Macy's Recordings

Macy's Recordings
Macy's Recordings "Queen of Hits"
Founded1948 (or early 1949) [1][2]
Defunct1951[1]
StatusDefunct
GenreCajun, country, swamp blues, swamp pop
Country of originUnited States
LocationHouston, Texas, United States

Macy's Recordings (Queen of Hits) was a Houston-based record label that released recordings of popular musicians around the southern United States. In April 1949, they famously recorded Lester Williams' song "Winter Time Blues" on their R&B series which became a hit.[3][4] They would go on to record country and Cajun music as well.[5]

History

Steve Poncio, ca.1968

The record label was started by husband and wife, Charles D. Henry and Macy Lela Henry, who worked alongside supervisor Steve Poncio. Poncio worked as general manager for Macy's in 1946 and then founded United Record Distributing Company in 1949.[6] Macy ran a department store based in Houston, Texas (unrelated to the famous New York department store) and in 1948, they began distributing records for other labels, such as Modern Music, including their back catalog material.[7] and even had an office in Dallas.[8][9] In 1949, they decided to create their own label to sell and distribute from their store. They created the Macy's Record Distribution Company[2] and they used Bill Holford's ACA Studios in Houston to record the music.[3] The place was known for its high quality sound.

Their first recordings released were with Jim Reeves.[5] However, they would make their mark on blues music in 1949 by recording Lester Williams'[10] song "Winter Time Blues" and then in 1950, they would sign and record Clarence Garlow,[11] releasing a version of his song "Bon Ton Rolla".[1] The company would hire other dealers to distribute their music in Nashville, Atlanta and New Orleans.[12]

Bill Holford at ACA Studios, early 1960s

These artists would go on to record other songs for Macy. Macy's didn't fare well in the marketplace despite the quality of their music. They were competing against other Houston brands such as Duke-Peacock, D Records, Starday, Freedom, Sittin' In With and Gold Star.[13] By June 1951, many of their signature artists moved to Modern Records and Aladdin Records ending the Macy's label production. The catalog is currently owned by Fivepin Music based in Toronto.

Artists

Discography

Macys 78s
Catalog Artist A Side B Side
100 Woody Carter And His Hoedown Boys Slippin Around Sittin On The Doorstep
101 Woody Carter And His Hoedown Boys Only You Who's Gonna Chop My Baby's Firewood
102 Claudie Ham And His Radio Playboys Moonlight Texas Waltz I'll Wait A Lifetime For You
103 Barney Vardeman And His Drifting Texans Let's Call It Quits I Love Someone
104 Claudie Ham And His Radio Playboys We'll Say Goodbye Tomorrow That’s All I'm Through
105 Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm Boys I Love You Because I'll Keep My Memory Of You
106 Art Gunn And His Arizona Playboys Cornbread Boogie St Augustine Waltz
107 Dusty Payton The Chains Of Love Are Broken No Room In My Heart
108 Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm Boys Weeping Willow Blue Over You
109 Smitty Smith And His Lone Star Rangers Broken Memories A Heart Full Of Blues
110 Raley Bros And Woody Carter Hoedown Breakdown Medley Of German Waltzes
111 Barney Vardeman And His Driftin Texans Till We Meet Again Darling I'm Finding Me A New Heart
112 Bar X Cowboys Cold Shadows In My Heart Fair Weather Friend
113 Dickie Jones And His Rhythm Rangers I Wish I Knew Do You Never Again For Me
114 Clint Small The Singing Bus Driver Three Years Someone Cares
115 Jim Reeves My Hearts Like A Welcome Mat Teardrops Of Regret
116 Ramblin Tommy Scott Tennessee Rosebuds And You
117 Laverl Carrico And The Angelina Pals She Tore Up My Picture Too Many Women Too Much Beer
118 Sonny Hall And His Moonshiners I'll Keep My Eyes On Your Heart Just A Little Bit More
119 Ray Welch Louisiana Blues Cross My Heart
120 Smitty Smith And His Lone Star Rangers If Teardrops Were Diamonds You Sent My Heart To Prison
121 Tommy Dover Only You Hold The Key I'll Be Moving Along
122 Art Gunn And His Arizona Playboys Boogie Woogie Blues Last Tear
123 Curley Rash And His So Texas Playboys Was It Just A Year Ago The Battleship Texas
124 Harry (Jole Blon) Choates Gra Mamou Catn' Around
125 Cousin Bob Rogers Driftin Blue Yodel No 1
126 Biff Collie I Want A Gal To Cook For Me Ive Said It Before I'll Say It Again
127 Morris Mills And The Rithumakers Id Like To Slip Around With You Don’T Play This Record
128 Morris Mills And The Rithumakers Calendar Girl I Remember Do You
129 Bob Greene And His Filling Station Swing Somebody Stole My Rag Mop You Just Don’t Know
130 Ramblin Tommy Scott Smoky Mountain Sunset Aint What She Used To Be
131 Dolores And The Bluebonnet Boys Dessau Schottische One Woman Man
132 Jim Reeves Chicken Hearted Ive Never Been So Blue
133 Dub Poston And His Downtown Playboys Cant You Believe I Can't Use You Anymore
134 Harry Choates Louisiana Boogie What's The Use
135 Yodeling Bob Stotts Out Along The Colorado Trail I Guess I Learn A Lot Every Day
136 Bill Grady's Dixie Cowboys Rambling Man I'll Always Get Along
137 Ray Welch You No Longer Carry My Name No Use To Cry Over You
138 Sonny Hall Ive Been Lost Without You Texas Waltz
139 Paul Brown And His Bar X Cowboys Where Texas Meets The Sea Now You're Mine At Last
140 Laverl Carrico And The Angelina Pals I Have Lost My Trust In You My Life's Story
141 Harry Choates Korea Here We Come Do You Still Love Me
142 Morris Mills And The Rithumakers Steppin On Feet For Fun I Need Some Sunshine
143 Cousin Bob Rogers Lonesome Freight Train Blues Cloud Corral
144 Vance Bros Draftboard Blues Can't Get You Out Of My Dreams
145 Curley Rash And His South Texas Playboys Humble Road Boogie Have I Held You In My Arms Like This Before
146 Art Gunn And His Arizona Playboys Barn Dance Boogie Sleepy Time Out West
147 Harry Choates Ive Quit My Cattin Around Fiddle Polka
148 Ramblin Tommy Scott When A Man Gets The Blues Been Gone A Long Time
149 Clint Small With The Corral Wranglers Texas Rag Learn To Be Blue
150 Dolores And The Bluebonnet Boys I Don’t Care A Broken Heart
151 Morris Mills And The Rithumakers Oh Baby Do I Try So Hard
152 Cousin Bob Rodgers Secret Love Trail In The Sun
153 Vance Bros Ill Always Call You Darling You're Just An Angel
155 Tommy Dover And His Texas Rhythm Boys I Can't Get You Out Of My Heart Brakeman's Blues
156 Dolores And The Bluebonnet Boys Fiesta Waltz Pickin
157 Dean Smith Sweetheart Hill Sunset Valley
158 Harry Choates Harry's Blues She's Sweet Sweet
159 Harry Choates My Pretty Brunette Corpus Christe Waltz
1000 Buddy Ryland and Orchestra Wild Cherry I Ain't Mad At You
1001 Macy And Her Ole Time Bar Band Shine On Harvest Moon Dill Pickle Rag
1002 Macy And Her Ole Time Bar Band Boogie Woogie Piano Who's Sorry Now
5000 Lester Williams I'm So Happy I Could Jump And Shout Wintertime Blues
5001 Clarence Garlow She's So Fine Blues As You Like It
5002 Clarence Garlow Bon Ton Roula In A Boogie Mood
5003 Smoky Hogg You Gotta Go Leaving You Baby
5004 Lester Williams All I Need Is You I Know That Chick
5005 Hubert Robinson Where Were You Pretty Baby Boogie The Joint
5006 Lester Williams Dowling Street Hop Don't Treat Me So Low Down
5007 Hubert Robinson Answer To Wintertime Blues Old Woman Boogie
5008 Smoky Hogg Baby Baby Change Your Ways
5009 Lester Williams Mary Lou Texas Town
5010 Hubert Robinson Room And Board Boogie Bad Luck And Trouble
5011 Cab Mcmillan And His Fade Aways I'm Young And Able Three Woman Blues
5012 Clarence Garlow Bound To Lose My Mind Jumpin' For Joy
5013 Wilson-Watson Singers Old Ship of Zion Throw Out The Life Line
5014 Joe Houston Cornbread And Cabbage Greens Pretty Dad-Dee
5015 Hubert Robinson I Love You Baby High Class Woman
5016 Lester Williams Hey Jack The Folks Around The Corner

