SAR & Derby Album Discographies
by David Edwards and Mike Callahan
Last update: April 14, 2018





The SAR label was formed in 1959 in Los Angeles, California, by Sam Cooke and his friend and business partner J.W. Alexander. SAR stands for Sam, Alex and Roy; the "Roy" is S.R. Crain, originator and manager of the Soul Stirrers gospel group. The output of the SAR label was gospel and rhythm and blues.

Sam Cooke was one of the first, if not the first, major black performer to form his own record company. In addition to the record company, Cooke owned Kags Music Corporation, which published the songs Cooke, J.W. Alexander, and others wrote. In 1959, the first single from SAR was "Wade in the Water"/"He Cares" by the Soul Stirrers.

Cooke himself was recording for RCA Victor, but he was writing and producing songs for SAR. With SAR, Sam Cooke had an outlet for the side of his music that he could not express on his pop oriented RCA recordings. The music Cooke produced on SAR is harsher and more down to earth than anything he was allowed to do on RCA. The rhythm and blues on the SAR label included Johnnie Taylor, Johnnie Morisette, the Sims Twins and the Valentinos.

The Valentinos were a family group from Cleveland who had been singing gospel as the Womack Brothers since the mid-1950s. They recorded two unsuccessful gospel singles for SAR under that name before Sam Cooke suggested they do some secular songs. Aware of the backlash that occurred when Sam Cooke himself went to secular songs after a long gospel career with the Soul Stirrers, the Womacks decided their secular career would be under a different name, the Valentinos. Their first try, "Lookin' For A Love" [SAR 132], landed them at #8 on the Billboard R&B charts (#72 pop), and the song was again a big hit for Bobby Womack solo 12 years later, reaching #10 pop and #1 on the Soul charts. Two years after "Lookin' For A Love," the Valentinos recorded another hit with "It's All Over Now" [SAR 152, #21 R&B, #94 pop]. Almost as soon as they recorded it, they got word that the Rolling Stones wanted to cover it. Bobby Womack, who had penned the song with his sister-in-law Shirley Womack, was at first put off by this development, but the royalty checks helped smooth things over.

The Sims Twins (Bobby & Kenneth Sims), were forerunners of Sam and Dave with "Soothe Me" [SAR 117, #4 R&B, #42 pop]. They also recorded Sam Cooke's song "That's Where It's At". Johnnie Morisette recorded the hit "Meet Me at the Twistin' Place" [SAR 126, #18 R&B, #63 pop] and Johnnie Taylor cut "Rome (Wasn't Built in a Day)" [SAR 131, #112 pop], in all three cases earlier — and many would consider better — than the pop versions Sam Cooke did for RCA. Unfortunately, this more soulful side of Sam Cooke never saw the light of day on RCA until 20 years after his death, when the aborted 1963 album One Night Stand was finally released as the remarkable Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963.

The singles on the SAR label included gospel by the Soul Stirrers, the Womack Brothers, and R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders. It appears that the only albums issued by SAR were gospel releases, with two by the Soul Stirrers, one gospel comedy album and one gospel compilation album.

In 1963, Cooke and Alexander established a pop music subsidiary label named Derby. There were two albums released on Derby, the Mel Carter album titled after his Derby hit, "When a Boy Falls in Love" and an album by Billy Preston titled 16 Yr. Old Soul. Both artists went on to bigger hits on other labels after Derby folded.

Sam Cooke was shot to death in a Los Angeles motel in 1964. SAR Records continued into early 1965 when Sam's widow dissolved the label. The SAR and Derby masters are currently owned by Abkco. It is not known for certain if any of the SAR or Derby LPs were issued in stereo, but it is unlikely.

