Big Bear Records is a British record label set up in 1968 by Jim Simpson in Birmingham, England. It specialises in blues and jazz recordings.Bob Brunning: The American Blues Legends. in: Bob Brunning: Blues – The British connection. Dorset. Blandford Press, 1986, p. 181–198. .

History Big Bear Records was founded by promoter and band manager Jim Simpson in 1968, taking its name from the nickname given to Simpson by Radio 1 DJ John Peel. At the time, Simpson was managing The Locomotive, who had just scored a top 40 hit with "Rudi's in Love". After Parlophone, the band's existing label, declined to release the planned follow-up recording "Rudi The Red Nosed Reindeer", Simpson decided to set up his own Big Bear Records label to release the single (with the band renamed Steam Shovel for contractual reasons), with initial distribution from Island Records.

During 1968, Simpson established the weekly Henry's Blueshouse club night at The Crown Hotel on Station Street in Birmingham. Early members of the club included Ozzy Osbourne and Tony Iommi, who one week approached Simpson to request a support slot at a future gig for their band, then known as Earth. Simpson would go on to manage Earth, who soon changed their name to Black Sabbath. Under Simpson's management, they reached number one on the album chart with Paranoid, before leaving him in 1970.

Following this, Simpson began to focus his attention on recording and touring American bluesmen, under the billing American Blues Legends. Featuring musicians including Tommy Tucker, Willie Mabon, Homesick James, Doctor Ross, Snooky Pryor, Cousin Joe, Eddie "Guitar" Burns, Champion Jack Dupree and Eddie "Playboy" Taylor, Big Bear released a total of 21 albums of American blues during the 1970s.

The 1980s saw Big Bear Records returning to Simpson's first love, mainstream jazz and swing. Assembling a lineup of leading British jazz musicians including Humphrey Lyttelton, Dick Morrissey, Digby Fairweather, Dave Shepherd and Jim Douglas, Big Bear promoted a live jam session on 12 August 1984 at Birmingham's Cannon Hill Park, recorded and released on LP as The M&B Jam Session. The success of the event provided the impetus for the first Birmingham International Jazz Festival the following summer, which continues to be organised annually by Big Bear Music every July. In 1987, Big Bear launched The Jazz Rag magazine, which continues to publish bi-monthly, as well as The British Jazz Awards. The first edition of the awards was marked with a ceremony at Birmingham's Grand Hotel, where the jam session featuring the poll winners was recorded and released as the British Jazz Awards 1987 album.

Big Bear Records continued to work with prominent names in British jazz into the 1990s, releasing albums by Lady Sings The Blues (fronted by Val Wiseman), Kenny Baker's Dozen, Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes.

