Hollywood Album Discography

The Hollywood Record label (of Hollywood — there were others) was formed in Los Angeles, California by John Dolphin in 1952. They purchased the masters from the Swing Time label when the latter went out of business in 1954. The label recorded rhythm and blues, gospel and popular.

In 1954, Dolphin sold the label to Donald F. Pierce. Pierce was also partial owner of Starday Records. In December 1957, the headquarters of the Hollywood and Starday Labels was moved to Madison, Tennessee. From this point on the Hollywood albums carried the notation "Distributed by Starday International Sales, Inc." Starting in January 1957, Hollywood along with Starday was affiliated with Mercury Records, and many of their albums from this time (see 503 and 504 below) had the Mercury "Authentic High Fidelity" banner on the bottom.

The Hollywood label in the mid to late fifties released many vocal group records including the great 1959 records "Rockin' in the Jungle" [Hollywood 68, #78] and "Babalu's Wedding Day" [Hollywood 70] by the Eternals. They also recorded the Genies on "No More Knockin'" [Hollywood 69, rel. 7/59], a follow-up to their earlier hit (3/59) "Who's That Knockin'" [Shad 5002, #71]. The Genies included Claude Johnson and Roland Trone who two years later became Don and Juan of "What's Your Name" fame [Big Top 3079, #7].

The 500 series is interesting to the rhythm and blues collector. The albums have full liner notes and identify the artists. The first album in the series is a great R&B Christmas album which includes Johnny Moore's Blazers, Charles Brown, Lowell Fulson and Jimmy Witherspoon, all of this material was recorded by the Swingtime label. There are also two albums of Ray Charles' Swingtime material. Charles recorded for the Swingtime label before he went on to fame on the Atlantic label and Hollywood obtained the masters from the defunct Swingtime to cash in on Charles' fame on Atlantic.

The Hollywood label was active into 1961, and then seemed to go dormant until 1965, issuing no singles or albums. In 1965, they started issuing singles again and reissued the HLP-501 Christmas album and an album HLP-506 by Bob Kames. The label continued to operate into the late 1960s issuing singles but we know of no albums issued on the Hollywood label after 1965.

This discography was compiled using our record collections and The American Record Label Directory and Dating Guide, 1940-1959 by Galen Gart.

The original label on the 500 series was red with silver printing, "HOLLYWOOD RECORDS" on two straight lines above the center hole. The second label was also red with silver printing, with "HOLLYWOOD RECORDS" on two straight lines above the center hole, with "RECORDS" in smaller font, beneath which was "Founded 1952" like on the Starday record label.

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 Hollywood or Starday 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 2009 by Mike Callahan.

HOLLYWOOD ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Cover	Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] Contents
	HLP-500 (Main) Series:
	HLP-501 - Merry Christmas...Baby: Intimate Songs for Young Lovers - Various Artists [12/56] This material was originally recorded by the Swing Time Label of Los Angeles. There are three covers for this album, the first is green with a drawing of three red Christmas tree ornaments with the names of the artists on the balls, with "Merry Christmas ... Baby" in white across the top. (They also issued a six-song EP with the same cover, subtitled "Six Intimate Songs for Young Lovers".) The second cover has a girl sitting at a bar with a drink in her hand. "Merry Christmas ... Baby" in yellow on the upper left corner of the cover. The third cover is gold with a standing girl with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other, "Merry Christmas Baby" in red on the upper right corner of the cover. The first two covers are very rare, but the third appears in cutout racks often. Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown/Sleighride - Lloyd Glenn Trio/Christmas Everyday - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Boggie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott/Lonesome Christmas Part 1 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Dreams - Johnny Moore's Blazers //Christmas Eve Baby - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Christmas Letter - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Love for Christmas Jackson Trio/Lonesome Christmas Part 2 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Blues - Jimmy Witherspoon/Jingle Bell Hop - Jackson Trio
	HLP-501 [reissue] - Merry Christmas Baby: Intimate Christmas Music for Lovers - Various Artists [1965] Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown/Sleighride - Lloyd Glenn Trio/Christmas Everyday - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Boggie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott/Lonesome Christmas Part 1 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Dreams - Johnny Moore's Blazers //Christmas Eve Baby - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Christmas Letter - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Love for Christmas Jackson Trio/Lonesome Christmas Part 2 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Blues - Jimmy Witherspoon/Jingle Bell Hop - Jackson Trio Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown/Sleighride - Lloyd Glenn Trio/Christmas Everyday - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Boggie Woogie Santa Claus - Mabel Scott/Lonesome Christmas Part 1 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Dreams - Johnny Moore's Blazers //Christmas Eve Baby - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Christmas Letter - Johnny Moore's Blazers/Love for Christmas Jackson Trio/Lonesome Christmas Part 2 - Lowell Fulson/Christmas Blues - Jimmy Witherspoon/Jingle Bell Hop - Jackson Trio
	HLP-502 - Golden Galaxie of Teen Twist Hits - Tennessee Teen Twisters [1961] Walk With Mr. Lee/Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go/Intermission Twist/Good Good Lovin'/What'd I Say/Ya, Ya //The Twist/Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On/Guitar Twist/Twistin' in the USA/Searchin'/Jam Up Twist
	HLP-503 - Golden Galaxy of R&B Hits - Various Artists [1961] Alone In the City - Ray Charles/Rocking Chair Blues - Ray Charles/Dolphin Street Boogie - Red Callender/Take Me Back - Hayes/It's Alright - Jimmy McCracklin/Walkin' & Cryin' - Jacks/Hey, Little Dreamboat - Pee Wee Crayton/Love Song - Jesse Belvin/In the Clay - Charles Brown/Why Don't You Write Me - Feathers/Old Time Shuffle - Lloyd Glenn/Everyday I Have the Blues - Lloyd Fulson/Guitar Shuffle - Lloyd Fulson/Kansas City - Perry/Roughest Place In Town - Fuller/Long Time - Thomas/B-A-B-Y - Miller/Johnny's Last Letter - Johnny Moore's Blazers
	HLP-504 - The Original Ray Charles - Ray Charles [1961] These recordings were made by the Swing Time label and leased to Hollywood Records, they were made prior to Charles joining Atlantic Records. Ain't That Fine/Honey, Honey/Ray Charles Blues/Don't Put All Your Dreams In One Basket/St. Pete Florida Blues/You Always Miss the Water (When the Well Goes Dry) //Jack, She's on the Ball/Can Anyone Ask For More/Let's Have a Ball/If I Give You My Love/Sitting on Top of the World/I've Had My Fun
	HLP-505 - The Fabulous Artistry of Ray Charles - Ray Charles [1961] These recordings were made by the Swing Time label and leased to Hollywood Records, they were made prior to Charles joining Atlantic Records. Going to the River/In the Clay/Someday/Before Sunrise/Don't Leave Me/Strange Love //Mardi Gras Parade/Rockin' Chair Blues/Best I Can/I'll Do Anything/Sentimental Blues/Dark Night
	HLP-506/HLP-506 Stereo - Bob Kames (King of the Hammond Organ) Plays All-time Country Favorites - Bob Kames with Pete Drake [1965] Bob Kames plays the Hammond Organ with steel guitar accompaniment by Pete Drake. Wabash Cannonball/Honky Tonk Angels/My Happiness/Y'All Come/Eddy Arnold Medley/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/On Top Of Old Smoky/Makes No Difference Now/Country Boy's Deck Of Cards/Birmingham Jail/(others)

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