Cobra Records
| Cobra Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Founder | Eli Toscano |
| Defunct | 1959 |
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre |
Blues Rhythm and blues |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Chicago, Illinois |
Cobra Records (together with its Artistic subsidiary) was an independent record label that operated from 1956–1959. The label was important for launching the careers of Chicago blues artists Otis Rush, Magic Sam, and Buddy Guy and "signaled the arrival of a new generation of blues artists and a new sound...to be called the West Side Sound."[1]
Cobra was started on Chicago's West Side in 1956 by Eli Toscano, a record-store- and television-repair-shop owner, with help from promoter Howard Bedno.[2][3] When his previous record label, Abco Records, failed to generate much interest, Toscano approached Willie Dixon about working for Cobra.[4] Dissatisfied with his arrangement with Chess Records, Dixon joined Cobra. There he served in many capacities, including talent scout, producer, arranger, songwriter, bassist, and became "the artistic vision behind Cobra Records."[2]
First to record for Cobra was Otis Rush. His single "I Can't Quit You Baby" became a hit, spending six weeks in the Billboard R&B chart, where it reached No. 6 in 1956.[5] Rush recorded another seven singles for Cobra, described as "defining moments of Chicago blues."[6] In 1957 Magic Sam recorded his signature song "All Your Love" and released four singles on Cobra. Buddy Guy released two singles in 1958 on Cobra's Artistic Records subsidiary.
From 1956–1958 Cobra issued singles by a variety of acts, including Ike Turner and several blues veterans. However, by 1959 financial troubles overtook the company and it went out of business. Eli Toscano died in 1967;[7][8] Howard Bedno "went on to become one of the leading "indie" promotion men in the United States" (died 2006); and Willie Dixon returned to Chess and entered one of the most prolific periods of his career (died 1992).[9] The Cobra catalogue was subsequently purchased by Stan Lewis of Jewel/Paula/Ron Records. Most of the Cobra (and Artistic) recordings (including several alternate and outtakes) were released on The Cobra Records Story: Chicago Rock and Blues 1956–1958 (1993 Capricorn 9 42012-2).
Discography
Cobra Records
| Number | Artist | Titles | Year |
| 5000 * | Otis Rush | "I Can't Quit You Baby" / "Sit Down Baby" | 1956 |
| 5001 | The Clouds | "Rock and Roll Boogie" / "I Do" | |
| 5002 | Shakey Horton | "Have a Good Time" / "Need My Baby" | |
| 5003 | The Calvaes | "Fine Girl" / "Mambo Fiesta" | |
| 5004 | Harold Burrage & His Combo | "One More Dance" / "You Eat Too Much" | |
| 5005 | Otis Rush & His Band | "Violent Love" / "My Love Will Never Die" | |
| 5006 | Sunnyland Slim | "It's You Baby" / "Highway 61" | 1957 |
| 5007 | Lee Jackson | "Fishin' in My Pond" / "I'll Just Keep Walkin'" | |
| 5008 | Gloria Irving | "I Need a Man" / "For You and Only You" | |
| 5009 | Duke Jenkins Orchestra | "Something Else" / "The Duke Walks" | |
| 5010 | Otis Rush | "Groaning the Blues" / "If You Were Mine" | |
| 5011 | Little Willy Foster | "Crying the Blues" / "Little Girl" | |
| 5012 | Harold Burrage | "Messed Up" / "I Don't Care Who Knows" | |
| 5013 | Magic Sam | "All Your Love" / "Love Me with a Feeling" | |
| 5014 | The Calvaes | "Born with Rhythm" / "Lonely Lonely Village" | |
| 5015 | Otis Rush | "Love That Woman" / "Jump Sister Bessie" | |
| 5016 | Clarence Jolly | "Changing Love" / "Don't Leave Me" | |
| 5017 | Guitar Shorty | "You Don't Treat Me Right" / "Irma Lee" | |
| 5018 | Harold Burrage | "Stop for the Red Light" / "Satisfied" | |
