The Modern Records Story
This giant of independent Los Angeles based R & B record labels was started by Joe and Jules Bihari during the waning days of World War II in 1945. It was originally called Modern Music Records and saw its first success with the piano boogie rhythms of Hadda Brooks especially "Swinging The Boogie". By the late 1940s the newly renamed Modern Records was a major player in the spread of R & B music across the country. What follows is a representative listing (certainly not complete) of Modern Records releases during the golden age of Rhythm & Blues from the late 40s to the mid 50s.
532 - Smokey Hogg - Too many Drivers / Country Girl
556 - Smokey Hogg - Unemployment Blues / Skinny Leg Woman
563 - Smokey Hogg - Anytime Is The Right Time / Where Did My Boogie Go
574 - Smokey Hogg - I Feel Good / Long Tall Mama
596 - Smokey Hogg - Worryin' Over You / Jivin' Little Woman
606 - Smokey Hogg - Golden Diamond Blues / Oh Woman Oh Woman
615 - Smokey Hogg - Be My So And So / My Baby Is Worryin' Me
624 - Peewee Crayton - Blues After Hours / I'm Still In Love With You
627 - John Lee Hooker - Boogie Chillun / Sallie Mae
630 - Smokey Hogg - My Christmas Baby / New Year's Eve Blues
643 - Peewee Crayton - Texas Hop / Central Avenue Blues
653 - Floyd Dixon - Helen / Dallas Blues
655 - Sylvester Cotton - Sak-Relation Blues / Ugly Woman Blues
658 - Peewee Crayton - Bop Hop / Rocck Island Blues
663 - John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues / Hoogie Boogie
664 - Floyd Dixon - Till I Grow Old / That'll Cut It
667 - Smokey Hogg - I'm Gonna Find Your Trick / Who's Heah
672 - Joe Lutcher - Mardi Gras
675 - Peewee Crayton - When Darkness Falls / I Love You So
686 - Little Willie Littlefield - Midnight Whistle / It's Midnight
688 - John Lee Hooker - Weeping Willow / Whistlin' And Moanin' Blues
700 - Floyd Dixon - Mississippi Blues / Drafting Blues
704 - Smokey Hogg - Little School Girl / Suitcase Blues
707 - Peewee Crayton - Long After Hours / Brand New Woman
709 - Little Willie Littlefield - Farewell / Drinkin' Hadacol
710 - Jesse Thomas - Texas Blues / Gonna Write You A Letter
714 - John Lee Hooker - Crawlin' Kingsnake / Driftin' From Door To Door
715 - Little Esther & Johnny Otis - I Gotta Guy / Thursday Night Blues
716 - Little Willie Littlefield - Merry Christmas / Come On Baby
719 - Peewee Crayton - Old Fashioned Baby / Bounce Peewee
720 - Roy Hawkins - Sleepless Nights / Mistreatin' Baby
721 - Jimmy Witherspoon - No Rollin' Blues / Big Fine Gal
722 - Jimmy McCracklin - Beer Drinkin' Woman / Up And Down Blues
724 - Floyd Dixon - Milky White Way / Precious Lord
725 - Floyd Dixon - Cow Town / Forever And Ever
726 - Little Willie Littlefield - The Moon Is Rising / Frightened
727 - Floyd Dixon - Gloomy baby / Roamin' Around
728 - Jimmy McCracklin - I Think My Time Is Here / Deceiving Blues
729 - Little Willie Littlefield - Rockin' Chair mama / Your Love Wasn't So
730 - John Lee Hooker - Playin' The Races / I'm A Howlin' Wolf
731 - Charles Brown - I'll get Along Somehow / What Do You Know About Love
732 - Peewee Crayton - Rockin' The Blues / Please Come Back
733 - Gene Phillips & Jack McVea - See See Rider / Slippin' And Slidin'
734 - Roy Hawkins - Royal Hawk / Why Do Things Happen To Me
735 - Smokey Hogg - Everybody Got A Racket / What More Can A Woman Do
737 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Drinking Beer / Hard Workin' Blues
