PACIFIC JAZZ / WORLD PACIFIC LABELOGRAPHY

Saturday, September 21, 2013

THE AURA 45 SINGLE SERIES

The AURA RECORDS imprint was the last brand devised by Dick Bock for releases under the World Pacific umbrella. Bock assigned this imprint interchangeably on several numerical series. It appears that Bock did not restrict the AURA RECORDS name to a singular numerical series although the 4500 numbers come close to a sustained use of the name.

Many of the artists represented on AURA / World Pacific 45 RPM releases achieved fame beyond their credit listing as performer, arranger or producer of the 45 single. The listing will separate these credits with a back slash in each case: performing artist or group / arranger / producer. The artists represented in this group of releases include: The Lewis Sisters (Helen & Kay Lewis) / Jimmy Mack, Teddy Reynolds / Lala Wilson, The Furys / Gene Page / Jimmy Mack, Sonny Knight, Clifford Scott / Victor Harris, The Sandells / Jimmy King / Richard Bock, Barbara Wilson / Arthur Wright / Jimmy King, The Delegates / Richard Bock, Sonny Knight / Bobby Smith Orchestra / Bock-Knight, Rick & The Ravens / Ray Daniels / King-Cobra, Richard Moorehead / Benny Golson / Lew Futterman and Sonny Knight Quartette / Richard Bock.

The 300 45 single series had at least two releases using the AURA RECORDS name and these are listed once again in this examination of the AURA RECORDS line.

ALL LABELS © EMI CAPITOL MUSIC

The 400 45 single series had at least three releases with the AURA RECORDS imprint. The three singles listed below fill in gaps that were noted in the blog entry devoted to the 400 45 single series.

There are gaps in the numerical progression of the 4500 series. Missing numbers include 4503, 4507, 4509 and 4511. This last number appears to be the last number assigned in the 4500 series and it has been rumored that it was another release by Rick & The Ravens performing SOUL TRAIN and GERALDINE. The association of Rick & The Ravens to The Doors has placed a premium price on copies of these AURA releases that are listed on auction sites like Ebay for hundreds of dollars. Most of the releases in the AURA line did not have a separate matrix number associated with the release number. One exception, seen below, is 4505 which had matrices (A-420) and (B-420) assigned to it. This release fills another gap in the 400 45 single series where 420 was noted as missing in that blog entry.

The AURA RECORDS imprint next appears on releases in the 88000 45 single series. AURA RECORDS 88120 was also issued as PACIFIC JAZZ 88120 as will be noted in the blog entry for the 88000 45 single series. This release picks up PIGMY PART 1 originally issued on AURA RECORDS 4504 and THE PEEPER from AURA RECORDS 4510-A.