Meteor Records !

Meteor Records -  Chelsea Ave, Memphis, Tennessee.

They resided at three address on Chelsea Ave all listed below.

1746 Chelsea Ave. (late 1952- early1954)

1914 Chelsea Ave. (mid 1954)

1794 Chelsea Ave. (Summer 1954 - 1957, studio & office)

Memphis, TN, U.S.A.

No.1794 - circa 1952

No. 1794 - Circa 1954/55

No. 1794 - 1980's

No. 1794 - Tues 30th April 2024

Here is a list below of the Meteor records that I own. I have a total of 20 (not bad considering the prices they go for) 

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Elmore James - Meteor Records # 5000 - Dec 1952.

Side A - I Believe 

Side B - I Held My Baby Last Night

Recorded Nov 1952, Universal Studios, Chicago, Illinois.

Elmore James (Vocals/Guitar), J.T. Brown (Tenor Sax), Johnny Jones (Piano), Ransom Knowling (Bass) & Odie Payne Jr (Drums)

This is the Blues! Chicago style Blues! released in Memphis by the brand new Meteor Record Company.

Elmore hits you between the eyes with every rasping note from his voice, he feels every word and he lets you know this is how he feels! this is Elmore blues and it works on every level. 

Lester Bihari was desperate to get Elmore as his first release on his new Meteor label and whatever he did to get it then it will go down as a master stroke in Memphis folklore.

Both sides will move you, move your feet, move your thoughts! 'I Believe' ear ripping slide guitar, piano and then Elmore tells you 'when I get up in the morning I'll believe I'll Go Back home' by heck he means it! every damn word. exquisite blues from the depth of his soul!

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Recorded November 1952, Universal Studios, Chicago Illinois.

J T Brown (ts); Johnny Jones (pno); Elmore James (gtr);

Ransom Knowling (b); Odie Payne Jr (dms)

Meteor Records # 5001 - Dec 1952.

Side A - Round House Boogie

Side B - Kickin' The Blues Around .

This the second release by Meteor and taken from the first session with Elmore James in Nov 1952.

The top side gives you wailin' tenor sax and some Red hot jumpin' Blues and on the flip you get to chill as you kick The blues around' two wonderful tunes brimming with boogie blues!

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Meteor Records # 5002 - March 1953

Carl (Mr. Broadway) Green & his Orchestra.

Side A - My Best Friend

Side B - Four Years Seven Days

Recorded February 4 1953, Universal Recorders Inc, Los Angeles, California.

Carl Green (vcl); Willard McDaniel (pno); Maxwell Davis Orchestra.

Two nice little numbers from Mr. Green and the Maxwell Davis Orchestra. The A side sounds so slick and cool, with a rhythmic shuffle beat and is just so good you just cannot sit still, crazy man, crazy!

Not so crazy on the flip, more mild but no less cool, Carl hits us with some smooth vocals and the band just swings along.

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Meteor Records # 5003 - April 1953

Side A - Baby, What's Wrong.

Side B - Sinful Woman.

Recorded Nov 1952, Universal Studios, Chicago, Illinois.

Elmore James (Vocal/Guitar), J.T. Brown (Tenor Sax), Johnny Jones (Piano), Ransom Knowling (Bass) & Odie Payne Jr (Drums)

This record takes off from the first groove. Snazzy guitar in the Elmore style and then in comes the vocal that just blasts at you from all sides and with rasping sax from J.T. Brown you get solid jump blues and this is only the A side!

The flip takes you into the slow mournful blues and will leave you thinking that all women are bad! Elmore's vocals rasp and quiver and it will leave you wanting more of Elmore!

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Earl (Whoopin' and Hollerin') Forrest

Meteor Records # 5005 - 1953

Side A - I Wronged A Woman

Side B - I Can't Forgive You

As was the norm around the early 50's with many record companies the A side was the slow tune more for the mainstream crowd and the ruckus wild one was on the flip and this Meteor release is just that. 'I wronged A Woman' is a slow bluesy tune full of anguish and hurt, sung brilliantly by Earl and the band do a fine job and that is not in dispute, a wonderful Blues recording.

But flip this sucker over and you get the real deal! 'I Can't Forgive You Woman' is a right old belter! Earl literally whoops and the band simply wails as this tune explodes with Earl asking "Tell me woman, what ya gonna do" This is what Memphis was doing around 1953, Sun with Sam Phillips and Lester Biharni over at Meteor, they were capturing the spirit of the city and we can only thank them for recording these fine tunes for us all.

