Discography of Loma Records (1964

Complete discography of artists and songs from Loma Records, the Los Angeles based "uptown" soul, blues, R&B, and popular music subsidiary of Warner Brothers, which operated between the years 1964 and 1969.

Contains full label information and quality scans of A and B sides taken from original Loma 45 RPM records.

Whilst Loma Records might sound musically obscure to some, it's very well known to others, particularly those with an interest in "Northern Soul" and 60's soul in general, Blues, R&B, 60's "Garage" and psychedelic sounds. All in all, Loma offers the music lover and collector an interesting and eclectic mix of songs and styles.

In 1964, Warner Bros. brought in Bob Krasnow - previously a promotions man for the King record label - to head up its new subsidiary. Loma was Warner's attempt to cash in on the burgeoning teen market, and specifically the "race" sector.

Loma's releases met with mixed, but mainly poor results - the majority of Loma's output not even registering in the Billboard charts. Acknowledging this, and perhaps perceiving greater shifts in musical tastes, the label tried to broaden its appeal by releasing 45's aimed squarely at a young, white audience. Interestingly though, Loma continued to issue "uptown" soul and R&B tracks.

The attempts by Loma Records to musically "please all the people all the time" - something history repeatedly shows us never works - saw them release not only a handful of R&B and blues tunes (James Cotton, Smiley Lewis, Walter Foster, Lucky Carmicheal and others), but also one country and western single (Don Crawford), a couple of beat group 45's that were recorded in Ireland (The Belfast Gipsies), and a psychedelic prog/rock single (John Wonderling).

In the main though, history, primarily influenced by the nowadays mainstream music cult that is "Northern Soul", remembers the label for it's uptown, uptempo, danceable soul music, and for many the roster of revered acts such as The Apollas, Linda Jones, Larry Laster, Carl Hall, Ben Aiken, and The Soul Shakers epitomises the true essence of what Loma Records was, or perhaps should have been about.

The first Loma single (Billy Storm) came out in September 1964, and the last (John Wonderling) four years later in September 1968. In that time the label released 106 singles (although it is speculated that two of those many never have actually been released) and a handful of albums.

Regardless of the mixed bag of styles, the influences of different producers and the fact that sometimes, particularly in the first half of the label's life, those steering Loma, rather than focusing on developing "home-grown" talent and thus their own musical stable, preferred to license songs from other labels, Loma Records still leaves us with a musical legacy worthy of note.

Indeed, it is exactly this rather odd mix of varying quality and diversity of musical styles that appeals to many collectors; from the first releases cobbled together or licensed from other labels by general manager Bob Krasnow - apparently operating with little in the way of budget from the powers that be who undoubtedly and nonetheless expected musical success - to the later soulful intensity much favoured by producer Jerry Ragovoy, every 45 says something about the life and times of Loma Records.

Explore the Loma discography by year or by release number.

Features record label scans for Loma artists including
(click on names):

The Marvellos, Delilah Kennebruew, The Invincibles, Linda Jones, James Cotton, Dick Jensen & The Imports, Ben Aiken, Reb Foster, The Romeos, Billy Storm, The Olympics, The Singers, Paul Days, Lonnie Youngblood, The Poor, The Dolls, Tony Amaro & The Chariots, Clyde and The Blue Jays, The Mighty Hannibal, The Young Lions, Baby Lloyd, Bobby Freeman, Don Crawford, Little Joe Cook, The G-Clefs, Ike & Tina Turner, Roy Redmond, Bobby Bennett & The Dynamics, The Apollas, The Soul Shakers, Lukas Lollipop, Walter Foster, John Wonderling, Kell Osborne, Barry 'Barefoot' Beefus, The Enchanters, Artie Lewis, Brenda Hall, The Smiley Lewis Band, The Young Lions, Mary Lee Whitney, Sugar n' Spice, Alton Joseph & The Jokers, Charles Thomas, Ray Johnson, Little Jerry Williams, Frankie Love, The Belfasts Gipsies, Vickie Baines, Tommy Starr, Lorraine Ellison, The Charlie Underwood Glide Band, Kim Fowley, Bobby Reed, The Realistics, Carl Hall, Butch Engle & the Styx, Larry Laster, Sandy Layne, The Voice Box, The Jammers, and The Teen Turbans.

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