By deborah (198.81.21.59 - 198.81.21.59) on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 10:07 am:

could any of you label fans offer information
on the Mercury label. how and when it was
started and if there is a album discography our
there in web land? thank you deborah

By KevGo (12.84.106.89 - 12.84.106.89) on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 10:46 am:

Mercury Records was formed in 1945 by Irving Green and Irwin Steinberg in Chicago. Green came from a family that owned a plastics plant in Chicago. The name Mercury came from the automobile. With Green's plastics plant manufacturing the shellac (and later vinyl)for the records and Steinberg's keen music and sales sense, Mercury became a successful label real quick because they capitalized on three music genres - R&B, jazz & country/western. Within the next five years, Mercury has offices in NYC, Nashville, Los Angeles as well as their (original) headquarters in Chicago. Artists such as Jay McShann, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah "the Queen" Washington - not to mention their growing country roster - helped Mercury become a major player in the recording industry within the first ten years of the label's existence. I know I'm summarizing here but to make a long story short, what made Mercury successful was that they wisely invested time and money in artists and had an aggressive staf to push acts to great success. The result - the Platters having several top ten (and number one hits) on the pop/R&B charts, not to mention Brook Benton and popster Frankie Laine. Mercury also had the guts to invest in the jazz market heavily and hire a young Quincy Jones to work as an A&R man (he was later promoted to Vice-President). Mercury continued their success even though Irving Green sold the label to the Deustch Phillips company (later known as PolyGram) in 1963. I'm sure someone here on the Forum could provide more info & the discography you need.
Regards,
KevGo

By Davie Gordon (213.251.162.249 - 213.251.162.249) on Wednesday, September 18, 2002 - 10:58 am:

Deborah,

HAve a look at this site

www.recordmaster.com

Key in "mercury" in the search field
and "LP" in the format box - that should start
the process of loading up the Mercury LP
listing.

I hope you're patient as it'll take quite some
time as Mercury issued literally thousands of albums.

By John Rhys (63.198.70.120 - 63.198.70.120) on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 04:48 pm:

In 1963 I went to work for Georgia Record Distributors in Atlanta. Georgia Record Distributors was owned by Mercury Records. My boss was a gentleman named Abe Chayet and my division boss was Morris Diamond. Both gentlemen were out of the home office in Chicago. Mercury's address was 35 East Wacker Drive.
Mercury spawned a lot of great music men including Quincy Jones and Shelby Singleton who ran Smash Records for a time.
I do believe that Quincy Jones first big chart record was Leslie Gore's "It's My Party." Quincy used to call me every other day asking about the progress of the record etc.
Leslie Gore and I had a bit of a fling in the early sixties. I had to take her on the road for a couple of weeks and that was that. She is a wonderful girl and I still speak with her occasionally.
From the time I joined Mercury they were on a hot streak; with Dinah Washington, Ray Stevens, Brook Benton, Leslie Gore, The Platters, The Pixies Three and many others. Georgia Record Distributors also distributed many great labels at that time including Ace, Roulette, Galaxy, Fantasy, World Pacific to name a few.
Irving B. Green was one of the most industrious record men I have ever had the pleasure with which to work.
Mercury was one of the first truly great independent record companies.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.93 - 195.219.7.93) on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 05:46 pm:

Hey Mr.Rhys,its great to talk to you.Regards the Mercury Label was Blue Rock one of theres?I am sure it is.If so can you recall any of the great artists and tracks that you may of come across.I am a great admirer and collector of Blue Rock records,but cant put my hands on the complete listng at present.Many thanks.MEL.(P.S.)I Still remember hearing your Nothing but love on Impact records when it was a big Northern/Rare soul sound for the first time in 1972ish,and still have a copy.

By KevGo (12.84.106.156 - 12.84.106.156) on Sunday, September 29, 2002 - 06:32 pm:

Hey Mel:
I know you addressed your note to Mr. Rhys but FYI Blue Rock was a subsidiary of Mercury Records from 1964 to 1969 & had an illustrious staff of executives from Andre "Bacon Fat" Williams and Ed Townshend to the team of Jack Daniels & Johnny Moore. Artists ranged from Dee Dee Warwick to Johnnie Mae Matthews, Roy Hytower to Junior Wells as well as the Chi-Lites and the Shirelles. Sir Mack Rice cut the original "Mustang Sally" on Blue Rock. A few years back, Mercury released a 2CD set here in the USA called "Lost Soul - The Blue Rock Recordings" which is a wonderful overview of the label and their classic recordings.
Regards,
KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.104 - 195.219.7.104) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 12:21 am:

KevGo,Blue Rock is a fine Label,so many class sounds.I have a few and others worth a mention,Irene & The Scotts,Big Frank & The Essences,Chi-Lites remarkable Shes Mine,Kenny Carlton and the first two I got way back around 1972 were Timothy Wilsons,Loves like an itching in my heart and Boomerang by Otis Leaville.I have a complete listing somewhere,the cds sound a good buy but as always I will still be after the discs,thanks for your time.MEL.

By thecount (166.90.237.59 - 166.90.237.59) on Monday, September 30, 2002 - 09:21 pm:

DEBROAH,I have a Mercury discography vols. 1--7 with 25 tracks each.It is great,but no platters.I dont know if it is still available but go to ,www.doowopshobop.com.click on lables and enter "MERCURY".happy hunting. Steve "THE COUNT"