Bob Slade - The VeeJay Records Story - restored audio. Listen & Enjoy! No copyright infringement intended. Credit only to composers and artist. For historical and informational purposes only.
And for those of you have heard the sad news, Bob Slade, the guy who hosted this special along with “Soul Beginnings” and “Open Line” on WRKS formerly known as “Kiss-FM” has passed away. He was also a program director as well since the very beginning when he first came to WXLO around 1980 and then went to R&B in 1981 as “Kiss-FM” with a different call letters WRKS where they competing with WBLS. He remained on “Kiss-FM” for 25 years until the station ended in 2012 which is now ESPN Radio as a sports station. He received a Peabody Award for this special, and he will surely be missed. RIP: Bob Slade 😢
Very sad news to hear, I used to faithfully listen to his to shows on Kiss FM- Open Line, which was broadcast every Sunday morning, and Week In Review, which was broadcast every Sunday night. Rest Easy, Mr. Slade.
This afternoon I was informed by my UA-cam family about the transition of Bob Slade. From FM99 WXLO to 98.7 Kiss FM to 107.5 WBLS, Bob Slade was the voice of information regarding not only our community but the world. The last of a dying breed, no doubt. In his later years he had some health challenges but you would never know by listening to his programs (The Week in Review, Open Line and of course Soul Beginnings). Rest in peace, Mr. Slade. I will definitely remember the time.
Wow ! That was such an interesting beautiful story... its great to hear that before Motown there was Vee Jay records .. corruption and systematic racism ruined a great first ever black owned record label. Real history.☝️👍✌💯
I felt I needed to share this story with the world because it played here locally in New York, and the fact that there was a "Black Label before Motown" seemed to be a little known fact. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
I think the 2 reasons VJ didn't continue pumping out hits: #1. didn't wake up to exciting new groups/singers emerging in the 1970's, particularly British #2. Higher ups at VJ spending beyond their means - which also happened at Stax and other labels.
You may have heard the story: when cleaning out a desk (early 70's?) from a NYC record exec, a note was found, which said something like, "Beatles ...we'll take a pass."
I was listening to the Beatles on Vee-Jay months before the first Capitol.album wondering if I was the only person who knew how great these guys were in a few months the world would know
That was the main reason why I uploaded this video because everyone is talking Motown, Motown, Motown. No one mentions VeeJay Records. Thanks for listening!🎶
My father Eddie Taylor Sr was a big major to this veejay records and play along side other veejay artist like Jimmy Reed and John Lee hooker and other artists as well and he also had a solo career hit song for veejay like badboy and bigtown Playboy and his big smash hit ride em on down and other songs as well and those was the days I am so honored that my father Eddie Taylor Sr was a big major of this veejay records label
You are well within your right to be proud of your Dad and his accomplishments. Vee-Jay Records was a force to be reckoned with, and the label as well as the artists were a major contributor to the foundation of Black Music. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
@@markeddeckmusic7202 thank you so much I truly appreciate you and I have all of my father Eddie Taylor Sr album I am so happy that you love my father Eddie Taylor Sr music he was a great artist and his music have made a big impact on so many people and artist and his sound was so sweet and his guitar playing was pure fire
I love this story of the very first label Vee Jay Records this was before Motown, Stax and Philadelphia International Records and Casablanca Records too!!! Making hit records last a long time whatever happened to Vee Jay Records did it filed for bankruptcy and closed it's doors in 1972 I just wanted to say thank you for telling this story how record labels rise and fall!!! Thank you so much God bless you!!!
What ultimately happened to Vee-Jay Records is not a simple answer. Hopefully this link to Wikipedia will help you understand. Thanks for listening and stay safe. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vee-Jay_Records
Hi - I'm Randy Wood's oldest daughter. Just came across your youtube. Amazing how a little gospel based record company in Chicago managed to achieve what it did and make music history :)
@@casanovacasanova5464 You're right! With all the interest in all things Black and all these streaming channels to everyone's avail, the VJ Records story would probably kill!!
THIS is just another reason I'm glad I'm almost 80 years old... Don't Overthink It... Great stuff thanks for posting. Doo-wop Dwight. Bridgeport Connecticut. Home of The Carnations and Long Tall Girl... Those days are gone Forever... But we Still have all THAT Music...
Hey, you're just getting started! We're only as old as we think, so always think young....well, think younger (lol). Thanks for listening, Happy Holidays and stay safe...and young!
I’m Randy wood’s oldest daughter ! Abner gambled a lot of money away. I was at the Hollywood bowl concert and met them at the cinnamon cinder afterwards. Jay Lasker was always uncle jay - he eventually became the first white Jewish guy to head Motown ! I spoke to Jerry butler about ten years ago And Bruce Spizer write The Beatles on Vee Jay. We got screwed by capital records but there were a lot of other issues behind Vee jay, who had the right of first refusal. Tollie records was named after Tollie Carter . Tollie was my buddy until we were ten or so. My dad was carribean- kind of white and black. Also my dad was an abusive alcoholic - he was a vodka man. My mom was Mikki - they were married 17 years. I have an older sister (my dads first married. She died in 2015). There are still masters around. I also have my fathers FBI file!
