Dawn Album Discography

The Dawn label was started in 1954 as a subsidiary label to Seeco. It was owned by Sidney Siegel. Dawn recorded jazz, pop, rhythm and blues and folk music. A&R for the label was handled by Chuck Darwin, Paul Livert and Lee Magid. Although Dawn recorded many types of music the album output was primarily jazz releases.

The jazz releases on the label were quite good and received many nice reviews in the jazz publications of the day. A good retrospective of the jazz output on the label can be found on Dawn DLP-1123, titled Critics' Choice.

For the rock and roll collector there is a fantastic compilation, DLP-1119, entitled Rock and Roll Spectacular. This compilation contains 15 gems including a gorgeous ballad by the Royal Jokers titled "Someday We'll Meet Again". It includes many of the non-jazz artists signed to the label in the 1950s. In addition to the Royal Jokers, the album features the Sophomores, the Treniers, Carolyn Hayes, Tiny Webb and Lincoln Chase. Chase was perhaps most well-known for writing the song "Such A Night," which was a hit by both the Drifters and Elvis Presley, although he wrote many other hits.


The Sophomores album [DLP-2001] appeared in the Schwann Catalog and Billboard Audition Magazine in early 1958, but about that time Seeco discontinued the Dawn label, and issued the album as Seeco CELP-451. Seeco used up the pre-printed Dawn record jackets but put the new Seeco record inside. Because of this, as far as we know, The Sophomores' album was not released with a Dawn label album in a Dawn cover, although copies do exist with the Dawn cover with a Seeco label record inside. A similar circumstance exists with Dawn DLP-1127 by Ed McCurdy, announced at about the same time, which was quickly reissued as Seeco CELP-439. Many copies exist of the Ed McCurdy Seeco record in a Dawn cover, but few with the Dawn label. The photo at left confirms that at least some copies were issued with a Dawn label record inside.

The Dawn label (far left) was black with silver print, with "dawn" in a silver oval above the center hole. Curving around the bottom of the label it read, "A SUBSIDIARY OF SEECO RECORDS, INC. NEW YORK, U.S.A." Promotional labels were white with black printing with the same graphics. Canadian issues were on the London Dawn label with the same catalog numbers.

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 Dawn or Seeco 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 1999, 2002, 2009 by Mike Callahan.

