Black Lion Records was a British jazz record company and label based in London, England.

Black Lion Records
Founded1968 (1968)
FounderAlan Bates
GenreJazz
Country of originUK
LocationLondon, England

Alan Bates founded Black Lion Records in 1968.[1] The label had two series of releases, one for British jazz musicians and one for international musicians. It released a large amount of reissue material, including items by Art Tatum, Jay McShann, Ben Webster, Earl Hines, Bud Freeman, Bud Powell, Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins, Mal Waldron, and Duke Ellington. It had a subsidiary called Freedom Records, which concentrated on free jazz releases; this wing was bought by Arista Records in 1975.

The label was distributed by Polydor for part of its existence. It became part of D. A. Music in the 1980s, while Bates bought Candid Records in 1989 and shifted the focus of his activities there.

Discography

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Catalogue Artist Album Year
3701-2 Various The Original Jazz Masters Series Volume 1 (CD, Comp)
3702-5 Various The Original Jazz Masters Series Volume 2 (CD, Comp) 1973
4291 Cecil Taylor Silent Tongues (LP, Album) 1977
27 707-9 Various Black Lion Jam Session (2xLP, Comp) 1973
65 102 Philly Joe Jones* Gone, Gone, Gone! (LP, Album)
65104 Stanley Cowell* Brilliant Circles (LP, Album, RP) 1983
65.115 Sun Ra and His Arkestra* Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album, RE)
65122 Bud Powell The Invisible Cage (LP, Album, RE, RM)
65 605 Cecil Taylor The Great Paris Concert (2xLP, Album, RE) 1983
25 113-2 B Alexis Korner, Memphis Slim Rock Me Baby 1972
26 300 4 U Barney Kessel Blue Soul (LP, Comp) 1975
28 401-8 MB Teddy Wilson Stomping at the Savoy (LP, Album) 1971
28 410-9 U Charles Tolliver and His All Stars Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) 1971
28 414-1 U Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich & Charlie Shavers Anatomy of a Jam Session (LP, Album, Mono, RE) 1971
28 415-8 U Dexter Gordon The Montmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album) 1971
28 416-6 U Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band* At Her Majesty's Pleasure... (LP, Album) 1971
28 420-8 U Alex Welsh & His Band* If I Had a Talking Picture of You (LP, Album) 1972
28 421-4 U Sun Ra and His Arkestra* Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album) 1972
28 433-1 Z Charles Tolliver's Music Inc.* Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (2xLP, Album) 1972
28 449-7 U Thelonious Monk The Man I Love (LP, Album) 1973
28 462-0 U Stéphane Grappelli Just One of Those Things! (LP, Album) 1973
28 477-8 U Dexter Gordon Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) 1974
2460 125 Alex Welsh and His Band, Humphrey Lyttelton, George Chisholm The Melody Maker Tribute to Louis Armstrong Vol. III (LP, Album) 1971
2460 128 Bill Coleman (2) / Ben Webster Swingin' in London (LP, Album) 1972
2460 139 Charles Tolliver and His All Stars Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) 1971
2460-189 Oscar Pettiford Blue Brothers (LP, Album) 1973
2460 191 Paul Gonsalves / Ray Nance Just a-Sittin and a-Rockin (LP, Album) 1973
2460 194 Freddy RandallDave Shepherd Jazz All Stars
2460-200 Earl Hines Tour de Force (LP, Album) 1973
2460-208 Chris Barber Drat That Fratle Rat! (LP, Album) 1972
2683 047 Stephane Grappelli* With Hot Club of London, The* I Got Rhythm! (2xLP, Album) 1974
B-11836-75 Various Jazz at Black Lion (2xLP, Comp) 1975
BL-047 Stéphane Grappelli I Got Rhythm! (2xLP, Album) 1974
BL – 105 Stéphane Grappelli / Barney Kessel I Remember Django (LP, Album) 1970
BL 106 Sun Ra and His Arkestra* Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album) 1971
BL-108 Dexter Gordon The Monmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album) 1971
BL-111 Ben Webster Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves (LP, Album)
BL-130 Barney Kessel Swinging Easy! (LP, Album) 1969
