The Frogmen---A question about labels
Norm Katuna
So here is another one about relying on price guides for information. This
should have been titled "Price guides suck: Part 2".
I just picked up the following two items from another collector, they are by the
Frogmen:
Astra 1009 "Underwater" and Astra 1010 "Beware Below".
The label shows that the company is from Pittsburgh and it says a subsidiary of
Red Fox records. I know someone else that has the Avantis (wax em down) on the
same label.
Here is the problem. Two of the price guides show that these are worth the same
as the Scott pressings. They both show the record dates as 1961. Osborne has
them at $35 mint and 4th edition of Goldmine (Umphred) has them at $50 mint. (If
these are in fact reissues, they wouldn't be worth more than $10 each mint) I
mentioned this to Steve Propes and he told me that Astra was a reissue label
specializing in obscure esoteric items. He directed me to the Kreiter Group
book and low and behold there is another item in the same numbering series that
shows an earlier number, 1001 as 1965. Also, I spent $20 each for them in VG
shape thinking that they were originals. Oops!
So does anyone around here know of the Astra label and can tell me that I did
or didn't screw up in buying these. I do believe what Propes told me, but I was
just looking to find a little more information. I already have nice copies on
Scott and Candix and really thought that I was getting the super-original first
pressing of each, which evidently I didn't get.
_________________________________
Norm Katuna
------------------
Jimmy Wilson Blues at sundown Big town 107
Jimmy Wilson Jumpin' from six to six Big town 115
Jimmy Witherspoon When the lights go out Checker 798
John Wade
no...@cts.com (Norm Katuna) wrote:
>So does anyone around here know of the Astra label and can tell me that I did
>or didn't screw up in buying these. I do believe what Propes told me, but I was
>just looking to find a little more information.
>_________________________________
>Norm Katuna
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norm & Group,
I have some raw information on this label, and while some of it
is a bit puzzling, and there are exceptions to much of what I
am about to say, I will present it here for what it is worth,
exceptions and all.
The Aqua-Nites "Christy"/"Lover Don't You Weep" on Astra 2001
appears to be an original on this label. While Astra 2003 is a
second with the "Carioca"/"Lover Don't You Weep" combination.
I know that the second is on a yellow label with black print. The
label name is written AstrA with the first and last letter enclosed
in a star. This label has the Detroit address. This record was also
issued on Astra 1000.
If this is not confusing enough, the Astra 100 record by the Starlarks
"Darling Please Love Me" is on a black label with Yellow print and
a Pittsburgh address. It also has "Distributed By Red Fox Records,
Inc." along the bottom of the label". There is a star above the
label name.
I haven't even gotten to the main 1000 series yet, but I also want
to put in a plug for what could be the same company. On Astra
551 "A Lovers Answer" by The Dreamtones there is no address
on the light green label, but there is the ever-present star under
the label name.
For the most part Steve was right that this is a reissue label from
the mid-sixties. Many of these can be found on colored wax.
Astra 1000 is the Aqua-Nites described above. Astra 1001 is
The Daylighters "This Heart Of Mine" a reissue from the Nike
label. The Astra is white with black print with the Swissvale,
Pennsylvania address. The horizontal lines that run through
the center hole are, on this record, two lines of stars.
Following is a label discography. As always, if anyone can add
to this, please do.
ASTRA
1000 Aqua-Nites "Carioca"/"Lover Don't You Weep"
1001 Daylighters "This Heart Of Mine"/"Beer Mash Stomp"
1002 Castaways "I Found You"/"Hey There"
1003 Freddie & Lou "You'll Be Mine Tonight"/"Rosalie"
1004 Mattie Jackson "I Want To Help"
Ervin Rucker "Done The Slop"
1005 Arondies "All My Love"/"The 69"
1006 Avantis "Wax 'em Down"/"Gypsy Surfer"
1007 Big Syl Barnes "Cherry"/"Come On Back"
1008 Wild Child Gipson"Uncle John"/"Sittin' Here Cryin'"
1009 Frogmen "Underwater"/"The Mad Rush"
1010 Frogmen "Beware Below"/"Tioga"
1011 Chip Nelson "Honey For Sale"/"Quiet As It's Kept"
1012 Royal Teens "Mad Gass"/"Sittin' With My Baby"
1013 Ronnie Cooke "The Goo Goo Much"/"The Scotch"
1014 Avondies "One Dead Chicken"/"Keep On Going"
1015 Jimmy Beck "Blue Night"/"Pipe Dream"
1016 Bobby Taylor "Ubangi Stomp"/"Seven Steps To An Angel
1017 Count Ferrell "Wizard of Ahs"/"Show Me Some Sign"
1018 Monerays "Face In The Crowd"/"Step Right Up"
1019 Johnny Beecher "Sax 5th Avenue"/"Jack Sax The City"
1020 Volumes "Gotta Give Her Love"/"I Can't Live
Without You"
1021 Fireballs "Torquay"/"Sweet Walk"
1022 Uniques "I'm Confessin'"/"Repeat After Me"
1023 Avons "Baby"/"Whisper"
1024 Big Dee Ervin "I Can't Help It"/"My one & Only Dream
& Pastels
1025 Kingsmen "Weekend"
Calvin Cool "El Tecolote"
1026 Valentinos "Looking For A Love"/"Somewhere There's
A Girl"
1027 ???
1028 ???
1029 Vogues "You're The One"/"Goodnight My Love"
1030 Vogues "Five O'Clock World"/"Land Of Milk And
Honey"
1036 Pure Gold "Sweet Summertime"/"Enchanted"
This seems to be the main series. There is a 5001 by the Skyliners,
the 2001 and 2003 mentioned above, the 551 also mentioned, and
a 100 series through 104 and a 116.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Wade
ov...@nr.infi.net
Stephen Jaye
no...@cts.com (Norm Katuna) wrote:
<snip>
>So does anyone around here know of the Astra label and can tell me that I did
>or didn't screw up in buying these. I do believe what Propes told me, but I was
>just looking to find a little more information. I already have nice copies on
>Scott and Candix and really thought that I was getting the super-original first
>pressing of each, which evidently I didn't get.
Norm
Having grown up in Pittsburgh, I'm very familiar with the label.
Located is Swissvale at what used to be the RCA pressing plant. Ernie
Kaschauer owned it in the 60s &70s. The majority of the pressing are
un-licensed reissues, they also pressed the Porky Chedwick
compilations using the Ricky label. The albums are somewhat
collectible as well as the few Ricky, Red Fox, and Red Rocket 45s, but
the Astra singles don't get much call from collectors. Great for
jukeboxes, as the quality of the pressings was excellent. I have
Ernie's business card for Zanzibar Music, but it's 10 years old. I
can e-mail ya' the phone # if you like.
>_________________________________
>Norm Katuna
>------------------
>Jimmy Wilson Blues at sundown Big town 107
>Jimmy Wilson Jumpin' from six to six Big town 115
>Jimmy Witherspoon When the lights go out Checker 798
Stephen R. Janci
Maltshop Records & CDs
P.O. BOX 111997
Nashville, TN 37222-1997
e-mail: st...@pipeline.com