DAWN ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Cover	Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents
	Dawn DLP-1100 Series:
	DLP-1101 - Jazzville 56, Vol. 1 - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Gene Quill-Dick Sherman Quintet [3/56] The Rouse-Watkins Quintet (featured on side 1) also includes Gildo Mahones, Arthur Taylor, and Paul West. The Quill-Sherman Quintet (side 2) also includes Dick Katz, Osie Johnson, and Teddy Kotick. Produced by Chuck Darwin. Reissued on Fresh Sound FSR-619 with same cover. Dancing On The Ceiling - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Legend - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Temptation - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Episode - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Dancing In The Dark - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet/Goodbye - Charlie Rouse-Julius Watkins Quintet//Blues For The Camels - Gene Quill-Dick Sherman Quintet/Loverman - Gene Quill-Dick Sherman Quintet/Achilles' Heel - Gene Quill-Dick Sherman Quintet/Everything Happens To Me - Gene Quill-Dick Sherman Quintet
	DLP-1102 - The Modern Art of Jazz by Zoot Sims - Zoot Sims [1956] John Haley "Zoot" Sims (tenor sax), with Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone), Milt Hinton (bass), Gus Johnson (durms) and John Williams (piano). Produced by Chuck Darwin. September In The Rain/Down At The Loft/Ghost Of A Chance/Not So Deep//Them There Eyes/Our Pad/Dark Clouds/One To Blow On
	DLP-1103 - Let's Talk About Love - Bob Stewart with the Mat Mathews Quintet [1956] Bob Stewart (vocals), Herbie Mann (flute, tenor sax), Mat Mathews (accordion), Joe Puma (guitar), Oscar Pettiford (bass & cello), Kenny Clarke (drums). Produced by Chuck Darwin. Caravan/Skylark/Look Down That Lonesome Road/If I'm Lucky/Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea/Come Rain Or Come Shine//When The Blues Come On/Avalon/Laura/Moonglow/It's Mine After All/Blue Prelude
	DLP-1104 - The Modern Art of Jazz by Mat Mathews - Mat Mathews [1956] With Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Clarke, Joe Puma, Herbie Mann, Gigi Gryce, Art Farmer, Dick Katz, and Julius Watkins. Produced by Chuck Darwin. Recorded in New York City in 1956. Not So Sleepy/Now See How You Are/The Puritan/As Time Goes By/What A Difference A Day Made//Summertime/Knights At The Castle/How Deep Is The Ocean/I Only Have Eyes For You/Later On
	DLP-1105 - I'll Take Romance - Donna Brooks Trio [1956] I'll Take Romance/Full Moon And Empty Arms/Old Folks/I Didn't Know What Time It Was/You're Nearer/You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To/You Make Me Feel So Young/A Stranger In Town/The Lamp Is Low/An Occasional Man/Love Is A Fool/You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
	DLP-1106 - Message From Garcia - Dick Garcia [1956] Have You Met Miss Jones/If I'm Lucky/Kimona My House/I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire/The Deacon/Stompin' At The Savoy/Like Someone In Love/Potatoes/It Could Happen To You/Ev'ry Nite About This Time
	DLP-1107 - Jazzville, Vol. 2 - Frank Rehak Sextet/Alex Smith Quintet [1956] Frank Rehak Sextet includes: Frank Rehak and Melba Liston (trombones), Marty Flax (baritone sax), Nelson Boyd (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), and Walter Davis, Jr. (Piano). The Alex Smith Quintet includes: Alex Smith (piano), Paul Worthington (bass), Al Beldiny (drums), Eddie Matson (trumpet), and Norm Marnell (tenor sax). Insomnia - Frank Rehak Sextet/Very Syrian Business - Frank Rehak Sextet/Never Do An Abadanian In - Frank Rehak Sextet/Zagreb This - Frank Rehak Sextet//Donnybrook - Alex Smith Quintet/Limehouse Blues - Alex Smith Quintet/Darn That Dream - Alex Smith Quintet/That's Earl, Brother - Alex Smith Quintet/Nothing Could Be Finer Than Minor - Alex Smith Quintet
	DLP-1108 - Les Jazz Modes - Les Jazz Modes [1957] Julius Watkins (french horn), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Gildo Mahones (piano), Ron Jefferson (drums), *Paul Chambers (bass), +Oscar Pettiford (bass). *When the Blues Come On/*Blue Modes/*You Are Too Beautiful/+So Far/+Idle Evening/*Garden Delights/+Strange Tale/*Two Songs