The SAR label was a creme color with black print. It also had wide yellow and green stripes, one set running at about 60 degrees from the center hole to the top left, and another set running horizontally from the center hole to the right edge of the label. "SAR RECORDS" was at the top within the stripes.
The Derby label was purple with black printing. "DERBY" in yellow running from straight above the center hole to the right of the center hole. There is a picture of a derby hat above and to the left of the center hole. Going around the label are 5 more yellow outlines of derby hats.



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 SAR or Derby Records. 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 1997, 2001, 2018 by Mike Callahan.



SAR ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Cover


Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents



SAR LP-500 Series:

LPM-501 - Jesus Be a Fence Around Me - Soul Stirrers [1961] I'm A Pilgrim/Listen To The Angels Sing/Jesus Be A Fence Around Me/Toiling On/He's Been A Shelter For Me/Stand By Me Father//Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone?/Don't Leave Me/I'm Thankful/I Love The Lord/He Cares/Wade In The Water

LPM-502 - SAR Presents Laughs from the Pulpit Volume 1 - Brother Thurman Ruth [1962]

LPM-503 - Gospel Pearls - Various Artists [1962] That's Heaven To Me - Sam Cooke/Deep River - Sam Cooke/I Thank God - Sam Cooke/Heaven Is My Home - Soul Stirrers/God Is Standing By - Soul Stirrers/Pass Me Not - R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders//Steal Away - Sam Cooke/Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone - Soul Stirrers/Lead Me Jesus - Soul Stirrers/Troublin' Mind - R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders/Sometimes - R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders/Somebody - R.H Harris & Gospel Paraders

LPM-504 - Encore - Soul Stirrers [1962] His Love/No Need To Worry/Since I Met The Savior/Praying Ground/Amazing Grace//Free At Last/Something Here Inside/Time Brings About A Change/Joy In My Soul/Where Jesus Is



SAR SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY
Note: SAR 105 was an EP that was withdrawn because of legal action by Specialty. It was originally issued with a special sleeve shown below.

