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The Encyclopedic Guide to 78 R. P. M. Party Records
© David Diehl 1996
Updated 8/28/2000.

R

RACY RECORDS
Later label style.
A short-lived 1936 Hollywood label, laminated pressing with the same selection on both sides for jukebox consumption. Classic period style label with dark blue design on a gray label. Though credited to Hollywood Specialty Recordings, these were actually a product of the Radio Transcription Co. Of America, Ltd., 1509 N. Vine St., Hollywood, now TRANSCO. Those who are convinced this is the devil's music will be reassured to know the Chicago office was located at 666 Lake Shore Drive. Numerical rangeis HS 412-HS 422. The later label design uses the same artwork as PARADISE PLATTERS. Numbers in the runoff are written in the same hand as HOT SHOTS FROM HOLLYWOOD, also recorded at the Associated Cinema Studios, Hollywood. Some items were reissued on HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS. See label listing.
RADIO NOVELTY RECORDS
A Radio Record Company was originally incorporated in Westchester County, NY. April 28, 1931. If this is the same outfit that later operated at 1658 Broadway, New York, NY, it would be the earliest known party label. Known releases are much later, when it shared quarters with BELL NOVELTY RECORDS. 988 is reportedly single-sided, others range between 129 and 606. Label is green with black print. Take numbers are occasionally shown in the runout after the catalog number. Later issues drop the 'Novelty' apellation.
Bruce RAEBURN
Appeared at the Carousel in New York City in June of 1945 and the Hotel Sheraton in October.
-- 1947 note all have a capital 'G' inscribed at 3 o'clock position in wax.
The Mailman With the Longest Route in Town....BANG P500 A
The Mating Call (Jane Douglas, Allen Laird)...BANG P500 B
Little Hotel (For Screwy People)..............BANG P501 A (P500 xx'd out in wax)
Cowboy Song (Snake in the Grass)..............BANG P501 B
Hilda Was a Damm'd Good Cook..................BANG P502 A
She Was Shot in Her Box (At the Opera) (Tony Saylor, Bruce Raeburn)...BANG P502 B
RANDOM
Released two Nan BLAKSTONE albums in the late 1940's. Black label with silver print, numbers 070 through 072 reported.
Reta RAY
Born in Cleburne TX June 19, 1909. Visit her Web page (under construction). --The Naughty Nightengale. Blue labels are generally unnumbered, red labels show master numbers. With own piano acc. late 1940's/early 1950's.
(A-9048R) Hot Rod............................................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD RR-G1
(A-9049RR) Can't Say No To a Man..............................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD RR-G2
(A-9067) Sniffing Song........................................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-9602) Chinese Women........................................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-9603) "Street of Regret" [this is a straight torch song]...RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-9604) Mr. Babbit.......................................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-9605) Abie Is an Indian Now.........................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-9606) Stinkin' at the Savoy [Walter Donaldson].............RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered, PAR-DEE NF-1-A
(A-9608) Rum and Coke.........................................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
(A-11048) "They Can't Make a Lady Out of Me"..................RETA RAY PARTY RECORD unnumbered
--Reta Ray. Early 1950's unnumbered set in cardboard envelope. Despite the similarity of titles, all known releases on PAR-DEE are new recordings except "Stinkin' at the Savoy" noted above.
Can't Say No To a Man............................PAR-DEE NF-2-A
Chinese Women....................................PAR-DEE NF-1-B
Hot Rod..........................................PAR-DEE NF-2-B
They Can't Make a Lady Out of Me.................PAR-DEE NF-4-A
--with piano, violin, electric guitar, & bass.
Bert the Jerk....................................PAR-DEE NF-3-B
REAL McCOY
Number 101 reported.
RED
Possibly affiliated with BLUE Records, number 503 known.
REM
1950's Hollywood label identical in design to the Rex label, number 13 known. Curiously the legend on the label reads, "Licensed for radio broadcast".
RETA RAY PARTY RECORDS
Personal label of Reta RAY from the early 1950's, red with silver print or dark blue on pale blue. Numbers, when shown, are masters not release numbers. See also PAR-DEE.
RISK-K-FUN
RISKAY
Late 1940's anonymous dubs of older records, only number 402 reported.
