Aladdin Records

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Label of 1952 Aladdin record by Shirley & Lee.

Aladdin Records was a post-World War II United States record label, with headquarters in Hollywood, California. The label was founded in 1945^[1] by brothers Eddie, Leo, and Ira Mesner and was originally called Philo Records,^[2] before changing to its better-known name in April 1946.

Aladdin Records launched several subsidiary labels such as Score (1948), Intro (1950), 7-11 (1952), Ultra (1955), Jazz West (1955), and Lamp (1956).

Aladdin was known for its wealth of recordings of rhythm & blues and early rock & roll music; it also recorded some jazz sessions. Some of these were issued on the company's short-lived Jazz West imprint.^[3]

In addition to Los Angeles, many Aladdin recordings were done in New Orleans, Louisiana by Cosimo Matassa.

Artists who recorded for Aladdin included Louis Jordan, Shirley & Lee, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, The Five Keys, Lightnin' Hopkins, Dave Bartholomew, Gene & Eunice, Wynonie Harris, Thurston Harris, Johnny Ace, Charles Brown, Lee Allen, Lester Young, Nat "King" Cole, Billie Holiday, Al Hibbler, Helen Humes and many others. While the label was virtually devoted to black music, they nevertheless recorded a few white artists, such as Phil Sloan, the writer of songs such as "Eve of Destruction".

The label was sold to Lew Chudd's Imperial Records in 1961 and is today owned by EMI.

References

See also

• List of record labels
• Aladdin Records (UK)