4 Star Records [CA]

LOCATION: 800 Western Avenue, Los Angeles / 305 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA.
OWNER(s): Bill McCall
TIMESPAN: 1945-1950s
MISC NOTES: This label was founded in 1945 by William A. "Bill" McCall Jr., Clifford McDonald, and Richard A. Nelson. By November 1946, McCall was in complete control of 4 Star.In 1949 it moved location from Los Angeles to Pasadena. In the late-'70s, producer Joe Johnson headed up an organization that purchased 4 Star Records and moved all of its operations to Nashville.

4 Star issued many records on its own label -- but it also had a "special products" division that helped independent musicians and/or label owners to get their songs published and discs pressed and distributed. Those discs often had the prefix of "OP" included in their serial number.

SERIAL
ARTIST
TITLE
DATE

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES: *

A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:

B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: *

Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White background.  Black logo/label name, numerals and lettering.*
2.) A - B retail label. Black background.  Silver logo/label name, numerals and lettering*

A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 884 - 142
2.) 7047 - K
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: C. Ryan - W.S. Stevenson
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4-Star (BMI)

B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 884 - 142
2.) 7047 - K
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: G. Wilson
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4-Star (BMI)

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Betty Jo Starr (vocals);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:

A-SIDE MATRIX: 6322
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Starr
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Sales (BMI)

B-SIDE MATRIX: 6323
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Starr
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Sales (BMI)

MISC NOTES: Label credit = Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders. Ryan composed these songs. Bill McCall -- executive at 4 Star Records - added a fake name (W.S. Stevenson) in order to grab 1/2 the songwriter royalties. The two songs would later be re-issued by 4 Star with the composer credits simplified to: Charlie Ryan.

LOCATION: Spokane
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO: Sound Recording Co.
RECORDING ENGINEER:

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA.
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: "Distributed by King Records"

A-SIDE MATRIX: 7047-K
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: 7047-K-1
A-SIDE COMPOSER: C. Ryan - W.S. Stevenson
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Sales- BMI

B-SIDE MATRIX: 7048-K
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE: 7048-K-2
B-SIDE COMPOSER: C. Ryan - W.S. Stevenson
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Sales- BMI

MISC NOTES: This is the circa 1960 re-recording of "Hot Rod Lincoln" that came after the original version had been issued in Spokane on the Souvenir label. This same recording was also issued on a 4-Star label crediting Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders.

LOCATION: Los Angeles?
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Ryan (vocal);
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:

A-SIDE MATRIX: 7047-K
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE: 7047-K-1
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:

B-SIDE MATRIX: 7048-K
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE: 7048-K-2
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders.
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES: *

Known Label Designs:
1.) A - B promo label. White background.*
2.) A - B retail label. Black background *

A-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 7066 - K
2.) 45 - K4756
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
A-SIDE COMPOSER: C. Ryan - W.S. Stevenson
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: Wallace Fowler (BMI)

B-SIDE MATRIX:
1.) 7067 - K
2.) 45 - K4757
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
1.)
2.)
B-SIDE COMPOSER: N. Livingston - W.S. Stevenson
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: Wallace Fowler (BMI)

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION: Spokane, WA
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Charlie Ryan and the Timberline Riders.
RECORDING STUDIO: Sound Recording Co.
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 7"
SPEED: 45 rpm
DISC NOTES:*

A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:

B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:

MISC NOTES: One song on an eight song promotional sampler disc by 4-Star Records.

Side A:  Jealous Love (by Davis Sisters with Roy Hall) / I Like to Play with Your Kisses (Hank Locklin) / Sweetheart You Know I Love You So (Webb Pierce) / Swinging on the Steel (instrumental by Jesse James)

Side B:  Don't Let the Stars (by Cactus Pryor) / Wasted Tears (T. Texas Tyler) / English Sweetheart (Webb Pierce) / Ramblers Boogie (instrumental by Tommy Kizziah)

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED:
DISC NOTES:

A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER:
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:

B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:

MISC NOTES:

LOCATION:
RECORDING PERSONNEL:
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES:

A-SIDE MATRIX:
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: Kizziah - Clemons
A-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Pub (BMI)

B-SIDE MATRIX:
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER: Kizziah
B-SIDE PUBLISHER: 4 Star Pub (BMI)

MISC NOTES: Written and recorded in 1949. 10" disc came with a sleeve featuring graphic instructional cartoons of people doing this new dance, and the song's lyrics. Record was also issued in 7" 45 rpm format on both black and red vinyl [45-1550]

LOCATION: Salt Lake City, UT
RECORDING PERSONNEL: Larry LaPrise; Charles Mason; Taftt Baker
RECORDING STUDIO:
RECORDING ENGINEER:

FORMAT: disc
SIZE: 10"
SPEED: 78 rpm
DISC NOTES:

A-SIDE MATRIX: 3744
A-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
A-SIDE COMPOSER: LaPrise - Macek - Baker
A-SIDE PUBLISHER:

B-SIDE MATRIX: 3745
B-SIDE STAMPER CODE:
B-SIDE COMPOSER:
B-SIDE PUBLISHER:

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