I remember this, and it was a documentary about the history of Vee-Jay, but I first the first 3 minutes at the beginning and it was really fun to listen to. I had this on cassette, but I taped over a long time ago. Great to hear this show back. Bob Slade of WRKS "Kiss-FM" hosted that show and Johnny Meadow also an interview.
This is so fascinating! I grew up in North Jersey listening to WBLS and KISS-FM with Bob Slade. However I would later take a job in Chicago and live there for almost three years. Chitown had this “soulful” feeling that was hard to explain. I can imagine the talent VeeJay must’ve had. Those Chitown churches were filled with some of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard and I’ll be the record companies was chasing that talent back in the day...
Great documentary. If Vee Jay had paid the royalties on the Beatles and had retained control of the records for 5 years as per the contract, the history of the world would have been entirely different. They would have still been moderately successful, but not the same extent. All the people they influenced musically, technologically, culturally. It would be a different world today.
You're welcome. Everyone talks about Motown and Philadelphia Intl. but there is very little talk about this black-owned record label. Thanks for listening!🎶
So much history in that documentary. When I realized that I had the audio, I knew that it was an important part of history and a story that needed to be heard everywhere. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Well, go back a few years! Temporarily, a few years, famous artists (who `jumped ship'): Black Swan, early 1920's, about 100 years ago! I know - I was there!
Great Stuff. I myself am very knowledgeable about Vee Jay Records. A few things from this You tube post that i didn't know. I am a very big Jimmy Reed Collector in the Metro Chicago area. Iv'e been collecting and enjoying this Vee Jay music since my Dad turned me on to Jimmy Reed back in the early 70's. My father's teen years were in the late 50's and early 60's. He tells me how he would listen to Sam Evans (Jam with Sam) late in the night on his Orange crate. The Interest in VJ for me never ends. If only they had more knowledge in the Record business, They would have been bigger than Motown. When it came to cross over acts, Vee Jay was bigger than Chess. Some people might disagree, but if they do the research, Vee Jay had more cross over and Pop chart Toppers. I could go on, But you get the Idea. Thank You for Posting. MJM
Summer of 77.. and the spring of 72.. def my fav..damn u got me about to go to my storage... i dont i have this one . Ama revise but def post what u can..salute...
Hi Michelle, yes VeeJay Records is a legendary and storied label which owes it's success to many people including your father. I'm sure you are proud of him and his legacy. Welcome and.. Thanks for listening!
@@mwood99 Hi Michele, thanks for listening and for offering news about Vee-Jay. Sorry for the late response. You can always email me at avsinc25@gmail.com anytime. Hope all is well with you and yours. Stay safe.😷
Some of those classic R&B labels just didn't adjust to taking on new sounds in the 70's and 80's. I think they got too stuck on their 'in-house' people. If they had someone like me in A&R, they would likely have brought in some of the British and US cutting edge musicians, and the labels would have been less likely to go under.
Grew up in Hammond and enjoyed the blues at a young age. We would listen to Living With Vivian, Dizzie on WJOB, Herb Kent the cool gent. We also had a lot of blues joints around here. Calumet City, Thorton, and Burnham. I must have been in a bubble, because we would hang out in Gary, and had very little run ins with racism. Still love the blues, but to old to travel to see groups.
In Bethesda MD, we had Murrey the K. THe 60's were my teenage years and, besides being a gigging musician (R&B guitar/singer), I danced my buns off to great music, every chance I got. VJ tunes were part of that.
Daniel Robinson He also hosted "Soul Beginnings" every Sunday night on the former WRKS "Kiss-FM" and hosted a call-in talk show called "Open Line". Bob Slade is a legend, and he was the king of "Kiss-FM". He has been with the station since 1981 right up until 2012 when the station ended it run after 30+ years with the format.
Absolutely! The Vee-Jay Records story is definitely Black history. Please share this video because it is a story that needs to be told to everyone. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Another interesting fact about the story is Randy Wood came to Vee-Jay, and the Beatles came to the label. Randy Wood has been with Vee-Jay since 1963. Prior to this, he was the president and founder of Dot Records. Dot has been the label that made many success including Pat Boone, Billy Vaughn, Lawrence Welk, the Lennon Sisters, the Dell-Vikings (best known for "Come Go With Me" and "Whispering Bells"), the Mills Brothers, and many more before he left Dot for Vee-Jay. Johnny Meadow mentioned in his interview he was workofor Kapp and Imperial, and he did not mentioned Dot. They also mentioned about the demise of Vee-Jay, and the departure of Randy Wood from Vee-Jay where it was filed for bankruptcy. After he left Vee-Jay, he went on to formed his own label called Ranwood, and it was a label where they put reissued of the original Dot albums from Lawrence Welk and the Lennon Sisters.