741 - Jimmy McCracklin - Gotta Cut Out / Bad Health Blues
742 - Peewee Crayton - Some Rainy Day / Huckle Boogie
743 - Gene Phillips & Jack McVea - To Each His Own
744 - Floyd Dixon - People Like Me / Shuffle Blues
746 - John Lee Hooker - No Friend Around / Evening
747 - Little Willie Littlefield - Tell Me Baby / Why Leave Me Alone
748 - Little Esther & Johnny Otis - Mean Old Gal / Good Old Blues
750 - Joe Fritz - Wrong Doin' Woman / If I Be Lucky
751 - Lil Greenwood - Heart Full Of Pain
752 - Roy Hawkins - On My Way / Where You Been
753 - Herb Fisher - This Is My Story / I'm Yours To Keep
754 - Little Willie Littlefield - Cheerful baby / Happy Pay Day
755 - Herb Fisher - They'll Be Here / People Have Money
757 - Lil Greenwood - Ain't Gonna Cry / Come Back Baby
758 - Smokey Hogg - The Way You Treat Me / You're Gonna Look Like A Monkey
761 - Floyd Dixon - I'll be Lonely / It's Getting Foggy
762 - Jimmy McCracklin - Rockin' All day / Just Won't Let Her Go
763 - Peewee Crayton - Louella Brown / Answer To Blues After Hours
764 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Doctor Blues / Don't Ever Move A Woman Into Your House
765 - Roy Hawkins - Wine Drinkin' Woman / Mt Temper Is Rising
766 - Hadda Brooks - Lazy Boogie / Can You Look Me In The Eye
767 - John Lee Hooker - Rock And Roll / Give Me Your Phone Number
768 - Charles Brown - Nutmeg / What Do You Know About Love
769 - Hadda Brooks - Linger Awhile / This Time We're Through
770 - Smokey Hogg - Classification Blues / You Brought It On Yourself
771 - Lil Greenwood - Disatisfied Blues / I'm Going Crazy
772 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Falling By Degrees / New Orleans Woman
773 - Edna Broughton - Two Years Of Torture / Too Many Women
774 - Peewee Crayton - Good Little Woman / Dedicating The Blues
775 - Little Willie Littlefield - Hit The Road / Trouble All Around Me
776 - Floyd Dixon - Playboy Blues / Baby Come Home
777 - Roy Hawkins - Just A Poor Boy / You had A Good Man
779 - Helen Humes - Million Dollar Secret / I'm Gonna Let Him Ride
781 - Little Willie Littlefield - You Never Miss A Good Woman Till She's Gone / Ain't A Better Story
782 - Jimmy Witherspoon - I'm Just A Country Boy / There Ain't Nothing Better
783 - Smokey Hogg - Possum Hunt / Let's get Together And Drink Some Gin
784 - Herb Fisher - Too many Fish In The Sea / Don't Take Me Away
785 - Little Willie Littlefield - Merry Christmas / Come On Baby
786 - Edna Broughton - Ooh Wee Baby / Trouble Trouble
787 - Hadda Brooks - White Christmas / Silent Night
790 - John Lee Hooker - Let Your Daddy Ride / One More Time
791 - Maxwell Davis - Boogie Cocktail / Belmont Special
792 - June Barton - Lovesick Blues / Hullabaloo
793 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Once There Lived A Fool / I'm Just A Ladies Man
794 - Roy Hawkins - Blues All Around / Mean Little Girl
795 - Joe Hill Louis - I Feel Like A Million / Heartache Baby
796 - Peewee Crayton - Tired Of Travelling / Change Your Way Of Loving
797 - Floyd Dixon - Doin' The Town / You Made A Fool Out Of Me
801 - Little Willie Littlefield - Once Was Lucky / I've Been Lost
802 - Smokey Hogg - Smokey's Back In Town / late Prowlin' Gal
804 - Hadda Brooks - Keep Your Hands On Your Heart / Let's Be Sweethearts Again
806 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Going Around In Circles / You Can't Kiss A Dream Goodnight