| 5019 | Betty Everett | "My Life Depends on You" / "My Love" | |
| 5020 | Duke Jenkins Orchestra | "Where Can My Loved One Be" / "Shake It" | |
| 5021 | Magic Sam | "Everything Gonna Be Alright" / "Look Whatcha Done" | 1958 |
| 5022 | Harold Burrage, Willie Dixon Band | "She Knocks Me Out" / "A Heart (Filled with Pain)" | |
| 5023 | Otis Rush with Willie Dixon Orchestra | "Three Times a Fool" / "She's a Good 'Un" | |
| 5024 | Betty Everett | "Ain't Gonna Cry" / "Killer Diller" | |
| 5025 | Magic Sam | "All Night Long" / "All My Whole Life" | |
| 5026 | Harold Burrage & His Band | "I Cry for You" / "Betty Jean" | |
| 5027 | Otis Rush | "It Takes Time" / "Checking on My Baby" | |
| 5028 | Jimmy & Kelly The Rock-a-Beats | "Little Chickie" / "Bonnie" | |
| 5029 | Magic Sam | "Easy Baby" / "21 Days in Jail" | |
| 5030 | Otis Rush & His Band | "Double Trouble" / "Keep on Loving Me, Baby" | |
| 5031 | Betty Everett & Willie Dixon Band | "I'll Weep No More" / "Tell Me, Darling" | |
| 5032 | Otis Rush & His Band | "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" / "My Baby's a Good 'Un" | |
| 5033 | Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm | "Walking Down the Aisle" / "Box Top" | 1959 |
* Also issued as Chief 8000 in 1956[10][11]
Artistic Records
| Number | Artist | Titles | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | Charles Clark & Willie Dixon Band | "Row Your Boat" / "Hidden Charms" | 1958 |
| 1501 | Buddy Guy & His Band | "Sit and Cry (The Blues)" / "Try to Quit You Baby" | |
| 1502 | Shakey Jake Harris & Willie Dixon Band | "Roll Your Moneymaker" / "Call Me if You Need Me" | |
| 1503 | Buddy Guy & His Band | "This Is the End" / "You Sure Can't Do" | 1959 |
| 1504 | Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm | "(I Know) You Don't Love Me" / "Down and Out" |
Abco Records
| Number | Artist | Titles | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | Arbee Stidham | "I'll Always Remember You" / "Meet Me Half Way" | 1956 |
| 101 | Herby Joe | "Smoke Stack Lightning" / "Dreamed (Last Night)" | |
| 102 | Zona Sago's Modern Sounds | "Short Order" / "Jivin' at Random" | |
| 103 | Freddie Hall & the Aces | "Can't This Be Mine" / "Playin' Hard to Get" | |
| 104 | Louis Myers & the Aces | "Just Whaling" / "Bluesy" | |
| 105 | Rip-Chords | "I Love You the Most" / "Let's Do the Razzle Dazzle" | |
| 106 | Morris Pejoe | "Screaming and Crying" / "Maybe Blues" | |
| 107 | Arbee Stidham | "When I Find My Baby" / "Please Let It Be Me'" | 1957 |
Notes
- ↑ Snowden 1992 p. 14.
- 1 2 Haig 1993 p. 2.
- ↑ Bedno 1992 p. 8.
- ↑ Dixon 1989 p. 105.
- ↑ Whitburn 1988 p. 361.
- ↑ Coda 1996 p. 230.
- ↑ Broven 2009 p. 127.
- ↑ According to Snowden, Toscano died in 1959 (Snowden 1992 p. 18).
- ↑ Haig 1993 p. 7.
- ↑ Hoppula, Pete (2006-05-31). "Cobra Records - Discography". WangDangDula.com. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
- ↑ "45 Discography for Cobra Records". Global Dog Productions. 2005. Retrieved 2009-08-10.
References
- Bedno, Howard; Haig, Diana Reid; Snowden, Don (1993). The Cobra Records Story: Chicago Rock and Blues 1956-1958 (liner notes). Capricorn 9-42012-2. p. 19.
- Dixon, Willie; Snowden, Don (1989). I Am the Blues. Da Capo Press. p. 264. ISBN 0-306-80415-8.
- Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942-1988. Record Research Inc. p. 613. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
- Koda, Cub (1996). All Music Guide to the Blues. Miller Freeman Books. p. 424. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
- Broven, John (2009). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. p. 640. ISBN 978-0-252-03290-5.