[14] [15]

Compilations

  • Cat N Around (#875512 KrazyKat/Interstate, 1997) [16]
  • Texas Hillbilly: The Best of Macy's Hillbilly Recordings (ACRCD125 Acrobat, 2006)
  • Queen Of Hits: The Macy's Recordings Story (ACRCD228 Acrobat, 2011)[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c "MVD Entertainment Group: Queen Of Hits: The Macy's Recordings Story". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  2. ^ a b Komara, Edward (2005). The Blues Encyclopedia: 2 Volume Set. Routledge. p. 646. ISBN 978-0415926997.
  3. ^ a b O'Brien, Timothy J (2013). Mojo Hand: The Life and Music of Lightnin' Hopkins (1st ed.). University of Texas Press. p. 62. ISBN 978-0292745155.
  4. ^ "Handbook of Texas Online: WILLIAMS, LESTER". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  5. ^ a b "Macy's Texas Hillbilly - The Best of Macy's Hillbilly Recordings". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  6. ^ "Monument/Sound Stage 7: Executive Staff". Billboard. December 21, 1968. pp. pM-3 & pM-5.
  7. ^ Broven, John (2010). Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers. University of Illinois Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0252077272.
  8. ^ "Coinmen You Know: Houston". The Billboard. 62 (19): 121. May 13, 1950.
  9. ^ "Coinmen You Know: Houston". The Billboard. 60 (46): 107. November 13, 1948.
  10. ^ Govenar, Alan B (2008). Texas Blues: The Rise of a Contemporary Sound. Texas A&M University Press. p. 282. ISBN 978-1585446056.
  11. ^ Wood, Roger (2006). Texas Zydeco. University of Texas Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0292712584.
  12. ^ "Texas Disk Firm Names Distribs". The Billboard. 61 (33): 99. August 13, 1949.
  13. ^ "Big Road Blues Show 5/3/09: Struggle Here In Houston – Houston Blues 1948-1968". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  14. ^ "Macy's 5000-series 78rpm numerical listing discography". 78discography.com. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  15. ^ "Macy's Recordings". Discogs.
  16. ^ Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. p. 103. ISBN 978-1858285344.
  17. ^ "Queen of Hits - the Macy's Recordings Story (2003, CD)". Discogs.