Discography Year released Artist Title Catalogue number1968Steam ShovelRudi the Red-Nosed Reindeer TR-635 1972Eddie "Guitar" BurnsBottle Up and Go BEAR 16, Action ACMP 100Johnny MarsBlues from Mars BEAR 17, Polydor 2460 168Doctor RossLive at Montreux BEAR 18, Polydor 2460 169Gene Conners with Mickey BakerLet the Good Times Roll BEAR 19, Polydor 2460 185 1973 Various ArtistsAmerican Blues Legends '73 BEAR 20, Polydor 2460 186Homesick James & Snooky PryorHomesick James & Snooky Pryor BEAR 21, Caroline C 1502, INT 146.404, BRP 2002 1974Doctor RossThe Harmonica Boss BEAR 2, Munich 150 201, INT 146.403, BRP 2013 Various ArtistsAmerican Blues Legends '74 BEAR 1, Munich 150 202Eddie "Playboy" TaylorReady for Eddie BEAR 6, Munich 150 203, INT 146.407Cousin JoeGospel-Wailing...Blues Man from New Orleans BEAR 3Big John WrencherBig John's Boogie BEAR 4, INT 146.402 1975Mickey BakerTake a Look Inside BEAR 5, INT 146.408Eddie "Guitar" BurnsDetroit Blackbottom BEAR 7 Various ArtistsAmerican Blues Legends '75 BEAR 8Willie MabonThe Comeback BEAR 9Homesick JamesHome Sweet Homesick James BEAR 10 1976Erwin HelferBoogie Piano Chicago Style BEAR 11, INT 146.401, BRP 2003Johnny MarsOakland Boogie BEAR 12, INT 146.405Clark Terry's Big Bad BandLive on 57th Street BEAR 13Snooky PryorShake Your Boogie BEAR 14, INT 146.406, BRP 2033Doctor RossJivin' the Blues BEAR 15, INT 146.409 MusclesMuscles BEAR 24, BB 1001, INT 161.400 1979 Various ArtistsAmerican Blues Legends '79 BEAR 23, INT 146.410 1980Claude WilliamsKansas City Giants BEAR 25 Various ArtistsBrum Beat – Live at the Barrel Organ! BRUM 1 1985 Various ArtistsM&B Jam Session Volume 1 BEAR 26 1988 Various ArtistsMitchells and Butler's British Jazz Awards 1987 BEAR 27Duncan SwiftOut Looking for the LionBEAR 28Groove Juice SpecialGroove Juice Comin' To TownBEAR 29King Pleasure & The Biscuit BoysKing Pleasure & The Biscuit BoysBEAR 301990Bill Allred's Goodtime Jazz BandSwing That Music!BEAR 31King Pleasure & The Biscuit BoysThis Is It!BEAR 32Lady Sings The BluesLady Sings The BluesBEAR 331991Duncan SwiftThe Broadwood ConcertBEAR 34King Pleasure & The Biscuit BoysBetter Beware!BEAR 351992Bruce Adams QuartetOne Foot in the GutterBEARCD361993King Pleasure & The Biscuit BoysLive at Ronnie Scotts BirminghamBEARCD37Bruce Adams/Alan Barnes QuintetSide-Steppin''' |BEARCD38 |- |1994 |Kenny Baker's Dozen |The Boss Is Home|BEARCD39 |- | rowspan="2" |1995 |King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys |Blues & Rhythm Revue, Vol 1|BEARCD40 |- |Bruce Adams/Alan Barnes Quintet |Let's Face The Music|BEARCD41 |- |1998 |King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys |Smack Dab in the Middle|BEARCD42 |- |2002 |King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys |Let 'Em Roll|BEARCD43 |- |2004 |Alan Barnes' All Stars |The Marbella Jazz Suite|BEARCD44 |- | rowspan="2" |2006 |The Doctor Teeth Big Band |Rhythm Is Our Business|BEARCD45 |- |King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys |Hey Puerto Rico!|BEARCD46 |- |2007 |Tipitina |I Wish I Was in New Orleans|BEARCD47 |- | rowspan="2" |2009 |Django's Castle with Bruce Adams |Swing Hotel du Vin|BEARCD48 |- |Nomy Rosenberg Trio |Nomy Rosenberg Trio|BEARCD49 |- |2010 |King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys |Live at Last|BEARCD50 |- | rowspan="2" |2012 |Tipitina |Taking Care of Business|BEARCD51 |- |The Will Johns Band |Hooks & Lines|BEARCD52 |- |2013 |Remi Harris |Ninick|BEARCD53 |- |2015 |The Whiskey Brothers |Bottle Up And Go|BEARCD54 |- |2016 |Lady Sings The Blues |Laughing at Life|BEARCD55 |- |2017 |Various Artists |Jazz City UK: Volume 1|BEARCD56 |- | rowspan="2" |2018 |Various Artists |Jazz City UK: Volume 2|BEARCD57 |- |Howard McCrary |Moments Like This|BEARCD58 |- |2020 |Chick Willis |Things I Used to Do|BEARCD59 |- |2025 |Earth (Black Sabbath) |The Legendary Lost Tapes''BEARCD60

See also List of record labels

References

External links Big Bear Music Group homepage Illustrated Big Bear Records discography List of 7 inch 45 rpms