101 - Soul Stirrers - Stand By Me, Father/He's Been A Shelter For Me [1959]
102 - Kylo Turner - I'll Keep Thinking of You/The Wildest Girl In Town [1960]
103 - Soul Stirrers - Wade In The Water/He Cares [1960]
104 - Johnnie Morisette - Never (Come Running Back To You)/In My Heart [1960]
105 - Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke - Nearer to Thee (Part 1) (4:37)/Nearer to Thee (Part 2) (4:54) [1960]
106 - Joel Pauley - That's Why I Cried/Slim Jim [1960]
107 - Johnnie Morisette - Always On My Mind/Dorothy [1960]
108 - Soul Stirrers - I'm A Pilgrim/Jesus Be a Fence Around Me [1960]
109 - L.C. Cooke - Teach Me/Magic Words [1960]
110 - Soul Stirrers - Listen To The Angels/Toiling On [1961]
111 - Patience Valentine - Dance And Let Your Hair Down/In The Dark [1961]
112 - L.C. Cooke - The Lover/Sufferin' [1961]
113 - Johnnie Morisette - Damper/Don't Cry Baby [1961]
114 - Johnnie Taylor - A Whole Lotta Woman/Why Why Why [1961]
115 -
116 - Soul Stirrers - I Love The Lord/I'm Thankful [1961]
117 - Sims Twins - Soothe Me/Don't Fight It, Feel It [1961]
117 - Sims Twins - Soothe Me/I'll Never Come Running Back To You [1961]
118 - Womack Brothers - Something's Wrong/Yield Not To Temptation [1961]
119 - Patience Valentine - I Miss You So/If You Don't Come [1961]
120 - Soul Stirrers - Heaven Is My Home/Lead Me Jesus [1961]
121 - Johnnie Morisette - You Are My Sunshine/Your Heart Will Sing [1961]
122 - Sam Cooke - Just For You/Made For Me [1961] Promo only.
123 - Womack Brothers - Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray/Somewhere There's a God [1962]
124 - Soul Stirrers - Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone/God Is Standing By [1962]
125 - Soul Stirrers - The Right To Love/The Smile [1962]
126 - Johnnie Morisette - Meet Me At The Twisting Place/Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere [1962]
127 - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders - Pass Me Not/Troublin' Mind [1962]
128 - Clifton White - Dance What You Wanna/Theme Of Tomorrow [1962]
129 - Jackie Ross - Hard Times/Hold Me [1962]
130 - Sims Twins - You're Pickin' In The Right Cotton Patch/Double Portion Of My Love [1962]
131 - Johnnie Taylor - Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day)/Never Never [1962]
132 - Valentinos - Looking For A Love/Somewhere There's A Girl [1962]
133 - Johnnie Morisette - Sho' Miss You Baby/Wildest Girl In Town [1962]
134 - L.C. Cooke - Tell Me/You're Workin' Out Your Bag [1962]
135 - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders - Sometimes/Somebody [1963]
136 - Sims Twins - I Gopher You/Good Good Lovin' [1963]
137 - Valentinos - Darling Come Back Home/I'll Make It Alright [1963]
138 - Sims Twins - There's Where It's At/Movin' And A Groovin' [1963]
139 - Johnnie Morisette - Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong/Blue Monday [1963]
140 - Soul Stirrers - Praying Ground/No Need To Worry [1963]
141 - L.C. Cooke - The Wobble/The Chalk Line [1963]
142 - Patience Valentine - Unlucky Girl/Ernestine [1963]
143 - Meditation Singers - There Must Be A Place/Behold Your Hand [1963]
144 - Valentinos - She's So Good To Me/Baby, Lots Of Luck [1963]
145 - Soul Stirrers - Free At Last/His Love [1963]
146 - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders - Even Me/Oh Lord, Come And Ease [1963]
147 - Johnnie Morisette - I Don't Need Nobody But You/Black Night [1963]
148 - L.C. Cooke - Put Me Down Easy/Take Me For What I Am [1964]
149 - Gus Jenkins - Right Shake/Don't Get Sassy [1964]
150 - The Soul Stirrers - Oh Mary Don't You Weep/Looking Back [1964]
151 - Johnnie Morisette - Gotta Keep Smilin'/I'll Never Come Running Back To You [1964]
152 - Valentinos - It's All Over Now/Tired Of Living In The Country [1964]
153 - Linda Carr - Sweet Talk/Jackie, Bobby, Sonny, Billy [1964]
154 - Soul Stirrers - Lead Me To Calvary/Mother, Don't You Worry About Me [1964]
155 - Valentinos - Everybody Wants To Fall In Love/Bitter Dreams [1964]
156 - Johnnie Taylor - Oh How I Love You/Run, But You Can't Hide [1964]
157 - Patience Valentine - Woman In A Man's World/Lost And Looking [1964]





DERBY LABEL DISCOGRAPHY

LPM-701 - 16 Yr. Old Soul - Billy Preston [1963] Greazee/Lost And A'Lookin'/I Can't Stop Loving You/Born To Lose/Ain't That Love //Bring It On Home To Me/God Bless The Child/Pretty Little Girl/In The Spring/Good News

LPM-702 - When a Boy Falls in Love - Mel Carter [1963] Time Of Young Love/We'll Bless Each Day With Our Love/So Wonderful/When I Fall In Love/Twelfth Of Never/Why I Call Her Mine //When A Boy Falls In Love/Hold Me/For Your Love/Wonderful Love/After The Parting The Meeting is Sweeter/You Can Count On Me



