Supreme Records was a small, independent record label based in Los Angeles that existed from 1947 to 1950. It was founded by dentist Albert Patrick and specialized in rhythm and blues. Its artists included Jimmy Witherspoon, Paula Watson, Buddy Tate, Eddie Williams and his Brown Buddies (with Floyd Dixon), Big Jim Wynn, and Percy Mayfield.
Hits Supreme's two greatest hits were Paula Watson's "A Little Bird Told Me", which sold over a million copies, and Jimmy Witherspoon's version of "Ain't Nobody's Business", recorded on Albert Patrick's request, which lasted 34 weeks on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues hit list.
Lawsuits Supreme got involved in a costly lawsuit against Decca for copyright infringement on the arrangement of Paula Watson's version of "A Little Bird Told Me", with their version by Evelyn Knight. The judge ruled in favor of Decca, stating that arrangements on an existing composition cannot be considered as property. He also stated that the arrangement on Watson's version lacked originality and the differences between the versions were evident.
In another lawsuit, Supreme lost its pressing and distribution partner Black & White Records, after settling a dispute over Black & White selling it's pressing line to Monogram in Canada.
Closing Due to the financial duress from the lawsuits, Supreme shut down in 1950. Most of the masters were sold to Swing Time Records. "Two Years of Torture" b/w "Half Awoke", recorded by Percy Mayfield was also re-released by John Dolphin's label, Recorded In Hollywood.
All known recordings for the Supreme label
AP101 (1947) Bobby Pittman- Don't Mention Love To Me // Deep In A Dream AP102 (1947) Bobby Pittman- I Had To Give You Up // If I Had You AP103 (1947) Vic Dickenson & His Sextet- St. Louis Blues // You Made Me Love You AP104 (1947) Vic Dickenson & His Sextet- You Are Driving Me Crazy // O'Hara's Here AP105 (1947) Louis Speiginer's Orchestra- Wandering Gal Blues // Hey Mr. Landlord (Landlord Shuffle) AP106 (1947) Louis Speiginer's Orchestra- Cain River Blues // How I Hate To See Xmas Come Around (Christmas Blues) AP108 (1947) Jay McShann's Orchestra- Bullie Woogie // Money Getting Cheaper AP114 (1948) Dusty Brooks & His Four Tones- Don't Say Cupid Was Foolin' // Motel Time AP115 (1948) Dusty Brooks & His Four Tones- (You Can Stay But) That Jive's Got To Go // Dedicated To You AP122 (1948) Buddy Tate Orchestra- Why Do The Mission Bells Ring // (That's) My Big Thrill AP132 (1948) Vic Dickenson & His Sextet- Run And Hide // Vic's Boogie
1500 (1948) Jimmy Witherspoon- Cain River Blues [reissue] // Wandering Gal Blues [reissue] 1501 (1948) Jimmy Witherspoon- Money Getting Cheaper (Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough) [reissue] // Jay McShann Orchestra with Louis Speiginer- Louie's Guitar Boogie (Jumpin' With Louis) 1502 (1948) Buddy Tate Orchestra- Tate's A-Jumpin' // Fairweather Friend Blues 1503 (1948) Eddie Fullylove- Why Do The Mission Bells Ring [reissue] // (That's) My Big Thrill [reissue] 1504 (1948) Buddy Tate Orchestra- Blowin' For Snake // Good Morning Judge 1505 (1948) Jimmy Witherspoon- Frogomore Blues (Frog-I-More Blues) // Wee Baby Blues (Early Morning Blues) 1506 (1947) Jimmy Witherspoon- Ain't Nobody's Business (Part 1) // Ain't Nobody's Business (Part 2) 1507 (1948) Paula Watson- Stick By Me Baby [later issue: Pretty Papa Blues (Pretty Mama Blues)] // A Little Bird Told Me 1508 (1948) Jimmy Witherspoon- How I Hate To See Xmas Come Around (Christmas Blues) [reissue] // Hey Mr. Landlord (Landlord Shuffle) [reissue] 1509 (1948) Big Jim Wynn & His Orchestra- Blow Wynn Blow // J.W. Bop 1510 (1949) Paula Watson- Stick By Me Baby [reissue] [later issue: Pretty Papa Blues (Pretty Mama Blues)] [reissue] // Paula's Nightmare 1511 (1949) The Stars of Harmony (Leo Manley-director)- Rough And Rocky Road // Stand By Me 1512 (1949) Paula Watson- You Broke Your Promise // I've Got The Sweetest Ma 1513 (1949) Dick Peirce Orchestra- An Old Piano Plays The Blues // Peirce Arrow 1514 (1949) Buddy Tate Orchestra- Dear Mary // Swingin' Away With Willie And Ray 1515 (1949) Terry Lee with Supreme Studio Orchestra- After My Laughter Came Tears // I'm Crazy 'Bout That Guy 1516 (1949) The Sensations- Don't Call Me Sweetheart // I'll Never Fall In Love Again 1517 (1949) Billy O'Connor & His Quintet- If She Can Cook Like She Can Love // I'll Never Let You Go 1518 (1949) Paula Watson- Of All Things // Hidin' In The Sticks 1519 (1949) Terry Lee with Supreme Studio Orchestra- Just You And Me // Morning Glow 1520 (1949) Jimmy Witherspoon- Back Water Blues // Third Floor Blues 1521 (1949) The Stars of Harmony (Leo Manley-director)- My Time's Done Come // Today 1522 (1949) Big Jim Wynn & His Band- Goofin' Off // Farewell Baby 1523 (1949) Red Saunders Band- Synthesis // Trust In Me (vocal: George Floyd) 1524 (1949) Vic Dickenson & His Sextet- Vic's Boogie [reissue] // (What Have You Done With) The Key To My Heart 1525 (1949) Dusty Brooks with Bobby Pittman- Please Don't Tell Me We're Through // Dusty Brooks & His Four Tones- (You Can Stay But) That Jive's Got To Go [reissue] 1526 (1949) Dick Peirce Orchestra- Immediately If Not Sooner // My Lover 1527 (1949) Earl Jackson Orchestra with Johnny Otis- If I Had One // Take Out The Squeal (If You Want A Meal) 1528 (1949) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- Houston Jump // Blues In Cuba 1530 (1949) C.L. Burke & His Singing Rangers- Promised Land // Travelin' (A Poor Boy Going Home) 1531 (1949) George Floyd with Fletcher Henderson Orchestra- Again // Close Your Eyes 1532 (1949) Earl Jackson Orchestra with Johnny Otis- So Help Me // Woman Don't Want A Good Man No More 1533 (1949) Jimmy Witherspoon- In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down) // Six-Foot-Two Blues 1534 (1949) George Floyd with Fletcher Henderson Orchestra- This Is Everything I Prayed For // Ain't I Losing You 1535 (1949) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- Red Head 'N Cadillac // Broken Hearted Blues 1536 (1949) Bruce Hudson Orchestra- When You Are Near // A Dream From Me To You 1537 (1949) Earl Jackson Orchestra with Johnny Otis- Talking To Myself // Kansas City Jumps 1538 (1949) Dick Peirce Orchestra- Annie's Cousin Fanny // Summer Song 1540 (1949) Jay McShann Orchestra- McShann Bounce (Part 1) // McShann Bounce (Part 2) 1542 (1949) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- Saturday Night Fish Fry (vocal: Ellis "Slow" Walsh) // Mississippi (Mississippi Blues) 1543 (1949) Percy Mayfield with Monroe Tucker Orchestra- Two Years Of Torture // Half Awoke (Baby, You're Still A Square) 1544 (1949) Maxwell Davis and Marshal Royal- Don't Worry 'Bout Me // Little White Lies 1545 (1949) Jimmy Witherspoon- How Long (How Long Blues) // Skid Row Blues 1546 (1949) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- You Need Me Now // Prairie Dog Hole 1547 (1950) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- Worries (Worried Blues) // I Saw Stars 1548 (1950) Eddie Williams & His Brown Buddies with Floyd Dixon- The Umbrella Song // Johnny Katherine 1549 (1950) Percy Mayfield with Monroe Tucker Orchestra- How Wrong Can I Be (How Wrong Can A Good Man Be) // Leary Blues
References
External links Supreme Records at The Online Discographical Project