808 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Ain't Nobody's Business / I Gotta Gal Live Up On A Hill
809 - Mumbles Horton - Little Boy Blue / Now Tell Me Baby
810 - Herb Fisher - Doggone Shame / Don't Want Nobody Else
811 - Lilli Greenwood - Young Blood / Sittin' And Wonderin'
812 - Roy Hawkins - I'm Never Satisfied / You're The Sweetest Thing
813 - Joe Hill Louis - Boogie In The Park / Cold Cold Chills
814 - John Lee Hooker - John Lee's House Rent Boogie / Queen Bee
815 - Smokey Hogg - Sleepless Blues
816 - Peewee Crayton - Poppa Stoppa / Thinking Of You
817 - Ira Amos - What have You Been Doing To Me / Blue And Disgusted
818 - Richard Lewis & The Barons - Believe In Me / Forever
822 - Joe Hill Louis - Walkin' Talkin' Blues / Street Walkin' Woman
823 - Herb Fisher - Baby Please Don't Cry / Wine Wine Wine
826 - Roy Hawkins - The Thrill Is Gone / Trouble Makin' Woman
828 - Joe Hill Louis - Eyesight To The Blind / Going Down Slow
829 - John Lee Hooker - Women In My Life
830 - Joe Houston - Blow Joe Blow
831 - Dick Cole w/Phinus Newborn - Tennessee Bounce / Fine As Wine
832 - Ramp Davis - Bayou Dance / The Blues Has Got Me
833 - Smokey Hogg - Country Gal / Too Many Drivers
834 - Johnny Ingram - Mr. T-99 voc-Del Graham / What's Up
835 - John Lee Hooker - I'm In The Mood / How can You Do It
836 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Fickle Woman / I Done Found Out
837 - Little Willie Littlefield - Lump In My Throat / Mean Mean Woman
839 - Joe Hill Louis - Gotta Go baby / Big Legged Woman
840 - Lil' Son Jackson - Talkin' Boogie / Milford Blues
842 - Roy Hawkins - I Walk Alone / Gloom And Misery All Around
843 - Rev. C. C. Chapman & Faith Temple Choir - On My Way (parts 1 & 2)
844 - Smokey Hogg - Patrol Wagon Blues / You've Been Gone Too Long
845 - Jimmy Witherspoon - I'm Just Wonderin' (parts 1 & 2)
847 - John Lee Hooker - Anybody Seen My Baby / Turn Over A New Leaf
849 - Driftin' Slim - My Little Machine / Down South Blues
850 - Joe Houston - Have A Ball / Houston Hot House
851 - Helen Humes - I Ain't In The Mood / Living My Life My Way
852 - John Lee Hooker - Louise / Ground Hog Blues
853 - Roy Hawkins - You're A Free Little Girl / I Don't Know Just Whay To Do
854 - Little Willie Littlefield - A Life Of Trouble / Too Late For Me
856 - Joe Hill Louis - Peace Of Mind / Chocolate Blonde
857 - Jimmy Witherspoon - The Wind Is Blowin' / Would My Baby Make A Change
859 - Roy Hawkins - Highway 59 / Would You
860 - Boyd Gilmore - Ramblin' On My Mind / Just An Army Boy
862 - John Lee Hooker - Rock Me Mama / Cold Chills All Over Me
864 - Little Junior & The Blue Flames - You're My Angel / Bad Women, Bad Whiskey
869 - Roy Hawkins - The Thrill Hunt / Doin' All Right
870 - Jimmy Lee & Artis - My Heart's Desire
871 - Ben Burton - Bee Hive Boogie
872 - Boyd Gilmore - All In My Dreams / Take A Walk With Me
875 - Jimmy Giuffre - Big Boy (parts 1 & 2)
876 - John Lee Hooker - It Hurts Me So / I Got My Eye On You
877 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Daddy Pinocchio / Love My Baby
878 - Charley Booker - Charley's Boogie Woogie / Moonlight Blues
879 - Joe Houston - Boogie Woogie Woman / Dig It
880 - Mary Sue - Love Is A Gamble / Everybody's Talking
881 - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - My Song / It's Rough voc - Mari Jones
