| Bobbin Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 |
| Founder | Little Milton and Bob Lyons |
| Defunct | 1963 |
| Status | Defunct |
| Distributor(s) | Chess Records |
| Genre | R&B, blues, rock and roll |
| Location | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Bobbin Records was an American, St. Louis–based independent record label, founded by blues musician Little Milton and KATZ-AM disc jockey Bob Lyons in 1958.[1][2] The label was instrumental in exposing Milton and other local artist to wider audiences. As the head of A&R, Milton recruited Albert King, Oliver Sain, and Fontella Bass to record for Bobbin.[2] Bobbin was eventually distributed by the Chess Records.[3]
The Bobbin catalog consists of 44 records between 1958 and 1963.[4] The first release on the label was Milton's "I'm A Lonely Man" in 1958 which sold 60,000 copies.[3] Altogether Milton released seven singles on the label, including two that were released after Leonard Chess bout out Lyons and signed Milton and other artists on Bobbin to his Checker Records label.
In October 1961, Bobbin released Albert King's "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong" which featured musician Ike Turner on piano.[5] The single did well enough locally that King Records leased the recording from Bobbin and released it as a single the next month.[6] It became King's first hit, peaking No.14 on the Billboard R&B chart.[7]
In 1996, Ace Records released the compilation CD St. Louis Blues Revue: The Classic Bobbin Sessions.[4]
- ^ "15 New Labels Join Parade" (PDF). Billboard. December 1, 1958. p. 11.
- ^ a b "The Best St. Louis Blues Musicians of All Time". St. Louis Magazine. June 1, 2016.
- ^ a b "Little Milton | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Olson, Bruce R. (2016). That St. Louis Thing, Vol. 2: An American Story of Roots, Rhythm and Race. Lulu. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4834-5799-4.
- ^ Obrecht, Jas (2000). Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists. Distributed to the Book trade in the U.S. and Canada by Publishers Group West. pp. 349. ISBN 0-87930-613-0. OCLC 247521119.
- ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir, Woodstra, Chris. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. (2003). All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 306. ISBN 0879307366.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Hot R&B Sides" (PDF). Billboard. December 11, 1961. p. 36.