MTN Productions actually my research tells me that the Randy Wood you're referring to (from Dot Records) is not the same Randy Wood that was involved with VeeJay Records. Jonny Meadow, the music historian featured alongside Bob Slade in this video, told me "... the Randy Wood of VeeJay and the Randy Wood of Dot Records were two different people of two different colors. Randy Wood of Vee-jay was part Afro American and his real name was Randall Wood.He had previously worked for Kapp and Imperial prior to his Vee-Jay association. Upon departure from VeeJay, Randy formed Mira and Mirwood Recorfs.He had no connection with Dot Records Randolph C. Wood, who was Caucasian and operated Randy's Record Mart in Gallatin, Tennessee and formed Dot Records with Gene Nobles of WLAC Radio in Nashville and Alvin S. (Al) Bennett of Arkansas, who was Dot's sales manager before the sale to Paramount Pictures, when he, (Bennett), joined Liberty Records in the same capacity. After Liberty's sale to and buy back from Avnet Electronics, Bennett was the President of Liberty, operated it for two years and then sold Liberty to Transamerica. Randolph C. Wood formed Ranwood Records with Lawrence Welk after his, (Randy's), departure from Dot." You can also read it here://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Wood_(record_producer) Thanks For Listening!
No - there were two Randy Wood(S). My father was the Vee jay Randy wood. The other Randy wood was from - I believ - tennesee. People always confuse those. My dad was at Kapp and imperial before he joined Vee jay. Also the person who launched dad’s career was Pete Seeger. They were friends in the 40’s and 50’s
Daniel Kubacki I'm glad you enjoyed it. This is a story that should be told more often because people only think of Motown and Philadelphia International when they think of black record companies.
I have a few vintage Vee Jay albums in my vast record collection. There's couple of Jimmy Reed & some be bop jazz artists. Not leaving out 'Introducing The Beatles' of course !
The most interesting part of this special was the Beatles came to Vee-Jay. I still have a copy of "Introducing The Beatles" which was "Version 1" and it was a counterfeit copy that has "PS I Love You" and "Love Me Do" instead of "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why". This album is worth a lot of money on eBay which goes to about a hundred to a thousand dollars. A few Beatles singles on Vee-Jay are not as bad since it was released around 1963 until "I Want to Hold Your Hand" came out in 1964 and it was on the Capitol label and went to #1. After that, the Beatles released "She Loves You" on the Swan label, and it lasted only one single. By 1965, Capitol released "The Early Beatles" featuring songs that were previously released on the Vee-Jay label before Capitol acquired the masters to the first recordings from the UK's "Please Please Me" album, and then re-released on the Apple label since Apple also acquired the original Beatles masters including this one. After Vee-Jay released "Introducing the Beatles" and two other albums. Capitol released "Meet the Beatles" in 1964 their first US release featuring their single "I Want To Hold Your Hand", along with songs from the U.K. album "With The Beatles" on the Parlophone label. Prior to that, a legendary radio DJ from Chicago named Dick Biondi was the first to play a Beatles song called "Please Please Me" as heard on WLS for the very first time in 1963 when it was on the Vee-Jay, but it took a year before the group came to the US.
I was a teenager in the 1960's, and had many joyful hours, spinning 45's with friends. We'd usually be sitting on bedroom floors or be up dancing with glee. VJ was part of that.
We are of the same vintage, 45's was the thing. I remember going to a friend's basement party, probably in 1966. I always had the latest 45's, so I brought a stack with me. Had them all A-SIDE facing up, ready for the record player. My boy looked at the sides, then placed them on the spindle.....upside down! I said to him "no, that's the wrong side!" He calmly said "uh-uh, that's the RIGHT side!" SLOW JAMS were on all the b-sides, which I wasn't into.......until that night! (lol). His cousin, a few years older than me, taught me how to slow dance (grind) that night. Whenever I hear ''Gotta Make A Comeback", B-side of Eddie Floyd's "Knock On wood", I reminisce and smile. Thank you, Cynthia {wherever you are} for making me a man that night. Thanks for listening and stay safe.
@@bsmith9506 I was in D.C., 12th grade, and did a 1 week arranged stint staying at a black fellow's house 'on the wrong side of the tracks.' Every evening, 5 of us would go out cruising in the car. 1 white guy, 4 black guys. First stop: liquor store - and there were parties every night. One night, we went into a basement and they had a soul LP that had only slow songs. I grabbed the first girl I saw, and she ground my business to Bonoboville. After 7 songs, the lights came on, and she suddenly realized I was white, so she slunk away to her friends, probably telling them, "I didn't know that stallion was white."
Not Randy Wood, the guy who formed Dot Records in the 1950’s and 1960’s before they formed Ranwood Records where they did Lawrence Welk and the Lennon Sisters.
@@Musicradio77Network the Dot Randy wood is a different Randy wood, and in a weird world, his son is a good friend !! Two Randy Wood’s in the music industry- what are the odds ?
Contrary to the statement by B. Smith, the Randy Wood of VeeJay and the Randy Wood of Dot Records were two different people of two different colors. Randy Wood of Vee-jay was part Afro American and his real name was Randall Wood.He had previously worked for Kapp and Imperial prior to his Vee-Jay association. Upon departure from VeeJay, Randy formed Mira and Mirwood Recorfs.He had no connection with Dot Records Randolph C. Wood, who was Caucasian and operated Randy's Record Mart in Gallatin, Tennessee and formed Dot Records with Gene Nobles of WLAC Radio in Nashville and Alvin S. (Al) Bennett of Arkansas, who was Dot's sales manager before the sale to Paramount Pictures, when he, (Bennett), joined Liberty Records in the same capacity. After Liberty's sale to and buy back from Avnet Electronics, Bennett was the President of Liberty, operated it for two years and then sold Liberty to Transamerica. Randolph C. Wood formed Ranwood Records with Lawrence Welk after his, (Randy's), departure from Dot.
