This page covers some of the more interesting King-related albums. In the mid-1960s, King leased
several albums worth of material to Columbia, which were put out on various artists compilations.
Polydor was active in reissuing their James Brown catalog, with reissues and compilations in France,
Japan, the UK, and the US. And finally, there are many bootleg albums that were manufactured in the
1970s when (ahem) "alternate sources" of albums were rampant.
The French Polydor James Brown reissues (far left) used a black label with the King logo with the small crown. The Japanese Polydor James Brown reissues used a red Polydor label. | ||
The US Polydor Soul Classics used the red polydor label with James Brown's photo (far left). The promotional copies (near left) had James Brown's photo also, but the Polydor logo was much smaller, with "SOUL CLASSICS" getting top billing. | ||
The UK Polydor label (far left) was also red with black print. At near left, an example of a Federal bootleg. | ||
Many of the bootleg albums on King used the blue post-1966 label as a model. The label at far left was used for both King 503 and King 512 bootlegs. King albums pressed in Asian countries such as Taiwan were often on colored vinyl (near left). |
Cover |
Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents |
RELATED LPs: | |
Columbia (US): | |
CL-2667/CS-9467 - 18 King Size Rhythm and Blues Hits - Various Artists [1967] Work
With Me Annie - Hank Ballard & Midnighters (E)/Fever - Little Willie John (E)/Honky Tonk, Part 1 - Bill
Doggett (E)/Only You (And You Alone) - Platters (E)/Good Rockin' Tonight - Wynonie Harris
(E)/Tomorrow Night - Lonnie Johnson (E)/Another Woman's Man - Joe Tex (E)/Flamingo - Earl Bostic
(E)/Hearts Of Stone - Otis Williams & Charms (E)/ (E)/Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward & Dominoes (E)/I
Love You Yes I Do - Bullmoose Jackson (E)/Hide Away - Freddy King (E)/Finger Poppin' Time - Hank
Ballard & Midnighters (E)/Guess Who - Ivory Joe Hunter (E)/Dedicated To The One I Love - Five
Royales (E)/Shout Bamalama - Otis Redding (E)/Long Gone - Sonny Thompson (E)/Please Please
Please - James Brown & Famous Flames (E)
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CL-2668/CS-9468 - 18 King-Sized Country Hits - Various Artists [1967] King country
material. Signed, Sealed and Delivered - Cowboy Copas (E)/Mountain Dew - Grandpa Jones (E)/I'll Sail
My Ship Alone - Moon Mullican (E)/Death Of Hank Williams - Jack Cardwell (E)/I'm The Talk Of The
Town - Don Reno & Red Smiley (E)/Slow Poke - Hawkshaw Hawkins (E)/Sweeter Than The Flowers -
Moon Mullican (E)/Rainbow At Midnight - Carlisle Brothers (E)/Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me? -
Wayne Raney (E)/Money, Marbles And Chalk - Pop Eckler (E)/Death Of Little Katie Fiscus - Jimmy
Osborne (E)/How Far To Little Rock - Stanley Brothers (E)/It's Raining Here This Morning - Grandpa
Jones (E)/Lonesome 7-7203 - Hawkshaw Hawkins (E)/Next Sunday Darling Is My Birthday - Clyde
Moody (E)/Seven Lonely Days - Bonnie Lou (E)/Tennessee Waltz - Cowboy Copas (E)/Blues, Stay
Away From Me - Delmore Brothers (E)
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CS-9802 - Anthology of Rhythm and Blues, Volume 1 - Various Artists [1969] Let's Go
Let's Go Let's Go - Hank Ballard & Midnighters (E)/Trying - Lavern Baker (E)/Soft - Tiny Bradshaw
(E)/Think - Five Royales (E)/All My Love Belongs To You - Bullmoose Jackson (E)/Talk To Me Talk To
Me - Little Willie John (E)/Me And My Mule - Champion Jack Dupree (E)/Have Mercy Baby - Dominoes
(E)/Please Come Home For Christmas - Charles Brown (E)//The Twist - Hank Ballard & Midnighters
