Dial Records (1946)
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Ross Russell |
| Defunct | 1954 |
| Fate | Jazz holdings sold to Concert Hall Records |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, California; later New York City , United States |
| Products | Jazz and contemporary classical music recordings; field recordings of calypso music |
Dial Records was a U.S.-based record label that initially concentrated on bebop jazz before transitioning to contemporary classical music. Established in 1946 by Ross Russell, the label showcased leading musicians including Charlie Parker, who entered into an exclusive one-year agreement on February 26, 1946, alongside artists such as Miles Davis, Max Roach, and Milt Jackson. Originally, Dial produced records for the Tempo Music Shop located in Hollywood, California, prior to moving operations to New York City.
By 1949, Russell redirected the label’s emphasis toward contemporary classical compositions. The inaugural release under this new direction was the Library of Contemporary Classics series, beginning with Béla Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion. This change was motivated when Russell obtained the master recording of Arnold Schoenberg's Chamber Symphony No. 1 from Blue Star Records in Paris, trading Dial’s jazz masters for European distribution rights.
In 1953, the label expanded its catalog to include field recordings of calypso music originating from the British, French, and Netherlands West Indies. This initiative resulted in the Dial Ethnic Series (Dial 400 label), comprising ten ten-inch rpm records released between June and November 1953.
Jazz recordings previously issued by Dial continued to be released until 1954, when Russell sold his jazz holdings to Concert Hall Records, transferring all masters and related documentation on June 3, 1954.
Subsequently, Mosaic Records produced a limited edition boxed set titled The Complete Dial Modern Jazz Sessions, compiling the essential jazz works from Dial’s archive.
Releases
- Dial 1002: The Charlie Parker Septet’s recordings of "A Night in Tunisia" and "Ornithology" from March 28, 1946. Upon release, it was described by Billboard as "A collector's item."
- Dial 1035: "Get Happy" and "Congo Blues," recorded under vibraphonist Red Norvo’s leadership. The session featured performers including Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Flip Phillips, Teddy Wilson, Slam Stewart, and Specs Powell. Recorded at WOR Studios in New York City on June 6, 1945.
- Dial 1045: "Sing Hallelujah" and "Bird's Blues," originating from the same session as Dial 1035.
- Dial LP 903: A reissue combining Dial 1035/1045; with "Sing Hallelujah" retitled "Hallelujah," and "Bird's Blues" renamed "Slam Slam Blues."
Library of Contemporary Classics
- Dial No. 1: Béla Bartók, Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, performed by William Masselos, Maro Ajemian, Saul Goodman, and Abe Marcus. Recorded in New York, 1949.
- Dial No. 2: Arnold Schoenberg, Chamber Symphony No. 1, performed by Orchestre des Concerts Pasdeloup under conductor Pierre Dervaux. Recorded in Paris, 1949.
- Dial No. 3: Arnold Schoenberg’s Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op. 41; and String Trio, Op. 45; featuring Villers String Quartet, pianist Jacques Monod, reciter Ellen Adler; conducted by René Leibowitz.
- Dial No. 4: Schoenberg’s Third String Quartet, Op. 30; performed by Pro Arte Quartet.
- Dial No. 5: Alban Berg, Lyric Suite, performed by Pro Arte Quartet.
- Dial No. 6: Alan Hovhaness, Piano Concerto (Lousadzak) alongside chamber pieces performed by Maro Ajemian and the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra conducted by Hovhaness himself.
- Dial No. 7: Anton Webern’s String Quartet movements and Symphony Op. 21; performed by Pro Arte String Quartet and Paris Chamber Orchestra under René Leibowitz.
- Dial No. 8: Olivier Messiaen, Visions de L'Amen.
- Dial No. 9: Alban Berg’s Chamber Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Thirteen Wind Instruments, with soloists Roland Charny and Jacques-Louis Monod; Orchestre de chambre Paul Kuentz conducted by René Leibowitz.
- Dial No. 10: Igor Stravinsky, Suite no. 1 among other compositions; conducted by Robert Craft.
- Dial No. 11: Gosta Nystroem, Sinfona del Mare, performed by Stockholm Orchestra under Tor Mann.
- Dial No. 12: Stravinsky’s Mavra.
- Dial No. 13: Schoenberg’s Woodwind Quintet op. 26; Metropolitan Wind Quintet performing.
- Dial No. 14: Piano works by Schoenberg interpreted by Gwendolyn Koldofsky and Eduard Steuermann.
- Dial No. 15: Vocal compositions by Alban Berg featuring Bethany Beardslee and Irene Joachim; accompanied by chamber orchestra conducted by René Leibowitz; recorded in 1951.
- Dial No. 16: Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, conducted by René Leibowitz.
- Dial No. 17: Webern’s Concerto for Nine Instruments under René Leibowitz’s direction.
- Dial Nos. 19-20: John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano performed by Maro Ajemian; recorded in New York, 1951.
See also
Further reading
- Wheeler, Geoffrey. 1999. Jazz by Mail: Record Clubs and Record Labels, 1936 to 1958—Including Complete Discographies for Jazztone and Dial Records. Manassas, VA: Hillbrook Press. .
- Hoek, D.J. 2013. “Beyond Bebop: Dial Records and the Library of Contemporary Classics.” ARSC Journal 44, no. 1 (Spring): 70-98.