Bethlehem Album Discography, Part 4:
Miscellaneous Series & REP Budget Subsidiary

By David Edwards and Mike Callahan
Last update: April 20, 2014





In addition to their BCP-1000 10-inch Series, and the two main 12-inch series (BCP-1 and BCP- 6000), Bethlehem also had several lesser series. These will be discussed individually below.

The short-lived Bethlehem budget subsidiary, REP Records, is discussed near the bottom of this page, as is the early Bethlehem singles discography, which is usually omitted from singles discographies for 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 Bethlehem Records, which is currently still active. Should you want to contact Bethlehem, or 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 1998, 1999, 2014 by Mike Callahan.




BETHLEHEM ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY, PART 4

Cover


Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents


BETHLEHEM BCP-5000 "HI-FI POPULAR SERIES" (Distributed by Bethlehem):

The BCP-5000 series was started a few months after Carl LeBow was given a job as General Manager of Bethlehem in July, 1957. One of his first signings was New York City deejay and band leader Ted Steele, who got a contract in early August, 1957. Steele apparently had a few albums already recorded and ready to go, so the BCP-5000 series was started as a vehicle for the LeBow/Steele material. After only nine months, about March, 1958, in the depths of the Bethlehem financial crisis, LeBow left Bethlehem Records to form his own record label, Aamco Records, with Ted Steele as a partner. Aamco relied heavily on leased masters, and one of their first orders of business was to lease back five of the six albums in this series, which they re-released with the same covers, just substituting Aamco for Bethlehem in the cover logos. These albums were not big sellers for Bethlehem, and were not big sellers for Aamco, either.



The Bethlehem BCP-5000 Series and the BCP-7000 Series both had black labels with silver print (far left). Both the BCP-5000 Series and the BCP-4000 Series used the white promotional label (near left).



BCP-5001 - Ted Steele Presents Miss Teal Joy - Teal Joy [11/57] Recorded in New York City. Reissued 6/58 by Aamco Records as ALP 311/ALPS 75. Let's Fall In Love/Easy To Remember/Since I Fell For You/Misirlou/Don't Worry Bout Me/'Deed I Do/For You My Love/That Ole Devil Called Love/Who's Sorry Now/Come Back to Sorrento/Autumn Leaves/El Cumbanchero

BCP-5002 - The Most Intimate - Charlie Shavers [11/57] Recorded in New York City. Reissue of 10-inch Bethlehem BCP-1021 with four added tracks from the same recording session. Reissued 6/58 by Aamco Records as ALP 310. Stella By Starlight/Ill Wind/Stormy Weather/Out of Nowhere/Easy to Remember//Stardust/I Cover the Waterfront/Memories of You/You're Mine You/Let's Fall In Love

BCP-5003 - Dick Stabile Orchestra Plays for You - Dick Stabile Orchestra [11/57] Recorded in New York City. Poor Butterfly/We'll Be Together Again/For You/Do I Love You/My Fate Is In Your Hands/Broadway Beat//Oh Baby/Ballet Bleu/Without a Song/I'm Glad There Is You/Man With a Horn/I Lead a Charmed Life

BCP-5004 - Let's Go Dancin' with Ted Steele - Ted Steele Orchestra [11/57] Recorded 1955 in New York City. Reissued 6/58 by Aamco Records as ALP 304/ALPS 78. Medley: Whispering-Down Among The Sheltering Palms-Stumbling/You Were Meant For Me/Medley: I'm Nobody's Baby-Thanks A Million-When You Wore a Tulip/I'm Thru With Love/Medley: At Sundown-I Cried for You-Hold Me/Deep Purple//Medley: Singin' In The Rain-Somebody Stole My Gal-Maybe/I Don't Know Why/Medley: Do You Ever Think Of Me-Linger Awhile-Rose Room/I'm In The Mood For Love/Medley: Swinging Down The Lane-Five Foot Two-Should I/Don't Blame Me

BCP-5005 - Cleanhead's Back in Town - Eddie Vinson [11/57] Recorded 9/57. Reissued 6/58 by Aamco Records as ALP 312/ALPS 74. Cleanhead's Back in Town/That's the Way to Treat Your Woman/Trouble in Mind/Kidney Stew/Sweet Lovin' Baby/Caldonia//It Ain't Necessarily So/Cherry Red/Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby/I Just Can't Keep the Tears from Tumblin' Down/Your Baby Ain't Sweet Like Mine/Hold It Right Here

BCP-5006 - Sounds in the Night - Russ Garcia [1/58] Reissued 6/58 by Aamco Records as ALP 309/ALPS-76. With Marni Nixon on high counter melodies. Sophisticated Lady/Ill Wind/Painting The Town Blue/Sweet And Lovely/Blue, Blue, Blue/I Get a Kick Out Of You//I Lead A Charmed Life/Music City/When Your Lover Has Gone/Sounds In The Night/Prelude To A Kiss/Wow




BETHLEHEM BCP-7000 SPECIALTY SERIES (Distributed by Bethlehem):

In 1957, Calypso music was a hot commodity, thanks largely to Harry Belafonte's many big hits. Bethlehem started the BCP-7000 series as "The Specialty Series," with the only known album a collection of caribbean-flavored jazz by well-known Freddy Grant. The label for this album was black with silver print, with the box logo design.

Freddy Grant was a musician (saxophone, clarinet) who moved from his native Trinidad to England in the late 1930s. There he became part of the London jazz scene with other Caribbean ex-patriots. Among others, he played with Kenny Graham's Afro-Cubists, Humphrey Lyttleton, and Cyril Blake.