(E)/It Hurts To Be In Love - Annie Laurie (E)/Slow Walk - Bill Doggett (E)/Ivory Tower - Otis Williams &
Charms (E)/Bloodshot Eyes - Wynonie Harris (E)/Sleep - Little Willie John (E)/What Can I Do - Donnie
Elbert (E)/I'm Tore Down - Freddy King (E)/Try Me - James Brown & Famous Flames
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G-30503 - Great Hits of R&B - Various Artists [1971] (2-LP set) Disc 1: Honky
Tonk, Part 2 - Bill Doggett (E)/Work With Me Annie - Midnighters (E)/Fever - Little Willie John (E)/Only
You - Platters (E)/Tomorrow Night - Lonnie Johnson (E)/Another Woman's Man - Joe Tex (E)/Hearts Of
Stone - Charms (E)//Finger Poppin' Time - Hank Ballard & Midnighters (E)/Sixty Minute Man - Dominoes
(E)/Hide Away - Freddy King (E)/Guess Who - Ivory Joe Hunter (E)/Dedicated To The One I Love - Five
Royales (E)/Shout Bamalama - Otis Redding (E)/Please Please Please - James Brown & Famous
Flames (E); Disc 2: Trying - Laverne Baker (E)/All My Love Belongs To You Bullmoose
Jackson (E)/Talk To Me, Talk To Me Little Willie John (E)/Me And My Mule - "Champion" Jack Dupree
(E)/Have Mercy Baby Billy Ward And The Dominoes (E)//The Twist Hank Ballard And The
Midnighters (E)/Slow Walk Bill Doggett (E)/Sleep Little Willie John (E)/What Can I Do? Donnie
Elbert (E)/I'm Tore Down Freddie King (E)/Try Me James Brown & The Famous Flames (E)
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Polydor (France): | |
2489 194 - Please Please Please - James Brown & Famous Flames [1983] Reissue of
King 909 with the same green cover art, in mono. Please Please Please (version
1)(2:41)/Chonnie-On-Chon (2:10)/Hold My Baby's Hand (2:10)/I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On
(2:29)/Just Won't Do Right (I Stay In The Chapel Every Night) (version 1)(2:31)/ Baby Cries Over The
Ocean (2:20)/I Don't Know (2:43)/Tell Me What I Did Wrong (E, 2:18)//Try Me (version 1) (2:28)/That
Dood It (2:26)/Begging Begging (2:50)/I Walked Alone (E, 2:39)/No No No No (2:12)/That's When I Lost
My Heart (2:46)/Let's Make It (2:22)/Love Or A Game (2:14)
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2489 195 - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown [1983] Reissue of King 938
with the original cover art, in mono. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (version
1), Part 1 (1:55)/Papa's Got A Brand New Bag (version 1), Part 2 (instrumental, 2:12)/Mashed
Potatoes U.S.A. (2:49)/Cross Firing (instrumental, 2:18)/Love Don't Love Nobody (2:02)/Just
Won't Do Right (I Stay In The Chapel Every Night)(version 2)(2:40)//And I Do Just What I Want
(2:23)/This Old Heart (2:08)/Baby You're Right (3:05)/Have Mercy Baby (2:14)/You Don't Have
To Go (2:42)/Doin' The Limbo (instrumental, 2:28)
| |
2489 196 - I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown [1983] Reissue of King 946 with
original cover art, in mono. I Got You (I Feel Good) (version 2)(2:44)/Lost Someone (version
1)(3:05)/Night Train (version 1)(3:35)/You've Got The Power (version 1)(2:40)/Love Don't Love Nobody
(2:02)/Think (version 1)(2:00)//Good Good Lovin' (version 1)(2:15)/I Can't Help It (I Just Do Do Do)
(2:35)/I've Got Money (2:30)/Three Hearts In A Tangle (3:00)/Suds (instrumental, 2:18)/Dancin' Little
Thing (version 2; same as version 1 except for an edit at beginning of song)(2:04)
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2489 197 - Soul Brother #1 - James Brown [1983] Reissue of King 985 with the original
cover art, in mono. The Scratch (1:43)/It's A Man's Man's Man's World (version 1)(2:48)/Bewildered
(version 1)(2:23)/Is It Yes Or Is It No (2:58)/Ain't That A Groove (version 1), Part 1 (3:39)/The Bells
