Scarlet Records
A label owned by DJ Noel Ball from 1959-1961, during which time he was also working with Dot, Nasco, Excello and other Nashville labels.
History[edit | edit source]
Almost all of the releases include a prior relationship with Nashville DJ Noel Ball, who owned and managed the label. Some of the earliest writings by Nashville songwriters Bobby Russell and Buzz Cason appear on this label, both of whom had appeared on noel Balls' TV shows as well. Songwriter Patsy Willis, a Nashville native as well as Russell and Cason, shared many co-writing session with Bobby Russell in the late 50s and early 60s. She also released a 45 herself under the stage name of Patsy Raye for Roulette Records. As a spokesperson for local stores and events, she also acted and would later have a radio show on WMAK with Gene Clark. She retired from the music industry in the 1970s and moved to Franklin. After the Scarlet years, Patsy Willis also had a music publishing company with Noel Ball called Tiki Music.
Buzz Cason provided an early composition to a 45 by Sonya and the Capris, about which little is known. An all-female doo-wop group, this rare 45 represents some of the only songs in that tradition. Under the name Sonya, she recorded a few singles on Dot that were recorded in Muscle Shoals. After Scarlet, label-owner Noel Ball became a representative for Dot Records.
The Paul Ackerman release provides an example of the polka-rock crossover tradition. As a student at David Lipscomb, Ackerman acted as treasurer for the Junior Music League in Green Hills and appeared in plays at Lipscomb (including a performance sponsored by Samuel French Publishing that placed Lipscomb in ninth place nationally in 1961) and the Nashville Children's Theatre. The Buddy Killen represent an example of a pop ballad delivery by the revered bass player known for his role on the grand Ole Opry and as songwriter and later owner of Tree Publishing. The Escorts on this record label was the Kentucky doo-wop vocal group of Jerry Crutchfield (Lead), Gerald Nelson (Tenor), Jan Crutchfield (Baritone), Olin Bryant (Bass), many of whom would later move to Nashville with Crutchfields and Nelson writing quite a few country hits in the 70s and 80s. The Al Hartley release provides an example of southern rockabilly. He also had a single on Hermitage Records out of Nashville, as Al Hartley and the Heartbeats, and was legally known as Al Turpen from Athens, Georgia. Eddie Crandall who had an early rock n roll 45 on Scarlet may be the same Eddie Crandall who ran a Nashville talent agency including managing performers such as George Morgan and Marty Robbins. The Eddie Crandall Talent Agency was organizing package tours in 1958 of performers like Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. The Billboard review in Nov of '58 noted the untrained vocal chorus on the A-side and the B-side as a novelty gimmick.
After their huge hit, "Oh Julie," The Crescendos, who had been discovered and managed by Ball, put out a release on Scarlet. Produced by Kenny Marlow, associated with Globe studios and Image Records as well, the song was one of a handful published by Conmar Music, which was Kenny Marlow and Bill Connor, both of whom Noel Ball had a professional relationship. The A-side for The Crescendos first release on Scarlet was co-written by Bobby Russell with Patsy Willis, was also co-writing with Buzz Cason. Willis and Russell also wrote both sides of the next Crescendo 45 on Scarlet, which proved to be their last studio recording. The proximity of Cason and Russell represents early collaboration that would later guide their work together with Rising Son and their own Elf Record label. The final release on the label was the Crescendos final release as well, with both sides penned by Patsy Willis and Bobby Russell. While the group had finished performing in mid-1960, the release did not come out until 1961.
Brian McFadden, author of several books on the impact of budget labels in preserving early rock 'n' roll says "Scarlet was owned by DJ Noel Ball who brought the group to the attention of Nasco Records where they had their big hit "Oh Julie." After Nasco, Ball recorded them on Scarlet and later leased the recordings to budget outfit Synthetic Plastics which put out a single on Tap and an album on Guest Star." The LP on Guest Star and the single on Tap were released after Scarlet had ceased operatons.
Releases[edit | edit source]
1959:
Sonya And The Capris - "Extra Extra / Private Party" (7"), cat# 999
Al Hartley - "Debbie / Our First Date" (7"), cat# SC-4000-45-V
Paul Ackerman & His Orchestra - "Over The Rainbow / Beer Barrel Polka" (7") cat# SC 4003-V
Eddie Crandall - "Lover's Leap / Silver Slippers" (7", Single), cat# SC 4001-45-V
The Escorts - "Leaky Heart & His Red Go-Kart / I Will Be Home Again" (7"), cat# 45-4005-V
1960:
The Crescendos - "Let's Take A Walk / Strange Love" (7", Single), cat# 45-4007-V
Buddy Killen - "Thank You For Calling / 'Til You Come Back Again" (7"), cat# 45-4008-V
Warner Mack - "My Love For You / Someone, Somewhere" (7"), cat# SC 4002-45
1961:
The Crescendos - "Angel Face / I'm So Ashamed" (7", Single), cat# 45-4009-V
External References[edit | edit source]
https://www.45cat.com/label/scarlet-new-york page is the Nashville label though URL says New York.
http://oldwax.blogspot.com/2019/03/sonya-and-capris.html Story of the Sonya and the Capris release.
https://www.45cat.com/artist/sonya Sonya releases associated with Noel Ball on Dot records
https://www.discogs.com/artist/4516061-Patsy-Willis Songwriter
https://www.discogs.com/label/518635-Scarlet-Records-5
https://www.45cat.com/record/nc065251us story of the Crescendos releases on Scarlet.
http://doo-wop.blogg.org/escorts-2-c28810006 The Escorts