BL-131 Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band* At Her Majesty's Pleasure... (LP, Album) 1971
BL-146 Illinois Jacquet Genius at Work! (LP, Album) 1971
BL-152 Thelonious Monk Something in Blue (LP, Album) 1971
BL-153 Bud Powell The Invisible Cage (LP, Album) 1971
BL-155 Memphis Slim Rock Me Baby!
BL-158 Art Tatum The Genius 1967
BL-159 Coleman Hawkins & Bud Powell Hawk in Germany (LP, Album) 1972
BL-190 Ben Webster Duke's in Bed! (LP, Album) 1969
BL-191 Paul Gonsalves, Ray Nance Just a-sittin' and a-rockin' (LP, Album)
BL 192 Dollar Brand This Is Dollar Brand 1965
BL-197 Thelonious Monk The Man I Love 1973
BL-302 Ben Webster Saturday Night at the Montmartre 1974
BL-307 Sonny Stitt & the Giants Night Work 1974
BL-309 Dexter Gordon Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) 1974
BL-310 Barney Kessel Blue Soul (LP, Comp) 1975
BL-311 Piano Red Ain't Goin' to Be Your Low Down Dog No More 1974
BL-313 Stephane Grappelli* The Talk of the Town (LP, Album) 1975
BL 278.108 Ben Webster Duke's in Bed! (LP, Album) 1974
BLM 51010 Sweet Substitute Sophisticated Ladies 1981
BLM 51101 Ottilie Patterson with Chris Barber Madame Blues & Doctor Jazz! (12"") 1984
BLM 51503 Ornette Coleman An Evening with Ornette Coleman Vol. 1 (Album) ◄ (2 versions) 1972
BLM 51504 Ornette Coleman An Evening with Ornette Coleman Vol. 2 (LP, Album) 1972
BLM 52001 Duke Ellington Serenade to Sweden (LP, Album) 1982
BLM 52004 Bo Diddley I'm a Man (LP, Album) 1982
BLM 52009 Sonny Stitt & the Giants Loverman 1974
BLM 52011 Duke Ellington Magenta Haze 1983
BLM 52014 Bo Diddley Road Runner 1983
BLM 52022 Earl Hines The Pearls 1983
BLM 61001 Chris Barber and Dr. John with Freddie Kohlman Take Me Back to New Orleans (2xLP) 1980
BLM61003/4 Chris Barber The Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band – Barbican Blues (2xLP) 1982
BLP 306 Earl Hines & Paul Gonsalves It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing! 1975
BLP 12100 Ray Russell Secret Asylum (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 12113 Alex Welsh featuring George Chisholm, Humphrey Lyttelton, Bruce Turner An Evening with Alex Welsh and His Friends Part 2 1972
BLP 12121 Alex Welsh Band, The* Showcase 2 1976
BLP 12131 Alex Welsh & His Band Dixieland Party (LP, Album) 1974
BLP 12134 Humphrey Lyttelton Take It from The Top – A Dedication to Duke Ellington 1975
BLP 12136 Ken Colyer Darkness on the Delta 1979
BLP 12145 Rod Mason Good Companions (LP, Album) 1977
BLP 12150 Cleo Laine At the Wavendon Festival 1976
BLP 12151 Dudley Moore At the Wavendon Festival (LP, Album) 1976
BLP 12163 Alan Elsdon Band, The* Jazz Journeymen 1977
BLP 12174 Pete Allen (2) Turkey Trot 1979
BLP 12175 Digby Fairweather Havin' Fun (LP, Album) 1979
BLP 12185 Pete Allen (2) Down in Honky Tonk Town 1979
BLP 30102 Dexter Gordon The Montmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album, RE) 1981
BLP 30103 Sun Ra and His Arkestra* Pictures of Infinity (Album) ◄ (3 versions) 1971
BLP 30104 Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich & Charlie Shavers Anatomy of a Jam Session (LP, Album, Mono, RE) 1971
BLP 30105 Ben Webster Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves (LP, Album)
BLP 30106 Earl Hines Tea for Two 1971
BLP 30107 Barney Kessel Swinging Easy! (LP, Album) 1971
BLP 30109 Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band At Her Majesty's Pleasure.... (Album) ◄ (2 versions) 1971
BLP 30110 Ruby Braff Hear Me Talkin ' 1971
BLP 30111 Hampton Hawes Spanish Steps (Album) ◄ (2 versions) 1971
BLP 30114 Teddy Wilson Stomping at the Savoy (LP, Album) 1971
BLP30116 Philly Joe Jones Trailways Express (Vinyl, Ste) 1971
BLP 30117 Charles Tolliver and His All Stars Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) 1971
BLP 30119 Thelonious Monk Something in Blue (Album) ◄ (2 versions) 1971
BLP 30120 Bud Powell The Invisible Cage (LP, Album, RE, RM)
BLP 30121 André Previn That Old Blue Magic 1972
BLP 30124 Art Tatum The Genius (LP, Album, Mono) 1967