RISQUE
Anonymous late 1940's outfit claiming to be from New York. Labels are red with silver print. Known range 5 to 16, with some releases adding an R prefix to the release number. No matrix or control numbers are present.
Smokey ROGERS
Composer of "Gone" performed by Ferlin Husky in 1952 and "My Chickashay Gal" popularized by Roy Rogers. Later recorded for 4 Star and Capitol. Last known to be running a pro music shop in El Cajon, CA.
--Anonymous, possibly Joaquin Murphey on lap steel guitar.
(DS-1) I Used To Work in Chicago......*** unnumbered
--above coupled with either one of the following recordings:
(DS-2) When My Sunshine Goes Walking...*** unnumbered
(SR-3) Sui Sin Fa..............................*** unnumbered
Dorothy ROSS
Real name Dorothy Roseblum died June 8, 1953 at the tender age of 49. A singer-pianist who appeared at the George Washington Hotel in New York City in 1942, she was associated with Eddie Cantor and George Olson and was Paul Whiteman's personal secretary.
--early 1940's mass-produced instantaneous discs.
Willie Part 1 & 2.............DOROTHY ROSS unnumbered
Down Near the Navy Yard.....................DOROTHY ROSS unnumbered
Very Nice Girl/I'll Get Up..................DOROTHY ROSS unnumbered
--New York City, mid-1940's.
Men......................................................GALA 3551
That I Gotta See.........................................GALA 3552
Ain't Sin In Trinidad....................................GALA 3553
That's Society...........................................GALA 3554
Do You Good and Help You Too.............................GALA 3555
So You're the Guy I Left My Husband For..................GALA 3556
RUFF And REDDY
--Hollywood, c. 1937
(NRD 479) Tom and Jerry In Honolulu.............HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS 387, GOOD-HUMOR 3B, *** unnumbered
(NRD 480) Feelem Hotel....HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS 388, GOOD HUMOR 6A
--later dubs retitled "Grand Hotel"...HIGH SOCIETY 510-B (BP), PARTY RECORD 507, *** unnumbered (310A)
(NRD 481) Stingy Girl...............................HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS 389
(NRD 482) Hollywood Night Court........HOLLYWOOD HOT SHOTS 390, GOOD-HUMOR 12-A, PARTY NOVELTY'S 12A, KICKS unnumbered (G-9)
Harry RYAN and Co.
North Pole...........................BURLESQUE 18
Honolulu.............................BURLESQUE 18
John RYAN
Real name Joe Rines, born Oct. 1, 1902 in Boston, MA. A society bandleader and commercial jingle composer, in the 1930's he recorded for Victor under his real name, including some risque titles. Several of his indigo Varsity sides migrated to party labels in the late 1940's and 50's.
--with orchestra (possibly incl. vibraphonist Terry Snyder), New York City, 1940. (Issues on Kicks, Risque and High Society are anonymous dubs.)
(US 1434-2) She Tried It Last Night...VARSITY 8229, JOHN RYAN RECORD 301, TOP HAT RECORDS 1004 A, RISQUE R-16A
I'm a Specialist...............VARSITY 8198, JUKEBOX 507
--New York City, c. July, 1940.
(US 1823-1) Have You Heard What Happened To Susie...JOHN RYAN RECORD 302
The Hope Song................................JOHN RYAN RECORD 302
--New York City, c. Aug., 1940.
(US 1893-1) I Wish I Were a Fairy (John Ryan)..........VARSITY 8395, TOP HAT RECORDS 1005-A, HIGH SOCIETY 515
(US 1894-1) The Wave Song (Dawson-Donez-Ryan)..........VARSITY 8395, TOP HAT RECORDS 1003-A, HIGH SOCIETY 516-A, KICKS 20-A, RISQUE R-16B
--New York City, c. late Sept. 1940.
(US 1917-1) The Mustache Song................TOP HAT RECORDS 1006-A, KICKS 19-B
(US 1919-1) The Quiz Song....................TOP HAT RECORDS 1007-A
*Note: Several U. S. recordings (not just risque items) were manufactured with white test pressing labels and sold to jukebox operators. While less common that other issues, these should not be regarded as great rarities. When the John Ryan Records were produced, matrix numbers on each stamper had to be obliterated individually and some are still legible.
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