J.V.B./Battle Album Discography
By David Edwards and Mike Callahan Last update: June 19, 2003





The J.V.B label was started in Detroit Michigan in 1948 by Joe Von Battle. It was located at 3530 Hastings Street, the output of the label was rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz. Joe Von Battle was a Detroit record shop owner. J.V.B. did issue albums, probably in the late 1950's; many of these albums were later reissued on the Battle label. The recordings he made of Detroit preacher Rev. C.L. Franklin were also leased to the Chess label in Chicago. The most collectable album on J.V.B. is number 100 which is the first recordings of Aretha Franklin.

The J.V.B label was replaced by the Battle label in 1962 and operated into 1966. The address on the label is Bill Grauer Productions, Inc, 235 West 46th Street in New York City. Bill Grauer was the founder of the Riverside label in 1954, and Riverside Records had the same address. The Riverside address presumably means that Riverside was the distributor of the Battle label.

The Battle label specialized in gospel, although there were several folk, country, jazz and blues albums issued. Battle albums of collector interest are the album by Aretha Franklin and her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin (BLP-6105) which is actually a reissue of J.V.B. 100, two albums by Detroit bluesman John Lee Hooker (BLP-6113 and BLP-6114), the album by Memphis Slim (BM-6118) and the album by Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon (BM-6122). The Mongo Santamaria album Watermelon Man (BS 96120) was for years the only place to find the original hit version of "Watermelon Man," the label's biggest chart hit, in stereo. The last albums issued on the label were mostly automobile sound effects.

The J.V.B. label was blue with silver print. "J.V.B." was above the center hole with the Hastings street address below it.

Battle labels have several variations. The first was issued on both a black label with silver print (see above), and a red label with black print. On both of these, "Battle" is printed above the center hole within a pattern of lines that make a cross. On the left perimeter of the label is "HIGH FIDELITY" and on the right is "MICROGROOVE". At the bottom of the label is "Bill Grauer Productions Inc. New York, N.Y." Another variation is black with silver print. Again, "Battle" is above the center hole in a cross, but the "High Fidelity" and "Microgroove" are gone. At the bottom of the label is "ORPHEUM PRODUCTIONS, INC., NEW YORK CITY". There is also a blue label with plain silver print.

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 Battle Records, which is currently inactive. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 1999, 2003 by Mike Callahan.




J.V.B. ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Number - Title - Artist [Release Date] Contents

100 - Spirituals - Various Artists [195?] Reissued as Battle 6105 with the same cover graphics. Recorded during service at New Bethel Baptist Church, Detroit Michigan. There is a Fountain Filled With Blood - Aretha Franklin/Precious Lord, Parts 1 & 2 - Aretha Franklin/You Grow Closer - Aretha Franklin/Never Grow Old - Aretha Franklin/The Angels Keep Watching Over Me - Sammie Bryant/The Last Mile - Sammie Bryant/The Lord Will Make A Way, Parts 1 & 2 - Rev. C.L. Franklin/Trying To Get Home, Parts 1 & 2 - Rev. C.L. Franklin

101 - I, John Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

102 - The Battle of Jericho - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

103 - The Handwriting on the Wall - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

104 - Moses and the Burning Bush - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

105 - A Dedicated Mother, Hannah - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

106 - Jesus Met a Woman at the Well - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

107 - Joseph and His Brethren - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

108 - Adam and Eve - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

109 - Touch the Hem of His Garment - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.

110 - He That is Without Sin-Cast the First Stone - Rev. C.L. Franklin [195?] A Sermon by Rev. Franklin.


BATTLE ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Number - Title - Artist [Release Date] (Chart) Contents

BLP-6101 - John's Vision of a New Heaven - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962] Reissue of J.V.B. 101.

BLP-6102 - Except I Shall See in His Hands the Print of the Nails - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6103 - All Things Work Together for the Good to Them That Love God - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6104 - Rock My Soul - Loftonaires [1962]

BLP-6105 - Spirituals - Various Artists [1962] ] Reissue of J.V.B. 100, the cover graphics are the same as the J.V.B. album. Recorded During Service at New Bethel Baptist Church, Detroit Michigan. There is a Fountain Filled With Blood - Aretha Franklin/Precious Lord, Parts 1 & 2 - Aretha Franklin/You Grow Closer - Aretha Franklin/Never Grow Old - Aretha Franklin/The Angels Keep Watching Over Me - Sammie Bryant/The Last Mile - Sammie Bryant/The Lord Will Make A Way, Parts 1 & 2 - Rev. C.L. Franklin/Trying To Get Home, Parts 1 & 2 - Rev. C.L. Franklin