I am deeply humbled to have YOU as someone who listened to this channel. To have you respond and correct the info here is PRICELESS! I have searched many a night to find any info/background on you to help with my research, and here you are! Thank you for the clarification, for as you know the record business can be very convoluted and complex. To know that you and Randy Wood's daughter watched and listened to this video makes it all worthwhile. Your knowledge of music is second to none! I miss you and the late great Bob Slade on Sunday nites, man. There was and never will be nothing like it. Again, thanks for the clarification, and "Thanks For Listening!"
5:06 is a classic. I actually have this on a 78 when I played it on my 1926 Victor Orthophonic VV 8-4 Victrola for the first time. Too bad, this was clipped out, but I want to hear the full song.
Some of those classic R&B labels which had success in the 50's & 60's just didn't adjust to taking on new sounds in the 70's. I think they got too stuck with their 'in-house' people. If they had someone like me in A&R, they would likely have brought in some of the British and US cutting edge musicians, and the labels would have been less likely to go under. Of course, that wouldn't have precluded the bosses' wild spending sprees, buying cadillacs and big houses which they couldn't yet afford, but that's a side issue.
Interesting factoid, lol. BTW I once heard Jerry Butler reveal that the bass drum on that record was actually.....wait for it....phone books! People in the studio banging on the yellow pages.....yes! (lol). Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Very Very interesting history A black mom & pop record label that had the business savvy to own the publishing to all of those black songs that's white entertainers covered
Hi Colleen - Thank you for watching and sharing. It would be great to hear you elaborate a little bit more about your involvement in VJ, however I respect everyone's privacy in their decisions whether or not to divulge details regarding their personal life. I Hope all is well with you - blessings to you and yours.
When Abner's secretary was leaving I came to find Him a new one . They took me in and showed me The business . What a great time we had back then. Bunky , Art so many . The Avenue oh the memories .
And for those of you have heard the sad news, Bob Slade, the guy who hosted this special along with “Soul Beginnings” and “Open Line” on WRKS formerly known as “Kiss-FM” has passed away. He was also a program director as well since the very beginning when he first came to WXLO around 1980 and then went to R&B in 1981 as “Kiss-FM” with a different call letters WRKS where they competing with WBLS. He remained on “Kiss-FM” for 25 years until the station ended in 2012 which is now ESPN Radio as a sports station. He received a Peabody Award for this special, and he will surely be missed.
RIP: Bob Slade 😢
Very sad news to hear, I used to faithfully listen to his to shows on Kiss FM- Open Line, which was broadcast every Sunday morning, and Week In Review, which was broadcast every Sunday night. Rest Easy, Mr. Slade.
This afternoon I was informed by my UA-cam family about the transition of Bob Slade. From FM99 WXLO to 98.7 Kiss FM to 107.5 WBLS, Bob Slade was the voice of information regarding not only our community but the world. The last of a dying breed, no doubt. In his later years he had some health challenges but you would never know by listening to his programs (The Week in Review, Open Line and of course Soul Beginnings). Rest in peace, Mr. Slade. I will definitely remember the time.
Wow ! That was such an interesting beautiful story... its great to hear that before Motown there was Vee Jay records .. corruption and systematic racism ruined a great first ever black owned record label. Real history.☝️👍✌💯
I felt I needed to share this story with the world because it played here locally in New York, and the fact that there was a "Black Label before Motown" seemed to be a little known fact. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
I think the 2 reasons VJ didn't continue pumping out hits: #1. didn't wake up to exciting new groups/singers emerging in the 1970's, particularly British #2. Higher ups at VJ spending beyond their means - which also happened at Stax and other labels.
Awesome Documentary! Worth every second!
Vee-Jay did what DECCA refused to do with the Beatles. What a BIG mistake!
You may have heard the story: when cleaning out a desk (early 70's?) from a NYC record exec, a note was found, which said something like, "Beatles ...we'll take a pass."
Ken - I remember that story !!! If it was for PF Sloan, we would not have released Please Please Me.
Fascinating insight to the often overlooked VeeJay Records, So much great music!
Absolutely. Ewart Abner is a legend.
Thanks for listening!
Very cool!
More people should know about VeeJay records...
packard400 Definitely
Thanks for listening!
I was listening to the Beatles on Vee-Jay months before the first Capitol.album wondering if I was the only person who knew how great these guys were in a few months the world would know
RIP Bob Slade!
Somebody should do a book on VeeJay Records before this important music label becomes a forgotten footnote in recorded music history.
That was the main reason why I uploaded this video because everyone is talking Motown, Motown, Motown. No one mentions VeeJay Records. Thanks for listening!🎶
Why not you, Leon? :)
Someone did - the Beatles in veejay be Bruce Spizer
@@mwood99 That book focuses on the Beatles on Vee Jay, not Vee Jay records specifically.
