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Modern Records

From Alfawiki
Modern Records
Company typeRecord label
IndustryMusic
Founded1945 in Los Angeles, California, United States
FounderBihari brothers (Saul, Jules, Joe Bihari)
Defunctlate 1960s (bankruptcy)
FateCatalog merged into Kent Records; later licensed and sold to Ace Records
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Saul Bihari, Jules Bihari, Joe Bihari, Ike Turner (talent scout and session musician)
ProductsBlues and R&B records

Modern Records—originally known as Modern Music Records until 1947—was an American record label and company established in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. Its artist lineup featured prominent figures such as Hadda Brooks, Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner, and John Lee Hooker. The label played a crucial role in distributing significant blues and R&B recordings during the 1940s and 1950s.

History

At its inception, Modern Records focused on acquiring master recordings from smaller companies, including a notable 1951 purchase of 32 unreleased masters from Gold Star Records by artists like Lightnin' Hopkins and Lil' Son Jackson for $2,500. The Bihari siblings frequently used aliases to secure songwriting royalties; Saul Bihari, for instance, adopted the name "Sam Ling." Although originally centered on R&B, Modern also produced cover versions of popular songs from other labels to broaden its audience.

In 1958, the Bihari family introduced Kent Records and discontinued new releases under the Modern label. The brand saw a brief revival in 1964, with groups such as the Ikettes achieving chart success in 1965. Nevertheless, Modern entered bankruptcy within a few years, with its catalog merging into Kent Records. Later, this collection was licensed—and eventually sold—to the UK-based Ace Records during the 1980s and 1990s; Ace Records currently holds ownership of the original master recordings.

Additionally, Modern operated a subsidiary named Yuletide Records, which specialized exclusively in holiday-themed music.

Management and staff

  • The primary management team consisted of Saul, Jules, and Joe Bihari, while their elder brother Lester participated only sporadically.
  • During the 1950s, Ike Turner worked as both a talent scout and session musician for Modern Records. He is credited with discovering talents including Bobby "Blue" Bland, Howlin' Wolf, and Rosco Gordon. Turner also facilitated the introduction of B.B. King to the Bihari brothers, enabling King's recordings to be released on RPM.
  • In the late 1950s, Tony Hilder served as an A&R representative for Modern before founding CT Records and later becoming owner and president of Impact Records.
  • Austin McCoy contributed as an artist, session musician, and recording session director at Modern Records prior to departing in late 1950 to accept an A&R role at the Beverly Hills office of Mercury Records.

Albums

  • Modern Music: The First Year – 1945 (Ace CDTOP 1339, released in 2012)

The albums below were issued in both mono format with catalogue numbers beginning "M-70" and stereo versions labeled "MST-8":

  • –00 Era of Tommy Dorsey
  • –01 Era of Benny Goodman
  • –02 Era of Charlie Barnet
  • –03 Era of Glenn Miller
  • –04 Era of Woody Herman
  • –05 Era of the Big Bands
  • –06 Dixieland
  • –07 Polka Party Time
  • –08 Honky Tonk Piano
  • –09 Strauss Waltzes
  • –10 Day Dreams
  • –11 Organ Gems
  • –12 Cha Cha Cha
  • –13 Sing-A-Long
  • –14 Rock and Roll Party
  • –15 The Heart of Spain
  • –16 Oldies and Goodies
  • –17 Progressive Percussion
  • –18 Hawaiian Holiday
  • –19 Era of Hank Williams
  • –20 Tradewinds to Hawaii
  • –21 Dynamic Percussion
  • –22 Mambo Cha Cha Cha
  • –23 The Fabulous Ink Spots

Selected singles

1022 June 1957 — — "By The Light Of The Silvery Moon"
b/w "Come What May" Etta James 1027 November 1957 — — "Just To Say Hello"
b/w "My Satellite" Jesse Belvin 1003 December 1964 107 — "Camel Walk"
b/w "Nobody Loves Me"The Ikettes 1005 February 1965 36 28 "Peaches 'N' Cream"
b/w "The Biggest Players" The Ikettes 1007 May 1965 107 32 "Good Bye, So Long"
b/w "Hurt Is All You Gave Me"Ike & Tina Turner 1011 July 1965 74 12 "I'm So Thankful"
b/w "Don't Feel Sorry For Me" The Ikettes 1012 August 1965 134 — "I Don't Need"
b/w "Gonna Have Fun" Ike & Tina Turner 1015 January 1966 122 — "(Never More) Lonely For You"
b/w "Sally Go Round the Roses" The Ikettes 1030 1967 — — "Bring It Back Home To Me"
b/w "Slippin' And Slidin'"Little Richard
Catalog Number Release
Date 		US US
R&B 		Single (A-side, B-side) Performer
624 October 1948 — 1 "Blues After Hours"
b/w "I'm Still In Love With You" 		Pee Wee Crayton
627 November 1948 — 1 "Boogie Chillen"
b/w "Sally May" 		John Lee Hooker
704 October 1949 — 5 "Little School Girl"
b/w "Suitcase Blues" 		Smokey Hogg
714 October 1949 — 6 "Crawlin' King Snake"
b/w "Drifting from Door to Door" 		John Lee Hooker
835 September 1951 — 1 "I'm in the Mood"
b/w "How Can You Do It" 		John Lee Hooker
848 December 1951 — — "Crying All Night Long"
b/w "Dry Up Baby" 		Robert Bland
857 February 1952 — 7 "The Wind Is Blowin'"
b/w "Would My Baby Make A Change" 		Jimmy Witherspoon
860 March 1952 — — "Ramblin' On My Mind"
b/w "Just An Army Boy" 		Boyd Gilmore
864 April 1952 — — "Bad Women Bad Whiskey"
b/w "You're My Angel" 		Little Junior Parker and the Blue Flames
947 January 1955 — 1 "The Wallflower"
b/w "Hold Me, Squeeze Me" 		Etta James and "The Peaches"
961 June 1955 — — "Mary Lou"
b/w "Don't Think I Will" 		Young Jessie, Maxwell Davis & Orchestra
962 August 1955 — 6 "Good Rockin' Daddy"
b/w "Crazy Feeling" 		Etta James, Maxwell Davis & Orchestra
1002 September 1956 — — "Hit, Git And Split"
b/w "Don't Happen No More" 		Young Jessie
1005 October 1956 — 7 "Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams)"
b/w "I Want You With Me Xmas" 		(Jessie Belvin)


Subsidiaries

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