BLP 30125 Coleman Hawkins & Bud Powell Hawk in Germany (LP, Album) 1972
BLP 30126 Don Byas Anthropology 1967
BLP 30133 Teddy Wilson Moonglow (LP, Album) 1972
BLP 30134 Johnny Griffin You Leave Me Breathless (Album)(two versions) 1972
BLP 30136 Cliff Jackson Carolina Shout ! (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 30137 Ben Webster Duke's in Bed (LP, Album) 1969
BLP 30139 Dollar Brand This Is Dollar Brand (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 30141 Thelonious Monk The Man I Love 1973
BLP 30142 Mal Waldron Blues for Lady Day (Album) ◄ (3 versions) 1973
BLP 30143 Earl Hines Tour De Force (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 30144 Jay McShann The Band That Jumps the Blues (LP, Comp, Mono) 1973
BLP 30150 Bill Coleman & Guy Lafitte Mainstream at Montreux (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 30151 Barney Kessel Summertime in Montreux (LP, Album) 1973
BLP 30152 Stéphane Grappelli Just One of Those Things! (LP, Album) 1974
BLP 30155 Ben Webster Saturday Night at the Montmartre (LP, Album) 1974
BLP 30156 Teddy Wilson Striding After Fats (LP, Album) 1974
BLP 30157 Dexter Gordon Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) 1974
BLP 30161 Barney Kessel Blue Soul (LP, Comp) 1975
BLP 30162 Piano Red Ain't Goin' to Be Your Low Down Dog No More 1975
BLP 30172 Carmen McRae and the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band November Girl 1975
BLP 30173 Ben Webster Midnight at the Montmartre (LP, Album) 1977
BLP 30182 Ben Webster Sunday Morning at the Montmartre (LP, Album) 1977
BLP 30183 Stephane Grappelli*, Roland Hanna · Jiri Mraz* · Mel Lewis Stephane Grappelli Meets the Rhythm Section (LP, Album) 1975
BLP 30185 Oscar Pettiford featuring Attila Zoller The Legendary Oscar Pettiford (LP, Album) 1975
BLP 30187 Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band* Wild Bill Davison With Freddy Randall and His Band (LP, Album, RE, Sec) 1977
BLP 30196 Memphis Slim Chicago Boogie (LP, Album) 1976
BLP 30200 Teddy Wilson Cole Porter Classics (LP, Album) 1978
BLP 30203 Art Tatum The V-Disc 1978
BLP 60109 Walter Bishop, Jr. Milestones 1989
BLP 60122 Freddie Hubbard Minor Mishap 1989
BLP60112 Barney Kessel Autumn Leaves (LP, Comp) 1989
BLP 60116 Thelonious Monk The London Collection: Volume Two 1988
BLP 60 911 Lee WileyEllis Larkins Duologue (LP, Album) 1988
BLP 12110/1 Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, The Live in Berlin (2xLP) 1973
BLP 12124/5 Chris Barber The Chris Barber Jubilee Album 1 (1949 – 1959) (2xLP) 1974
BLP 30131/30132 Charles Tolliver 's Music Inc.* Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (2xLP, Album) 1972
BLPX 12137/8 Max Collie Rhythm Aces World Champions of Jazz (2xLP, Gat) 1976
CBB 1 Chris Barber Jazz And Blues Band, The The Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band 1978
CD 9007 Steve Lacy The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy (CD, Album, RE)
ESTEREO 4288 Roswell Rudd Flexible Flyer (LP, Album) 1975
INT 147.002 Stephane Grappelli* & Earl Hines The Giants 1977
INT 147.006 Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band* Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band (LP, RE) 1977
INT 147.014 Count Basie Ain't It the Truth 1981
INT 157.005 Alex Welsh & His Band* – George Chisholm – Humphrey Lyttelton – Bruce Turner Salute to Satchmo (2xLP, Album, RE) 1977
INT 157.007 Chris Barber and Dr. John Take Me Back to New Orleans (2xLP) 1980
Mono 28446-3 U Fred McDowell Mississippi Delta Blues (LP, Bla) 1965
PA-7041 Thelonious Monk Something in Blue (LP, Album, RE) 1972
PAP-9054 Cleo Laine At the Wavendon Festival 1976
(S) 4256 Johnny Griffin You Leave Me Breathless 1972
S-4265 Ornette Coleman In Europe Volume 1 (LP, Album) 1975
BLCD 760124 Oscar Pettiford Montmartre Blues 1989

References

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  1. ^ Rye, Howard (2002). Barry Kernfeld (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 226. ISBN 1561592846.