| Minit Records | |
|---|---|
 One logo included on many of their records starting in 1966 | |
| Founded | 1959 (1959) |
| Founder | Joe Banashak |
| Defunct | 1971 (1971) |
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | New Orleans |
Minit Records was an American independent record label, originally based in New Orleans and founded by Joe Banashak in 1959. Ernie K-Doe, Aaron Neville, Irma Thomas, and Benny Spellman were early artists on the label. Later artists included Bobby Womack and Ike & Tina Turner.
History
Allen Toussaint was responsible for much of the label's early success, he wrote, produced, arranged and played piano on a number of tracks. The label's first hit was Toussaint's production of "Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part 2" by Jessie Hill in 1960. After making a distribution deal with Imperial Records, the label released its biggest hit, "Mother-in Law" by Ernie K-Doe reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B singles chart in 1961.
When Allen Toussaint was drafted into the Army in 1963, the hits dried up and the label was sold to Imperial. Banashak also owned Instant Records, which he kept. Minit was acquired by Liberty Records in 1963 as part of its acquisition of Imperial Records. In 1968, Liberty was bought by Transamerica Corporation and combined with United Artists Records. Two years later Imperial and Minit were shut down and transferred to Liberty. In 1971, Liberty and its remaining labels (except for Soul City, whose catalog was sold to Bell Records) were absorbed into United Artists. In 1979, EMI purchased United Artists. The Minit catalog is currently owned by UMG, successor-in-interest to previous owner EMI.
Label variations
- 1961-1963: (catalog #s MR-601-626) Orange with black print and disclaimer indicating "C/O Imperial Records, Hollywood, Calif. Later pressings of some records in this period are on the second label."
- 1961-1963 (catalog #s 626-666): Black label with multi-color logo centered at top reading "MINIT RECORDS" with clock inside lettering; in middle of label, magenta bars contain publishing information and track time (left), catalog number and performance type (right). Silver print for all other text, including disclaimer at bottom which reads "PRODUCED AND MANUFACTURED BY IMPERIAL RECORDS INC. HOLLYWOOD 28, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A."
- 1964-1968: (new series, catalog #s 32000-32076) Black label with silver print, multi-color logo on left side with "MINIT" inside the logo and "A PRODUCT OF LIBERTY RECORDS" under MINIT. Disclaimer at bottom of label reads "A DIVISION OF LIBERTY RECORDS."
- 1969-1970: (catalog #s 32077-32088) Same as black label mentioned above but with the "PRODUCT" disclaimer removed under "MINIT" inside the logo. Disclaimer at bottom of label now reads "LIBERTY/UA, INC."
Selected discography
Albums
| Catalog No. | Release
date |
US | US | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LP-24005 | 1966 | 25 | Turning Point | Jimmy Holiday | |
| LP-40007 | 1967 | Like It 'Tis | Aaron Neville | ||
| LP-24012 | 1968 | Flippin' - The Very Funny Flip Wilson | Flip Wilson | ||
| LP-24014 | Jan 1969 | Fly Me to the Moon | Bobby Womack | ||
| LP-24017 | May 1969 | The Stinger Man | Jimmy McCracklin | ||
| LP-24018 | Jun 1969 | 142 | 19 | In Person | Ike & Tina Turner |
| LP 24023 | 1969 | Blue All The Way | Tina Britt | ||
| LP 24024 | Dec 1969 | Blues Man | Little Jr. Parker | ||
| LP-24027 | Apr 1970 | My Prescription | Bobby Womack |
Singles
| Catalog No. | Release
date |
US | US | Single (A-side, B-side) | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 607 | Feb 1960 | 28 | 3 | "Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Part 1"
b/w "Ooh Poo Pah - Part 2" |
Jessie Hill |
| 611 | Jun 1960 | 91 | "Whip It On Me"
b/w 'I Need Your Love" |
Jessie Hill | |
| 623 | Jan 1961 | 1 | 1 | "Mother-In-Law"
b/w "Wanted, $10,000.00 Reward" |
Ernie K-Doe |
| 627 | May 1961 | 53 | 21 | "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta"
b/w "Real Man" |
Ernie K-Doe |
| 32002 | May 1966 | 98 | 21 | "Baby, I Love You"
b/w "You Won't Get Away" |
Jimmy Holiday |
| 32016 | Jan 1967 | 36 | "Everybody Needs Help
b/w "Give Me Your Love" |
Jimmy Holiday | |
| 32027 | Feb 1968 | 33 | "What Is This"
b/w "What You Gonna Do (When Your Love Is Gone)" |
Bobby Womack | |
| 32048 | Jul 1968 | 52 | 16 | "Fly Me to the Moon"
b/w "Take Me" |
Bobby Womack |
| 32055 | Nov 1968 | 43 | 20 | "California Dreamin'"
b/w "Baby, You Oughta Think It Over" |
Bobby Womack |
| 32059 | Mar 1969 | 48 | "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
b/w "Love, the Time Is Now" |
Bobby Womack | |
| 32060 | Mar 1969 | 98 | 46 | "I'm Gonna Do All I Can (To Do Right by My Man)"
b/w "You've Got Too Many Ties That Bind" |
Ike & Tina Turner |
| 32071 | Jul 1969 | 43 | "It's Gonna Rain"
b/w "Thank You" |
Bobby Womack | |
| 32981 | Oct 1969 | 94 | 13 | "How I Miss You Baby"
b/w "Tried and Convicted" |
Bobby Womack |
| 32087 | Jan 1970 | 57 | 21 | "Come Together"
b/w "Honky Tonk Women" |
Ike & Tina Turner |
| 32093 | Mar 1970 | 90 | 23 | "More Than I Can Stand"
b/w "Arkansas State Prison" |
Bobby Womack |
See also
References
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Sixties Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 308/9. ISBN 0-7535-0149-X.
- ^ "Minit Records". Bsnpub.com. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
- ^ "Jessie Hill Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Hot 100, Hot R&B Sides" (PDF). Billboard. May 22, 1969. pp. 18, 35.
- Tiegel, Eliot (April 6, 1968). "Transamerica Buys Liberty for $24 Mil" (PDF). Billboard. p. 1.
- "UA Corp Absorbs Lines; UA Records Sole Disk Co" (PDF). Billboard. January 23, 1971. p. 3.
- "The Five Knights - Let Me In". 45cat.com. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
- "Ernie K-Doe Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Jimmy Holiday Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Bobby Womack Chart History". Billboard.
- ^ "Ike & Tina Turner Chary History". Billboard.
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