BCP-7001 - Calypso - Sir Freddy Grant's Caribbean Troubadours [1957] Kar-An-Gé/Dame Lorraine/Jour-Vé/Old Mask/Road March/Last Lap/Mable/West Indian Rum/A Dog Is Better Than You/Mosquito Bite Me/Glamour Girl/A Calypso Jam Session




BETHLEHEM BX-4000 PHASE "60" SERIES (Distributed by King Records):

The BX-4000 Series, called the "Phase '60' Series," began in 1962 about the time that Gus Wildi sold the remainder of Bethlehem Records to King Records owner Syd Nathan. Originally, it was an international series, with leased masters from Europe and Latin America. As is the case with most international music series in the 1960s, there were no best sellers. In 1964, Nathan decided to discontinue the international recordings and use the series for reissues of old, but still in print, albums from the by-then-defunct BCP-6000 series. In early 1965, starting with BX-4015, the series became a reissue series. By the end of 1965, Bethlehem was essentially done as a jazz label in the eyes of King Records.



The BX-4000 Series started with a teal label with silver print (far left). Near the very end of the series, the label shifted to black with silver print (near left).



BX-4001 - Mike - Michael Holliday [1962] Strange Music/In the Good Old Summertime/Skylark/Be Careful It's My Heart/Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square/Love Is Just Around the Corner/Folks Who Live On the Hill/Did You Ever see a Dream Walking/I Can't Give You Anything But Love/Lamplighter's Serenade/Ain't She Sweet/I'll Be Seeing You

BX-4002 - Sounds of Glenn Miller - Commander's Orchestra [1964]

BX-4003 - Salud Mexico - Pepe Jaramillo [1962] What A Difference A Day Made/Woman In Love/Romantica/Pepe/Why Do You Pass Me By/Day In Day Out/Comparsa/Delicado/Rico Vacilon/Come Closer To Me/Adios/Say Si Si/Carnival/Never On Sunday/Boy On A Dolphin.Madalena

BX-4004 - Direct from Germany - Lale Anderson [1962] Lili Marleen/Der Junge An Der Reling/Liebeslied Am Hafen/Unter Der Roten Laterne/Spiel Mir Eine Alte Melodie/Das Rote Licht Der Kleinen/Schwarzer Rudolk/Drei Rote Rosen/Ja, Mein Hein Ist Der Schonst/Ich Liebe Die Sonne/Wenn Du Kein Madel Weibst/Am Kai Der Alten Laterne/Es Geht Alles Voruber/Einmal Noch Nach Bombay

BX-4005 - Jean Claude Pascal - Jean Claude Pascal [1964]

BX-4006 - Andre Claveau - Andre Claveau [1964]

BX-4007 - England's Top Orchestra (Dance to the Music of My Fair Lady) - Masked Marvel Orchestra [1962] Can I Forget You/Easy To Remember/On The Street Where You Live/Somebody Loves Me/With A Little Bit Of Luck/I Feel Pretty/Get Me To The Church On Time/Tuxedo Junction/I Could Have Danced All Night/Old Comrades/Rain In Spain/Dancing On The Ceiling

BX-4008 - The French Minstrel - Jean Sablon [1963] C'est Le Printemps/Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir/Ciel De Paris/La Chanson Des Rues/Ces Petites Choses/Rien Ne Va//Un Seul Couvert, Please, James/Pour Vous J'avais Fait Cette Chanson/Je Tire Ma Reverence/Reviens/Laura/Reverie



BX-4009 - French Say-Bossa Please - Georges Jouvin [1964]

BX-4010 - Songs of Germany, Volume 2 - Lale Andersen [1963] Backbord Ist Links/Unter Einem Regenschirm/Liselott Vom Weserdeich/Blaue Nacht Am Hafen/Irgendwann Bluh'n Wieder/Ich Werd Mich An Den Jonny/Wo Sind Die Rosen?/Eine Kleine Sdhnsucht/Alte Lieder, Traute Weisen/Kleines Haus In Canada/Die Dame Von Der Elbchaus/Fernweh/Leuchtturmlicht

BX-4011 - Continental Favorites - Montand, Anderson, Becaud, Holliday, Curtis, Pascal and Clavian [1964]

BX-4012 - To Bing from Mike - Michael Holliday & the Norrie Paramor Orchestra [1963] Dear Hearts & Gentle People/Moonlight Becomes You/Home Cookin'/Sunday, Monday, Or Always/San Fernando Valley/Moonlight Cocktail/Swinging On A Star/Be Honest With Me/It's Been A Long, Long Time/Ain't Got A Dime/Can I Forget You/I Don't Want To Walk Without You/I Didn't Slip/You Are My Sunshine

BX-4013 - Singin' and Pickin' - Johnson Boys [1963] Strontium 90/Hard Drive/Goodbye Liza Jane/South Australia/Five Round Stones/Boil Em Cabbage Down//Ox Driver/Bobby Campbell/Ashville Junction/Come Along Julie/In the Pines (Little Girl)/Johnson Boys



BX-4014 - [Unissued]

BX-4015 - The Golden Voice of Mel Tormé - Mel Tormé [3/65] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-6031 with a new cover and title and a rearranged track sequence. Autumn Leaves/Tenderly/I Wish I Were In Love Again/It's De Lovely/It's All Right With Me//Manhattan/Taking A Chance On Love/Home By The Sea/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'/Nobody's Heart

