RPM Records was an American Los Angeles–based record label launched in 1950.[1] This is not the same RPM used by Tony Bennett, nor is it related to labels in the UK and South Africa.
RPM was a subsidiary of Modern Records and part of the Bihari Brothers record empire.
Ike Turner, who was a talent scout for the Bihari Brothers, arranged for many blues musicians such as Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, and Roscoe Gordon to record for the Biharis.[2] King released many successful singles on the RPM label.[3] Paul Anka released his first single on RPM in 1956.[4]
In 1957, the Bihari Brothers announced that they were halting all album releases on both Modern and RPM, and that their released and scheduled albums for Modern and RPM would be issued on their Crown Records label.[1]
The catalogs and master tapes were sold to Ace Records (UK) in the 1990s.
| Catalog No. | Release date |
US | US R&B |
Single (A-side, B-side) | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 324 | Jun 1951 | 9 | "Saddled the Cow (and Milk the Horse)"
b/w "Ouch Pretty Baby" |
Roscoe Gordon | |
| 325[6] | Jun 1951 | 1 | "T 99 Blues"
b/w "Rain Drop Blues" |
Jimmie Nelson and The Peter Rabbit Trio | |
| 333 | Sep 1951 | "Riding in the Moonlight"
b/w "Morning at Midnight" |
Howlin' Wolf | ||
| 339 | Dec 1951 | 1 | "3 O'Clock Blues"
b/w "That Ain't the Way to Do It" |
B.B. King | |
| 336 | Sep 1952 | 1 | "You Know I Love You"
b/w "You Didn’t Want Me" |
B.B. King and His Orchestra | |
| 350 | Mar 1952 | 2 | "No More Doggin'"
b/w "Maria" |
Roscoe Gordon | |
| 355 | 1952 | "Shake It Up And Go"
b/w " My Own Fault, Darlin'" |
B.B. King and His Orchestra | ||
| 356 | May 1952 | "You're Drivin' Me Insane"
b/w "Trouble and Heartaches" |
Ike Turner with Ben Burton's Orchestra | ||
| 374 | Dec 1952 | 9 | "Story from My Heart and Soul"
b/w "Boogie Woogie Woman" |
B.B. King | |
| 386 | Jun 1953 | 1 | "Please Love Me"
b/w "Highway Bound" |
B.B. King and His Orchestra | |
| 416 | Sep 1954 | 1 | "You Upset Me Baby"
b/w "Whole Lotta Love" |
B.B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra | |
| 421 | Jan 1955 | 8 | "Every Day I Have The Blues" | B. B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra | |
| 14 | "Sneakin' Around" | B. B. "Blues Boy" King and "The Kings Men" | |||
| 436 | Aug 1955 | 10 | "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights"
b/w "Someone Cares For Me" |
Johnny "Guitar" Watson | |
| 453 | Jan 1956 | 14 | 2 | "Eddie My Love"
b/w "Just Goofed" |
The Teen Queens |
| 472 | Sep 1956 | "I Confess"
b/w "Blau-Wile-Deveest-Fontaine" |
Paul Anka | ||
| 494 | Jun 1957 | "Quit My Baby" | B.B. "Blues Boy" King and His Orchestra | ||
| 95 | "Be Careful With A Fool" |
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