Vee-Jay Record Story

Vee-Jay was founded in Gary, Indiana, in 1953 by Vivian Carter and James C. Bracken, a husband-and-wife team who used their initials for the label’s name. Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, was the label's A&R man. Ewart Abner, formerly of Chance Records, joined the label in 1955, first as manager, then as vice president, and ultimately, as president.Vee-Jay quickly became a major R&B label, with the first song recorded making it to the top ten on the national R&B charts.
Major acts on the label in the 1950s included blues singers Jimmy Reed, Memphis Slim, and John Lee Hooker, and rhythm and blues vocal groups The Spaniels, The Dells, and El Dorados. The 1960s saw the label became a major soul label with Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Dee Clark, and Betty Everett putting records on both the R&B and pop charts. Vee-Jay were also the first to nationally issue a record by The Pips (by a master purchase from the tiny Huttom label of Atlanta), who became Gladys Knight and the Pips in 1962, when they moved to Fury Records.
Vee-Jay had significant success with rock and roll acts, notably The Four Seasons (their first non-black act) and The Beatles (Vee-Jay acquired the rights to some of the early Beatles recordings in a licensing deal with EMI in which the main attraction at the time was another EMI performer, Frank Ifield). In the mid 1960s Vee-Jay signed former successful child singer Jimmy Boyd of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus fame; Boyd was then twenty-five years old. The company even ventured into folk music with Hoyt Axton and New Wine Singers. The label also picked up Little Richard (who re-recorded his Specialty Records hits), and, before he became successful, Billy Preston.

Vol 1 1953-1955 01 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Baby It's You - 1953 Vee Jay 101 (2:37) 02 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Bounce - 1953 Vee Jay 101 (2:07) 03 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - House Cleaning - 1953 Vee Jay 103 (2:22) 04 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - The Bells Ring Out - 1953 Vee Jay 103 (2:51) 05 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - 1954 Vee Jay 107 (2:43) 06 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - You Don't Move Me - 1954 Vee Jay 107 (2:36) 07 - The El Dorados - My Loving Baby - 1954 Vee Jay 115 (2:43) 08 - The El Dorados - Baby I Need You - 1954 Vee Jay 115 (3:02) 09 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Let's Make Up - 1954 Vee Jay 116 (2:55) 10 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Play It Cool - 1954 Vee Jay 116 (3:02) 11 - Jimmy Reed - You Don't Have To Go - 1954 Vee Jay 119 (3:04) 12 - The Rhythm Aces - I Wonder Why - 1954 Vee Jay 124 (2:27) 13 - The Rhythm Aces - Get Lost - 1954 Vee Jay 124 (2:43) 14 - The El Dorados - Little Miss Love - 1954 Vee Jay 127 (2:50) 15 - The El Dorados - One More Chance - 1954 Vee Jay 127 (3:08) 16 - The Five Echoes - Tell Me Baby - 1954 Vee Jay 129 (2:12) 17 - The Five Echoes - I Really Do - 1954 Vee Jay 129 (2:27) 18 - The Five Echoes - Evil Woman - 1954 Vee Jay Nvd2-709 (2:43) 19 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Don't Cha Go - 1955 Vee Jay 131 (2:59) 20 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Do Wah - 1955 Vee Jay 131 (2:44) 21 - The Dells (Aka The El Rays) - Tell The World - 1955 Vee Jay 134 (2:48) 22 - Reverend Lofton & His Holy Travellers - Look To Jesus - 1955 Vee Jay 137 (2:55) 23 - The Rhythm Aces - Olly Olly Oxen Free - 1955 Vee Jay 138 (2:56) 24 - The Rhythm Aces - Whisper To Me - 1955 Vee Jay 138 (3:14) 25 - The El Dorados - What's Buggin' You Baby - 1955 Vee Jay 147 (2:21) 26 - The El Dorados - At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama) - 1955 Vee Jay 147 (2:36) 27 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - You Painted Pictures - 1955 Vee Jay 154 (2:28) 28 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Hey Sister Lizzie - 1955 Vee Jay 154 (2:07) 29 - Priscilla Bowman & Jay Mc Shann - Hands Off - 1955 Vee Jay 155 (2:46) 30 - The Five Echoes - Tastee Freeze - 1955 Vee Jay 156  