BX-4016 - Mel Tormé's California Suite - Mel Tormé [1965] Reissue of Bethlehem LP BCP-6016 with a modified cover. Suite For Orchestra And Voice. The Territory (The Soil Was Good)/West Coast Is The Best Coast/La Jolla/Coney Island/Atlantic City Boardwalk/They Go To San Diego/San Fernando Valley/Got The Date On The Golden Gate/L.A./Six O'Clock (It's Time To Leave The Set)/Nothing To Do (But Shed A Tear)/Poor Little Extra Girl/West Coast Is The Best Coast (Reprise)

BX-4017 - Nuf Said - Kai Winding & J.J. Johnson [1965] Reissue of BCP 13 and BCP 6001 with title change and modified cover. Out Of This World/Thou Swell/Lover/Lope City/Stolen Bass//It's Alright With Me/Mad About The Boy/Yes Sir, That's My Baby/That's How I Feel About You/Gong Rock

BX-4018 - Art Blakey and His Drivin' Big Band - Art Blakey's Big Band [1965] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP 6027. Midriff/Ain't Life Grand/Tippin'/Pristine//El Toro Valiente/The Kiss Of No Return/Late Date/The Outer World

BX-4019 - Hornful of Soul - Bennie Green [1965] Black label. Reissue of Bethlehem LP BCP-6054. Summertime/Groove On/Lowland-ism/Dibblin' And Dabblin'//Foolish Heart/Indiana/Cat Walk/Dee Dee




BETHLEHEM EXLP- LP SERIES (Distributed by Bethlehem):

The EXLP Series was a loose collection of special various artists sets, usually with special pricing. For example, unlike the usual $3.98 or $4.98 list for regular LPs, the single-disc Grab Bag compilation retailed at just $1.98.


In the EXLP series of various artists albums, both EXLP-1 and EXLP-6 used the red "leaf cluster" label. EXLP-2, the Grab Bag album, was released after the changeover to the "box logo" label. EXLP-6 was planned as EXLP-3, but due to an error was issued as EXLP-6 instead.

EXLP1 was an interesting but costly experiment. Bethlehem used their own artists to record a jazz version of the Broadway hit Porgy and Bess. It took many, many hours of studio time and a 3-LP album with all related costs, including a red "handkerchief" in the back pocket of the jeans on the cover. Gus Wildi reflected later that it almost pulled the company under, financially, and they didn't ever fully recover from the economic hit. When released, it received mixed reviews; the positives tended to give credit for the bold experiment, while negatives usually focused on the pairing of Mel Tormé and Frances Faye as Porgy and Bess. Over the years, however, comments have been much more positive, so today it is viewed as a jazz classic.



EXLP1 - George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess - Various Artists [9/56] Original cover. Three record set. Narration (throughout) - Al 'Jazzbo' Collins. Introduction - Russ Garcia Orchestra featuring Maynard Ferguson (trumpet)/Summertime - Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra featuring Cat Anderson (trumpet)/Summertime - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/A Woman Is A Sometime Thing - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Here Come De Honey Man - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet/Evenin' Ladies, Hello Boys - Mel Tormé/No, No, Brother, Porgy Ain't Soft On No Woman - Mel Tormé/Gone, Gone, Gone - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Overflow, Overflow - Mel Tormé with Chorus/I Can't Puzzle This Thing Out - Mel Tormé/My Man's Gone Now - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Oh The Train Is At The Station - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' - Mel Tormé/Mornin', Lawyer, Looking For Somebody? - George Kirby, Mel Tormé, Frances Faye & Pat Moran Quartet/The Buzzard Song - Mel Tormé/Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Mel Tormé & Frances Faye/Oh, I Can't Sit Down (Picnic Music) - Don Fagerquist Group & Betty Roché/Porgy, I Hates To Go - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (Reprise) - Mel Tormé/It Ain't Necessarily So - Russ Garcia Orchestra with Betty Roché/It Ain't Necessarily So - George Kirby with the Stan Levey Group/What You Want Wid Bess? - Frances Faye & Johnny Hartman/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) (Reprise) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Oh, Doctor Jesus - Sallie Blair/Street Cries: Here Come De Honey Man (reprise) - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet- (Strawberries) Oh Dey's So Fresh And Fine - Loulie Jean Norman-I'm Talkin' About Devil Crabs - Bob Dorough/I Loves You, Porgy - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin' At De Do' - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/If God Want To Kill Me - Johnny Hartman/A Red-Headed Woman - Johnny Hartman with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Doctor Jesus (Reprise) - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Clara, Clara, Don't You Be Downhearted - Pat Moran & Her Quartet/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché/Oh, Lawd, What I Goin' Do? - Mel Tormé & Francis Faye/There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - George Kirby/How Are You Dis Mornin'? - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess - Mel Tormé & Loulie Jean Norman/Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way - Mel Tormé with Chorus