I'm working on it :)
My father Eddie Taylor Sr was a big major to this veejay records and play along side other veejay artist like Jimmy Reed and John Lee hooker and other artists as well and he also had a solo career hit song for veejay like badboy and bigtown Playboy and his big smash hit ride em on down and other songs as well and those was the days I am so honored that my father Eddie Taylor Sr was a big major of this veejay records label
You are well within your right to be proud of your Dad and his accomplishments. Vee-Jay Records was a force to be reckoned with, and the label as well as the artists were a major contributor to the foundation of Black Music. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
@@bsmith9506 all right you and your family stay safe too
@@miltontaylor431 wow , Eddie is one of my hero’s , I have his 45s
@@markeddeckmusic7202 thank you so much I truly appreciate you and I have all of my father Eddie Taylor Sr album I am so happy that you love my father Eddie Taylor Sr music he was a great artist and his music have made a big impact on so many people and artist and his sound was so sweet and his guitar playing was pure fire
@@miltontaylor431 a true r n b legend for sure , the big town play boy
I love this story of the very first label Vee Jay Records this was before Motown, Stax and Philadelphia International Records and Casablanca Records too!!! Making hit records last a long time whatever happened to Vee Jay Records did it filed for bankruptcy and closed it's doors in 1972 I just wanted to say thank you for telling this story how record labels rise and fall!!! Thank you so much God bless you!!!
What ultimately happened to Vee-Jay Records is not a simple answer. Hopefully this link to Wikipedia will help you understand. Thanks for listening and stay safe. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vee-Jay_Records
@@bsmith9506 Yw B Smith
@@shaheedturner3652 ?
@@shaheedturner3652 I get it...lol.
That's right I love Record labels like Stax, Motown, Philadelphia International Records, Casablanca Records Epic Records and more too
Hi - I'm Randy Wood's oldest daughter. Just came across your youtube. Amazing how a little gospel based record company in Chicago managed to achieve what it did and make music history :)
What do you know about a gil named Sonia?
They need to make a movie of them
@@casanovacasanova5464 You're right! With all the interest in all things Black and all these streaming channels to everyone's avail, the VJ Records story would probably kill!!
THIS is just another reason I'm glad I'm almost 80 years old... Don't Overthink It... Great stuff thanks for posting. Doo-wop Dwight. Bridgeport Connecticut. Home of The Carnations and Long Tall Girl... Those days are gone Forever... But we Still have all THAT Music...
Hey, you're just getting started! We're only as old as we think, so always think young....well, think younger (lol). Thanks for listening, Happy Holidays and stay safe...and young!
@@bsmith9506 Thank you so much... Happy Holidays!!!...
I’m Randy wood’s oldest daughter ! Abner gambled a lot of money away. I was at the Hollywood bowl concert and met them at the cinnamon cinder afterwards. Jay Lasker was always uncle jay - he eventually became the first white Jewish guy to head Motown ! I spoke to Jerry butler about ten years ago
And
Bruce Spizer write The Beatles on Vee Jay. We got screwed by capital records but there were a lot of other issues behind Vee jay, who had the right of first refusal. Tollie records was named after Tollie Carter . Tollie was my buddy until we were ten or so. My dad was carribean- kind of white and black.
Also my dad was an abusive alcoholic - he was a vodka man. My mom was Mikki - they were married 17 years. I have an older sister (my dads first married. She died in 2015). There are still masters around. I also have my fathers FBI file!
I remember this, and it was a documentary about the history of Vee-Jay, but I first the first 3 minutes at the beginning and it was really fun to listen to. I had this on cassette, but I taped over a long time ago. Great to hear this show back. Bob Slade of WRKS "Kiss-FM" hosted that show and Johnny Meadow also an interview.
Glad you enjoyed it. Since the "death" of Kiss-FM Sunday nights haven't been the same.
This is so fascinating! I grew up in
North Jersey listening to WBLS and
KISS-FM with Bob Slade. However I would later take a job in Chicago and live there for almost three years. Chitown had this “soulful” feeling that was hard to explain. I can imagine the talent VeeJay must’ve had. Those Chitown churches were filled with some of the most amazing voices I’ve ever heard and I’ll be the record companies was chasing that talent back in the day...
African American churches has produced some of the greatest voices ever recorded - Thanks For Listening!
Great documentary. If Vee Jay had paid the royalties on the Beatles and had retained control of the records for 5 years as per the contract, the history of the world would have been entirely different. They would have still been moderately successful, but not the same extent. All the people they influenced musically, technologically, culturally. It would be a different world today.
Interesting commentary, definitely food for thought. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Thanks for making this available.
You're welcome. Everyone talks about Motown and Philadelphia Intl. but there is very little talk about this black-owned record label. Thanks for listening!🎶
This was definitely before Motown, Ruthless, and Deathrow Records. Black-owned Record Companies. Vee-Jay was the first.
Thanks for listening!
Anthony Long ...No, they weren't.
Thanks so much for posting this true fine Vee Jay Story.
You're very welcome, it is indeed THE first Black-owned record label! Thanks for listening and stay safe.
Thank you for posting this video!
Thanks for listening!