Vol 2 1955-1956 01 - The Five Echoes - Fool's Prayer - 1955 Vee Jay 156 (3:07) 02 - The Rhythm Aces - Flippety Flop - 1955 Vee Jay 160 (2:47) 03 - The Rhythm Aces - That's My Sugar - 1955 Vee Jay 160 (2:52) 04 - The El Dorados - I Began To Realize - 1955 Vee Jay 165 (2:43) 05 - The El Dorados - I'll Be Forever Loving You - 1955 Vee Jay 165 (2:29) 06 - The Dells - Dreams Of Contentment - 1955 Vee Jay 166 (2:52) 07 - The Dells - Zing Zing Zing - 1955 Vee Jay 166 (2:50) 08 - The Kool Gents - Do Ya Do (Outtake) - 1956 Vee Jay 173 [Vee Jay 55-355] (2:29) 09 - The Kool Gents Ft Teddy Long - This Is The Night - 1956 Vee Jay 173 (2:50) 10 - The Kool Gents - Crazy Over You - 1955 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased & Solid Smoke Lp 8026 [Vee Jay 55-356] (2:23) 11 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Do You Really - 1956 Vee Jay 178 (2:38) 12 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - False Love - 1956 Vee Jay 178 (3:10) 13 - The El Dorados - Now That You've Gone - 1956 Vee Jay 180 (2:42) 14 - The El Dorados - Rock 'n Roll's For Me - 1956 Vee Jay 180 (2:11) 15 - Danny Cobb - I Pray For Your Love - 1956 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased [Vee-Jay 56-420] (3:10) 16 - The Magnificents - Up On The Mountain - 1956 Vee Jay 183 (2:47) 17 - The Magnificents - Why Did She Go - 1956 Vee Jay 183 (2:26) 18 - The Hi-Liters - Feelin' Alright This Morning - 1956 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased [Vee Jay 56-410] (2:28) 19 - The Hi-Liters - Bobby Sox Baby - 1956 Vee Jay 184 (2:07) 20 - The Hi-Liters - Hello Dear - 1956 Vee Jay 184 (2:18) 21 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Dear Heart - 1956 Vee Jay 189 (3:01) 22 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Why Don't You Dance - 1956 Vee Jay 189 (2:14) 23 - The Five Echoes - Down The Road - 1956 Vee Jay 190 24 - The Five Echoes - Soldier Boy - 1956 Vee Jay 190 25 - Sonny Til & The Orioles - I Just Got Lucky - 1956 Vee Jay 196 26 - Sonny Til & The Orioles - Happy 'Till The Letter - 1956 Vee Jay 196 27 - The El Dorados - Chop Ling Soon - 1956 Vee Jay 197 28 - The El Dorados - A Fallen Tear - 1956 Vee Jay 197 29 - Camille Howard - Rock 'N' Roll Mama - 1956 Vee Jay 198 30 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Come Along With Me - 1956 Vee Jay 202  

