RPM Album Discography

The RPM label was a subsidiary of Modern Records, and started about 1950 with singles only. In April, 1956, Modern Records started to issue 12-inch LPs, and by the summer of 1956 decided to also start a series of albums on the RPM label. The first of these, a various artists compilation titled A Rock 'n Roll Dance Party [RPM LRP 3001], was definitely issued, and although somewhat rare, can be found in dealers' lists and shops without too much searching. Not so for the other eight albums that were scheduled for release in late 1956 or early 1957. Both Modern and RPM albums from this period may in fact be "phantom albums," listed in various places but never actually released.

What we do know is that the eight additional RPM albums were mastered and stampers made, with the RPM matrix numbers on the stampers. We also know that in mid-March, 1957, the Bihari Brothers announced that they were halting all album releases on both Modern and RPM, and that all their released and scheduled albums for Modern and RPM would be henceforth issued on their Crown label. The first 25 albums on Crown (CLP-5001 to CLP-5025) were the sixteen Modern albums and the nine RPM albums that were scheduled for release. Some of these (about ten Modern albums and RPM LRP-3001) had been actually released in 1956, but some had not. All had stampers with the original Modern or RPM numbers, and these stampers were used for the Crown releases.

If the final eight RPM albums were actually issued with RPM covers and RPM labels, they are exceedingly rare, indeed, since we have never seen them and they never show up in sales lists, and we've been looking for over 50 years.

The RPM label was black with silver printing, with "RPM RECORDS" above the center hole with a silver spiral line around the "R". Bending around the bottom of the label it read, "TELESONIC SOUND/ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY/MADE IN HOLLYWOOD, U.S.A."

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 R.P.M. or Modern 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 2000, 2002, 2010 by Mike Callahan.

RPM LABEL DISCOGRAPHY

Cover	Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents
	RPM LRP-3000 Series:
	LRP-3001 - Rock and Roll Dance Party - Various Artists [1956] This album also exists on yellow wax. Reissued as Crown 5001. This record has "MMLP 1210" in the vinyl trailoff area, indicating that it originally was intended to be Modern 1210, but was switched to RPM before release. The released album Modern 1210 is by Hadda Brooks. This album was also issued with an RPM cover and a Crown label record inside. Dance With Me Henry - Etta James/Ko Ko Mo - Marvin and Johnny/Don't Be Angry - Cadets/Eddie My Love - Teen Queens/Don't Feel Sorry For Me - Jimmy Beasley/Cherry Pie - Marvin and Johnny//I Got a Gal - Joe Turner/Church Bells May Ring - Cadets/All Nite Long - Joe Houston/A Casual Look - Little Clydie/How Soon - Jacks/Heartbreak Hotel - Cadets
	Note: We have found no hard evidence that the following eight albums, scheduled for release in the fall of 1956 or early 1957, were in fact actually issued with an RPM cover and an RPM label. They were all released in 1957 on the Crown label, and for that reason, the covers pictured are the Crown label covers, not the RPM covers.
	LRP-3002 - Dinner Time - Three Tops [possibly unissued] Reissued as Mood Rhapsody on Crown CLP-5017. Instrumentals featuring organ, guitar and accordion ("dinner music"). Dancing With Tears In My Eyes/'Tis Autumn/Whispering/Tumbling Tumbleweeds/Lullaby/Green Eyes//A Shanty In Old Shanty Town/Five Foot Two/Sunrise Serenade/Girl Of My Dreams/Sheik Of Araby/Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
	LRP-3003 - Very Truly Yours - Don Ralke Orchestra [possibly unissued] Reissued as Crown 5018. All The Things You Are/When Your Lover Has Gone/Pastel Blue/Tango Of Roses/The Moon Is Low/Estrellita/April In Paris/Dream A Little Dream Of Me/I Cover The Water Front/Blue Moon
	LRP-3004 - Bongo Session - Buddy Collette and Don Ralke [possibly unissued] Reissued as Bongo Madness on Crown CLP-5019. Bembe Negro/Pasion Caliente/Ritmo Marteo/Afro-Mambo Alegre/Belleza Y Diablo/Calypso Cubano/Sesion Grande/Noche En Havana/Afro-Bop/Mgombo
	LRP-3005 - Swingin' the Blues - B.B. King [possibly unissued] Reissued as Crown 5020. Please Love Me/You Upset Me Baby/Every Day I Have The Blues/Bad Luck/3 O'Clock Blues/Blind Love//Woke Up This Morning/You Know I Love You/Sweet Little Angel/Ten Long Years/Did You Ever Love A Woman/Crying Won't Help You
	LRP-3006 - Jumpin' with the Jacks - Jacks [possibly unissued] Reissued in 1957 as Crown 5021. Why Don't You Write Me/Oo Wee Baby/Let's Make Up/Dream A Little Longer/This Empty Heart/So Wrong//Wiggle Waggie Woo/You Belong To Me/Sugar Baby/Why Did I Fall In Love/Do You Wanna' Rock/My Clumsy Heart
	LRP-3007 - Eddie My Love - Teen Queens [possibly unissued] Reissued in 1957 as Crown 5022. Eddie My Love/Red Top/All My Love Belongs To You/Billy Boy/Zig Zag/Until The Day I Die//Love Sweet Love/Just Goofed/Rock Everybody/Baby Mine/So All Alone/Teen Age Idol
	LRP-3008 - Organ Fantasy In Hi-Fi - Betty Staples [possibly unissued] Reissued as Crown CLP- 5023. What Is This Thing Called Love/Poinciana/Young Man With A Horn/A Foggy Day/Gone With The Wind/That's All//The Nearness Of You/Belle Of The Ball/Hard Hearted Hannah/They Can't Take That Away From Me/Midnight Sun/Hi Lilly Hi Lo
	LRP-3009 - "88" a la Carte - Willard McDaniel [possibly unissued] Reissued as Crown 5024. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall/Lover Man/Gypsy/I'll Never Smile Again/Sugar Blues/All Or Nothing At All//Along The Navajo Trail/Under Paris Skies/A Sunday Kind Of Love/I'll Remember April/I Love You For Sentimental Reasons

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