Tops began their foray into long playing records in the early 1950s with a series of 10-inch albums in
paper sleeves (the L 100 series), followed by a more conventional packaging with the
"Tops Masterpieces" Series (the L 900 series).
The label used for the L-100 series was dark brown with silver print, with "TOPS" in a 3-dimensional
block lettering, with musical notes seving as quotation marks. The 900 Series label was dark blue with
silver print, with the top half of the label mostly
the logo. The albums sold for 98 cents each. Tops discontinued the series around 1956 and started their
12-inch series.
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 Tops Records. Should you be interested in acquiring
albums listed in this discography (all of which are out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the
instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2002, 2003 by Mike Callahan.
Cover |
Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents |
L-100 "Six All-Time Favorites" Series: These 10-inch 33-1/3 rpm LPs were issued with a paper sleeve instead of a cardboard cover. | |
L 101 - Six All-Time Hits - John Laurenz [195?] I Surrender Dear/(5 others) | |
L 105 - Tops Presents Square Dances: Six All-Time Favorites - Virg Honeycutt & His
Cimarron Rangers [195?] My Pretty Girl (calls by Munyon)/The Wreck Of The Old 97 (calls by
Munyon)/Mississippi Sawyer (instrumental)//Take A Little Peek (calls by Floyd Lockhart)/Lady 'Round
The Lady (calls by Floyd Lockhart)/Devil's Dream (instrumental)
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L-900 "Tops Masterpieces" Series: These 10-inch 33-1/3 rpm LPs were issued with a cardboard sleeve that was open at the top and had foldover flaps down the left and right sides of the back of the jacket. | |
L 901 - Organ Favorites - Beverly Laine [195?] Begin The Beguine/Stardust/September
Song/The Very Thought Of You/Exactly Like You/Stumbling
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L 902 - Strauss Waltzes - Royal Viennese Concert Orchestra [195?] Blue
Danube/Emperor Waltz/Tales From The Vienna Woods/Wine/Women And Song Southern
Roses/Voices
Of Spring/Vienna Life/Artist's Life
| |
L 903 - Favorite Hymns - Christian Chapel Choir [195?] The Lord's Prayer/Onward
Christian Soldiers/What A Friend We Have In Jesus/Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross/A Morning
Prayer/Leaning On The Everlasting Arms/The Old Rugged Cross/Faith Of Our Fathers
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L 904 - Polka Party - Polkateers [195?] Beer Barrel Polka/Clarinet Polka/Julida
Polka/Helen Polka/Pennsylvania Polka/Metro Polka
| |
L 905 - American Waltzes - Jack Owens with Roy Shields Orchestra [195?] Missouri
Waltz/Alice Blue Gown/Three O'Clock In The Morning/A Kiss In The Dark/'Till We Meet Again/Beautiful
Ohio
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L 906 - Music for Listening - Al Sack Concert Orchestra [195?] Smoke Gets In Your
Eyes/April In Paris/Dancing In The Dark/Easy To Love/I Kiss Your Hand Madame/Midnight Reverie
| |
L 907 - South of the Border Favorites - Al Sack Orchestra [195?] Mexican Hat Dance/La
Cucaracha/Adios Muchachos/Orchids In The Moonlight/Cerioca/La Cumparsita
| |
L 908 - Rhumba Favorites - Henry King [195?] Tico Tico/Tabu/Say Si Si/Jungle
Drums/Negra Consentida/Grillito
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L 909 - All Time Favorites - Tops All Star Orchestra [195?] Jealousy/Blue
Tango/Chartnaine/Delicado/Bewitched/Penthouse Serenade
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L 910 - Lena Horne Sings - Lena Horne [195?] More Than You Know/Whispering/Just
Squeeze Me/You Go To My Head/Frankie & Johnnie, Parts 1 & 2
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L 911 - William Tell Overture and Dance of the Hours - Imperial Viennese Concert
Orchestra [195?] William Tell Overture//Dance Of The Hours
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L 912 - Piano Favorites - Sondra Bianca [195?] Moonlight Sonata/Clair De Lune/Minute
Waltz/Polonaise/Fantaisie Impromptu
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L 913 - Die Fledermaus Overture - Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra [195?] Merry
Widow Overture/Barcarolle/Traumerei
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L 914 - Nutcracker Suite - Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra [195?] Waltz Of The
Flowers/Chinese Dance/Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy/Nutcracker March/Overture Miniature/The
Trepak/Arabian Dance/Dance Of The Reed Pipes
| |
