Aladdin Records

• Name — Aladdin Records • Parent — Universal Music Group • Founded — 1945 • Founder — Eddie Mesner Leo Mesner • Defunct — 1961 • Status — Defunct • Genre — Jazz, blues • Country — U.S. • Location — Los Angeles, California

Philo Records (folk) Philo's releases included 78 RPM singles of Illinois Jacquet, Wynonie Harris, Helen Humes with the Bill Doggett Octet, Jay McShann and Lester Young, and an album (set of two 78 RPM records) of Lester Young, Nat King Cole and Red Callender. When the U.S. Patent Office refused to register the label because of the similarity in name with the Philco radio corporation, which produced blanks for the record industry, the dispute was settled when the owners agreed to continue the name as Medlee. On March 2, 1946, the company placed an advertisement in Billboard magazine, announcing the new trade name. The next week, though, they placed a new ad "correcting their mistake", announcing Aladdin Records. The numbering of the releases was continued, and older Philo releases were reprinted as Aladdin.

Aladdin was known for jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock music. Some albums were released on the company's short-lived Jazz: West imprint. Aladdin Records launched several subsidiary labels such as Score (1948), Intro (1950), 7-11 (1952), Ultra (1955), Jazz: West (1955), and Lamp (1956). In addition to recording in Los Angeles, many Aladdin recordings were produced by Cosimo Matassa in New Orleans. Aladdin's first album was by Lester Young. Other musicians on the roster included Ernie Andrews, Charles Brown, Thurston Harris, Maxwell Davis, Al Hibbler, Billie Holiday, Lynn Hope, Jimmy Liggins, Gene & Eunice, Lightnin' Hopkins, Red Nelson ("Mother Fuyer"), and Illinois Jacquet. In 1961, Aladdin was sold to Imperial Records, which was acquired by Liberty Records. Capitol Records bought Liberty in 1979 and reissues appeared on Blue Note Records.