EXLP1 - The Complete George Gershwin Porgy and Bess - Various Artists [1964] Three record set. This set was reissued in 1964 by King/Bethlehem, released in mono and in electronically rechanneled stereo also as EXLP-1, with a different cover showing two hands reaching for one another. Narration (throughout) - Al 'Jazzbo' Collins. Introduction - Russ Garcia Orchestra featuring Maynard Ferguson (trumpet)/Summertime - Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra featuring Cat Anderson (trumpet)/Summertime - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/A Woman Is A Sometime Thing - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Here Come De Honey Man - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet/Evenin' Ladies, Hello Boys - Mel Tormé/No, No, Brother, Porgy Ain't Soft On No Woman - Mel Tormé/Gone, Gone, Gone - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Overflow, Overflow - Mel Tormé with Chorus/I Can't Puzzle This Thing Out - Mel Tormé/My Man's Gone Now - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Oh The Train Is At The Station - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' - Mel Tormé/Mornin', Lawyer, Looking For Somebody? - George Kirby, Mel Tormé, Frances Faye & Pat Moran Quartet/The Buzzard Song - Mel Tormé/Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Mel Tormé & Frances Faye/Oh, I Can't Sit Down (Picnic Music) - Don Fagerquist Group & Betty Roché/Porgy, I Hates To Go - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (Reprise) - Mel Tormé/It Ain't Necessarily So - Russ Garcia Orchestra with Betty Roché/It Ain't Necessarily So - George Kirby with the Stan Levey Group/What You Want Wid Bess? - Frances Faye & Johnny Hartman/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) (Reprise) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Oh, Doctor Jesus - Sallie Blair/Street Cries: Here Come De Honey Man (reprise) - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet- (Strawberries) Oh Dey's So Fresh And Fine - Loulie Jean Norman-I'm Talkin' About Devil Crabs - Bob Dorough/I Loves You, Porgy - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin' At De Do' - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/If God Want To Kill Me - Johnny Hartman/A Red-Headed Woman - Johnny Hartman with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Doctor Jesus (Reprise) - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Clara, Clara, Don't You Be Downhearted - Pat Moran & Her Quartet/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché/Oh, Lawd, What I Goin' Do? - Mel Tormé & Francis Faye/There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - George Kirby/How Are You Dis Mornin'? - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess - Mel Tormé & Loulie Jean Norman/Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way - Mel Tormé with Chorus

EXLP-1SP - Excerpts from Bethlehem's New Production of Porgy and Bess - Various Artists [1956] 10 Inch promo only LP. Bess, You Is My Woman - Mel Tormé & Frances Faye/Ain't Necessarily So - George Kirby with the Stan Levey Group/Summertime - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most//A Woman Is A Sometime Thing - Frank Rosolino & The Stan Levey Group/My Man's Gone Now - Sallie Blair with Chorus/If God Want To Kill Me - Johnny Hartman

EXLP-2 - Bethlehem's Grab Bag - Various Artists [3/57] Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Mel Tormé & Frances Faye/Old Devil Moon - Carmen McRae/The Varsity Drag - Australian Jazz Quartet/Pick Yourself Up - Pat Moran & Her Quartet/Route 66 - Betty Roché/House Of Bread Blues - Sam Most's Quartet//Stompy Jones - Duke Ellington's Orchestra/Have You Met Miss Jones - Claude Williamson Trio/All The Things You Are - Sal Salvador's Quartet/Scuffles - Herbie Mann's Quartet/My Delux - Frank Rosolino's Quartet



Note: The album below was supposed to have been numbered EXLP3, but through an error was numbered EXLP6. There was no EXLP4 or EXLP5.


EXLP6 - Bethlehem's Best - Various Artists [1956] 3-LP set, later split out in three single-LP volumes as BCP-82, BCP-83, and BCP-84. Disc 1: Blue Silhouette - Chris Connor/Tune For Tex - Conti Candoli/Tweedles - Howard McGhee/My Romance - Joe Derise./Easy Living - Ruby Braff/Slugger - Stu Williamson//They Can't Take That Away From Me - Frances Faye/Pic And Pat - Milt Hinton/Just Max - Max Bennett/Jamboree Jones - Bobby Troup/Kelley Green - Red Mitchell/Stardust - Oscar Pettiford; Disc 2: I've Got It Bad - Mel Tormé/Gong Rock - Kai Winding/Angus - Herbie Harper/September Song - Johnny Hartman/S'Nice - Charlie Mariano/Blue Who - Hal McKusick//Come Back To Sorrento - Chris Connor/Wigville - Russ Garcia/Count Bill - Bobby Scott/Down In The Depths Of The 90th Floor - Helen Carr/West Coasting - Stan Levey/Jr. - Bob Hardaway; Disc 3: Blame It On My Youth - Chris Connor/You Stepped Out Of A Dream - Ralph Sharon/Emaline - Terry Pollard/Pulling Strings - Rufus Smith/The Girl With The Flaxen Hair - Australian Jazz Quartet/Stairway To The Steinway - Joe Roland//Easy To Love - Carmen McRae/Mutation - Urbie Green/Summer Setting - Don Elliott/Motherless Child - Julie London/Ill Wind - Charlie Shavers/Let's Get Away From It All - Herbie Mann




BETHLEHEM BP SERIES (MULTI-DISC SETS) (Distributed by Caytronics):

In the 1970s, Caytronics was the distributor for RCA Latin and CBS Latin records in the U.S. The Cayre Brothers, who owned Caytronics, also started their own SalSoul Records and later purchased Bethlehem, which they reissued and distributed themselves. Eventually, well after the issue of Bethlehem product in the late 1970s, in an ironic turnaround, Caytronics (SalSoul Records) of the 1980s became distributed by RCA.


All the Caytronics-distributed releases in the mid-1970s used either the grey or the gold labels. Caytronics seemed to use these labels interchangeably, as in this case where grey was on one record and gold on the other in a two-LP set.