	DLP-1109 - The Kid from Denver - Paul Quinichette [1956] With Joseph Newman, Edward Jones, Henry Coker, Nat Pierce, Freddie Green, William Graham, Sonny Payne, Thad Jones, and Renauld Jones. Come Rain Or Come Shine/Pardon The Blues/Start Here/Pennies From Heaven/Happy Feeling/Honeysuckle Rose/Big Deal/The Kid From Denver
	DLP-1110 - Cohn on the Saxophone - Al Cohn [2/57] Al Cohn (tenor sax), with Frank Rehak (trombone), Hank Jones (piano), Milt Hinton (bass), and Osie Johnson (drums). We Three/Idaho/The Things I Love/Singing the Blues/Be Loose/When Day Is Done/Good Old Blues/Softly As In A Morning Sunrise/Abstract Of You/Blue Lou/Them There Eyes
	DLP-1111 - The Gentle Art of Love - Mat Mathews [1957] If You Were The Only Girl In The World/I'll Be Around/You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)/The Gentle Art Of Love/Two Sleepy People/My Heart And I Decided//It Could Happen To You/My Love Is A Fountain/When Your Lover Has Gone/A Foggy Day (In London Town)/Indian Summer/There Will Never Be Another You
	DLP-1112 - The 4 Most Sing the Arrangements of Joe Derise - 4 Most [1957] Recorded in New York City in 1956. Me And My Shadow/Blue Prelude/Bernie's Tune/Ev'ry Time I Fall In Love/Remember Me/Bye Bye Blackbird//Similau/Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella/Ooh! Baby, It Scares Me/There'll Be Some Changes Made/You're Blase/All's Well That Ends Well
	DLP-1113 - Lucky Thompson - Lucky Thompson & Gérard Pochonet et son Quartette [1957] Lucky Thompson (tenor sax), Michel Hausser (vibes), Jean-Pierre Sasson (guitar), Martial Solal (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), and Gérard "Dave" Pochonet (drums). Recorded *March 2 and +March 14, 1956, in Paris, France. French cover at right. +Undecided/*Tenderly/+But Not For Me/+You Go To My Head/*Lullaby In Rhythm/+Indian Summer//*I Can't Give You Anything But Love/+Don't Blame Me/*East Of The Sun/+Our Love Is Here To Stay/*I Cover The Waterfront/*My Funny Valentine
	DLP-1114 - Jazzville, Vol. 3 - Charlie Smith Trio/Aaron Sachs Sextet [1956] Charlie Smith Trio (side 1): Charlie Smith (drums), Hank Jones (piano), and Oscar Pettiford (bass). Aaron Sachs Sextet (side 2): Aaron Sachs, Dick Garcia, Aaron Bell, Osie Johnson, Joe Roland, and Jimmie Cleveland. Have You Met Miss Jones - Charlie Smith Trio/Body and Soul - Charlie Smith Trio/Blues For Sale - Charlie Smith Trio/Flying Home (Airmail Special) - Charlie Smith Trio//Aaron's Blues - Aaron Sachs Sextet/You're My Thrill - Aaron Sachs Sextet/Platter Pie - Aaron Sachs Sextet/Why Shouldn't I - Aaron Sachs Sextet/Ah! The Pain - Aaron Sachs Sextet
	DLP-1115 - Zoot Sims Goes to Jazzville with ... - Zoot Sims [1957] Zoot Sims (tenor and alto sax), Jerome Lloyd (trumpet), John Williams (piano), Gus Johnson (drums), Nabil Totah and Bill Anthony (bass). You're My Girl/Purple Cow/Ill Wind/The Big Stampede//Too Close For Comfort/Jerry's Jaunt/How Now Blues/Bye Ya
	DLP-1116 - The Modern Art of Jazz by Randy Weston - Randy Weston [1957] Loose Wig/Run Joe/Theme For Teddy/In A Little Spanish Town/Don't Blame Me/J and K Blues/You Needn't/How High The Moon
	DLP-1117 - Mood in Scarlet - Les Modes [1957] Featuring Julius Watkins (french horn), Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Gildo Mahones (piano), Ron Jefferson (drums), Marlin Rivera (bass), Chino Pozo (bongos), Eileen Gilbert (soprano vocal). Baubles, Bangles And Beads/Autumn Leaves/The Golden Chariot/Let's Try/Bohemia//Catch Her/Hoo Tai/Mood In Scarlet/Linda Delia
	DLP-1118 - Wild Kitten - Joe Puma [1957] With Mat Mathews and Oscar Pettiford. Produced by Chuck Darwin. Rose Room/Polka Dots And Moonbeams/Rigamarole/Sportin' With Morton//Wild Kitten/Soon/But Not For Me/Rosalie Ann
	DLP-1119 - Rock and Roll Spectacular - Various Artists [7/57] Cool Cool Baby - Sophomores/Baby Say You Love Me - Carolyn Hayes/She Walked Me By - Lincoln Chase/Spider's Webb - Tiny Webb/I Want You To Be My Baby - Royal Jokers/I Get A Thrill - Sophomores/Really - Carolyn Hayes/Why Do You Get So High - Treniers//Someday We'll Meet Again - Royal Jokers/Bitter Honey - India Adams/I Just Can't Keep The Tears From Tumblin' Down - Sophomores/Sweet Lovin' Daddy - Carolyn Hayes/Slow Freight - Tiny Webb/Our Love Is Satisfactory - Lincoln Chase/Everybody Loves Me - Sophomores
	DLP-1120 - Jimmy Raney Visits Paris - Jimmy Raney [1958] Tres Choouette/Imagination/Dinah/Love For Sale/Have You Met Miss Jones?/What's New?//Fascinating Rhythm/Too Marvelous For Words/Cherokee/Everything Happens To Me/Night And Day/Someone To Watch Over Me