(3:04)//Ain't That A Groove (version 1), Part 2 (1:47)/Come Over Here (2:41)/In The Wee Wee Hours (Of
The Nite) (2:48)/I Don't Mind (version 1)(2:41)/Just You And Me Darling (2:37)/I Love You Yes I Do
(version 1)(2:46)
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2489 198 - The Unbeatable 16 Hits - James Brown & Famous Flames [1983] Reissue of
King 919 with the same playing card cover art, in mono. There Must Be A Reason (2:26)/(You Made Me
Love You) I Want You So Bad (version 1)(2:41)/Why Do You Do Me (version 1)(2:57)/Got To Cry
(2:32)/Strange Things Happen (Why Does Everything Happen To Me)(version 1)(2:09)/Fine Old Foxy
Self (2:08)/Messing With The Blues (2:09)/Try Me (version 1)(2:28)//It Was You (2:40)/I've Got To
Change (2:25)/Can't Be The Same (2:08)/It Hurts To Tell You (2:50)/I Won't Plead No More
(2:27)/You're Mine You're Mine (2:31)/Gonna Try (2:43)/Don't Let It Happen To Me (2:43)
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2489 199 - Excitement "Mr. Dynamite" - James Brown [1983] Reissue of King 780 with
the reissue cover art, in mono. I Don't Mind (version 1)(2:41)/Shout And Shimmy (3:00)/Tell Me What
You're Gonna Do (2:09)/ Good Good Lovin' (version 1)(2:15)/Have Mercy Baby (2:14)/Begging Begging
(2:50)//Love Don't Love Nobody (2:02)/Dancin' Little Thing (version 2; same as version 1 except for edit
at beginning of song)(2:15)/Come Over Here (2:41)/You Don't Have To Go (2:42)/Just Won't Do Right (I
Stay In The Chapel Every Night) (version 2)(2:40)/It Was You (2:40)
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813 491-1 - Prisoner of Love - James Brown & Famous Flames [1983] Reissue of King
851 with the original cover art, in mono. Prisoner Of Love (version 1)(2:27)/Waiting In Vain (2:43)/Again
(2:34)/Lost Someone (version 3; original with strings overdubbed)(3:05)/Bewildered (version 3; original
with strings overdubbed) (2:23) /So Long (version 2; similar to version 1 but features piano, strings, and
vocal backup whereas version 1 features saxes) (2:46)//Signed Sealed And Delivered (version 1)
(2:45)/Try Me (version 3; original with strings overdubbed)(2:28)/(Can You) Feel It (Part 1) (2:55)/How
Long Darling (2:57)/The Thing In "G" (6:08)
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813 492-1 - Cold Sweat - James Brown & Famous Flames [1983] Reissue of King 1020
with the original cover art. Cold Sweat (version 1), Parts 1 & 2 (7:18)/Fever (3:04)/Kansas City (version
1)(3:22)/Stagger Lee (2:43)/Good Rockin' Tonight (2:24)//Mona Lisa (1:52)/I Wanna Be Around (version
1)(2:18)/Nature Boy (2:35)/Come Rain Or Come Shine (2:45)/I Loves You Porgy (2:28)/Back Stabbin'
(instrumental, 2:41)
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Polydor (Japan): | |
25MM 0353 - Please Please Please - James Brown & Famous Flames [1984] Reissue
of King 610 with original cover graphics, in mono. Please Please Please (version
1)(2:41)/Chonnie-On-Chon (2:10)/Hold My Baby's Hand (2:10)/I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On
(2:29)/Just Won't Do Right (I Stay In The Chapel Every Night) (version 1)(2:31)/ Baby Cries Over The
Ocean (2:20)/I Don't Know (2:43)/Tell Me What I Did Wrong (E, 2:18)//Try Me (version 1) (2:28)/That
Dood It (2:26)/Begging Begging (2:50)/I Walked Alone (E, 2:39)/No No No No (2:12)/That's When I Lost
My Heart (2:46)/Let's Make It (2:22)/Love Or A Game (2:14)
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25MM 0354 - Think! - James Brown & Famous Flames [1984] Reissue of King 683 with
original cover graphics, in mono. Think (version 1)/Good Good Lovin' (version 1)/Wonder
When You're Coming Home/I'll Go Crazy (version 1)/This Old Heart/(I Found Someone) I Know It's True