882 - Baby Face Turner - Blue Serenade / Gonna Let You Go
883 - Ray Agee - Flirtin' Blues / It's Bedtine Baby
884 - Smokey Hogg - Highway 51 / Baby Don't You Tear My Clothes
885 - Jimmy Lee & Artis - Let's talk It Over Baby
886 - John Lee Hooker - Keys To The Highway / Bluebird Blues
887 - Jay Franks - Trying / Crying Blues
888 - Mari Jones & Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Lonesome Train / Johnny Johnny
890 - Cliff Bivins - Make Love To Me / Please Don't Leave Me
891 - Ray Agee - No More Blue Shadows Falling / My Lonesome Days Are Gone
892 - Peewee Crayton - Cool Evening / Have You Lost Your Love For Me
893 - Sylvester Cotton - I Tried
893 - John Lee Hooker - New Boogie Chillun / I Tried
894 - Ben Burton - Lover's Blues / Cherokee Boogie
895 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Baby Baby / Slow Your Speed
896 - Smokey Hogg - Too Late Old Man / River Hips Mama
897 - John Lee Hooker - It's Been A Long Time
898 - Roy Hawkins - Bad Luck Is Fallin' / The Condition I'm In
899 - Jimmy Lee & Artis - All Right Baby / Why Do You Make Me Feel So Blue
901 - John Lee Hooker - Ride Till I Die / Stormin' And Rainin'
902 - Oscar McLollie - The Honey Jump (parts 1 & 2)
903 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Each Step Of The Way / Let Jesus Fix It For You
904 - Little Ruth - Witness / Lord Keep Your Hand On Mine
905 - Lucky Enois Quintet - Crazy Man Crazy / Zig Zag Ziggin'
907 - Jimmy Lee & Artis - That's Fat Jack / That's What Love Can Do
908 - John Lee Hooker - Please Take Me Back / Love Money Can't Buy
909 - Jimmy Witherspoon - Oh Mother Dear Mother / I'll Be Right On Down
910 - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers - Dragnet Blues / Playing Numbers voc-Frankie Ervin
911 - Johnny Moore's Three Blazers voc Mari Jones - In The Home / Old Worry
913 - Lawrence Stone - I'll Surrender Anytime / Please Remember Me
914 - Eddie Townes - On The Bottom / Trials And Tribulations
915 - Oscar McLollie - All That Oil In Texas / Be Cool My Heart voc-Bedell Forrest
916 - John Lee Hooker - Too Much Boogie / I Need Somebody
917 - Joe Houston - Blowin' Crazy / Going Crazy
919 - Lawrence Stone - New Love / Too Much Lovin'
920 - Oscar McLollie - Lolly Pop / God Gave Us Christmas
921 - Young Jessie - I Smell A Rat / Lonsome Desert
922 - Sister Christine Sykes - Nothing Can Change / We Walked Out In Jesus Name
923 - John Lee Hooker - Down Child / Gotta Boogie
924 - Smokey Hogg - Can't Do Nothing / Just Can't Help It
928 - Oscar McLollie - What You Call 'Em Joe / Mama Don't Like
926 - Jimmy McCracklin - Blues Blasters Boogie / The Panic's On
927 - Jerry Thomas - Lost Monday / Don't Have To Worry
930 - Dennis Binder - I Miss You So / Early Times
931 - John Lee Hooker - I Wonder Little Darlin' / Jump Me
933 - Marvin & Johnny - Cherry Pie / Tick Tock
934 - Jimmy McCracklin - Darlin Share Your Love / Give My Heart A Break
935 - John Lee Hooker - Let's Talk It Over
938 - Linda Peters - One More Chance / Ooh Daddy
939 - Native Boys - Native Girl / It Won't Take Long
940 - Oscar McLollie - Love Me Tonight / Take Your Shoes Off Pop
941 - Marvin & Johnny - Kiss Me / Sugar
942 - John Lee Hooker - Bad Boy / Cool Little Car
943 - Oscar McLollie - Dig That Crazy Santa Claus
944 - Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns - Set My Heart Free / I Wanna Love
945 - Poka-Dotts - Ting-A-Ling / Stairway To Love
