WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll & R&B Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
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You’ll find the one for this week at the bottom of this post.
Today we survey the early years of Aladdin Records, a small independent west coast label that turned out some of the biggest jump blues and R&B hits of the late 1940s
and early 50s. Aladdin Records was the brainchild of two brother Eddie and
Leo Mesner, who owned the Philharmonic Music Shop in Los Angeles.
When they started their company in 1945, they originally called it Philo Records
after their shop, but had to change the name for legal reasons in early 1946.
It seems the Mesner brothers could do no wrong that first year, hitting it out of the
park with release after release, but their batting average went down in 1946 and
1947, partly because they lost, Helen Humes, Johnny Moore and Charles Brown.
Amos Milburn and others brought the label out of the doldrums in
1948 with hits like “Chicken Shack Boogie.”
ALADDIN RECORDS RESOURCES
history @ wikipedia.org
discography @ discogs.com
Spontaneous Lunacy – Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records Story – Both Sides Now
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Real Gone Sam Taylor Tease! The Beat of Burlesque 1956
Slippin’ And Slidin’ Roomful Of Blues Steppin’ Out 2025
Ain’t That Good News
Duces of Rhythm & Tempo Toppers / Little Richard
Peacock Records 1953
Blind Love B.B. King R.P.M. Records 1953
She’s The No-Sleepin’est Woman
Planet D Nonet
Blowin’ Away The Blues, Vol 2 2015
You’ve Got What It Takes Ledisi w/ Gregory Porter For Dinah 2025
Smack Dab In The Middle Count Basie w/ Joe Williams Clef Records 1956
Walk That Walk Daddy-O
Jewel Brown w/ Bloodest Saxophone
Roller Coaster Boogie 2015
I Left A Good Deal In Mobile Joe Liggins Exclusive Records 1945
Ain’t That Just Like A Woman Louis Jordan Decca Records 1946
(They Call It) Stormy Monday Lou Rawls Stormy Monday 1962
God Bless The Child Billie Holiday Lady Sings The Blues 1956
Bye Bye Young Men Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1955
Drivin’ And Jivin’ (Flyin’ Saucer Boogie) Tiny Grimes Gotham Records 1949
Milton’s Boogie Roy Milton & His Solid Senders Juke Box Records 1946
HIGHLIGHTS: ALADDIN RECORDS 1946-1948
New Lester Leaps In
Lester Young & His Band
Aladdin Records 1946
Disgusted
Jo-Jo Adams
Aladdin Records 1946
Down The Road Apiece
Amos Milburn
Aladdin Records 1946
Katie May Blues
Lightnin’ Hopkins
Aladdin Records 1946
A Jacquet For Jack The Bellboy
Illinois Jacquet
Aladdin Records 1947
How Could You
Lonnie Johnson
Aladdin Records 1947
Gatemouth Boogie
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Aladdin Records 1947
Hard Ridin’ Mama
Wynonie Harris
Aladdin Records 1947
Blow Illinois Blow
Illinois Jacquet & His All Stars
Aladdin Records 1948
Bean-A Re-Bop
Coleman Hawkins All Stars
Aladdin Records 1948
Washboard Blues
Crown Prince Waterford
Aladdin Records 1948
Blowin’ Red’s Top
Gene Ammons Quintet
Aladdin Records 1948
Morning Glory
Big Joe Turner
Aladdin Records 1948
Chicken Shack Boogie
Amos Milburn
Aladdin Records 1948
It Took a Long Long Time
Amos Milburn
Aladdin Records 1948
Get Yourself Another Fool
Charles Brown Trio
Alladin Records 1948
Everybody Eats When They Come to My House
Cab Calloway
Columbia Records 1948
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 