Hit Records

Hit Records was a record company based in Nashville, Tennessee, which specialized in sound-alike cover versions of hit records. These types of releases are often categorized as exploito.

This article is about the American record company. For the Croatian record company, see Hit Records (Croatia). For successful recordings, see Hit record.
Hit Records
Parent companyRecord Service
Founded1962
FounderBill Beasley, Alan Bubis
Statusdefunct
GenreVarious
Country of originUnited States
LocationNashville, Tennessee
Official websiteWebsite

Background

It was run by entrepreneurs Bill Beasley and Alan Bubis. The records they produced were sold via convenience stores throughout the United States.[1] Prior to HIT, they started Tennessee Records in 1950 and the Republic label in 1952. With the competition they didn't do well. In 1959, they took advantage of buying up overstocked hits and low prices and selling them cheaply via the racks throughout the country. Then with Hit Records which they formed, they added their own twin side records to the mix.[2] At 39¢ (US), the records were less than half the price of the hit recordings they were covering.[3] The label was located in Nashville, the home base for the country music recording business in the United States. The company folded in 1969 due to competition from record companies such as K-Tel which issued various artists compilation albums featuring the actual hit recordings licensed from the various record companies.[4][5] Many Hit Records are very collectable and some of the performers on these recordings have developed their own fan base..

There was also an outfit called Hit Records Inc. in Chicago which had been in business since about 1957. With around 600 outlets, they sold their releases via racks in supermarkets and businesses which included Jewel Food and Osko Drugstores in the greater Chicago area. This company was owned and managed by Charles Stephens.[6][7]

Business history

In 1965, legal action was taken against director Beasley and Record Service by Harry Fox Office who were represented by Abeles & Clark, a law firm. This was for royalties relating to recordings on a Hit record album, namely 26 Top Hits. Harry Fox Office won the case and the sum of $37,000 was awarded to them. The money was paid by Record Service, the owner of Hit Records.[8]

Artists

The company had a pool of talented singers and musicians to record the cover songs. Some of these performers would later become successful on their own such as Sandy Posey,[9] Ray Stevens, Bobby Russell[10] Sam Moore of Sam & Dave. .

Leroy Jones was a made up name for singer Herbert Hunter. He had recorded under his own name as well. He was prolific on the Hit label.[11]

References
  1. Living the Rock 'n Roll Dream: The Adventures of Buzz Cason, By Buzz Cason - Page 176
  2. Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers, By John Broven - Page 461 THE PAYOLA SCANDAL AND CHANGING TIMES
  3. Internet Archive Wayback Machine - "Music is fun for everyone" The HIT Records
    (Archived from the original (http://geocities.com/spikeopath/hitrecords.htm) on 2009-10-27, Retrieved 2016-04-06
  4. Internet Archive Wayback Machine - HIT, US Label and Company Sleeves 1962-1969, Labels
    Archived from the original (http://45-sleeves.com/USA/hit/hit-us.htm) on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2016-04-06
  5. Global Dog Productions - Discography for HIT Records
  6. Billboard, May 2, 1964 - Page 41 Hit Records, Inc.
  7. Billboard, December 12, 1964 - Page 6 BB CHART AIDS RACK JOBBER'S SALES IN CHI
  8. Billboard, June 22, 1968 - Page 8 Fox Office Wins Mechanical Royalty Case vs. RTV Sales
  9. Internet Archive Wayback Machine - "Music is fun for everyone" The HIT Records
    (Archived from the original (http://geocities.com/spikeopath/hitrecords.htm) on 2009-10-27, Retrieved 2016-04-06
  10. Music Master OLDIES, January 6, 2012 - New Oldies – I’m Sure Going To Miss Her by The Chellows and by Joe Knapp
  11. Soulful Kinda Music - HerbertHunter
  • Hit Records tribute site
  • The Hit Records Project
  • 45 rpm discography from Global Dog Productions
  • "A sample of 1960's "HIT" label 45 RPM knock-off records". RadioTvPhononut (YouTube). 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2016-04-06. - A sample of some of the music offered by the "HIT" label.
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