(version 1)//Bewildered (version 1)/I'll Never Let You Go/You've Got the Power (version 1)/If You Want
Me/Baby, You're Right/So Long (version 1)
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25MM 0355 - Raw Soul - James Brown [1984] Reissue of King 1016 with original cover
graphics, in mono. Bring It Up (version 1)(2:45)/Don't Be A Drop Out (3:28)/Till Then (2:40)/Tell Me That
You Love Me ("live, "1:42)/Yours And Mine (instrumental, 2:43)/Money Won't Change You, Part 1
(2:45)//Money Won't Change You, Part 2 (2:19)/Only You (2:47)/Let Yourself Go (version 1)(2:45)/The
Nearness Of You (3:07)/Nobody Knows (3:20)/Stone Fox (version 1) (instrumental, 2:35)
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25MM 0356 - Soul Brother #1 - James Brown [1984] Reissue of King 985 in mono. The
Scratch (1:43)/It's A Man's Man's Man's World (version 1)(2:48)/Bewildered (version 1)(2:23)/Is It Yes Or
Is It No (2:58)/Ain't That A Groove (version 1), Part 1 (3:39)/The Bells (3:04)//Ain't That A Groove
(version 1), Part 2 (1:47)/Come Over Here (2:41)/In The Wee Wee Hours (Of The Nite) (2:48)/I Don't
Mind (version 1)(2:41)/Just You And Me Darling (2:37)/I Love You Yes I Do (version 1)(2:46)
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25MM 0357 - Try Me! - James Brown & Famous Flames [1984] Reissue of King 635 with
original cover graphics, in mono. There Must Be A Reason (2:26)/(You Made Me Love You) I Want You
So Bad (version 1)(2:41)/Why Do You Do Me (version 1)(2:57)/Got To Cry (2:32)/Strange Things
Happen (Why Does Everything Happen To Me)(version 1)(2:09)/Fine Old Foxy Self (2:08)/Messing With
The Blues (2:09)/Try Me (version 1)(2:28)//It Was You (2:40)/I've Got To Change (2:25)/Can't Be The
Same (2:08)/It Hurts To Tell You (2:50)/I Won't Plead No More (2:27)/You're Mine You're Mine
(2:31)/Gonna Try (2:43)/Don't Let It Happen To Me (2:43)
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25MM 0358 - I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me - James Brown [1984] Reissue
of King 1030. I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)(version 1), Part 1(3:30)/There Was A Time
[live](version 2) (3:32)/Get It Together, Part 1 (3:42)/Baby Baby Baby Baby (4:18)/Time After Time
(version 1) (2:55)/The Soul Of J.B. (instrumental, 2:59)//I Can't Stand Myself (When You Touch
Me)(version 1), Part 2 (4:20)/Get It Together, Part 2 (4:39)/Why Did You Take Your Love Away From Me
(2:58)/Need Your Love So Bad (3:19)/You've Got To Change Your Mind (3:44)/Funky Soul #1
(instrumental, 2:05)
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Polydor (UK): | |
2310.293 - Rockabilly Kings - Charlie Feathers & Mac Curtis [1974] One Hand Loose -
Charlie Feathers/Nobody's Woman - Charlie Feathers/Can't Hardly Stand It - Charlie Feathers/Too Much
Alike - Charlie Feathers/When You Come Around - Charlie Feathers/When You Decide - Charlie
Feathers/Everybody's Lovin' My Baby - Charlie Feathers/Bottle to the Baby - Charlie
Feathers//Grandaddy's Rockin' - Mac Curtis/Goose Bumps - Mac Curtis/Just So You Call Me - Mac
Curtis/That Ain't Nothin' But Right - Mac Curtis/What You Want - Mac Curtis/Half-Hearted Love - Mac
Curtis/You Ain't Treatin' Me Right - Mac Curtis/If I Had Me a Woman - Mac Curtis
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817 304-1
- Roots of a Revolution - James Brown [1983] (2-LP set) Fold-open cover; 16-page
booklet is also included. Disc 1: I Feel That Old Feeling Coming On (M)/Hold My Baby's Hand
(M)/Chonnie-On-Chon (M)/Just Won't Do Right (M)/Let's Make It (M)/Fine Old Foxy Self (M)/Why Does
Everything Happen To Me (M)/Begging Begging (M)/That Dood It (M)//There Must Be A Reason (M)/I