2BP-1001 - The Finest of Chris Connor - Chris Connor [1976] This is a two record set. Lullaby of Birdland/What Is There To Say/Try A Little Tenderness/Spring Is Here/Gone With The Wind//The Thrill Is Gone/Blame It On My Youth/It's All Right With Me/Stella By Starlight/I Concentrate On You//From This Moment On/Trouble Is A Man/All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart/Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)/Ridin' High//All About Ronnie/I Hear Music/Come Back To Sorrento/Out Of This World/Lush Life

3BP-1 - Porgy and Bess - Various Artists [1976] This is a three record set. Reissue of Bethlehem EXLP-1. Narration (throughout) - Al 'Jazzbo' Collins. Introduction - Russ Garcia Orchestra featuring Maynard Ferguson (trumpet)/Summertime - Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra featuring Cat Anderson (trumpet)/Summertime - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/A Woman Is A Sometime Thing - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Here Come De Honey Man - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet/Evenin' Ladies, Hello Boys - Mel Tormé/No, No, Brother, Porgy Ain't Soft On No Woman - Mel Tormé/Gone, Gone, Gone - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Overflow, Overflow - Mel Tormé with Chorus/I Can't Puzzle This Thing Out - Mel Tormé/My Man's Gone Now - Sallie Blair with Chorus/Oh The Train Is At The Station - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' - Mel Tormé/Mornin', Lawyer, Looking For Somebody? - George Kirby, Mel Tormé, Frances Faye & Pat Moran Quartet/The Buzzard Song - Mel Tormé/Bess, You Is My Woman Now - Mel Tormé & Frances Faye/Oh, I Can't Sit Down (Picnic Music) - Don Fagerquist Group & Betty Roché/Porgy, I Hates To Go - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' (Reprise) - Mel Tormé/It Ain't Necessarily So - Russ Garcia Orchestra with Betty Roché/It Ain't Necessarily So - George Kirby with the Stan Levey Group/What You Want Wid Bess? - Frances Faye & Johnny Hartman/Oh I'm Agoin' Out To The Blackfish Banks (It Takes A Long Pull To Get There) (Reprise) - Frank Rosolino with the Stan Levey Group/Oh, Doctor Jesus - Sallie Blair/Street Cries: Here Come De Honey Man (reprise) - Joe Derise with Herbie Mann & the Australian Jazz Quintet- (Strawberries) Oh Dey's So Fresh And Fine - Loulie Jean Norman-I'm Talkin' About Devil Crabs - Bob Dorough/I Loves You, Porgy - Frances Faye & Mel Tormé/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Dere's Somebody Knockin' At De Do' - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/If God Want To Kill Me - Johnny Hartman/A Red-Headed Woman - Johnny Hartman with Howard McGhee & Sam Most/Oh, Doctor Jesus (Reprise) - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Clara, Clara, Don't You Be Downhearted - Pat Moran & Her Quartet/Summertime (Reprise) - Betty Roché/Oh, Lawd, What I Goin' Do? - Mel Tormé & Francis Faye/There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York - George Kirby/How Are You Dis Mornin'? - Loulie Jean Norman & The Pat Moran Quartet/Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess - Mel Tormé & Loulie Jean Norman/Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way - Mel Tormé with Chorus


BETHLEHEM FCP-4000 SERIES (Distributed by Caytronics):

FCP-4001 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 1 - Various Artists [1976] I've Got It Bad - Mel Tormé/Gong Rock - Kai Winding and J.J. Johnson/Angus - Herbie Harper/September Song - Johnny Hartman/S' Nice - Charlie Mariano/Sorrento - Chris Connor/Wigsville - Russ Garcia/Count Bill - Tony Scott/Depths - Helen Carr/West Coasting - Stan Levey

FCP-4002 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 2 - Various Artists [1976] Blame It On My Youth - Chris Connor/You Stepped Out Of A Dream - Ralph Sharon/Emaline - Terry Pollard/Pulling Strings - Smith And Glamann/The Girl With The Flaxen Hair - Australian Jazz Quartet/Easy To Love - Carmen McRae/Mutation - Urbie Green/Summer Setting - Don Elliott/Motherless Child - Julie London/Ill Wind - Charlie Shavers

FCP-4003 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 3 - Various Artists [1976] Jack the Bear - Oscar Pettiford/My Old Flame - The Six/You're Not The Kind - Terry Morel/Irresistible You - Bob Hardaway/There Will Never Be Another You - Pete Brown//European Blues - Jonah Jones/Struttin' with Some Barbecue - Ruby Braff/The Best Things in Life are Free - Howard McGhee/Exaktamo - Stan Levey/Slugger - Stu Williamson

FCP-4004 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 4 - Various Artists [1976] I Loves You Porgy - Nina Simone/There Will Never Be Another You - Stu Williamson/Extraversion - Stan Levey/Delighted - Sal Salvador/The Night We Called It A Day - Terry Morel/Ghost Of A Chance - Herb Jeffries/Swinging 'Til The Girls Come Home - Oscar Pettiford/Mean To Me - Ruby Braff/East Side - Eddie Shu/Lou's Blue - Bob Hardaway

FCP-4005 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 5 - Various Artists [1976] Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Jonah Jones/Auld Lang Syne - Ruby Braff/Stormy Weather - Charlie Mingus/Tune For Tex - Conte Condoli/Peace - Eddie Shu/Two Sleepy People - Sal Salvador/The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else - Terry Morel/Phweedah - The Six/So Blue - Howard McGhee/Penthouse Serenade - Herb Jeffries

FCP-4006 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 6 - Various Artists [1976] Long Ago and Far Away - Red Mitchell/Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries - Howard McGhee/Out of Nowhere - Bob Hardaway/Moonlight in Vermont - Pete Brown/Dinner for One Please James - Herb Jeffries//Lightnin' Bug - Stan Levey/Everything Happens to Me - Conte Condoli/Stu's Dues Blues - Stu Williamson/Joe and Me - Sal Salvador/You Stepped Out of a Dream - Terry Morel