946 - Marvin & Johnny - Little Honey / Honey Girl
947 - Etta James & The Peaches - The Wallflower / Hold Me Squeeze Me
948 - John Lee Hooker - Shake Holler And Run / Half A Stranger
949 - Marvin & Johnny - Kokomo / Sometimes I Wonder
951 - Jimmy McCracklin - Please Forgive Me Baby / Couldn't Be A Dream
952 - Marvin & Johnny - I Love You Yes I Do
955 - Oscar McLollie - Eternal Love / Pagliacci
956 - Cadets - Don't Be Angry / I Cried
957 - Etta james - Hey Henry / Be Mine
958 - John Lee Hooker - Taxi Driver / You Deceive Me
959 - Marvin & Johnny - Butter Ball / Sugar Mama
960 - Cadets - Rolling Stone / Fine Looking Baby
961 - Young Jessie - Mary Lou / Don't Think I Will
962 - Etta James - Good Rockin Daddy / Crazy Feeling
964 - Cobras - Sindy
965 - Dolly Cooper - Ay La Baby / My Man
966 - John Lee Hooker - The Syndicator / Hug And Squeeze Me
967 - Jimmy McCracklin - Gonna Tell Your Mother / That Ain't Right
968 - Marvin & Johnny - Will You Love Me / Sweet Dreams
970 - Oscar McLollie - Convicted / Roll Hot Rod, Roll
971 - Cadets - If It Is Wrong / Do You Wanna Rock
972 - Etta James - W-O-M-A-N / That's All
973 - Young Jessie - Nothing Seems Right / Do You Love Me
974 - Marvin & Johnny - Let Me Know / Ain't That Right
975 - Sounds - So Unneccessary / Cold Chills
977 - Dolly Cooper - Teenage Prayer / Down So Long
978 - John Lee Hooker - I'm Ready / Lookin' For A Woman
981 - Sounds - Sweet Sixteen / Anything For You
982 - Marvin & Johnny - Wonderful Woinderful One / Yes I Do
983 - Elmore James - Wild About You / Long Tall Woman
984 - Etta James - Number One / I'm A Fool
985 - Cadets - Heartbreak Hotel / Church Bells May Ring
986 - Dolly Cooper - Teenage Wedding Bells / Every Day And Every Night
987 - Cliques - Girl In My Dreams / I Wanna Know Why
988 - Etta James - Tears Of Joy / Shortnin' Rock
989 - Shirley Gunter & The Flairs - Heading Home / I Want You
990 - Hawks - It's All Over / Since You've Been Gone
991 - Jimmy Beasley - Ella Jane / No Love For Me
992 - Rockets - Be Lovey Dovey / You Are The First One
993 - Long Tall Marvin - Have Mercy Miss Percy / Tell Me Darlin
994 - Cadets - Stranded In The Jungle / I Want You
995 - Cliques - My Desire / I'm In Love With A Girl
996 - Jimmy Beasley - Don't Feel Sorry For Me / Little Coquette
997 - Tonettes - Don't Fall In Love Too Soon / Tonight You Belong To Me
998 - Etta James - Tough Lover / Fools We Mortals Be
999 - Rocketeers - Hey Rube
1000 - Cadets - Dancin' Dan / I Got Loaded
1001 - Shirley Gunter & The Flairs - Just Got Rid Of A Heartache / Fortune In Love
1002 - Young Jessie - Hit, Git, And Split / It Don't Happen No More
1004 - Curley Williams - This Heart Of Mine / Be Mine
1005 - Jesse Belvin - Goodnight My Love / I Want You With Me Christmas
1006 - Cadets - I'll Be Spinning / Fools Rush In
1007 - Etta James - Then I'll Care / Good Lookin'
1008 - Hadda Brooks - Old Man River / Close Your Eyes
1009 - Jimmy Beasley - My Happiness / Jambalaya
1012 - Cadets - Love Bandit / Heaven Help Me
1013 - Jesse Belvin - Senorita / I Need You So
1015 - Jesse Belvin - Don't Close The Door / By My Side
1017 - Cadets - You Belong To Me / Wiggie Waggie Woo
1020 - Jesse Belvin - Sad And Lonesome / I'm Not Free
1025 - Jesse Belvin - You Send Me / Summertime
1026 - Cadets - Ring Chimes / Baby You Know
1027 - Jesse Belvin - Just To Say Hello / My Satellite
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