Alma Records started in Los Angeles (4705 Elmwood Ave., LA) around 1953. They produced sacred records under the logo "Christian Faith Recordings," although "Alma Records, Inc." was also on each Christian Faith label. By 1957 or so, Alma/Christian Faith had moved to 7118-A Canby Ave., Reseda California. Somewhat later they moved again to Northridge, California, but even after moving to Northridge and changing the address on the record jackets, the company used old label blanks with the Canby Avenue address. Judging from album 6701, by 1967 they sold the company to Sing Recording Co. In Nashville.

Artists included pianist Rudy Atwood, the Stamps Quartet, the Old Fashioned Revivaltime Choir, organist Lorin Whitney, bandleader Ralph Carmichael, and many others. One interesting group was the Millie Pace Trio (shown at right), who in addition to Millie Pace, had Eve and Carol, who were both sisters of Mary Ford (of Les Paul & Mary Ford). There was also a country flavor to several of the releases, with Redd Harper and Wesley Tuttle having country backgrounds (Tuttle even used an all-star country lineup to accompany him on LP 5093).

The Christian Faith numbering system of the 1950s was unusual, if not unique. It was not quite random, but it was certainly confusing. Most albums before 1965 used a two-letter, four-number format where the letters were the initials of the artists (RA=Rudy Atwood, HR=Haven of Rest Quartet, etc.). Each artist was given a series of numbers (usually a decade), but with few exceptions, only odd numbers were used for album releases. For example, Rudy Atwood was assigned the RA-1201 decade, which included RA- 1203, RA-1205, RA-1207, and RA-1209. (When Atwood's album output exceeded five albums, the numbering started backwards to RA-1199, RA-1197, etc. This numbering system allowed Alma to use numbers which implied a much greater output than was actually the case; often only one album was issued in any given catalog number decade. Some of the children's albums issued in the mid- 1960s had even catalog numbers). By 1964, the label had dropped the two-letter prefixes and just went with numbers. The stereo numbers bore little resemblance to the mono numbers for the first few years, but later they at least tried to have some similarity. Needless to say, trying to assign issue dates to a numbering system as non-sequential as this one turns out to be nightmarish for a discographer.
















There was also an 1800 series of albums by Paul Carson on his own custom label, which not only used a single letter prefix, but also an even catalog number.

The Christian Faith label was gold with black print. The logo covered almost the entire top half of the label, with "ALMA RECORDS, INC." in block letters around the top edge, and the Christian Faith logo beneath. The address, "7118-A CANBY AVE., RESEDA, CALIF." is printed around the bottom edge of the label.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Alma/Christian Faith Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (all of which are out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2002 by Mike Callahan.