Vol 3 1956-1957 01 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Since I Fell For You - 1956 Vee Jay 202 (2:59) 02 - The Dells - Oh What A Night - 1956 Vee Jay 204 (3:03) 03 - The Dells - Now I Pray - 1956 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased [Vee-Jay 56-466] (3:01) 04 - The Dells - Jo-Jo - 1956 Vee Jay 204 (3:02) 05 - The Kool Gents - I Just Can't Help Myself - 1956 Vee Jay 207 (2:27) 06 - The Kool Gents - Just Like A Fool -1956 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased [Vee-Jay 56-494] (2:24) 07 - The Kool Gents - You Know - 1956 Vee Jay 207 (2:38) 08 - The Magnificents - This Old Love Of Mine - 1956 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased {Vee-Jay 56-496] (2:35) 09 - The Magnificents - Caddy Bo - 1956 Vee Jay 208 (2:16) 10 - The Magnificents - Hiccup - 1956 Vee Jay 208 (2:38) 11 - The El Dorados - Bim Bam Boom (At My Back Door) - 1956 Vee Jay 211 (2:48) 12 - The El Dorados - There In The Night - 1956 Vee Jay 211 (2:49) 13 - The Delegates - The Convention - 1956 Vee Jay 212 (3:09) 14 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Please Don't Tease - 1956 Vee Jay 229 (2:52) 15 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - You Gave Me Peace Of Mind - 1956 Vee Jay 229 (2:49) 16 - The Magnificents - Down Off The Mountain - 1957 Vee Jay 235 (2:16) 17 - The Magnificents - Lost Lover - 1957 Vee Jay 235 (2:46) 18 - The Magnificents - Off The Mountain - 1957 Vee Jay 235 (2:50) 19 - The Dells - Dance Dance Dance - 1957 Vee Jay 236 (2:22) 20 - The Dells (Aka The El Rays) - Why Do You Have To Go - 1957 Vee Jay 236 (2:35) 21 - Jimmy Reed - You've Got Me Dizzy - 1957 Vee Jay 237 (2:52) 22 - The Delegates - I'm Gonna Be Glad - 1957 Vee Jay 243 (2:31) 23 - Sonny Til & The Orioles - Sugar Girl - 1957 - 1957 Vee Jay 244 & Abner 1016 24 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Everyone's Laughing - 1957 Vee Jay 246 25 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I.O.U. - 1957 Vee Jay 246 26 - Elmore James & His Broomdusters - Comin' Home - 1957 Vee Jay 249 27 - The El Dorados - A Rose For My Darling - 1957 Vee Jay 250 28 - The El Dorados - Tears On My Pillow - 1957 Vee Jay 250 29 - Larry Birdsong - If you Don't Want Me No More - 1957 Vee Jay 254 30 - Larry Birdsong - I'm Pleading Just For you - 1957 Vee Jay 254  

Vol 4 1957-1958 01 - Gene Allison - Hey, Hey I Love You - 1957 Vee Jay 256 (2:35) 02 - Gene Allison - You Can Make It If You Try - 1957 Vee Jay 256 (2:08) 03 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I Need Your Kisses - 1957 Vee Jay 257 (2:22) 04 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - You're Gonna Cry - 1957 Vee Jay 257 (2:39) 05 - The Dells - Pain In My Heart - 1957 Vee Jay 258 (3:05) 06 - The Dells - Time Makes You Change - 1957 Vee Jay 258 (2:31) 07 - The Dells - You're Still In My Heart - 1957 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:41) 08 - Billy Boy Arnold - Rockinitis - 1957 Vee Jay 260 (2:39) 09 - Larry Birdsong - Oh Oh My Darling - 1957 Vee Jay 262 (2:06) 10 - Larry Birdsong - Time Will (Time) - 1957 Vee Jay 262 (2:35) 11 - The El Dorados - Boom Diddle Boom - 1957 Vee Jay 263 (2:08) 12 - The El Dorados - Three Reasons Why - 1957 Vee Jay 263 (2:42) 13 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Crazee Baby - 1957 Vee Jay 264 (2:09) 14 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I Lost You - 1957 Vee Jay 264 (2:31) 15 - The El Cincos - Kiss Me - 1957 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased Mvd2-709 (2:18) 16 - The El Cincos - Oh Baby Do You Have To Go - 1957 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:41) 17 - The El Cincos - You Have To Go - 1957 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:44) 18 - Lee Diamond & The Upsetters - Hattie Malattie - 1958 Vee Jay 272 (2:43) 19 - Lee Diamond & The Upsetters - Mama Loochie - 1958 Vee Jay 272 (2:20) 20 - Gene Allison - Have Faith - 1958 Vee Jay 273 (2:44) 21 - The Dells - The Springer - 1958 Vee Jay 274 (2:30) 22 - The Dells - My Dream - 1957 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:10) 23 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Tina - 1958 Vee Jay 278 (2:09) 24 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Great Googley Moo - 1958 Vee Jay 278 (2:32) 25 - Jerry Butler & The Impressions - Sweet Was The Wine - 1958 Vee Jay 280 (2:09) 26 - Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love - 1958 Vee Jay 280 (2:47) 27 - The Magnificents - Don't Leave Me - 1958 Veejay 281 (2:13) 28 - The Magnificents - Ozeta - 1958 Vee Jay 281 (2:22) 29 - The Magnificents - Rosebud - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:11) 30 - Lee Diamond - A Girl In Every City - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (1:52)  