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Jimmy Wright & his Orchestra.

Meteor Records # 5007 - August 1953

Side A - Porkey Pine

Side B - Scotch Mist.

Recorded 24th March in Los Angeles, California.

Jimmy Wright (Drums), Porkey Harris (Guitar), Boogie Daniels (Tenor Sax), Charles Norman (Bass) & Clarence Lively (Piano)

Blistering guitar from Porkey Harris sets this mover off right from the start and it is hot, hot, hot! and then flip it over and you get Boogie Daniels honking out some killer sax! this is jump boogie blues at it's finest!

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Buster Smith & Orch.

Meteor Records # 5010 - Sept 1953

Side A - Crying In The Chapel

Side B - Leapin' In Chicago

The A side was originally written by Darrel Glenn and also made famous by a certain Mr. E. Presley.

Here we have a Tenor Sax driven instrumental of the same tune by Buster and his wonderful orchestra, nice job, but not really a scorcher by any means.

The flip has more of a bounce (or leap) if you would, again top top sax playing by Buster and the band.

Test pressing - A

Test pressing - B

Stock label 

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Jimmy Wright & his Orchestra.

Meteor Records # 5011 - Sept 1953.

Side A - Slow Down Daddy

Side B - I'm In The Mood To Be Loved.

Jimmy Wright - Drums & Director

Merry Dee - Vocals

Chuck Higgins - Tenor Sax

Art Reed - Tenor Sax

Russ Young - Baritone Sax

Porkey Harris - Guitar

Clarence Lively - Piano

Charles Norman - Stand Up Bass

Jimmy and his band are joined on both sides by some sizzling hot vocals by Merry Dee, now this lady is hot! wow, so hot in fact that you might have to have a lay down after hearing this lady sing!

When she sings 'Slow Down Daddy' you know it exactly what she means, female Blues singing at it's raunchiest best.

Now on the flip, it just keeps burning! Merry Dee tells the story of her drinking and getting high and needing some loving! just Red hot Blues and it just moves from start to finish, top playing from Porkey on Guitar and those Sax players know what they're doing, just brilliant.

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Al Smith's Progressive Jazz

Meteor Record # 5013 - Oct 1953.

A side - Beale Street Stomp

B side - Slidin' Home

Recorded January 1953, Universal Studios, Chicago Illinois.

Al Smith (b); Cliff Davis and Red Holloway (ts); McKinley Easton

(bs); Horace Palm (org); Lefty Bates (gtr); Al Duncan (dms)

Label owner Lester Bihari re-released ths record in 1955 on METEOR-5026 as "Al Smith with The Broomdusters" under new titles: Chop Chop Boogie / Hot Rod Special

On this one you get two instrumentals, One side 'Hot' the other 'Jazz' but both played with skill an plenty of know how.

'Beale Street Stomp' is a mover and damn hot, some sublime guitar pickin' on this fast shufflin' blues number along with some weird organ fills.

'Slidin' Home' is a touch faster and moves along at a wild pace, with the sax leading us along, more superb guitar work from Lefty Bates and some wonderful drumming as well and then in comes the out of place organ again to throw you right off your swing!

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Meteor had moved buildings during the summer of 1954 from 1746 Chelsea Ave and landed just down the road at 1794 Chelsea Ave in Memphis.

Bud Deckelman and The Daydreamers.
Meteor Record # 5014 - Sept 1954.
Dayreamin' / Let's Not Pretend.

Let's face it, this is pure and simple Country music ! Bud is a guy with a true and pure voice, not Rockabilly just two great Country tunes.
Sam Phillips wanted the songs for a Sun release but he wanted changes ! Bud and the band thought it was fine as it was and took a ride through town to Lester Bihari's studio at Meteor. Les loved the songs and both were recorded straight away and released in Sept 1954.
These two songs are not wild slices of Rockabilly or a true reflection of what was happening in Memphis during this time period but you do get a classic disc of top notch quality country hillbilly bop ! 

Recorded 1954 in the Meteor Studio at 1794, Chelsea Ave, Memphis, Tennessee.

