The Winner Records
| Company type | Record label |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | James Hough |
| Defunct | January 1935 |
| Fate | Taken over by Decca Records |
| Headquarters | London , United Kingdom |
| Products | Gramophone discs (records) |
The Winner Records was a British record label established in 1912 by James Hough, with its records produced by Edison Bell Record Works based in London. Initially, Hough's business involved importing Edison and Columbia phonograph cylinders, before expanding into manufacturing cylinders through Edisonia. This continued until Edison launched his own European branch in 1904. From 1909 onwards, Edison-Bell operated under the official name J. E. Hough Ltd.
Aiming at the budget-conscious segment, Winner Records offered well-crafted gramophone discs mainly featuring popular music, but also included distinguished classical performers such as the child prodigy cellist John Barbirolli and pianist Marie Novello, who studied under Theodor Leschetizky. In the early 1920s, the label introduced the Velvet Face Records series, noted for its superior material quality and green labels. This series encompassed ambitious recordings like Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius (1925), Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor arranged for piano by Carl Tausig, and Mendelssohn's First Piano Concerto—Novello’s sole extensive multi-side recording.
Winner was a pioneer in jazz recordings, becoming the first label to release a jazz band record in 1919. Up until 1922, all recordings were produced by Edison Bell in London; after that year, some releases were licensed from American companies such as Gennett Records (Star Piano Company), Emerson Records, and Paramount Records. Post-1925, the label incorporated recordings from Crown and Plaza Music Company (Banner Records).
Eventually taken over by Decca Records of England, Winner’s catalog was updated with releases mainly sourced from American Vocalion Records before ceasing production in January 1935. Over 3,500 discs were issued under the Winner brand throughout its existence. A detailed discography can be found through the City Of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society (CLPGS).