Great label! R&B and Blues artists started here. The first successful black label and started a few white groups
So much history in that documentary. When I realized that I had the audio, I knew that it was an important part of history and a story that needed to be heard everywhere. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Well, go back a few years! Temporarily, a few years, famous artists (who `jumped ship'): Black Swan, early 1920's, about 100 years ago! I know - I was there!
@@rickhigginson8546 yes i forgot about that label. would love to see a documentary on that label!
Great Stuff. I myself am very knowledgeable about Vee Jay Records. A few things from this You tube post that i didn't know. I am a very big Jimmy Reed Collector in the Metro Chicago area. Iv'e been collecting and enjoying this Vee Jay music since my Dad turned me on to Jimmy Reed back in the early 70's. My father's teen years were in the late 50's and early 60's. He tells me how he would listen to Sam Evans (Jam with Sam) late in the night on his Orange crate. The Interest in VJ for me never ends. If only they had more knowledge in the Record business, They would have been bigger than Motown. When it came to cross over acts, Vee Jay was bigger than Chess. Some people might disagree, but if they do the research, Vee Jay had more cross over and Pop chart Toppers. I could go on, But you get the Idea. Thank You for Posting. MJM
Your welcome🎶Thanks for listening!
Summer of 77.. and the spring of 72.. def my fav..damn u got me about to go to my storage... i dont i have this one . Ama revise but def post what u can..salute...
Thanks for listening 🎧
great piece!
Thanks for listening!🎶
Love it
Thanks for listening and stay safe.
Hi Michelle, yes VeeJay Records is a legendary and storied label which owes it's success to many people including your father. I'm sure you are proud of him and his legacy. Welcome and.. Thanks for listening!
B Smith please let me know if you want/need any information! You can contact me directly - I do have interesting news !
@@mwood99 Hi Michele, thanks for listening and for offering news about Vee-Jay. Sorry for the late response. You can always email me at avsinc25@gmail.com anytime. Hope all is well with you and yours. Stay safe.😷
After listening to the Atlantic story, the Stax story, the Chess story... now I know why they called it the music BIDness.
Thanks for listening!
Some of those classic R&B labels just didn't adjust to taking on new sounds in the 70's and 80's. I think they got too stuck on their 'in-house' people. If they had someone like me in A&R, they would likely have brought in some of the British and US cutting edge musicians, and the labels would have been less likely to go under.
Interesting history. Vee-Jay had some great records.
Thanks for listening!
Great information but underrated label.
Thanks for listening!
Grew up in Hammond and enjoyed the blues at a young age. We would listen to Living With Vivian, Dizzie on WJOB, Herb Kent the cool gent. We also had a lot of blues joints around here. Calumet City, Thorton, and Burnham. I must have been in a bubble, because we would hang out in Gary, and had very little run ins with racism.
Still love the blues, but to old to travel to see groups.
Thanks for listening and stay safe.
In Bethesda MD, we had Murrey the K. THe 60's were my teenage years and, besides being a gigging musician (R&B guitar/singer), I danced my buns off to great music, every chance I got. VJ tunes were part of that.
I love that voice of the narrator and interviewer ....I know him from 98.7 kiss fm in new york...openline my favorite radio show...is that Bob Slade?
Daniel Robinson He also hosted "Soul Beginnings" every Sunday night on the former WRKS "Kiss-FM" and hosted a call-in talk show called "Open Line". Bob Slade is a legend, and he was the king of "Kiss-FM". He has been with the station since 1981 right up until 2012 when the station ended it run after 30+ years with the format.
We still at it "countryboy" chicago westside
Great story and for Black History
Absolutely! The Vee-Jay Records story is definitely Black history. Please share this video because it is a story that needs to be told to everyone. Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
I agree! Thanks for listening.
Another interesting fact about the story is Randy Wood came to Vee-Jay, and the Beatles came to the label. Randy Wood has been with Vee-Jay since 1963. Prior to this, he was the president and founder of Dot Records. Dot has been the label that made many success including Pat Boone, Billy Vaughn, Lawrence Welk, the Lennon Sisters, the Dell-Vikings (best known for "Come Go With Me" and "Whispering Bells"), the Mills Brothers, and many more before he left Dot for Vee-Jay. Johnny Meadow mentioned in his interview he was workofor Kapp and Imperial, and he did not mentioned Dot.
They also mentioned about the demise of Vee-Jay, and the departure of Randy Wood from Vee-Jay where it was filed for bankruptcy.
After he left Vee-Jay, he went on to formed his own label called Ranwood, and it was a label where they put reissued of the original Dot albums from Lawrence Welk and the Lennon Sisters.
MTN Productions actually my research tells me that the Randy Wood you're referring to (from Dot Records) is not the same Randy Wood that was involved with VeeJay Records. Jonny Meadow, the music historian featured alongside Bob Slade in this video, told me "... the Randy Wood of VeeJay and the Randy Wood of Dot Records were two different people of two different colors. Randy Wood of Vee-jay was part Afro American and his real name was Randall Wood.He had previously worked for Kapp and Imperial prior to his Vee-Jay association.