	DLP-1121 - I Love Dixieland - New Orleanians [1958] Basin St. Blues/Sheik Of Araby/Burkhardt's Blues/Up The Lazy River/Muskrat Ramble/At The Jazz Band Ball/Fidgety Feet/Panama/Jada /Washington And Lee Swing/That's A-Plenty/When The Saints Go Marching In/Tin Roof Blues
	DLP-1122 - Jazzville, Vol. 4 - Paul Quinichette and Gene Roland [1957] Suitcase/Minor Scene/Colonel Hodge/Creeper/Everything I've Got Belongs To You/Things I Love/Irma/Suddenly It's Spring/Why Was I Born
	DLP-1123 - Critics' Choice - Various Artists [1957] September in the Rain - Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer/Body and Soul - Oscar Pettiford and Charlie Smith/Potatoes - Dick Garcia and Tony Scott/When the Blues Come On - Les Jazz Modes/I Only Have Eyes For You - Mat Mathews//Happy Feeling - Paul Quinichette/How High the Moon - Randy Weston/Polka Dots and Moonbeams - Joe Puma/Idaho - Al Cohn and Frank Rehak/Loverman - Gene Quill
	DLP-1124 - Jazz For Hi-Fi Lovers - Various Artists [1958] Produced by Chuck Darwin. Start Here - Paul Quinichette/If I'm Lucky - Dick Garcia & Gene Quill/Loose Wig - Randy Weston/Not So Sleepy - Mat Mathews//Catch Her - Les Modes/Darn That Dream - Alex Smith/Bye Ya - Zoot Sims/Suitcase - Gene Roland Octet
	DLP-1125 - New Voices - Rita Reys/Sylvia Pierce/Peggy Serra [1958] With Mat Mathews, Oscar Pettiford, Paul Quinichette, Harry Lookofsky, Barry Galbraith, Nat Pierce, Freddie Green, Osie Johnson, Milt Hinton, Hal Serra, Gene Rowland, Charlie Smith, Aaron Bell, Sonny Payne, Ed Thigpen, and Dick Collins. Produced by Chuck Darwin. You Stepped Out Of A Dream - Rita Reys/No Moon At All - Sylvia Pierce/My Future Just Passed - Peggy Serra/It's Mine After All - Rita Reys/I Never Knew - Sylvia Pierce/Enchanted April - Peggy Serra//When The Blues Come On - Rita Reys/Ain't Misbehavin' - Peggy Serra/You Leave Me Breathless - Sylvia Pierce/All Of You - Rita Reys/Lover Come Back To Me - Peggy Serra/I'd Know You Anywhere - Sylvia Pierce
	DLP-1126 - Tenors Anyone? - Various Artists [1958] These Foolish Things - Paul Quinichette/Blues For The Month Of May - Zoot Sims/I Should Care - Zoot Sims/Along About This Time Last Year - Paul Quinichette//Skull Buster - Stan Getz/(It's The) Talk Of The Town - Wardell Gray/Ante Room - Stan Getz/Pennies From Heaven - Stan Getz/In A Pinch - Wardell Gray/Poop Deck - Stan Getz
	DLP-1127 - The Folk Singer - Ed McCurdy [1/58] A few albums have the Dawn label, but most have the Seeco label. Produced by Chuck Darwin. Squid Jiggin' Ground/Pretty Little Black Eyed Susy/Lukey's Boat/Ride An Old Paint/Lavender Cowboy/Riders In The Sky//Ballad Of Frank Slide/Cotton-Eyed Joe/It Takes A Worried Man To Sing A Worried Song/Western Wind/Black Is The Color/Careless Love
	DLP-1128 - The Sophomores - Sophomores [unissued] This album was originally scheduled as DLP-1128, and listed with this catalog number on the backs of earlier Dawn albums (e.g., DLP-1125, see photo directly above), but switched to DLP-2001 at scheduled release time (see below). Linda/If I Should Lose Your Love/Cool Cool Baby/Is There A Someone For Me/Everybody Loves Me//Every Nite About This Time/Ocean Blue/I Get A Thrill/I Just Can't Keep The Tears From Tumbling Down/I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain
	Dawn DLP-2000 Series:
	DLP-2001 - The Sophomores - Sophomores [announced 1/58 but possibly unreleased] This was listed as DLP-2001 in Billboard's Audition magazine for January 6, 1958, about the time that Seeco was discontinuing the Dawn label. The album was issued shortly thereafter as Seeco CELP-451. Although this record exists as a Seeco record (CELP-451) in a Dawn cover, it may not exist as a Dawn record in a Dawn cover. Some sources list a stereo version as Dawn DSP-2001, but stereo records did not appear for general circulation until later that year. It's possible that the Dawn cover listed a stereo number anticipating future release, but it is highly unlikely that it was ever issued in stereo, at least in true stereo. Linda/If I Should Lose Your Love/Cool Cool Baby/Is There A Someone For Me/Everybody Loves Me//Every Nite About This Time/Ocean Blue/I Get A Thrill/I Just Can't Keep The Tears From Tumbling Down/I Left My Sugar Standing In The Rain

Thanks to Marv Goldberg.



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