Vol 5 1958-1958 01 - The Croom Brothers Aka Dillard Croon Jr. - It's You I Love - 1958 Vee Jay 283 (2:37) 02 - The Croom Brothers Aka Dillard Croon Jr. - Rock And Roll Boogie - 1958 Vee Jay 283 (2:28) 03 - The El Dorados - Always My Love - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:39) 04 - The El Dorados - It''s No Wonder - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:15) 05 - The Twinettes Aka The Twintelles - Let The People Talk - 1958 Vee Jay 284 (2:16) 06 - The Lyrics - Come On Home - 1958 Vee Jay 285 (2:16) 07 - The Lyrics Aka The Falcons - Why Don't You Stop - 1958 Vee Jay 285 (2:15) 08 - Leonard Carbo - Baby, Baby - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:48) 09 - Leonard Carbo - I Don't Want To Lose Her - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:12) 10 - The Deltones - Early Morning Rock - 1958 Vee Jay 288 (2:10) 11 - The Deltones - I'm 'coming Home - 1958 Vee Jay 288 (1:52) 12 - The Deltones - Baby I Need You - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:16) 13 - The Co-Hearts - Cry Baby - 1958 Vee Jay 289 (2:27) 14 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Stormy Weather - 1958 Vee Jay 290 (2:31) 15 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Here Is Why I Love You - 1958 Vee Jay 290 (2:27) 16 - The El Dorados - Trouble Trouble - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:11) 17 - The El Dorados - Lord Knows I Tried - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:54) 18 - Leonard Carbo - Pigtails And Blue Jeans - 1958 Vee Jay 291 (2:13) 19 - Leonard Carbo - So Tired - 1958 Vee Jay 291 (2:11) 20 - The Dells - I'm Calling - 1958 Vee Jay 292 (2:19) 21 - The Lyrics - That's My Sugar - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:16) 22 - Wade Flemons & The Newcomers - Here I Stand - 1958 Vee Jay 295 (2:25) 23 - Wade Flemons & The Newcomers - My Baby Likes To Rock - 1958 Vee Jay 295 (2:30) 24 - Mickey Tillman - Dear Mom And Dad - 1958 Vee Jay 296 25 - The Capers - Early One Morning - 1958 Vee Jay 297 26 - The El Dorados - Language Of Love - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased 27 - The El Dorados - Love Of My Own - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased 28 - The Dells - My Best Girl - 1958 Vee Jay 300 29 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Baby It's You - 1958 Vee Jay 301 30 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Heart And Soul - 1958 Vee Jay 301  

Vol 6 1958-1959 01 - The El Dorados - Lights Are Low - 1958 Vee Jay 302 (2:26) 02 - The El Dorados - Oh What A Girl - 1958 Vee Jay 302 (2:26) 03 - The Upsetters - Upsetter Rock - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (1:53) 04 - The Upsetters - Wake Up - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:15) 05 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart - 1958 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (3:02) 06 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I'm Gonna Thank Him - 1958 Vee Jay Prev unreleased (2:37) 07 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening - 1958 Vee Jay Lp 1002 (2:31) 08 - The Deltones - A Lover's Prayer - 1959 Vee Jay 303 (2:27) 09 - The Deltones - First Man To The Moon - 1959 Vee Jay 303 (2:08) 10 - The Sheriff & The Ravels - Lonely One - 1959 Vee Jay 306 (2:23) 11 - The Sheriff & The Ravels - Shombalor - 1959 Vee Jay 306 (2:16) 12 - The El Dorados - She Don't Run Around - 1959 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:31) 13 - The El Dorados - Why Must I - 1959 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:06) 14 - The Goldenrods - Color Cartoons - 1959 Vee Jay 307 (2:26) 15 - The Goldenrods - I Wish I Were Back In School - 1959 Vee Jay 307 (2:13) 16 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Trees (Acapella) - 1959 Vee Jay 310 (2:14) 17 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I Like It Like That - 1959 Vee Jay 310 (2:32) 18 - Harold Burrage - What You Dont Know - 1959 Vee Jay 318 (2:20) 19 - The Dells (Aka The El Rays) - Dry Your Eyes - 1959 Vee Jay 324 (2:21) 20 - Kip Anderson - I Wanna Be The Only One - 1959 Vee Jay 325 (2:33) 21 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - 100 Years From Today - 1959 Vee Jay 328 (2:29) 22 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - These Three Words - 1959 Vee Jay 328 (2:19) 23 - Rosco Gordon - Just A Little Bit - 1959 Vee Jay 332 (2:09) 24 - Lee Diamond - Baldhead Baby - 1959 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (2:28) 25 - Jimmy Reed - Baby What You Want Me To Do - 1959 Vee Jay 333 (2:25) 26 - Ron Volz & The Rockin' R's - I'm Still In Love With You - 1959 Vee Jay 334 27 - Wade Flemons - What's Happening - 1959 Vee Jay 335 28 - Gene Allison - Why Do You Treat Me So Cold - 1959 Vee Jay 341 29 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - People Will Say We're In Love - 1959 Vee Jay 342 30 - The Scientists - First Man To The Moon - 1959 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased  

