Label Guide: Apollo
Apollo Records was an independent record label, founded 1944 in New York City by Bess and Isaac Berman. Before naming their label after the nearby Apollo Theater, the Bermans issued some records with plain labels bearing no company identity. Apollo released plenty of 78rpm records for a variety of genres, but it is most remembered for Rhythm & Blues, early Doo-Wop recordings from groups such as The Larks and The 5 Royales, and especially for Gospel records, particularly those by Mahalia Jackson.
In the mid-1950s, Apollo lost its two biggest acts, when Jackson left for Columbia Records and The 5 Royales signed with King. The label never recovered from these losses and the number of new releases decreased drastically. Most of the long-play albums on Apollo were re-releases of older material, and the label never issued a stereo recording.
Apollo Records closed for good in 1962, but almost all of its albums were repressed by another NYC label, Kenwood Records, over the next ten years.
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1. 78rpm Label Variation
first 78rpm Apollo label, Jazz (1920s)
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2. 78rpm Label Variation (I)
second 78rpm Apollo label, Jazz (1940s/1950s)
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2. 78rpm Label Variation (II)
second 78rpm Apollo label, Jazz (1940s/1950s)
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2. 78rpm Label Variation (III)
second 78rpm Apollo label, Jazz (1940s/1950s)
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2. 78rpm Label Variation (IV)
second 78rpm Apollo label, Jazz (1940s/1950s)
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3. 78rpm Label Variation (I)
third 78rpm Apollo label (1940s/1950s)
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3. 78rpm Label Variation (II)
third 78rpm Apollo label (1940s/1950s)
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3. 78rpm Label Variation (III)
third 78rpm Apollo label (1940s/1950s)
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3. 78rpm Label Variation (IV)
third 78rpm Apollo label (1940s/1950s)
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3. 78rpm Label Variation (V)
third 78rpm Apollo label (1940s/1950s)
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1. Label Variation (I)
first Apollo label, 10"-LPs (1950s)
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1. Label Variation (II)
first Apollo label (1957 - 1958)
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1. Label Variation (III)
first Apollo label (1959)
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2. Label Variation (I)
second Apollo label (1959 - 1960)
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2. Label Variation (II)
second Apollo label (1959 - 1960)
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3. Label Variation (I)
third Apollo label (1960 - 1962)
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3. Label Variation (II)
third Apollo label (1960 - 1962)
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3. Label Variation (III)
third Apollo label (1961)
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4. Label Variation
fourth Apollo label (1960s)
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5. Label Variation
fifth Apollo label, reissues (1970s)