Spivey Records

Spivey Records was an independent American record label established in 1961 by blues singer Victoria Spivey and jazz historian Len Kunstadt. The label was created as a vehicle for documenting and releasing blues performances by Spivey's contemporaries, friends, and associates, while also preserving the work of older and historically important musicians. Its catalogue brought together figures from several generations of African American music, including Big Joe Williams, Muddy Waters, Otis Spann, Lonnie Johnson, Memphis Slim, Roosevelt Sykes, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, John Hammond, and Louis Armstrong. The label's output was unusually broad for a small specialist imprint. It issued traditional and urban blues, piano blues, Chicago blues, performances by veteran singers and instrumentalists, and sessions involving musicians connected with the Muddy Waters organization. Its numbered LP catalogue began with releases such as Buddy Tate Invites You “To Dig” A Basket Of Blues and Victoria Spivey And Her Blues, both issued in 1962. Other early releases included Chicago Blues: A Bonanza All Star Blues LP and Three Kings And The Queen. The latter is particularly notable because a March 2, 1962 session featuring Big Joe Williams included Bob Dylan on harmonica and backing vocals. The material appeared after Dylan had already recorded his debut Columbia album, making the Spivey session an important early document in his career, though not his first recording session. Kunstadt's production style was informal and deliberately energetic. Accounts of the sessions describe him moving through the recording process and urging performers to retain spontaneity rather than polish away every imperfection. His reported direction, “More mistakes!”, became a shorthand for the label's rough-edged, performance-first aesthetic. Rather than presenting blues as a heavily standardized commercial product, Spivey Records emphasized immediacy, personality, and connections among established performers. The catalogue expanded through the 1960s and 1970s. Releases included albums centered on Louis Metcalf, the Muddy Waters blues musicians, Otis Spann, Willie Dixon, and all-star groupings assembled under Spivey's name. The label also documented younger or less widely known performers alongside established artists, helping create a record of the New York and Chicago blues scenes. Among the later listed releases were I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter, What Is The Blues, Victoria Spivey and her Danny Boy, and the project known as New York Really Has The Blues. Spivey's work as a label entrepreneur was recognized in 1970 when she received a BMI Commendation of Excellence. She died in 1976, but releases continued to appear in the catalogue after her death, including records issued in the late 1970s and material associated with recordings made through the mid-1980s. The label became dormant after Len Kunstadt died in 1996. A revival was announced in 2007 by Lisa Weiner, Kunstadt's niece. The proposed program involved audio engineer Doug Pomeroy remastering original tapes recorded between 1961 and 1986 and reissuing catalogue numbers LP 1001 through LP 1016 on compact disc in 2008. However, notices on the label's website indicated by October 2011 that the reissued CDs were not then available. The public record therefore supports describing Spivey Records as a historically important, apparently dormant or uncertain-status blues label rather than as a demonstrably active contemporary company.

Spivey Records emerged in 1961 from the partnership of Victoria Spivey, an established blues singer, and Len Kunstadt, a jazz historian. Their aim was to record and circulate blues performances outside the mainstream recording industry, using Spivey's personal relationships and Kunstadt's historical interests to assemble sessions with major performers and respected specialists. The label's catalogue consequently combined contemporary documentation with preservation of older blues traditions. The earliest releases established the label's characteristic scope. Buddy Tate, Victoria Spivey, Big Joe Williams, Lonnie Johnson, Roosevelt Sykes, and other performers appeared across the first numbered albums. The 1962 LP Three Kings And The Queen is especially notable for a session involving Big Joe Williams in which Bob Dylan contributed harmonica and backing vocals on March 2, 1962. The session took place after Dylan had recorded his debut album for Columbia but remains an important early record of his work. Spivey Records also became a documentarian of Chicago blues. It recorded or released performances by musicians associated with Muddy Waters, including Otis Spann, George Smith, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, Sammy Lawhorn, and Francis Clay. Other albums brought together Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Memphis Slim, John Hammond, Homesick James, Washboard Sam, Big Joe Williams, and numerous additional artists. The releases often had ensemble-oriented or retrospective concepts, such as the Bluesmen of the Muddy Waters band series and all-star collections presenting the wider Spivey Records circle. Kunstadt's production methods favored directness and spontaneity. He was described as encouraging performers not to overcorrect their playing, reportedly calling out “More mistakes!” during sessions. This approach reflected the label's interest in capturing living performance rather than producing technically immaculate studio pop. The result was a catalogue whose historical value lies partly in its informal atmosphere and the proximity it provides to musicians who shaped blues in the United States. The label remained active across the 1960s and into the 1970s. A 1970 release, Victoria Spivey Presents The All Star Blues World Of Spivey Records In Stereo, summarized the breadth of the roster, while Spivey's Blues Parade and Spivey's Blues Cavalcade presented further cross-sections of performers. The catalogue also included a Willie Dixon-focused release in 1973 and later records associated with Big Joe Turner, Eunice Davis, Victoria Spivey, Danny Russo, Lefty Dizz, Larry Johnson, and other musicians. The listed catalogue extends to recordings and releases connected with the period through approximately 1985. Spivey's contribution was not limited to performing. Her work running the label was recognized with a BMI Commendation of Excellence in 1970. She died in 1976, but the imprint continued to have releases associated with it afterward. Kunstadt remained central to the label's stewardship until his death in 1996, after which Spivey Records became dormant. In 2007, Kunstadt's niece Lisa Weiner announced an effort to revive the label. The plan called for Doug Pomeroy to remaster original tapes recorded from 1961 to 1986 and for LP 1001 through LP 1016 to be reissued on CD in 2008. Public notices later suggested that the CDs were not available by October 2011. No source supplied for this dossier establishes a subsequent commercial relaunch, so the label's current operating status remains uncertain.

