Colonial Records
Encyclopedia
Colonial Records was a record label
located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
. The records were distributed by ABC-Paramount Records until 1959-1960 when it was distributed by London Records
. The label was owned by Orville Campbell. Some of Colonial Records artist were Andy Griffith
, Bill Craddock, Johnny Dee
, and George Hamilton IV
. One album, Crash's Greatest Hits
by Bill Craddock, was released on the label in 1986. This record label is now defunct.
The label had several large hits. One of the biggest comedy records of all time, and the first release by Andy Griffith
, titled "What It Was, Was Football
", was first released by the label. Unfortunately, the label was too small to handle the success of the record and the masters were sold to Capitol
.
Another hit that the label had major success with was "A Rose and a Baby Ruth
", by George Hamilton IV
. The label sold about 50,000 copies of the record, and then sold the rights to ABC-Paramount. ABC Paramount then sold nearly one million copies of the record.
The Bluenotes
Johnny Dee
Johnny Ford
George Hamilton IV
This record was recorded as Johnny Randall
Ebe Sneezer and His Epidemics
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
. The records were distributed by ABC-Paramount Records until 1959-1960 when it was distributed by London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
. The label was owned by Orville Campbell. Some of Colonial Records artist were Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
, Bill Craddock, Johnny Dee
John D. Loudermilk
John D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
, and George Hamilton IV
George Hamilton IV
George Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
. One album, Crash's Greatest Hits
Crash's Greatest Hits
Crash's Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by rockabilly singer Billy "Crash" Craddock. The album contains rockabilly songs that were recorded between 1957-1961. The songs were originally released on the Colonial, Date, and Columbia labels...
by Bill Craddock, was released on the label in 1986. This record label is now defunct.
The label had several large hits. One of the biggest comedy records of all time, and the first release by Andy Griffith
Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith is an American actor, director, producer, Grammy Award-winning Southern-gospel singer, and writer. He gained prominence in the starring role in director Elia Kazan's epic film A Face in the Crowd before he became better known for his television roles, playing the lead...
, titled "What It Was, Was Football
What it Was, Was Football
"What it Was, Was Football" is a monologue by comedian Andy Griffith. It was recorded in Raleigh, NC for the Colonial label in 1953. Soon, Colonial had sold nearly 50,000 copies of the record and then sold the masters to Capitol Records...
", was first released by the label. Unfortunately, the label was too small to handle the success of the record and the masters were sold to Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
.
Another hit that the label had major success with was "A Rose and a Baby Ruth
A Rose and a Baby Ruth
"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" is the title of a song written by John D. Loudermilk. The song was published in 1956. The best-known version was recorded by George Hamilton IV...
", by George Hamilton IV
George Hamilton IV
George Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
. The label sold about 50,000 copies of the record, and then sold the rights to ABC-Paramount. ABC Paramount then sold nearly one million copies of the record.
Cecelia Batten
- My Big Brothers Friend/Before (1957)
- Knock On The Pipes/Lonesome Train (1957)
E.C. Beatty
- I'm A Lucky Man/Ski King (1959)
- Let Her Go Daddy-o/Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! (1960)
- Little Blue Eyes/Tarzan (1960)
The BluenotesThe BluenotesThe Bluenotes were a vocal group featuring Tom Underwood, Joe Tanner, Pat Patterson, and Ralph Harrington. They recorded for the Brooke and Colonial record labels. Their first single, Page One/Mighty Low, was released in 1957 on the Colonial label and the last single, It Had To Be You/Summer Love,...
- Mighty Low/Page One (1957)
- You're A Tiger/Let Her Know (1958)
- Never Never Land/I Waited (1958)
Johnny DeeJohn D. LoudermilkJohn D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
- Sittin' In The Balcony/A-Plus In Love (1957)
- It's Gotta Be You/Teenage Queen (1957)
- In My Simple Way/1000 Concrete Blocks (1957)
- They Were Right/Somebody Sweet (1957)
Johnny FordJohnny FordJohnny L. Ford is an American politician and former mayor of Tuskegee, Alabama, and an Alabama State Representative. He was raised as a child and attended elementary school in Tuskegee. He is a graduate of Tuskegee Institute High School. Ford received his B.A...
- I'm Gonna Keep On Loving You/That's My DesireThat's My Desire (1931 song)"That's My Desire" is a 1931 popular song with music by Helmy Kresa and lyrics by Carroll Loveday.The highest-charting version of the song was recorded by the Sammy Kaye orchestra in 1946, although a version of the song recorded by Frankie Laine has become better known over the years, being one of...
(1950's)
Doug Franklin
- My Lucky Love/Drizzlin' Rain (1958)
- I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now/I Used To Wonder (1958)
- The New Midnight Special/My Love For You (1958)
George Hamilton IVGeorge Hamilton IVGeorge Hege Hamilton IV is an American country musician. He began performing in the late 1950s as a teen idol, later switching to country music in the early 1960s.-Biography:Hamilton was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
- If You Don't Know/A Rose And A Baby RuthA Rose and a Baby Ruth"A Rose and a Baby Ruth" is the title of a song written by John D. Loudermilk. The song was published in 1956. The best-known version was recorded by George Hamilton IV...
(1956) - I've Got a Secret/Sam (1956)
Johnny Randal
- Do Right/You're Gone But Still In My Heart (1964)
- How About That/This Is The End (?)
This record was recorded as Johnny Randall
Ebe Sneezer and His EpidemicsJohn D. LoudermilkJohn D. Loudermilk is an American singer and songwriter.-Biography:Born in Durham, North Carolina, Loudermilk grew up in a family who were members of the Salvation Army faith and was influenced by the church singing. His cousins Ira and Charlie Loudermilk were known professionally as the Louvin...
- That's All I've Got (To Remember You By) /Asiatic Flu (1957)
Cile Turner
- Drizzlin' Rain/Full Of The Moon (CR 731 - with picture sleeve) (1957)
- Crap Shootin' Sinner/The Golden Rule (1959)
- Going Down To Town/Don't Fool Around With The Blues (1960)
- Joe Sweeny/In Virginia (1960)
- The Happy Song/The Winds Call It Home (1961)
- I'm Walking That Lonesome Road/Going Down To Town (?)