Bud Deckelman (Vocals), Thadeus 'Dood' Deckelman (Guitar), Quinton Claunch ( Guitar), Bill Cantrell (Fiddle), Dan Chambers (Bass) & Eddie Emanus (Steel)

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The Angel Voices 

Meteor Record # 5015 - Sept 1954

Side A - Tell The Angels

Side B - Walkin' & Talkin' With Jesus.

Both sides are gospel religious songs sung by the brilliant Burner Dene Jordan & Cliffie Mae Spike, now these two ladies can sing and that there is no doubt about that! I love gospel and this is top notch religious singing at it's finest. Call and respond vocals just move and shake you down to the very soles of your feet.

Cannot find any photo's or info on these two ladies but thankfully Lester at Meteor Records recorded these tunes for the world to enjoy.

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Meteor Records # 5016 - Sept 1954.

A Side - Sax-Ony Boogie

B Side - Dumb Woman Blues

Recorded November 1952, Universal Studios, Chicago, Illinois.

J.T. Brown (Tenor Sax/Vocal B Side), Johnny Jones (Piano), Elmore James (Guitar), Ransom Knowling (Bass) & Odie Payne Jr (Drums)

Honking sax gets it all going and it don't let up for one second and the drummer keeps pounding and the whole thing just swings!

B side slows it all down with some hometown Chicago blues and how he just wants a dumb woman and not a graduated chick from school! J.T Brown gives a great slow blues vocal delivery on this side and delivers all the way.

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"Red" Hadley's Wranglers .
Meteor Records # 5017 - 1955.
Brother, That's All / Ring Out Those Bells.

Recorded in Jan 1955 in the Meteor Studio, 1794 Chelsea Ave, Memphis, Tennessee.

G.D."Red" Hadley (Vocal/Piano), Junior 'Jay' Hadley (Guitar), Ray Cooper (Guitar) & Harold Buskirk (Bass)

Real purty mid-tempo country bop on this great record by "Red" Hadley's Wranglers 'Brother, That's All' has some nice lead guitar and a walking bass that makes it rural and just what you need to get your Wranglers swinging!

The B Side also has some sweet pickin' by Ray Cooper and is delightful to behold, the second part of the solo is piano by "Red" and just about holds it all together!

Memphis in 1955 was kicking out some awesome records and Meteor was no different, Sun had Elvis, Carl and Jerry Lee but Meteor had Charlie Feathers and Junior Thompson.......what a time and place to live and perform in the mid 50's in Memphis !

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Haward Swords with The Blue Light Boys.
Meteor Records # 5019 - 1955
Side A - You Will Have To Pay.
Side B - I'm As Lonely As I Can Be.

Haward (NOT HOWARD) Swords with his Blue Light Boys hit Memphis record stores in mid 1955 with this pure Country two sider. Nothing wild about this platter but you sure do get some top class Country playing from a fine select Blue Light Boys and of course Haward has a top notch voice so the whole thing sounds just purfect!!!

Recorded 1955 in the Meteor Studio, 1794 Chelsea Ave, Memphis Tn.
Haward Swords (vocal/guitar); Reece Byram (guitar); Ed Rice (steel);
Dot Curtis (piano); Quinton Claunch (drums)

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Meteor Records # 5021 - Sept 1955

Smokey Hogg 

Side A - I Declare

Side B - Dark Clouds

Smokey cooks on these two walkin' blues tunes!

This is a re release of his record on Crown # 122! under the pseudonym Andrew H (more than likely contractual reasons) but must have sold pretty well for Lester to pick it up for a Meteor release! These are not the most electrifying of blues songs but they move along real nice and Smokey's guitar smokes at times! Not a tough one to find on the label but is not to be dismissed! it a slice of quality!

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Mac Sales with The Esquire Trio

Meteor Records # 5022 - Oct 1955

Side A - A Gal Named Joe

Side B - Yakety Yak

Mac Sales! or has he was better known Malcolm Yelvington! jumped across a few roads from Union Ave at Sun Studios and recorded over at Meteor Records at 1794 Chelsea Ave! this is a terrific slice of country swing bop! 

So between his first release on Sun and the second he recorded these two great tunes! he was under contract at Sun so he used the alias Mac Sales and the rest as they say is history!

Both songs just swing with a country groove and deliver a perfect punch as the needle hits each groove! Malcolm had such a great voice and both tunes really show his smooth vocal! Really tough to find on 78 but worth every nickel if you do fine a copy!

