⬇️ BLACK TOP ⬇️
COLLECTION (10CD)
Black Top Records was an American, New Orleans, Louisiana-based
independent record label, founded in 1981 by brothers Nauman S. Scott, III
and Hammond Scott. The label specialized in blues and R&B music. The
first release was "Talk To You By Hand" by Anson Funderburgh & the
Rockets. The artist roster included Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, Lee Rocker,
Guitar Shorty, and Robert Ward, among others.
The label started out primarily as a blues label, and soon stretched out
to New Orleans R&B and American roots music. Black Top especially
excelled in discovering obscure talents. Many of the label's artists
such as Robert Ward, Carol Fran, Clarence Hollimon, and W. C. Clark were
either relatively unknown, or had been away from record contracts and/or
the music industry for many years. The label used a variety of musicians
on its recordings, including many from the New Orleans music community.
Examples include George Porter Jr., David Torkanowsky, Herman V. Ernest
III, and Sammy Berfect; Black Top also often hired the members of the
Antone's house band from Austin, Texas, including Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff on
saxophone. Pianist and organist Nick Connolly, also based in Austin, was
another musician who recorded several sessions. Although Black Top
concentrated on recording new material for the most part, it also
handled some vintage reissues from artists such as Earl Hooker and
Hollywood Fats.
Initially, its catalog was distributed by Rounder Records. When the
contract ended in the mid-nineties, Passport Music took over
distribution for a brief period of time; Chicago blues label Alligator
Records distributed the Black Top catalog after that.
After releasing well over 100 albums, the label closed in 1999. Nauman
Scott died in 2002.[3] Hammond Scott sold the rights of the catalog, and
some releases were reissued on labels such as Varèse Sarabande, Fuel
2000, and Shout! Factory. In 2006, P-Vine Records in Japan acquired the
worldwide rights to them.
(Wikipedia)