FCP-4007 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 7 - Various Artists [1976] (I'm A Dreamer) Aren't We All? - Howard McGhee/It's The Talk Of The Town - Herb Jeffries/Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Stu Williamson/Kelly Green - Red Mitchell/Love Letters - Herbie Mann, Sam Most/Indiana - Bob Hardaway/More Than You Know - Terry Morel/Stars Fell On Alabama - Jonah Jones/Ellie - Ruby Braff/I'll Remember April - Conte Condoli

FCP-4008 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 8 - Various Artists [1976] Full Count - Bill Holman/But Not For Me - Bud Freeman/Exaktamo - Zoot Sims, Jimmy Guiffre/Darn That Dream - Dexter Gordon/This Can't Be Love - Charlie Rouse, Paul Quinichette/Day Dream - Johnny Hodges/Frustration - Harry Carney/Midnight Mirage - Fowlkes, Wess, Wilkins/Laura Paul Gonsalves/Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - Charlie Mariano

FCP-4009 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 9 - Various Artists [1976] The Blues - Duke Ellington/Indiana - Benny Green/Memories Of You - Charlie Mingus/Dark Eyes - Charlie Shavers/Flamingo - Frank Rosolino/The Champ - Charles Persip/Thou Swell - Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson/You Don't Know What Love Is - Mal Waldron/Billy Bailey - Zoot Sims/Tippin' - Art Blakey

FCP-4010 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 10 - Various Artists [1976] Lullaby Of Birdland - Chris Connors/A Foggy Day - Julie London/Scenes In The City - Charlie Mingus/Take The "A" Train - Betty Roché/You Make Me Feel So Young - Sallie Blair/He Needs Me - Nina Simone/Easy To Love - Carmen Mcrae/What Is This Thing Called Love - Mel Tormé/September In The Rain - Frances Faye/There Will Never Be Another You - Jerri Winters

FCP-4011 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 11 - Various Artists [1976] Giggles - The Six/Sonny Boy - Howard McGhee/How About You - Terry Morel/Say It Isn't So - Herb Jeffries//Carioca - Sal Salvador/Blues For Baby - Eddie Shu/Jr. - Bob Hardaway/Used Blues - Pete Brown/Sapphire - Stu Williamson/Flowers For A Lady - Ruby Braff

FCP-4012 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 12 - Various Artists [1976] Yardbird Suite - Stu Williamson/Flamingo - Sal Salvador/The Gentleman is a Dope - Terry Morel/The Troglodyte - The Six/My Sin - Howard McGhee//When You're Smiling - Ruby Braff/You're the Cream in My Coffee - Jonah Jones/Tamalpais - Oscar Pettiford/Tom, Dick and Harry - Eddie Shu/Night Flight - Conte Condoli

FCP-4013 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 13 - Various Artists [1976] Angel Eyes - Herb Jeffries/Together - Howard McGhee/Who Cares - Terry Morel/They Say It's Wonderful - Sal Salvador/The Things We Did Last Summer - Stu Williamson/Blue And Sentimental - Ruby Braff/Bluesology - Red Mitchell/Mood Indigo - Oscar Pettiford/The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise - Pete Brown/Justice - Eddie Shu

FCP-4014 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 14 - Various Artists [1976] Bess You Is My Woman - Mel Tormé, Frances Faye/Old Devil Moon - Carmen McRae/Varsity Drag - Australian Jazz Quartet/Pick Yourself Up - Pat Moran Quartet/Route 66 - Betty Roché/Stompy Jones - Duke Ellington/Have You Met Miss Jones - Claude Williamson's Quartet/All The Things You Are - Sal Salvador's Quartet/Scuffles - Herbie Mann's Quartet/My Delux - Frank Rosolino's Quartet

FCP-4015 - Bethlehem's Finest, Volume 15 - Various Artists [1976] Stars Fell On Alabama - Jonah Jones/This Can't Be Love - Ruby Braff/Everything Happens To Me - Conte Condoli/Lullaby Of The Leaves - Howard McGhee/Moonlight In Vermont - Joe Wilder/You're The Cream In My Coffee - Jonah Jones/You're A Sweetheart - Ruby Braff/Lover Man - Howard McGhee/They Can't Take That Away From Me - Conte Condoli/Moten Swing - Charlie Shavers




BETHLEHEM/STARDAY/KING LP SERIES (Distributed by Starday/King):

By 1969, King had long since abandoned Bethlehem and its jazz catalog. The last of those albums was released in 1965. Syd Nathan himself had died in 1968, and the label was sold to Starday Records, now operating as Starday/King. After four years of owning the imprint but releasing no product, Starday/King decided it would revive Bethlehem for a mixture of albums that didn't seem to fit with their regular country (Starday) or soul (King) series. So Bethlehem became the home of (1) a jazzy soul band (Dee Felice Trio) that was one of James Brown's projects, (2) a saloon sing-along/ragtime/novelty band (Saloonatics), (3) Wayne Cochran, a well-known rockabilly artist, (4) the Oscar Brandenburg Orchestra, a big band swing "orchestra" that was really Neil Richardson, Alan Moorehouse, and Johnny Pearson recording music to be used behind BBC test patterns for TV, (5) Azie Mortimer, a female jazz singer, and (6) to cap off the label, a reissue of a 1955 Dick Stabile studio album recorded in New York and advertised as recorded at a swanky New Orleans hotel. Not the first time King pulled this trick, however. The album had previously been issued on King 623 as Dancing on Sunset Strip.