L 915 - Cole Porter Hits - Al Sack Orchestra [195?] Easy To Love/What Is This Thing
Called Love/Night And Day/I Get A Kick Out Of You/Begin the Beguine/Let's Do It
| |
L 916 - Oklahoma - Tops All Star Orchestra [195?] People Will Say We're In Love/Oh,
What A Beautiful Morning/Surrey With The Fringe On Top/Oklahoma/Out Of My Dreams/Many A New
Day
| |
L 917 - "Pop" Concert - Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra [195?] Song Of
India/Carmen Overture/Marche Militaire/Hungarian Rhapsody
| |
L 918 - South Pacific - Tops All Star Orchestra [195?] Some Enchanted Evening/A
Wonderful Guy/Bali Hai/I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair/Younger Than
Springtime/Honeybun
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L 919 - Irving Berlin Hits - Al Sack Orchestra [195?] Blue Skies/Piccolino/Dancing Cheek
To Cheek/They Say It's Wonderful/You're Just in Love/Doing What Comes Naturally
| |
L 920 - Larry Clinton Plays For Dancing - Larry Clinton Orchestra [195?] Dipsy
Doodle/Siboney/If I Loved You/Shadow Waltz/People Will Say We're in Love/Lover
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L 921 -
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L 922 -
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L 923 - Twilight on the Trail - John Laurenz with Joe Venuti Orchestra [195?] Sweetheart
Of The Rio Grande/Boots And Saddle/Twilight On The Trail//Silver On The Sage/South Of The
Border/My Ol' Ten Gallon Hat
| |
L 924 - Rhapsody in Blue - Richard Berkman [195?] Rhapsody In
Blue/Malagueña/Liebestraum/Garden In The Rain
| |
L 925 - George Gershwin Favorites - All Star Cast (Various Artists) [195?] Artists include:
Jeannie McKeon, Lena Horne & Phil Moore Orchestra, Eddie Krawll, Allen Shrader Orchestra, Roy
Bargy Orchestra, and the Al Sack Orchestra. Embraceable You/I Got
Rhythm/Love Walked In//My Man's Gone Now/But Not For Me/I Got Plenty 0' Nuttin'
| |
L 926 - Square Dance Party (With and Without Calls) - Cimarron Rangers [195?] Slightly
revised reissue of Tops L 105. Take A Little Peek/My Pretty Girl/The Wreck Of The Old 97//Mississippi
Sawyer/Devil's Dream/Rakes Of Mallow
| |
L 927 - Music for Dreaming - Al Sack Orchestra [195?] Paradise/Pagan Love Song/I'm In
The Mood for Love//I Didn't Know What Time It Was/I Can't Give You Anything But Love/Moonlight
Memories
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L 928 - Junior Jazz at the Auditorium - Various Artists [1954] 1954 all-star session with
Howard McGhee, Jack McVea, Lucky Thompson, Irving Ashby, Jimmy Bunn, Red Callender, and Jackie
Mills. On The Sunny Side Of The Street/What Is This Thing Called Love/Body And Soul/Lover
| |
L 929 - Jazz Technocracy - Earle Spencer & His Orchestra [195?] Bolero In Boogie/Soft
And Warm/Production On Melody//Oh, You Beautiful Doll/Rhapsody in Boogie, Part 1/Rhapsody In
Boogie, Pt. 2
| |
L 930 - Hot Piano - Wilbert Baranco & His Orchestra [195?] Blues In C# Minor/Lil'
Victor's
Boogie/Rosetta//Baranco Boogie/Blues Rhapsody, Part 1/Blues Rhapsody, Part 2
| |
L 931 - Moanin' Low - Lena Horne [195?] Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen/Beale
Street Blues/Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child//Blue Prelude/Hesitating Blues/It's a Rainy Day
| |
L 932 - Latin Rhythms - Henry King & His Orchestra [195?] Vem Vem/Mama Yo
Quiero/Chiu, Chiu, Chico, Chico//Rica/Pulpa/Batamu
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L 933 - Kiddie Favorites [195?] A Trip In A Rocket Ship/Wee Willie The Whale/The Zebra Who
Lost His Stripes/Smarty Cat And The Fiddle/The Happy Clocks/The Cuckoo Polka/The Magic Flying
Song
| |
L 934 - Sentimental Favorites - Barclay Allen at the Piano; Vocals by John Laurenz
[195?] For Sentimental Reasons/I'll Close My Eyes/The Whole World Is Singing My Song//Among My
Souvenirs/Blue Skies/Blue Moon
| |
L 935 - Hawaiian Favorites - Akoni Loni & His Islanders [195?] Hawaiian War
Chant/Song
Of The Islands/Naka Pueo//Lovely Hula Hands/My Little Grass Shack/Huki Lau
| |
L 936 - Honky Tonk Piano - Lew "Ace" Raymond [195?] Sidewalks Of New York/In The
Good Old Summertime/Little Annie Rooney/Alexander's Rag-Time Band/Peg Of My Heart/Let Me Call
You
Sweetheart/Darktown Strutter's Ball/Josephine
| |
L 937 - Peer Gynt Suite - Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra [195?] Peer Gynt
Suite//Light Cavalry Overture
| |
L 938 - Warsaw Concerto - Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra [195?] Warsaw
Concerto/Trisch Trasch Polka/Ritual Fire Dance/The Swan/Dance Of The Buffoons
| |
L 939 - Scheherezade - Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra [195?]
