Lu Pine Records

Lu Pine Records was a small local record label in Detroit, Michigan, active during the late-1950s and 1960s. The label released records by a number of artists, including Joe Stubbs (brother of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs), Eddie Floyd, The Falcons[1] and The Ohio Untouchables (later renamed the Ohio Players).[2]

Lu Pine is most notable for releasing the first recorded material from The Supremes, then known as The Primettes, in March 1960.[3] The quartet (later a trio) recorded two sides for the label: "Tears of Sorrow" (with Diana Ross on lead) and "Pretty Baby" with Mary Wilson on lead.[4] The single failed to make a lasting impression, and The Primettes signed with Motown Records in January 1961 as The Supremes. Their other real success was The Falcons' "I Found a Love", featuring Wilson Pickett on lead vocal.[5] The single was a tremendous hit (#6 Billboard R&B and #75 Billboard Top Pop) in 1962.[6] This was Pickett's first hit record.

Atlantic Records signed a contract with Lu Pine to release selected singles for national distribution. In general, independent Lu Pine singles had a 3-digit number and those picked up and distributed by Atlantic (same label design) had a 4-digit catalog number (111 vs 1011). Lu Pine ran as a separate, independent label concurrent with the occasional Atlantic distributed singles.