After the sale of King (and Bethlehem) to Starday, the first album released used a James Brown label similar to those used on King. This was because the first LP issued was a James Brown Production. That label (far left) was black and light blue, with a photo of James Brown on it. Both BLP-10,001 and BLP-10,002 used a dark grey label with the box logo (center left). Near the end of the series the label switched to red (near left) with black print.



BS-10000 - In Heat - Dee Felice Trio [7/69] Black and light blue James Brown Productions Bethlehem label. Oh Happy Day/Wichita Lineman/Crickets Sing/Summer In The City/There Was A Time//In Heat/Both Sides Now/All The Time/Uncle/Never

BS-10001 - Crazy Words Crazy Tunes - Saloonatics [7/69] Grey Bethlehem/Starday- King label. Crazy Words-Crazy Tune/Red Silk Stockings And Green Perfume/I Get the Blues When It Rains/Sweet Georgia Brown/Rock A Bye Your Baby/Just Because//If My Baby Cooks As Good As She Looks/Me And My Shadow/San Francisco Bay Blues/The Columbus Stockade Blues/I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key/Goofus

BS-10002 - High and Ridin' - Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders [5/70] Recorded 3/69. Grey Bethlehem/Starday-King label. Sister Sadie/Ode To Billy Joe/Critic's Choice/HeyJude-Eleanor Rigby Medley//Satisfaction/Better Get It In Your Soul/Made To Love Her/Mo-Lasses



BS-10003 [Unissued]

BS-10004 [Unissued]

BS-10005 - Big Band Hits - Oscar Brandenburg Orchestra [4/71] Things Ain't What They Used To Be/If I Should Fall In Love Again/A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square/Soft Shoe Shuffle/Air Mail Special//It's A Pity To Say Goodbye/Black Satin Ribbons/Charmaine/I Dream Of You/Sally Angry

BS-10006 - The Feeling of Jazz - Azie Mortimer [7/71] Red Bethlehem/Starday-King label. Feeling Of Jazz/Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)/Capricious/Whisper Not/Speak Low/'Round Midnight//It's A Most Unusual Day/When I Fall In Love/Milestones/On Green Dolphin Street/Someday My Prince Will Come/Soon

BS-10007 - Love Is Everywhere: Dick Stabile in the Blue Room at the Fairmont Roosevelt, New Orleans - Dick Stabile [4/73] Reissue of King 623 (Dancing on Sunset Strip) and Bethlehem BCP-5003 (Dick Stabile Plays for You). Poor Butterfly/We'll Be Together/For You/Do I Love You/My Fate Is In Your Hands/Broadway Beat//Oh Baby/Ballet Bleu/Without A Song/I'm Glad There Is You/Man With A Horn/I Lead A Charmed Life




REP RECORDS "ADVENTURE IN JAZZ" SERIES (Distributed by Bethlehem):

Rep Records was a Bethlehem subsidiary that issued budget-priced reissues, usually with fewer tracks than the original albums. All 15 of the Rep albums were apparently released at the same time, since all 15 are listed on the back of every album. They were released in early 1958, just before Gus Wildi sold half of the company to Syd Nathan of King Records in a summer, 1958, deal that included manufacturing and saved the label from going under.

They were pressed by Crown Records in Philadelphia, a company that pressed records for various labels (this was not the same Crown Records that was part of the Modern/RPM empire in Los Angeles). Although we have not physically examined the Rep covers, it is unlikely they included the expensive lamination that was characteristic of early Bethlehem albums.

The Rep Records budget issues sold some, but not as many as the originals had sold, and didn't help Wildi overcome his financial problems. Today, the Rep issues are somewhat harder to find than the originals on sales sites like e-bay, but they are not rare.

Numbers with an asterisk (*) below list the tracks of the original issue, since we could not find a track listing for the Rep reissues, and probably have one or two tracks that were not on the Rep reissue.


The REP label was dark green with silver print, using the box logo design similar to the second Bethlehem label.



REP-201 - Jazz Mainstream - Oscar Pettiford/Red Mitchell [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-2. Jack The Bear - Oscar Pettiford's Group/Tampalpais - Oscar Pettiford's Group/Swing Until The Girls Come Home - Oscar Pettiford's Group/Mood Indigo - Oscar Pettiford's Group/Chuckles - Oscar Pettiford's Group//Happy Minor - Red Mitchell's Group/Bluesology - Red Mitchell's Group/Long Ago And Far Away - Red Mitchell's Group/Kelly Green - Red Mitchell's Group/Scrapple From The Apple - Red Mitchell's Group

REP-202 - Jazz Practioners - Eddie Shu's Quartet/Bob Hardaway's Group [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-3. Tom, Dick And Jim - Eddie Shu's Quartet/Blues For Baby - Eddie Shu's Quartet/Peace - Eddie Shu's Quartet/East Side - Eddie Shu's Quartet/Justice - Eddie Shu's Quartet//Irresistable You - Bob Hardaway's Group/Jr. - Bob Hardaway's Group/Lou's Blues - Bob Hardaway's Group/Out Of Nowhere - Bob Hardaway's Group/Indiana - Bob Hardaway's Group