Upon departure from VeeJay, Randy formed Mira and Mirwood Recorfs.He had no connection with Dot Records Randolph C. Wood, who was Caucasian and operated Randy's Record Mart in Gallatin, Tennessee and formed Dot Records with Gene Nobles of WLAC Radio in Nashville and Alvin S. (Al) Bennett of Arkansas, who was Dot's sales manager before the sale to Paramount Pictures, when he, (Bennett), joined Liberty Records in the same capacity. After Liberty's sale to and buy back from Avnet Electronics, Bennett was the President of Liberty, operated it for two years and then sold Liberty to Transamerica. Randolph C. Wood formed Ranwood Records with Lawrence Welk after his, (Randy's), departure from Dot." You can also read it here://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Wood_(record_producer) Thanks For Listening!
I never knew that the Beatles were on VeeJay. Thx to you for enlightening me. After listening to doo-wop for 65yrs I'm still learning and listening. 🎶
No - there were two Randy Wood(S). My father was the Vee jay Randy wood. The other Randy wood was from - I believ - tennesee. People always confuse those. My dad was at Kapp and imperial before he joined Vee jay. Also the person who launched dad’s career was Pete Seeger. They were friends in the 40’s and 50’s
And - in a weird world - the other Randy wood’s son is a good friend !
That was great!
Daniel Kubacki I'm glad you enjoyed it. This is a story that should be told more often because people only think of Motown and Philadelphia International when they think of black record companies.
The Rene Brothers were another with Exclusive label in the '40s.You don't hear about them as you do the Bihari Brothers who had Modern/RPM Records.
I have a few vintage Vee Jay albums in my vast record collection. There's couple of Jimmy Reed & some be bop jazz artists. Not leaving out 'Introducing The Beatles' of course !
THAT is a CLASSIC!!!!
The most interesting part of this special was the Beatles came to Vee-Jay. I still have a copy of "Introducing The Beatles" which was "Version 1" and it was a counterfeit copy that has "PS I Love You" and "Love Me Do" instead of "Please Please Me" and "Ask Me Why". This album is worth a lot of money on eBay which goes to about a hundred to a thousand dollars. A few Beatles singles on Vee-Jay are not as bad since it was released around 1963 until "I Want to Hold Your Hand" came out in 1964 and it was on the Capitol label and went to #1. After that, the Beatles released "She Loves You" on the Swan label, and it lasted only one single. By 1965, Capitol released "The Early Beatles" featuring songs that were previously released on the Vee-Jay label before Capitol acquired the masters to the first recordings from the UK's "Please Please Me" album, and then re-released on the Apple label since Apple also acquired the original Beatles masters including this one. After Vee-Jay released "Introducing the Beatles" and two other albums. Capitol released "Meet the Beatles" in 1964 their first US release featuring their single "I Want To Hold Your Hand", along with songs from the U.K. album "With The Beatles" on the Parlophone label. Prior to that, a legendary radio DJ from Chicago named Dick Biondi was the first to play a Beatles song called "Please Please Me" as heard on WLS for the very first time in 1963 when it was on the Vee-Jay, but it took a year before the group came to the US.
@@Musicradio77Network It took me 4 years to digest all that info! lol....Thanks again for listening and stay safe.
I was a teenager in the 1960's, and had many joyful hours, spinning 45's with friends. We'd usually be sitting on bedroom floors or be up dancing with glee. VJ was part of that.
We are of the same vintage, 45's was the thing. I remember going to a friend's basement party, probably in 1966. I always had the latest 45's, so I brought a stack with me. Had them all A-SIDE facing up, ready for the record player. My boy looked at the sides, then placed them on the spindle.....upside down! I said to him "no, that's the wrong side!" He calmly said "uh-uh, that's the RIGHT side!" SLOW JAMS were on all the b-sides, which I wasn't into.......until that night! (lol). His cousin, a few years older than me, taught me how to slow dance (grind) that night. Whenever I hear ''Gotta Make A Comeback", B-side of Eddie Floyd's "Knock On wood", I reminisce and smile. Thank you, Cynthia {wherever you are} for making me a man that night. Thanks for listening and stay safe.
@@bsmith9506 I was in D.C., 12th grade, and did a 1 week arranged stint staying at a black fellow's house 'on the wrong side of the tracks.' Every evening, 5 of us would go out cruising in the car. 1 white guy, 4 black guys. First stop: liquor store - and there were parties every night. One night, we went into a basement and they had a soul LP that had only slow songs. I grabbed the first girl I saw, and she ground my business to Bonoboville. After 7 songs, the lights came on, and she suddenly realized I was white, so she slunk away to her friends, probably telling them, "I didn't know that stallion was white."
yes it is - underrated and unappreciated.
R.I.P. - Rest In Peace, "Good Man" Mr. Bob Slade, My Deepest Sympathy from DNA of www.DNAradio.net
WALTER SLOAN JR I REALLY LIKE THESE SONG.
Thanks for listening 🎶
Yes they were very talented
Thanks for listening and stay safe.
My father was Randy Wood who was president of Vee Jay. I still miss aunt Vivian and uncle Jimmy. They were not blood relatives but were wonderful
Not Randy Wood, the guy who formed Dot Records in the 1950’s and 1960’s before they formed Ranwood Records where they did Lawrence Welk and the Lennon Sisters.