DERBY SINGLES DISCOGRAPHY

100 - Buck Floyd - Short, Short Skirt/Tobacco Road [1963]
101 - Johnnie Taylor - Shine, Shine, Shine/Dance What You Wanna [1963]
1002 - Billy Preston - Greezee Part 1/Greezee Part 2 [1963]
1003 - Mel Carter - When a Boy Falls in Love/So Wonderful [1963]
1004 - Jeannie Robertson - Memories/Tears of Happiness [1963]
1005 - Mel Carter - Time of Young Love/Wonderful Love [1963]
1006 - Johnnie Taylor - Baby, We've Got Love/(I'll Always Be) In Love with You [1963]
1007 - Milt Grayson - Wayfarin' Stranger/Your Old Standby [1963]
1008 - Mel Carter - Why I Call Her Mine/After the Parting, The Meeting is Sweeter [1964]
1009 - Executives - Falling in Love/Happy Chatter [1964]
1010 - Johnnie Taylor - I Need Lots of Love/Getting Married Soon [1964]
1011 - Curtis and the Boys - Somewhere's There's a Girl/Shakin' This Way and That [1964]


RELATED COMPACT DISCS:

ABKCO 2231-2 - Sam Cooke's SAR Records Story - Various Artists [1994] First issued in a 6"X12" box set with pull out section with liner notes and discs (as shown at left). Later reissues were in a regular sized 2-CD case (as shown at right). All tracks mono. Studio talk for the songs is on a separate track, so you can cue up the songs without the talk. Disc 1: Wade In The Water - Soul Stirrers (with studio talk)/I'm A Pilgrim - Soul Stirrers/Praying Ground - Soul Stirrers/Somebody - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders (with studio talk)/Sometimes - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders/Amazing Grace - Soul Stirrers/Pass Me Not - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders/Oh Mary Don't You Weep - Soul Stirrers (with studio talk)/Since I Met The Savior - Soul Stirrers/God Is Standing By - Soul Stirrers/Lead Me To Calvary - Sam Cooke, S.R. Crain & Soul Stirrers (rehearsal)/Listen To The Angels Sing - Soul Stirrers/Don't Leave Me Alone - Soul Stirrers/Stand By Me Father - Soul Stirrers/Jesus Be A Fence Around Me - Soul Stirrers/Lead Me Jesus - Soul Stirrers/Free At Last - Soul Stirrers/Looking Back - Soul Stirrers (with studio talk and false starts)/Born Again - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders/Wait On Jesus - R.H. Harris & His Gospel Paraders/Time Brings About A Change - Soul Stirrers/Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone - Soul Stirrers/Yield Not To Temptation - Womack Brothers (with studio talk)/Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray - Womack Brothers/Somewhere There's A God - Womack Brothers/That's Heaven To Me - Sam Cooke; Disc 2: You Send Me - Sam Cooke (demo)/Just For You - Sam Cooke/Somewhere There's A Girl - Sam Cooke/You Were Made For Me - Sam Cooke/When A Boy Falls In Love - Mel Carter/Soothe Me - Sims Twins/That's Where It's At - Sims Twins (with studio talk)/Everybody Wants To Fall In Love - Valentinos/Keep On Loving You - Johnnie Taylor/I'll Always Be In Love With You - Johnnie Taylor/Baby We've Got Love - Johnnie Taylor (with studio talk)/Baby Lots Of Luck - Valentinos/Put Me Down Easy - L.C. Cooke/Rome (Wasn't Built In A Day) - Johnnie Taylor/Greazee, Parts I & II - Billy Preston/I Gopher You - Sims Twins/You're Always On My Mind - Johnnie Morisette (with studio talk)/I Need Lots Of Love - Johnnie Taylor/Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong - Johnnie Morisette/Black Night - Johnnie Morisette/Damper - Johnnie Morisette/You Can Run (But You Can't Hide) - Johnnie Taylor/Meet Me At The Twisting Place - Johnnie Morisette (with studio talk)/Good Good Loving - Sims Twins/The Wobble - L.C. Cooke/Lookin' For A Love - Valentinos (with studio talk)/I've Got Love For You - Valentinos/I've Got A Girl - Valentinos (with studio talk)/Tired Of Living In The Country - Valentinos/It's All Over Now - Valentinos





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