One-derful Records

One-derful Records

Company type	Independent record label
Industry	Music
Founded	1962
Founder	George Leaner
Defunct	1968
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Products	R&B and soul music recordings

One-derful Records was a Chicago-based independent label specializing in R&B and soul, established in 1962 by George Leaner (1917–1983). It stood out as one of the limited number of black-owned record companies in Chicago until its closure in 1968. The label gained recognition primarily for the 1963 track "Shake a Tail Feather" performed by the Five Du-Tones. Other prominent musicians signed to the label included the Sharpees, McKinley Mitchell, Alvin Cash, and Harold Burrage. Additionally, One-derful operated several subsidiary imprints such as Mar-V-Lus, M-Pac, Halo, and Midas Records.

History

George Leaner, a Mississippi native, relocated to Chicago where his uncle, Al Benson, was a well-known disc jockey. After his service in World War II, Leaner began working at his sister's Groove Record Shop and collaborated with blues producer Lester Melrose starting in 1946. In 1947, he and his brother Ernie became involved with M.S. Distributors and subsequently Chord Distributing Company. By 1950, they were producing artists like Little Walter and Muddy Waters under Parkway Records. That same year, Ernie founded United Distributors with George as a junior partner.

The inception of One-derful came in 1962 when Leaner encountered a demo from McKinley Mitchell. He assembled an A&R team including songwriter Andre Williams and musician Monk Higgins, while also recruiting writers Otis Hayes, Eddie Silvers, and Larry Nestor. The label operated alongside Tone Recordings studio and United Distribution at 1827 S. Michigan Ave. Notable artists such as Mighty Joe Young, Syl Johnson, Lonnie Brooks, and the Jackson 5 recorded at this location. Sessions were frequently supported by Larry Blasingaine & the Hippies.

One-derful’s initial release was "The Town I Live In" by McKinley Mitchell, which reached number 8 on the R&B charts. The Five Du-Tones’ "Shake a Tail Feather" climbed to number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 28 on the R&B chart. Despite chart appearances, many performers did not receive royalties, and the label faced financial difficulties. An attempt to capitalize on their success through the Five Du-Tones Revue Tour did not achieve commercial viability. After One-derful ceased operations in 1968, Ernie and Tony Leaner briefly established Toddlin' Town Records.

Upon Ernie Leaner's passing in 1990, his descendants inherited One-derful’s extensive catalog comprising over 700 master recordings. This collection includes a rare 1963 track titled "A Wonderful Thing (Love)" by the Rockmasters featuring Eddie Levert, who later gained fame with the O'Jays. Following Michael Jackson's death in 2009, a master recording of the Jackson 5’s "I'm A Big Boy Now" from a July 1967 session was discovered—predating their later Steeltown Records version released that year.

Selected discography

Catalog No.	Release date	Single (A-side, B-side)	US	US R&B	Artist	Notes
4804	Jan 1962	A: "The Town I Live In"	115	8	McKinley Mitchell	Billboard review (Feb 10, 1962)
		B: "No Love Like My Love"
4806	Mar 1962	A: "I'll Be There"			Betty Everett	Cash Box review (Mar 31, 1962)
		B: "Your Love Is Important To Me"
4807	May 1962	A: "Come Back Home"			Benny Turner	Cash Box review (May 19, 1962)
		'B: "When I'm Gone"
4815	Mar 1963	A: "Shake A Tail Feather"	51	28	The Five Du-Tones	Cash Box review (Mar 30, 1963)
		B: "Divorce Court"
4827	Jul 1964	A: "Please Forgive Me"			Du-Ettes	Cash Box review (Aug 1, 1964)
		B: "Lonely Days"
4834	Jun 1965	A: "A Flame In Your Heart"			Otis Clay
		B: "Three Is A Crowd"
4835	Jul 1965	A: "Do The 45"	117
		'\'B:\'\' "Make Up Your Mind"
\4839	\Oct 1965	'\'A:\'\' "Tired Of Being Lonely"			\[\[The Sharpees\]\]	\Reached No. 90 on Cash Box Top 100 chart
'\'B:\'\' "Just To Please You"
\4841	\Mar 1966	'\'A:\'\' "I'm Satisfied"	\105		\Otis Clay	'\'rowspan=2\'
'\'B:\' \'I Testify\'
\4847	\Apr 1967	'\'A:\' \'One Man's Poison\'	'\'rowspan=2\'	'\'rowspan=2\'	'\'rowspan=2\'	\[\[Liz Lands\]\]	'\'rowspan=2\'
'B:\' \'Don't Shut Me Out\'
'rowspan=' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '4848' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 'Jul' ' '67' ' 'A:' 'That's How It Is (When You're In Love)' '131' '34' 'Otis Clay' '-' 'B:' 'Show Place'
'rowspan='4850'	'Nov' '67'	'A:' Lasting Love' '48' 'Otis Clay' '-' 'B:' Got To Find A Way'