Mainstream Records


Mainstream Records was an American record company and independent record label founded by music producer Bob Shad in 1964.
Mainstream's early releases were reissues from Commodore Records. Its catalogue grew to include Bob Brookmeyer, Maynard Ferguson, Jim Hall, Helen Merrill, Carmen McRae, Jimmy Raney, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, and Sarah Vaughan. Janis Joplin, with Big Brother and the Holding Company, first appeared on Mainstream.
In 1978 Mainstream closed. Bob Shad died in 1985. In 1990, the label was restarted by his daughter, Tamara, and Humphrey Walwyn, the former head of BBC Records. It was bought by Legacy in 1993 and purchased back by the Shad family in the early 2000s. The label is now run by Shad's granddaughter Mia Apatow, with the help of her brother Judd Apatow.

Discography

56000/S6000 series (12" LPs)

The Mainstream 56000/S6000 Series commenced in 1964 when the label was established by Bob Shad and ran until 1971 and initially reissued material from Commodore Records and Time Records in addition to some new jazz recordings, then soundtracks, before branching into psychedelic rock around 1966.
Catalog numberTitleArtistNotes
56000/S6000The Commodore Recordings 1939, 1944Billie Holiday
56001/S6001Begin the BeguineEddie Heywood
56002/S6002Influence of FiveVarious ArtistsColeman Hawkins, Lester Young, Ben Webster, Don Byas, Chu Berry
56003/S6003Dixieland-New OrleansVarious ArtistsJack Teagarden, Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison & Others
56004/S6004Town Hall ConcertVarious ArtistsGene Krupa, Charlie Ventura, Bill Coleman, Red Norvo, & Others
56005/S6005The Soil and the SeaVarious ArtistsPete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Peter Hawes, Lee Hays
56006/S6006I'm LostDottie Clark
56007/S6007Boss of the BluesCharles Brown
56008/S6008Chairmen of the BoardVarious ArtistsArt Tatum, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Joe Bushkin, Mel Powell, Jess Stacy
56009/S600952 StreetVarious ArtistsBillie Holiday, Ben Webster, and Others
56010/S6010Dixieland-Chicago StyleVarious ArtistsMuggsy Spanier, Russell, & Others
56011/S6011Era of the ClarinetVarious ArtistsPee Wee Russell, Edmund Hall, Irving Fazola, Benny Goodman, Tony Parenti, George Lewis
56012/S6012Lester Young & Kansas City SixLester Young
56013/S6013Two Jims and ZootJimmy Raney, Zoot Sims & Jim Hall
56014/S6014The Artistry of Helen MerrillHelen Merrill
56015/S6015A Taste of HoneyMorgana King
56016The Songs of Kurt WeillFelicia SandersReissue of Time 2007
56017/S6017Era of the Swing TrumpetVarious ArtistsEldridge, Hackett, Jonah Jones, Page, Williams, & DeParis
56018/S6018Town Hall Concert Volume 2Various ArtistsKrupa & Ventura 3, Stuff Smith, Red Norvo, Wilson, Phillips, Bert, Rogers, Sachs, Palmieri, Stewart, Powell, Krupa, Ventura, & Walthers
56019/S6019Tenor HierarchyVarious ArtistsColeman Hawkins, Chu Berry, Ben Webster, Frank Wess, Phillips, Don Byas
56020/S6020Jelly Roll MortonJelly Roll Morton
56021/S6021Bahutu Chant & DancersBahutu Chant & Dancers
56022/S6022Once Upon a TimeBillie Holiday & Teddy Wilson
56023/S6023Expressions EastJohn Berberian
56024/S6024LegendEddie Condon
56025/S6025Look at YesterdayVarious ArtistsStan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Buddy Stewart, Paul Quinichette, Jimmy Raney, Wardell Gray
56026/S6026LegendPee Wee Russell
56027/S6027LegendWillie "The Lion" Smith
56028/S6028Second to NoneCarmen McRae
56029/S6029Riverboat JazzJuggy’s Jazz Band
56030/S6030August ChildSylvia Copeland
56031/S6031Color Him WildMaynard Ferguson
56032/S6032Organ Out LoudGene Ludwig
56033/S6033The Award WinnerFrank Wess
56034/S6034Ruth Brown '65Ruth Brown
56035/S6035Ballads My WayCharles Brown
56036/S6036Corcovado TrumpetsVic Schoen
56037/S6037MeditationsColeman Hawkins
56038/S6038Sittin' InChu Berry
56039/S6039LegendBunk Johnson
