Black Lion Records was a British jazz record company and label based in London, England.
Alan Bates founded Black Lion Records in 1968. 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 Catalogue Artist Album Year3701-2VariousThe 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 Randall – Dave 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 Wiley – Ellis 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