8-page booklets provide a reasonable amount of artist information.
Dot's history is rather interesting. In 1945 Randy Wood and William
Kirkpatrick were mustered out of the Air Force and opened a radio repair
business in Gallatin, Tennessee. "Kirk and Randy's" lasted a few months,
expanding into a broader range of electrical appliance repair, after
which Wood bought out Kirkpatrick's interest, and the establishment's
name became just "Randy's."
Around 1947, Randy began stocking phonograph records, and was talked
into advertising his record business on Nashville's WLAC. On the
strength of these ads, "Randy's Record Shop" soon became well-known
nationwide as one of the first mail order record dealers. I remember
hearing his ads on WLAC all the way "up north" in New York City on my parents' old Emerson table model radio in the early 1950s. The same programs that carried Randy's advertising also advertised goods which were strictly of interest to the agricultural community - I recall ads offering baby chicks for 10 cents apiece.
Around 1950, Randy decided to get into the business of making records, and
founded the Dot label. Randy moved the label from Gallatin to Hollywood
in 1956. He then sold the label to Paramount Pictures in 1958, while
remaining at its helm. When the Gulf+Western conglomerate took over
Paramount in 1967, Randy left. The label continued a separate existence
until around 1973, when it was absorbed into ABC-Paramount.
For a "little guy," the Dot label was pretty big. Dot discovered
several new acts and also provided national scope to records originally
released on local labels which could not fully exploit their potential, sometimes distributing them under their original marques, and sometimes releasing them on Dot.
Several genres on these two CDs - broad scope for your collection.
Dates shown are first dates on Billboard charts.
Volume 1 -
1. Young Love - Tab Hunter - (Dot #15533) 12 Jan 1957
2. Eddie My Love - The Fontaine Sisters (Dot #15450) 10 Mar 1956
3. Susie Darlin' - Robin Luke (Bertram Int'l #206 / Dot #15781) 11 Aug 1958
4. Ivory Tower - Gale Storm (Dot #15458) 28 Apr 1956
5. P.S. I Love You - Hilltoppers (Dot #15085) 13 Jun 1953
6. Dark Moon - Bonnie Guitar (Dot #15550) 13 Apr 1957
7. Anastasia - Pat Boone (Dot #15521) 22 Dec 1956
8. Melody Of Love - Billy Vaughn (Dot #15247) 11 Dec 1954
9. Confidential - Sonny Knight (Vita #137 / Dot #15507) 17 Nov 1956
10. Wonderful Summer - Robin Ward (Dot #16530) 2 Nov 1963
11. Letter From Sherry - Dale Ward (Dot #16520) 26 Dec 1963
12. Am I That Easy To Forget - Debbie Reynolds (Dot #15985) 18 Jan 1960
13. The World I Used To Know - Jimmie Rodgers (Dot # 16595) 30 May 1964
14. Cab Driver - The Mills Brothers (Dot #17041) 27 Jan 1968
Volume 2 -
1. Come Go With Me - The Dell-Vikings (Fee Bee #214 / Dot #15538) 16 Feb 1957
2. Ninety-Nine Ways - Tab Hunter (Dot #15548) 23 mar 1957
3. Rebel - Carol Jarvis (Dot #15586) 2 Sep 1957
4. The Fool - Sanford Clark (MCI #1003 / Dot #15481) 26 Jul 1956
5. Tell Him No - Travis And Bob (Sandy #1017) 23 Mar 1959
6. Pink Shoelaces - Dodie Stevens (Crystalette #724) 16 Feb 1959
7. Two Hearts - Pat Boone (Dot # 15338) 2 Apr 1955
8. Plaything - Nick Todd (Dot #15643) 21 Oct 1957
9. You Cheated - The Shields (Tender # 506 / Dot #15805) 25 Aug 1958
10. The Green Door - Jim Lowe (Dot #15486) 22 Sep 1956
11. Henrietta - Jimmy Dee & the Offbeats (Dot # 15684) 6 Jan 1958
12. Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs (Dot #16847) 21 Sep 1963
13. Chills & Fever - Ronnie Love & his Orchestra (Startime #5001 / Dot #16144) 9 Jan 1961
14. Anna (Go To Him) - Arthur Alexander (Dot #16387) 27 Oct 1962
Copyright © 2002 - Doo Wop Gino
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Last updated 30 January 2002.