@@Musicradio77Network the Dot Randy wood is a different Randy wood, and in a weird world, his son is a good friend !! Two Randy Wood’s in the music industry- what are the odds ?
Saw John lee at the Spectrum in the seventies
Contrary to the statement by B. Smith, the Randy Wood of VeeJay and the Randy Wood of Dot Records were two different people of two different colors. Randy Wood of Vee-jay was part Afro American and his real name was Randall Wood.He had previously worked for Kapp and Imperial prior to his Vee-Jay association.
Upon departure from VeeJay, Randy formed Mira and Mirwood Recorfs.He had no connection with Dot Records Randolph C. Wood, who was Caucasian and operated Randy's Record Mart in Gallatin, Tennessee and formed Dot Records with Gene Nobles of WLAC Radio in Nashville and Alvin S. (Al) Bennett of Arkansas, who was Dot's sales manager before the sale to Paramount Pictures, when he, (Bennett), joined Liberty Records in the same capacity. After Liberty's sale to and buy back from Avnet Electronics, Bennett was the President of Liberty, operated it for two years and then sold Liberty to Transamerica. Randolph C. Wood formed Ranwood Records with Lawrence Welk after his, (Randy's), departure from Dot.
I am deeply humbled to have YOU as someone who listened to this channel. To have you respond and correct the info here is PRICELESS! I have searched many a night to find any info/background on you to help with my research, and here you are! Thank you for the clarification, for as you know the record business can be very convoluted and complex. To know that you and Randy Wood's daughter watched and listened to this video makes it all worthwhile. Your knowledge of music is second to none! I miss you and the late great Bob Slade on Sunday nites, man. There was and never will be nothing like it. Again, thanks for the clarification, and "Thanks For Listening!"
5:06 is a classic. I actually have this on a 78 when I played it on my 1926 Victor Orthophonic VV 8-4 Victrola for the first time. Too bad, this was clipped out, but I want to hear the full song.
Some of those classic R&B labels which had success in the 50's & 60's just didn't adjust to taking on new sounds in the 70's. I think they got too stuck with their 'in-house' people. If they had someone like me in A&R, they would likely have brought in some of the British and US cutting edge musicians, and the labels would have been less likely to go under. Of course, that wouldn't have precluded the bosses' wild spending sprees, buying cadillacs and big houses which they couldn't yet afford, but that's a side issue.
Re; It's In His Kiss / Shoop Shoop song: Did you know that 'choop choop' means 'kiss' in Thai language. Coincidence, or .....?
Interesting factoid, lol. BTW I once heard Jerry Butler reveal that the bass drum on that record was actually.....wait for it....phone books! People in the studio banging on the yellow pages.....yes! (lol). Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Vee-Jay Records wasn't the only one!
...?
The four seasons made them money in the sixties
Indeed! Thanks for listening and stay safe.
Very Very interesting history
A black mom & pop record label that had the business savvy to own the publishing to all of those black songs that's white entertainers covered
Yes, I would venture to say that Berry Gordy took a page out of their book when he started Motown. Thanks for listening and stay safe.
Yes.
I know thats right
Damn, they had THE BEATLES 😳😳😕?
Yeah, right? AND Eddie Harris. Who knew....? Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
Jerry carried that label
If dude hadn't been a gambling addict and would have taken care of business then Veejay would have been king of the world.
Not really because they had Atlantic climbing up their backs for the Beatles had a huge legal dispute about it.
@@youngrellblues yeah because the dude from Veejay spent the money on gambling instead of on the proper licensing fees for the Beatles and others.
...maybe it was Capitol/EMI.....?
@@bsmith9506 or maybe it was Pete best's label Cameo.
"Golden Tones" is a fire name lol
Can you tell me the jazz number and artist that plays at the end of the video? Thanks in advance!
rondmc44 that's Exodus to Jazz by Eddie Harris. Thanks for listening!
@@bsmith9506, my ignorance, I forgot that was the theme to Exodus!
I think that's jazz man Eddie Harris playing at the end
I was there .
Hi Colleen - Thank you for watching and sharing. It would be great to hear you elaborate a little bit more about your involvement in VJ, however I respect everyone's privacy in their decisions whether or not to divulge details regarding their personal life. I Hope all is well with you - blessings to you and yours.
When Abner's secretary was leaving I came to find
Him a new one . They took me in and showed me
The business . What a great time we had back then.
Bunky , Art so many . The Avenue oh the memories .
Thank you for sharing and thanks for listening!
Do you remember any of the gospel artist?
I sure glad they got paid for the work was put out I was surprised to hear this
Thanks for listening and stay safe.😷
VeeJay records - how not to manage a record label
WMPP was not in Gary. It was WWCA that was in Gary.
The ice man
Stephan Monahan is also a white artist on Vee Jay
Thanks for listening!
Who is/was Stephan Monahan?
What a horrible ending to VJ
SAR records would have been the label before and more successful than Motown instead of labels like Atlantic.
Aha, wondering if you like me watched the documentary the other night....😉
@@bsmith9506 no i didnt but id appreciate a link or the name please?!
@@gypdarin1458 ua-cam.com/video/aC7qXuoI-Wo/v-deo.html
Race music word had been dropped by 1948 !!
Tt