By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 07:35 pm:

ian
here's the hob label - a touch of class. there must be pics of carmen murphy somewhere.

By Ian W (213.122.160.145 - 213.122.160.145) on Thursday, March 07, 2002 - 11:03 pm:

Thanks David

I wonder Carmen would do your hair and nails as you bought the record?

I also have listed Loretta Oliver singing 'How Great Thou Art' and an album by the Meditations called 'He Has Done Something For Me' which, presumably, are all gospel tracks. Do you know if there is anything else on the label.

It's wonderful to find record companies which are sidelines for people with other, completely unrelated businesses! The GM and Bumpshop labels were mentioned in another discussion topic. Another one which springs to mind was, if I remember from Robert Pruter's book on Chicago Soul, Bill Erman. He owned some coal company and had a few record labels too - Cortland, Ermine and Witch!

Ian

By acooolcat (211.78.0.219 - 211.78.0.219) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 04:42 am:

Most music people would look for finacial backing from someone with a few dollars and I reckon that's the case with Carmen Murphy and HOB.
Below is what I have listed for the label. It started around 1959 but there are numerous other 45s that I believe were released after Ms Murphy sold the company to a major (can't remember which one). You can find a lot of them listed at recordmaster.com - just type the label name and they'll come up on the screen.
H.O.B.
111 - The Peppermints - Believe Me/Believe Me
112 - as scan above/I Need You
113 - Voices Of The Tabernacle - The Love Of God/Jesus
114 - Katie Blue and the Peppermints - Don't Take Give/Doin All Right
111x18 - Roy Corwin - Preachin' Talk/The World Is A Better Place

I believe 111 was the street number of Carmen's beauty parlor, hence the label number on the first release.
Regards, Graham

By Ritchie (62.254.0.6 - 62.254.0.6) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 10:34 am:

Graham

Checking around, I found HOB 111 - 129, many of which are Gospel titles/artists

Also, there appears to be a second series starting 13000, all of which appear to be Gospel, with some top-drawer artists like the Dixie Hummingbirds, 5 Blind Boys of Alabama etc. I don't know if the two "HOB" listings are connected, but the "Tyler Trio" credit appears in both series.

I'll post more info for you if this isn't just a red herring!

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.1.191.3 - 213.1.191.3) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 10:53 am:

graham
have you been able to trace carmen murphy's family? or find some good info on her?

i find her input to the 'early' days quite intriguing.

remember, i said frankie garcia was putting together some kind of listing of her output? when i was in his home he had a pile of 45's which he linked to carmen. i'd love to see them again.

i must try and visit him too especially since he's been unwell.

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 11:12 am:

I'm not the world's leading expert on H.O.B. and can only reiterate what I've been told about the the later series not having a direct Carmen Murphy connection.
Ritchie - Yes, a lot of the later releases seem to be Detroit recordings - I have one I'll scan and post which is Laura Lee's gospel group - The Meditation Singers. I think the label number is 124 - but I'm going from memory - which isn't what it used to be. That's Taiwan beer for you!
I've got taped interviews with Carmen, with Frankie Garcia and also Ron Murphy - who spoke to her in the early 1980s. They kindly let me have copies of their tapes, but they don't tell me a great deal - unfortunately. Carmen's memomry is a bit like mine. David - You could ask Ron for details as he's more knowlegable than me.
All the best for now, Graham

By acooolcat (61.222.95.58 - 61.222.95.58) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 11:17 am:

I'm not the world's leading expert on H.O.B. and can only reiterate what I've been told about the the later series not having a direct Carmen Murphy connection.
Ritchie - Yes, a lot of the later releases seem to be Detroit recordings - I have one I'll scan and post which is Laura Lee's gospel group - The Meditation Singers. I think the label number is 124 - but I'm going from memory - which isn't what it used to be. That's Taiwan beer for you!
I've got taped interviews with Carmen, with Frankie Garcia and also Ron Murphy - who spoke to her in the early 1980s. They kindly let me have copies of their tapes, but they don't tell me a great deal - unfortunately. Carmen's memomry is a bit like mine. David - You could ask Ron for details as he's more knowlegable than me.
All the best for now, Graham

By phillysoulman (64.12.107.47 - 64.12.107.47) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 02:10 pm:

Hi Guys and gals,
Scepter Records in NYC had a Gospel subsidiary coincidentaly called HOB RECORDS. I wonder if in some way Carmen may have made some kind of deal with them or is it just a strange coincidence that both were Gospel oriented.
I believe that Dorothy Norwwod was on the Scepter Hob label, among others.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 03:50 pm:

well spotted regarding the numbering system graham.

hob was based at 111 mack, unfortunately now demolished.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 07:12 pm:

graham sends in this scan of the hob label.

he is able to divulge that this is a gospel recording made by laura lee.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 07:22 pm:

graham sends in this label scan of the hob label.

he is able to divulge that the singer on this gospel track is laura lee.

By phillysoulman (205.188.198.187 - 205.188.198.187) on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 08:55 pm:

Eli here,

Several things. Yes, Rundless is in fact Laura Lee's surname. We had a good aquaintance who was her 1st cousin who was associated with Gospel singers Dorothy Norwood and Lois Snead who I recorded a secular record with on Capitol called This Little Woman that Weldon executive produced.
Seg-Way, I think was in Pittsburgh.

I wonder if the actual House of Beauty shop is the one that Paul Williams of the Tempts commited suicide in front of.I do believe that it was in front of a beauty shop.
Just a thought.

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 10:02 pm:

apparently paul commited suicide at the junction of 14th and west grand boulevard.

By Sue Donim (152.163.197.76 - 152.163.197.76) on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 05:15 pm:

What was the street address to the House of Beauty, as I may have actually gone there on occasion. That would really be a coincidence if it were the place that I am thinking of as I used to see these "entertainer"types going in and out quite frequently.

Sue

By david, glasgow, scotland (213.107.27.25 - 213.107.27.25) on Thursday, March 14, 2002 - 06:54 pm:

sue, 111 mack.

now if you've been in there, please let us know!!!!!!

By Sue Donim (152.163.195.197 - 152.163.195.197) on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 06:48 pm:

It seems familiar, but I don't think the building is there anymore. I will try to find out more.

Sue

By phillysoulman (152.163.195.197 - 152.163.195.197) on Friday, March 15, 2002 - 06:56 pm:

In a similar but unrelated to Hob subject, the 3G's label was owned by Gerry G. Goldsmith who owns a scrapmetal yard called All State Metals in Detroit. I actually was involved in a project with him but it was for Sony.

Eli