BLP-6106 - I Hear the Voice - J. Robert Bradley & Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6107 - Highest Ground - Loftonaires [1962]

BLP-6108 - Why Are Ye Afraid, O Ye of So Little Faith - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6109 - I Will Trust In The Lord - Rev. C.L. Franklin, Aretha Franklin, and Sammie Bryant [1962]

BLP-6110 - Did Not Our Hearts Burn While He Talked By the Wayside - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6111 - How Long Halt Ye Between Two Opinions - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6112 - Hannah the Ideal Mother - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962] Reissue of J.V.B. 105.

BLP-6113 - Blues Man - John Lee Hooker [1963]

BLP-6114 - How Long Blues - John Lee Hooker [1963] Black Snake/How Long Blues/Wobblin' Baby/She's Long, She's Tall, She Weeps Like A Willow Tree/Pea Vine Special/Tupelo Blues/I'm Prison Bound//I Rowed A Little Boat/Water Boy/Church Bell Tone/Bundle Up And Go/Good Mornin', Lil' School Girl/Behind The Plow

BLP-6115 - Paul's Meditation on Immorality - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1962]

BLP-6116 - Grace Made a Change - Rev. Cleophus Robinson [1962]

BLP-6117 - Eternity of the Church - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1963]

BM 6118/BS 96118 - Along with My Friends - Memphis Slim [1963] Rockin' Chair/I Feel So Good/Plowhand Blues/7 others

BLP-6119 - Jesus Met a Woman at the Well - Rev. C.L. Franklin [1963] Reissue of J.V.B. 106.

BM 6120/BS 96120 - Watermelon Man - Mongo Santamaria & His Orchestra [1963] (5- 63, #42) Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York; produced by Bill Grauer Productions. Watermelon Man (S)/Funny Money (S)/Cut That Cane (S)/Get The Money (S)/The Boogie Cha Cha Blues (S)/Don't Bother Me No More (S)//Love Oh Love (S)/Yeh-Yeh (S)/The Peanut Vendor (S)/Go Git It (S)/Bayou Roots (S)/Suavito (S)

BM 6121/BS 96121 - April in Paris - Don Byas [1963]

BM 6122/BS 96122 - Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon in Paris - Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon [1963] Rock And Rolling The House/Baby Please Come Home/How Come You Do Me Like You Do/The Way She Loves A Man/New Way To Love/African Hunch With A Boogie Beat//Shame Pretty Girls/Baby, Baby, Baby/Do De Do/Cool Blooded/Just You And I/Pigalle Love/All By Myself

BM 6123/BS 96123 - Cool Samba - Joao Meirelles & His Bossa Kings [1963] 13 Selections.

BM 6124/BS 96124 - You've Got to Love Everybody! - Rev. Cleophus Robinson [1963]

BM 6125/BS 96125 - Everybody Wants Freedom - Carolina Freedom Fighters [1963] Everybody Wants Freedom/We Shall Not Be Moved/Woke Up This Morning/others

BM 6126/BS 96126 - Teenage Hootenanny - Millburnaires '63 [1963] Blowing In The Wind/What Have They Done To The Rain?/The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy/Plaisir d'Amour/Take Her Out Of Pity/Passin' Through//Shenandoah/500 Miles/Our Hands Were Strong/Dona Dona/Joan, Joan/When She Cries

BM 6127/BS 96127 - One Step Closer - Duncanaires [1964]

BM 6128/BS 96128 - Bluegrass Hootenanny - Lonesome River Boys [1964]

BM 6129/BS 96129 - Mongo at the Village Gate - Mongo Santamaria [1963]

BM 6130/BS 96130 - Hot Rod Caravan - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6131/BS 96131 - Hot Rods U.S.A - Sound Effects . [1964]

BM 6132/BS 96132 - Cement Roaster - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6133/BS 96133 - Hot Stuff on Asphalt - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6134/BS 96134 - Rods and Drags Forever - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6135/BS 96135 - Chrome on the Range - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6136/BS 96136 - Dig Out - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6137/BS 96137 - Sport Car Caravan - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6138/BS 96138 - Grand Prix-USA - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6139/BS 96139 - Road Racing America - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6140/BS 96140 - Cycles Galore - Sound Effects [1964]

BM 6141/BS 96141 - I'm Saved and I Know It - Gable-Airs [1964]

BM 6142/BS 96142 - Someone to Care - Rev. Cleophus Robinson [1964]



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