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Barney Burcham with The Daydreamers.
Meteor Records # 5023 - Oct 1955.
Side A - Can't Steal My Way Around.
Side B - Much Too Young For Love

A simply terrific two sider record from Barney and his Daydreamers. Both sides are just right on the money, boppin, country billy all the way.
Not much is known about Mr Burcham but his Daydreamers (seen below) sure can rock it up!

Recorded in Oct 1955 at Meteor Studios, 1794 Chelsea Ave.

Rubel Elijah 'Barney Burcham' (Vocals), Reggie Young (Lead Guitar), Dan Chambers (Bass), Dood Deckelman (Guitar), Kenneth Herman (Steel) & Gilbert Mickle (Fiddle)

Barney Burcham & The Daydreamers

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Al Smith with The Broomdusters

Meteor Records # 5026 - Feb 1956

Side A - Chop Chop Boogie

Side B - Hot Rod Special

Recorded January 1953, Universal Studios, Chicago Illinois.

Al Smith (b); Cliff Davis and Red Holloway (ts); McKinley Easton

(bs); Horace Palm (org); Lefty Bates (gtr); Al Duncan (dms)

Label owner Lester Bihari re-released this record in 1956 on METEOR-5026 (see Meteor 5013 for more details) as "Al Smith with The Broomdusters" under new titles: Chop Chop Boogie / Hot Rod Special

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Junior Thompson with The Meteors.
Meteor Record # 5029 - 1956.
Side A - Raw Deal
Side B - Mama's Little Baby.

Without doubt or argument this is right up there when it comes to defining the meaning of the word 'Rockabilly' .....this is the stuff of legend, pure passion pouring out of every groove, this is a Memphis monster of sublime genius .....this is Rockabilly ......this is Junior Thompson !!!!!!

Recorded in January 1956 in the Meteor Studio, 1794 Chelsea Ave, Memphis Tn.
Jesse 'Junior' Thompson (vcl); Terry Thompson (gtr); Ray Lovelace (gtr); Don Moore (gtr);
Quinton Claunch (gtr); Jimmy Lovelace (b); Monty Olive (
pno)


Real name Clen Houston Thompson Jr. Born in Florence, Ala. A regular on Dixie Hayride (Florence, Ala.) in 1956.

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Charlie Feathers with Jody and Jerry 

Meteor Records # 5032 - 1956

Tongue Tied Jill / Get With It .

Recorded 1st April 1956. Meteor Studios, 1794 Chelsea Ave, Memphis, Tennessee.

Charlie Feathers (Vocals/Guitar), Jerry Huffman (Lead Guitar) & Jody Chastain (Double Bass)

Charlie Feathers needs no introduction really to any Rockabilly/Meteor record collector. When I got this off Ebay in 2014 for only $150 (it was not listed correctly) as you will all know what a steal that was !!! I was doing a cart wheel around my house for days after, lucky! I most certainly was.

These two tracks are stuff of legend, hiccup vocals, pounding slap bass and a song about a girl with a speech impediment.......classic rockabilly !

On April 1, 1956 Feathers persuaded his band to go Meteor and re-recorded ''Corrina'' note-for-note, but with new words and title, ''Get With It''. The record came out on April 12, 1956. Chastain and Huffman wrote ''Tongue-Tied Jill'' for release on Sun Records, but as Feathers recalled: ''We made a demo of it and took it to Sam but he thought the song was mocking afflicted people. Lester Bihari asked me if he could issue the song, so I said 'Why not?'. After Sam didn't like it thought it might not be very good, but the Meteor disc broke real good here in Memphis''.

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Little Milton with Playmates Of Rhythm.

Meteor Records # 5040 - Oct 1956

Recorded Oct 1956 in the Meteor Studios at 1794 Chelsea Ave, Memphis, Tennessee.

'Little' Milton Campbell (Vocal/Lead Guitar), Oliver Sain (Alto Sax), C.W. Tate (Tenor Sax), Lawrence Taylor (Tenor Sax), Leon Bennett (Piano), Willie Dotson (Bass) & Jerry Walker (Drums)

The band kick off in a steady rolling blues style and then step up with a pounding snare bash from Jerry Walker and then we get Milton and his smooth bluesy vocal and wow! here we are, Memphis Tennessee 1956! 

More of the same on the flip, great piano and sax and all mixed in with Little Milton's perfect bluesy vocal! inspired!

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