Melodisc - Biography

Biography - Melodisc

UK

Label Story

Melodisc was founded in 1947 by E Shal(l)it - however it was not until 1948 after a deal was brokered with Decca that discs were issued. Their early remit was (modern) Jazz and I suppose what we would now refer to as 'World Music'; ostensibly West Indian and African recordings. Unfortunately Melodisc rarely identified their sources. Most domestic recordings were completed at Carlo Kramer's 'Esquire' studios (Bedford Court) with whom they seemed to have an arrangement. Chris Blackwell, who oversaw 'Starlite' records and who later established 'Island' records was also involved.

From a 1959 article

Launched in the immediate post war years Melodisc initially promoted jazz records. In the early 1950s this independent company switched to calypso, then to the ‘pop’ field. In 1955 Melodisc broke into the African market and is now a major label there both with African and calypso material. Jazz wise Melodisc holds the Stinson catalogue with fine (records taken from ‘Folkways’ and ‘Commodore’ masters.
As a result of a contract signed some six months ago with ‘Starday,’ the American Country & Western label, ‘Ziggy’ Jackson, General Manager of Melodisc Records plans to further cement the large and ever-growing demand for this type of music over here. With a mass of new releases on the Melodisc label Country & Western fans will have access to many disks never before available in this country. Jackson plans to popularise Country & Western still further with juke box exploitation. Great names to be released by Melodisc include Frankie Miller, Bill Clifton, The Country Gentlemen, Buz Busby and Jim Eanes.

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