The J.V.B label was started in Detroit Michigan in 1948 by Joe Von Battle. It was located at 3530 Hastings Street, the output of the label was rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz. Joe Von Battle was a Detroit record shop owner. J.V.B. did issue albums, probably in the late 1950's; many of these albums were later reissued on the Battle label. The recordings he made of Detroit preacher Rev. C.L. Franklin were also leased to the Chess label in Chicago. The most collectable album on J.V.B. is number 100 which is the first recordings of Aretha Franklin.

The J.V.B label was replaced by the Battle label in 1962 and operated into 1966. The address on the label is Bill Grauer Productions, Inc, 235 West 46th Street in New York City. Bill Grauer was the founder of the Riverside label in 1954, and Riverside Records had the same address. The Riverside address presumably means that Riverside was the distributor of the Battle label.

The Battle label specialized in gospel, although there were several folk, country, jazz and blues albums issued. Battle albums of collector interest are the album by Aretha Franklin and her father, the Rev. C.L. Franklin (BLP-6105) which is actually a reissue of J.V.B. 100, two albums by Detroit bluesman John Lee Hooker (BLP-6113 and BLP-6114), the album by Memphis Slim (BM-6118) and the album by Memphis Slim and Willie Dixon (BM-6122). The Mongo Santamaria album Watermelon Man (BS 96120) was for years the only place to find the original hit version of "Watermelon Man," the label's biggest chart hit, in stereo. The last albums issued on the label were mostly automobile sound effects.

The J.V.B. label was blue with silver print. "J.V.B." was above the center hole with the Hastings street address below it.

Battle labels have several variations. The first was issued on both a black label with silver print (see above), and a red label with black print. On both of these, "Battle" is printed above the center hole within a pattern of lines that make a cross. On the left perimeter of the label is "HIGH FIDELITY" and on the right is "MICROGROOVE". At the bottom of the label is "Bill Grauer Productions Inc. New York, N.Y." Another variation is black with silver print. Again, "Battle" is above the center hole in a cross, but the "High Fidelity" and "Microgroove" are gone. At the bottom of the label is "ORPHEUM PRODUCTIONS, INC., NEW YORK CITY". There is also a blue label with plain silver print.

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 Battle Records, which is currently inactive. 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, 2003 by Mike Callahan.