| 77 Records | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1957 (1957) |
| Founder | Doug Dobell |
| Genre | Folk,blues,jazz |
| Country of origin | UK |
77 Records was a British record company andlabel established in 1957 byDoug Dobell,[1] the proprietor of 'Dobell's Jazz Record Shop' at 77Charing Cross Road, London. The label specialised infolk,blues, andjazz.
Several British jazz musicians, such asAcker Bilk,Bruce Turner,Tubby Hayes,Les Condon,Dick Morrissey,Brian Lemon andBuck Clayton, recorded on the label in the mid-1960s.[2]
British rhythm and blues performers such asAlexis Korner also recorded for 77 Records, as did many American artists. 77 Records distributed the releases of US labels, including recordings byRamblin' Jack Elliott,Lightnin' Hopkins,Scrapper Blackwell,Reverend Gary Davis,Robert Pete Williams,Big Joe Williams,Sunnyland Slim,Joe Turner,Little Brother Montgomery,Yank Rachell, andSleepy John Estes.[2]
In 1960, Dobell started a short-lived spin-off label, Folklore, which released albums bySteve Benbow,Dominic Behan, Dick Fariña and Eric Von Schmidt, andCyril Davies and Alexis Korner, amongst others.[2] A 1963 album byDick Fariña andEric Von Schmidt, released on Folklore, featured "Blind Boy Grunt", aliasBob Dylan, on harmonica.[2] The label also reissued recordings licensed from independent American record labels such asArhoolie.[3]