• 2007

  Revival initiative announced

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Lisa Weiner announces plans for remastering and compact-disc reissues.

• 1996

  Label becomes dormant after Len Kunstadt's death

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Kunstadt's death is followed by the label's dormancy.

• 1976

  Victoria Spivey dies

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Spivey's death marks a major transition for the label, although releases continue afterward.

• 1970

  BMI recognition for Victoria Spivey

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Spivey receives a BMI Commendation of Excellence for her entrepreneurial achievements.

• 1962

  Early catalogue launches

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label issues its first numbered LPs, including albums by Buddy Tate and Victoria Spivey.

• 1962

  Bob Dylan appears on a Big Joe Williams session

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dylan contributes harmonica and backing vocals to a March 2 session later issued on Three Kings And The Queen.

• 1961

  Spivey Records founded

  [1]Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Victoria Spivey and Len Kunstadt establish the specialist blues label in the United States.

A specialist archival and artist-centered blues label focused on documenting veteran performers, Chicago blues musicians, and informal all-star sessions.

• Blues album · 1962

  Three Kings And The Queen

  A 1962 Spivey LP featuring Roosevelt Sykes, Lonnie Johnson, Big Joe Williams, and Victoria Spivey. Its historical profile is heightened by the inclusion of Big Joe Williams material on which Bob Dylan plays harmonica and provides backing vocals.

• Chicago blues album · 1966

  The Bluesmen Of The Muddy Waters Chicago Blues Band

  A 1966 album documenting musicians connected with Muddy Waters's Chicago blues organization, including Otis Spann, George Smith, Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson, Sammy Lawhorn, and Francis Clay.

• Blues compilation · 1968

  Encore For The Chicago Blues

  A 1968 all-star compilation drawing on a wide group of performers associated with the label and Chicago blues, including Muddy Waters musicians, Koko Taylor, Memphis Slim, Willie Dixon, John Hammond, and Victoria Spivey.

• Blues compilation · 1970

  Spivey's Blues Parade

  A 1970 multi-artist survey presenting performers from Spivey's network, including Sippie Wallace, Walter “Shakey” Horton, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Shines, Sugar Blue, and Lonnie Johnson.

• Chicago blues album · 1973

  The All Star Blues World Of Maestro Willie Dixon and his Chicago Blues Band

  A 1973 release centered on Willie Dixon and his Chicago Blues Band, with contributions from Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, Larry Johnson, Carey Bell, and Victoria Spivey.

• Blues album · 1977

  What Is The Blues

  A 1977 release credited to Eunice Davis and the Spivey Low-Down Blues Privacy Invaders, documenting another of the label's later-generation and ensemble-based projects.

• Blues album · 1977

  Victoria Spivey and her Danny Boy

  A 1977 Victoria Spivey release made with Danny Russo and featuring Lefty Dizz and Larry Johnson, representing the label's continued association with Spivey's own performances.

• 2007Spivey Records catalogue revival

  United States · International

  Lisa Weiner publicized a plan to revive the label, remaster original tapes from 1961 to 1986, and reissue LP 1001 through LP 1016 on CD.

  Outcome. The planned 2008 reissues were announced, but website notices indicated that the CDs were not available by October 2011.

  Source

• 2007

  Attempted archival relaunchStrategy

  Background

  The label had been dormant following Len Kunstadt's death in 1996, while its historic recordings remained an identifiable catalogue.

  Action taken

  Lisa Weiner announced a revival centered on remastering original tapes and issuing early LP catalogue numbers on CD.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference material does not confirm a completed reissue program; notices indicated that the CDs were unavailable as of October 2011.

  Source

1. 1Spivey Recordsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Victoria Spivey Archivesfindingaids.library.emory.edu