Want You So Bad (M)/Bewildered (M)/Doodle Bug (S)/This Old Heart (M)/You've Got The Power
(M)/Baby You're Right (M)/I Don't Mind (M); Disc 2: Come Over Here (M)/And I Do Just What I
Want (M)/Tell Me What You're Gonna Do (M)/Hold It (M)/Dancin' Little Thing (M)/You Don't Have To Go
(M)/Lost Someone (M)/Shout And Shimmy (M)//I Found You (M)/I Don't Care (M)/I've Got Money
(M)/Mashed Potatoes USA (S)/Prisoner Of Love (M)/Oh Baby Don't You Weep, Parts 1 & 2 (S,
undubbed - no audience noise)/Maybe The Last Time (S)
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Polydor (US): | |
SC-5401 - Soul Classics - James Brown [1972] (6/72 #83) Sex Machine (S, 2:49)/My
Part-Make It Funky, Part 3 (S, 2:43)/Cold Sweat (S, 2:55)/Call Me Super Bad (S, 3:00)/I Got You (I Feel
Good)(M, 2:44)//Make It Funky, Part 1 (S, 3:15)/Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Part 1 (version 1)(E,
2:07)/Soul Power (S, 3:01)/Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose (S, 3:03)/It's A Man's Man's Man's World
(version 1)(E, 2:48)
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SC-5402 - Soul Classics, Volume II - James Brown [1973] Get On The Good Foot
(version 1), Part 1 (S, 3:36)/Honky Tonk, Part 1 (S, 3:05)/Talkin' Loud And Saying Nothin' (version 2),
Part 1 (M, 3:15)/I'm A Greedy Man, Part 1 (S, 2:47)/I Got Ants In My Pants, Part 1 (S, 3:02)//There It Is,
Part 1 (M, 3:05)/Talkin' Loud And Sayin' Nothin' (version 2), Part 2 (M, 4:03)/ King Heroin (S, 3:56)/I Got
A Bag Of My Own (S, 3:46)/Think (live Polydor version)(M, 3:19)
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BOOTLEGS: Note: King/Federal/DeLuxe material has been extensively bootlegged, both in the US and overseas. Often the bootleggers would just make up a King catalog number, whether it had been used for a different legitimate album or not. Some of these were just made for collectors' enjoyment and availability of the music, not particularly to deceive. For example, King 503 and 512 just below used a King logo that was not even close to anything used by King, so any collector with any knowledge of the label would know immediately it was a boot. There were undoubtedly many other bootleg albums (and CDs!), but this list concentrates on the ones put out in the 1970s. | |
King 503 - The Best of the Checkers - Checkers [1970s] The actual King 503 is an
album by Earl Bostic. This had a post-1966 blue King label knockoff. House With No Windows/Ghost Of
My Baby/Don't Stop Dan/Night's Curtains/Over The Rainbow/Flame In My Heart/Oh, Oh, Oh
Baby//Trying To Hold My Gal/My Prayer Tonight/Love Wasn't There/Mama's Daughter/I Promise
You/You've Been Fooling Around/White Cliffs Of Dover
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Federal 510 - The Best of the Lamplighters - Lamplighters [1970s] The actual King 510
is an album by Tommy Reynolds. This has a silver-top Federal label. Tell Me You Care/You Hear/You
Were Sent Down From Heaven/Roll On/I Can't Stand It/Goody Good Things/Smootchie/Bo Peep//Part
Of Me/Believe In Me/Give Me/Salty Dog/Don't Make It So Good/Hug A Little Kiss A Little/Love, Rock And
Thrill/Be-Bop Wino
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King 512 - The Hurricanes Meet the Strangers - Hurricanes/Strangers [1970s] The
actual King 512 is an album by Shura and His Trio. Label is knockoff of the blue King post-1966 label
with crown. All tracks mono. Dreams Came True - Strangers/Blue Flowers - Strangers/Hoping You'll
Understand - Strangers/Drop Down To My Place - Strangers/My Friend - Strangers/I've Got Eyes -
Strangers/Without A Friend - Strangers//Poor Little Dancing Girl - Hurricanes/Maybe It's All For The Best
