Imperial Records Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Imperial Records has been the name of at least three different record labels of the 20th century.The earliest Imperial Records was a short-lived United States based company of the first decade of the 1900s, producing single-sided lateral cut gramophone records. Issues included ragtime banjo music, operatic solos, and Hebrew songs.
The second Imperial Records was a United Kingdom based label which went into business in 1920. Imperial was owned by the Crystalate Gramophone Record Manufacturing Company LTD of Tonbridge, Kent, England. The company's main recording studio was in London. Most Imperial issues were recorded by the company, but some issues from masters leased from other companies in Continental Europe and from the USA's Banner Records also appeared on Imperial. Most Imperial recordings were of popular songs, music hall tunes, and dance music of the time. The label went out of business in February of 1934.
The third Imperial Records was a United States based label started in 1950 by Lew Chudd. It was famous for recordings of rhythm & blues; and early rock & roll; like Fats Domino and Ricky Nelson.
In 1961 Lew Chudd bought Aladdin Records, in 1963 he bought Minit Records. In 1964 it was acquired by Liberty Records.