Scheherezade/Grand Marche-Aida/Revel's Bolero/Barber Of Seville Overture
| |
L 940 - Roumanian Rhapsody - Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra [195?]
Roumanian
Rhapsody/Spanish Dances/Cappricio Espagnol/España Rhapsody
| |
L 941 - Western Favorites - Various Artists [195?] Artists include Ozie Waters, Bob
Sandy, the Plainsmen, and the Rhythm Rangers. New San Antonio Rose/Jack O' Diamonds/Along The
Navajo Trail/Steel Guitar Rag/Tumbling Tumbleweeds/South
| |
L 942 - Rigoletto: Acts I & II - Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House, Rome,
Italy [195?] Rigoletto, Act I//Rigoletto, Act II
| |
L 943 - Rigoletto: Acts III & IV - Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House,
Rome,
Italy [195?] Rigoletto, Act III//Rigoletto, Act IV
| |
L 944 - Songs of Faith - Family Altar Quartet [195?] Sweet Peace/The Gift Of God's
Love/Moments Of Prayer/Jesus, Rose Of Sharon/Yours and Thine/He Is Mine/Keep On Praying/We
Adore Thee/(others)
| |
L 945 - Barber Shop Ballads - Four Rhythmaires [195?] While Strolling Through The
Park
One Day/Has Your Mother Any More Like You/Shine On Harvest Moon/When Irish Eyes Are Smiling/For
Me And My Gal/Daisy, Daisy/Sweet Rosy O'Grady/The Band Played On/(others)
| |
L 946 - Music for Lovers - John Laurenz [195?] Louise/You Call It Madness/Auf
Wiedersehen, My Dear//My Melancholy Baby/I Surrender Dear/Just A Little Love, A Little Kiss
| |
L 947 - Caravan of Favorites - Al Sack Orchestra [195?] Embraceable You/Until The
Real
Thing Comes Along/I Kiss Your Hand Madame//Caravan/Don't Blame Me/Hallelujah
| |
L 948 - Jazz Jamboree - Earl Spencer & His Orchestra [195?] Gang Busters/Five Guitars
In Flight/E. S. Boogie/Production On Melody/Piano Interlude/Spenceria/Concerto for Guitar
| |
L 949 - Music for Romance - Roy Bargie & His Orchestra [195?] It Had To Be You/I Can't
Believe That You're In Love With Me/The Boy Next Door/Street Of Dreams//You Keep Coming Back
Like
A Song/Swinging Down The Lane/Love Walked In/Yesterdays
| |
L 950 - Pop Serenade - All Star Cast (Various Artists) [195?] Blues Serenade/Deep
Purple/Sometimes I'm Happy/I May Be Wrong//You Made Me Love You/They Say It's Wonderful/The
Gypsy/Candy Kisses
| |
L 951 - Cool and Crazy! - All Star Swing Orchestras (Various Artists) [195?] One O'Clock
Jump/Dig You Later/The Honeydripper/Night And Day/Jam Boogie/China Boy/Hot Rock
| |
L 952 - Over the Rainbow - Phil Moore at the Piano [195?] Over The Rainbow/Bidin' My
Time/Dreamer's Blues//If You Were The Only Girl In The World/This Love Of Mine/Where Or When
| |
L 953 -
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L 954 - Richard Berkman Plays Great Piano Gems - Richard Berkman [195?] Ritual Fire
Dance/Nocturne In E Flat/Golliwog's Cake Walk//Serenade/Prelude in C Sharp Minor/Reverie
| |
L 955 -
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L 956 -
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L 957 -
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L 958 -
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L 959 - Music to Love By - Jay Wilbur Orchestra [195?] Canzonetta/String Fever/So
Easy To Love//Tales From The Vienna Woods/Night And Day/El Relicario
| |
L 960 -
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L 961 -
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L 962 - One Night of Love - Jay Wilbur Concert Orchestra [195?] One Night Of Love/All
Strings And Fancy Free/The Fairy And The Fiddler//Charm Waltz/Mamselle/I Get A Kick Out Of You
| |
L 963 -
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L 964 -
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L 965 - World Favorites - Jay Wilbur Orchestra [195?] Irish Reel/Pizzicato Polka/Fiddle
Dance//Estrellits Dance/Change Partners/Wood Nymph
| |
L 966 -
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L 967 -
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L 968 -
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L 969 -
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L 970 -
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L 971 -
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L 972 -
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L 973 -
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L 974 -
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L 975 - Midnight Serenade - Jay Wilbur [195?]
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