- Hurricanes/Raining In My Heart - Hurricanes/Your Promise To Me - Hurricanes/Priceless -
Hurricanes/Little Girl Of Mine - Hurricanes/Dear Mother - Hurricanes
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Federal 559 - Clyde McPhatter with Billy Ward & His Dominoes - Billy Ward & His
Dominoes [1970s] US-made bootleg reissue of Federal 559. Label is green with gold top and print;
pink 1960s reissue cover. All tracks mono. Sixty Minute Man/Do Something For Me/That's What You're
Doing To Me/Deep Sea Blues/Pedal Pushin' Papa/Don't Leave Me This Way/When The Swallows Come
Back To Capistrano//Have Mercy Baby/I Am With You/Chicken Blues/Weeping Willow Blues/Love Love
Love/The Bells/I'd Be Satisfied/These Foolish Things
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Federal 567 - The Best of the Royals - Royals [Hank Ballard & Midnighters] [1970s]
The actual King 567 is an album by the Swanee River Boys.
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DeLuxe 570 - The Charms Sing Their All-Time Hits - Charms [1970s] US-made bootleg
reissue of DeLuxe 570. Photo is black and white; legitimate issues have the photo in color. Hearts Of
Stone/Bazoom (I Need Your Loving)/Ivory Tower/Ko-Ko-Mo/Friends Call Me A Fool/Gum Drop//Ling Ting
Tong/Walking After Midnight/Creation Of Love/That's Your Mistake/Pardon Me/Two Hearts
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DeLuxe 570 - The Quails Sing Their Greatest Hits - Quails featuring Bill Robinson
[1970s] Black DeLuxe label. The actual DeLuxe 570 is the Charms album, noted above. Lonely Star/Quit
Pushin'/The Things She Used To Do/Pretty Higgin' Baby/Love My Life/Oh Sugar//I Know She's
Gone/Baby Don't Want Me No More/Heaven Is The Place/Why Do I Wait/Somewhere Somebody
Cares/A Little Bit Of Love
| |
Federal 571 - The Midnighters Sing Their Greatest Hits - Midnighters [1970s] US-made
bootleg reissue of Federal 541 with extra tracks. Label is green with silver top and print; cover is pink
showing a picture of the group. All tracks mono. Hello Miss Fine/I Feel That-A-Way/Sexy Ways/Don't
Say Your Last Goodbye/Ashamed Of Myself/Work With Me Annie/I'll Be Home Some Day/Give It
Up//Until I Die/Henry's Got Flat Feet/Why We Are Apart/Annie Had A Baby/Annie's Aunt Fannie/Partners
For Life/She's The One/Tell Them
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DeLuxe 573 - The Five Jets Meet the Guytones - 5 Jets/Guytones [1970s] The actual
573 is King 573, by the Spirit of Memphis Quintet.
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DeLuxe 575 - The Best of the Chanters - Chanters with Bud Johnson [1970s] The actual
575 is King 575, by the Swan Silvertones. This was issued twice, first as a US bootleg then as a
Swedish copy. At My Door/My My Darling/No, No, No/I Make This Pledge/I Need Your Tenderness/For
Sentimental Reasons//Stars In The Sky/Row Your Boat/Angel Darling/Five Little Kisses/No, No, No
(alternate version)/Over The Rainbow
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Federal 577 - The Best of the Dominoes, Vol. 3 - Dominoes [1970s] The actual 577 is
King 577, by the Spirit of Memphis Quintet.
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Federal 578 - The Best of the Dominoes, Vol. 2 - Dominoes [1970s] The actual 578 is
King 578, by the Swan Silvertones.
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Federal 651 - The Best of the Platters - Platters [1970s] Never was an album more
deceptively named. US-made bootleg reissue of King 651, which in turn is a reissue of Federal 549,
probably with extra tracks.
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