REP-203 - Jazz Kaleidoscope - Pete Brown Sextet/Jonah Jones Sextet [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-4. There Will Never Be Another You - Pete Brown's Sextet/Used Blues - Pete Brown's Sextet/Moonlight In Vermont - Pete Brown's Sextet/The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise - Pete Brown's Sextet//Delta Blues - Jonah Jones Sextet/European Blues - Jonah Jones Sextet/You're The Cream In My Coffee - Jonah Jones Sextet/Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Jonah Jones Sextet/J.J. Special - Jonah Jones Sextet/Stars Fell On Alabama - Jonah Jones Sextet

REP-204 - A Ruby Braff Omnibus - Ruby Braff [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-5. Struttin' With Some Barbeque/Flowers For A Lady/Auld Lang Syne/Mean To Me/When You're Smiling/Blue And Sentimental/I'll Be Around/Sometimes I'm Happy

REP-205 - West Coasting with Conte Candoli and Stan Levey - Conte Candoli Quartet/Stan Levey's Sextet [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-9. Night Flight - Conte Candoli Quartet/On The Alamo - Conte Candoli Quartet/Tune For Tex - Conte Candoli Quartet/Everything Happens To Me - Conte Candoli Quartet/I'll Remember April - Conte Candoli Quartet//Exaktamo - Stan Levey's Sextet/Extraversion - Stan Levey's Sextet/Lightnin' Bug - Stan Levey's Sextet/West Coasting - Stan Levey's Sextet

*REP-206 - Devil May Care - Bob Dorough [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-11. Old Devil Moon/It Could Happen To You/I Had The Craziest Dream/You're The Dangerous Type/Ow!/Polka Dots And Moonbeams//Yardbird Suite/Baltimore Oriole/I Don't Mind/Devil May Care/Midnight Sun/Johnny One Note

REP-207 - Stu Williamson Plays - Stu Williamson [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-31 (#2). Slugger/There'll Never Be Another You/Sunday/The Lady Is A Tramp/Yardbird Suite//Sapphire/The Things We Did Last Summer/Don't Get Around Much Anymore/Stu's Dues Blues

REP-208 - Shades of Sal Salvador - Sal Salvador [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-39 (#2). Delighted/Two Sleepy People/Joe And Me/Flamingo/Carioca//They Say It's Wonderful/I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good/You're Driving Me Crazy/Took The Spook

REP-209 - Songs of a Woman in Love - Terry Morel [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-47. How About You/The Night We Called It A Day/The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else/You Stepped Out Of A Dream/You're Not The Kind//Too Late Now/The Gentleman Is A Dope/A Hundred Years From Today/More Than You Know/Who Cares

REP-210 - The View from Jazzbo's Head - The Six [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-57. This has the same tracks as the original. Giggles/Phweedah/Over The Rainbow/The View From Jazzbo's Head//Blue Lou/Our Delight/My Old Flame/The Troglodyte

REP-211 - Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries - Howard McGhee [1958] Abridged reissue of Bethlehem BCP-61. Sonny Boy/So Blue/(Here I Am) Broken Hearted/The Thrill Is Gone/(I'm A Dreamer) Aren't We All//My Song/The Best Things In Life Are Free/Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries/Together/My Sin

REP-212 - The Jazz Experiments of Charlie Mingus - Charlie Mingus [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-65. This has the same tracks as the original. What Is This Thing Called Love?/Minor Intrusion/Stormy Weather//Four Hands/Thrice Upon A Theme/The Spur Of The Moment

*REP-213 - The Complete Charlie Shavers - Charlie Shavers with Maxine Sullivan [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-67. Dark Eyes/Dawn On The Desert/Moten Swing/Story Of The Jazz Trumpet//Rose Room/Flow Gently Sweet Rhythm/Molly Malone/If I Had A Ribbon Bow/Windy

*REP-214 - Sounds By Socolow - Frank Socolow's Sextet [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-70. Miss Finegold/But Not For Me/Swing Low, Sweet Socolow/How About You/My Heart Stood Still//Little Joe/Farfel/I'll Take Romance/I Love You/I Cried For You

*REP-215 - Say It Isn't So - Herb Jeffries [1958] Reissue of Bethlehem BCP-72. Cover photo is an unknown Barbara Eden in her first modeling gig. Say It Isn't So/Ghost Of A Chance/Penthouse Serenade/When Your Lover Has Gone/It's The Talk Of The Town/If You Could See Me Now/Angel Eyes/Glad To Be Unhappy/Easy To Remember/The End Of A Love Affair/I Only Have Eyes For You/Dinner For One Please James






EARLY BETHLEHEM SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY
Released on both 78rpm and 45rpm


1291 - Chris Connor - Blue Silhouette/Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme (The Miser's Song) [2/54]

1292 - Ray DeMeno - Pigtails/What Might Have Been [5/54]

1293 - Chris Connor - Ask Me/Chiquita From Chi-Wah-Wah [5/54]

1294 - Bert Bryson - One Sided Heart/I Was Burned In Carolina [6/54]

1295 - Jim Bright - Honky Tonk/Moderner Liebestraum [6/54]

1296 - Beulah Swan - Don't Steal My Heart/Hip Shaking Mama [7/54]

1297 - Simmons Twins - Broken Hearted Waltz/Echoing Mailbox [7/54]

1298 - Sally Sweetland & The Merrill Ostrus Chorus - Johnny Was Absent From School/The Moment You Kissed Me [9/54]

1299 - [not released]

1300 - [not released]

1301 - [not released]

1302 - Chris Connor - Lullaby Of Birdland/Try A Little Tenderness [9/54]

52X - Mel Tormé - Lulu's Back In Town/I Like To Recognize The Tune [3/56]





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