Vol 7 1960-1962 01 - Rosco Gordon - Surely, I Love You - 1960 Vee Jay 348 (2:28) 02 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - Bus Fare Home - 1960 Vee Jay 350 (2:35) 03 - Pookie Hudson & The Spaniels - I Know - 1960 Vee Jay 350 (2:39) 04 - Donnie Elbert - Half As Old - 1960 Vee Jay 353 (2:26) 05 - Jerry Butler - He Will Break Your Heart (He Don't Love You Like I Love You) - 1960 Vee Jay 354 (2:46) 06 - Dee Clark - You're Looking Good - 1960 Vee Jay 355 (2:13) 07 - The Magnificents - Let's Do The Cha Cha - 1960 Vee Jay 367 (2:08) 08 - The Dells - Swingin' Teens - 1961 Vee Jay 376 (2:23) 09 - Jimmy Reed - Big Boss Man - 1961 Vee Jay 380 (2:51) 10 - Dee Clark - Raindrops - 1961 Vee Jay 383 (2:51) 11 - The Cashmeres Aka The Pips - Every Beat Of My Heart - 1961 Vee Jay 386 (1:54) 12 - Hal Davis - Merchant Of Love - 1961 Vee Jay 387 (2:21) 13 - Hal Davis - What Do You Mean To Me - 1961 Vee Jay 387 (2:20) 14 - Wade Flemons - Keep On Loving Me - 1961 Vee Jay 389 (2:09) 15 - Jerry Butler - I'm A Telling You - 1961 Vee Jay 390 (2:24) 16 - The Sheppards - Fools Prayer - 1961 Vee Jay 406 (3:08) 17 - Dee Clark - You're Telling Our Secrets - 1961 Vee Jay 409 (2:11) 18 - The Five Royales - Much In Need - 1961 Vee Jay 412 (2:36) 19 - The Five Royales - They Don't Know - 1961 Vee Jay 412 (2:11) 20 - The El Dorados - Love Of My Own - 1958 Vee Jay 415 (2:27) 21 - Gene Chandler & The Dukays - Kissin In The Kitchen - 1962 Vee Jay 416 (2:26) 22 - Gene Chandler & The Dukays - Duke Of Earl - 1962 Vee Jay 416 (2:17) 23 - Preston Jackson & The Rhythm Aces - Be Mine - 1961 Vee Jay 417 (2:36) 24 - Preston Jackson & The Rhythm Aces - Joni - 1961 Vee Jay 417 (2:27) 25 - The Tabs - Dance All By Myself - 1961 Vee Jay 418 (2:42) 26 - The Tabs - Dance Party - 1961 Vee Jay 418 (2:22) 27 - The Impressions - Say That You Love Me - 1962 Vee Jay 424 (2:43) 28 - Gene Chandler - Festival Of Love - 1962 Vee Jay 430 (2:22) 29 - The Five Royales - Talk About My Woman, Part 1 - 1962 Vee Jay 431 (1:52) 30 - The Five Royales - Talk About My Woman, Part 2 - 1962 Vee Jay 431 (2:12) 31 - Ray Whitley - A Love We Can Have And Hold - 1962 Vee Jay 433 (2:08) 32 - Gene Chandler & The Duke Of Earl - Walk On With The Duke (Of Earl) - 1962 Vee Jay 440 (1:57) Bonus - The Deltones - Good Luck Charms - 1960 Vee Jay Prev. Unreleased (1:57) Bonus - The Impressions - Don't Drive Me Away - 1960 Vee Jay Lp 1075 (2:49)

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