56040/S6040The BluesLightnin' HopkinsReissue of Time T/7004
56041/S6041Tiger TailStanley TurrentineReissue of Time 52086
56042/S6042NowCleo Bradford
56043/S6043TonightClark Terry Bob Brookmeyer Quintet
56044/S6044Haven't We Met?Carmen McRae
56045/S6045The Blues RoarMaynard Ferguson
56046/S6046YancyEmily Yancy
56047/S6047Oud ArtistyJohn Berberian
56048/S6048It's Time We MetTerry Gibbs
56049/S6049Home Town BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
56050/S6050VibrationsJimmy Ricks
56051/S6051Latin Au Go GoJoe Cain
56052/S6052Miss Morgana KingMorgana King
56053/S6053The CollectorMaurice JarreSoundtrack to The Collector
56054/S6054The Power of Positive SwingingClark Terry Bob Brookmeyer Quintet
56055/S6055We Three TrioWe Three Trio
56056/S6056Baby the Rain Must FallElmer BernsteinSoundtrack to Baby the Rain Must Fall
56057/S6057The Moment of TruthPiero PiccioniSoundtrack to The Moment of Truth
56058/S6058Wonderful LifeIrene Kral
56059/S6059The CreeperDennis Budimir
56060/S6060The Maynard Ferguson SextetMaynard Ferguson
56061/S6061King RatJohn BarrySoundtrack to King Rat
56062/S6062Juliet of the SpiritsNino RotaSoundtrack to Juliet of the Spirits
56063/S6063Great Original Soundtracks & Movie ThemesVarious Artists
56064/S6064The Heroes of TelemarkMalcolm ArnoldSoundtrack to The Heroes of Telemark
56065/S6065Woman TalkCarmen McRae
56066/S6066MumblesClark Terry
56067/S6067The Lollipop CoverRuby Raksin
56068/S6068A Patch of BlueJerry GoldsmithSoundtrack to A Patch of Blue
56069/S6069Comic Book HeroesCapes and Masks Orchestra
56070/S6070The Square Root of ZeroElliot Kaplan
56071/S6071The 10th VictimPiero PiccioniSoundtrack to The 10th Victim
56072/S6072That Man in IstanbulSoundtrack to That Man in Istanbul
56073/S6073The Trouble with AngelsJerry GoldsmithSoundtrack to The Trouble with Angels
56074/S6074I've Lost My Yo-YoBrandywine Singers
56075/S6075Pow! Jeannie Trevor Sings!!Jeannie Trevor
56076/S6076Award Winning Original Motion Picture Soundtracks & ThemesVarious Artists
56077/S6077StagecoachJerry GoldsmithSoundtrack to Stagecoach
56078/S6078HarperJohnny MandelSoundtrack to Harper
56079/S6079Detectives & the Agents & Great Suspense Motion Picture ThemesVarious Artists
56080/S6080Walk Don't RunQuincy JonesSoundtrack to Walk, Don't Run
56081/S6081The Blue MaxJerry GoldsmithSoundtrack to The Blue Max
56082/S6082The Shop on Main StreetZdeněk LiškaSoundtrack to The Shop on Main Street
56083/S6083Walk on the Wide SideElmer BernsteinSoundtrack to Walk on the Wild Side
Rerelease of Choreo A4ST
56084/S6084AlfieCarmen McRae
56085/S6085Bitter AcidMauricio Smith
56086/S6086Gingerbread MenClark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer Quintet
56087/S6087Songs of InspirationBill Brown
56088/S6088The Wrong BoxJohn BarrySoundtrack to The Wrong Box
56089/S6089Chaplin's Art of ComedyElias BreeskinSoundtrack to Chaplin's Art of Comedy
56090/S6090Gypsy GirlMilton DeLuggSoundtrack to Gypsy Girl
56091/S6091In Person in San FranciscoCarmen McRae
56092/S6092Mira!Hugo Montenegro
56093/S6093Soul of a PeopleGordon JenkinsReissue of Time 2050
56094/S6094A Man and His MoviesElmer Bernstein
56095/S6095Hey, Listen Baby-Let’s DanceDavid Carroll and His Orchestra
56096/S6096Wine, Women and ItalyItalian Guitars
56097ThunderOrquesta Los Hombres de España
56098/S6098Melodies of LoveRichard Hayman
56099/S6099Big Brother and the Holding CompanyBig Brother and the Holding Company
56100/S6100A Pot of FlowersVarious ArtistsThe Wildflowers, Harbinger Complex, Euphoria and The Other Side
56101/S6101Music from CamelotHugo Montenegro
56102/S6102The Superfine DandelionThe Superfine Dandelion
56103/S6103Jelly Bean BanditsJelly Bean Bandits
56104/S6104The Amboy DukesThe Amboy Dukes
S6105Tiffany ShadeTiffany Shade
S6106Bohemian VendettaBohemian Vendetta
S6107The Tangerine ZooThe Tangerine Zoo
S6108The Growing ConcernThe Growing Concern
S6109The Best of Morgana KingMorgana King
S6110Live & WailingCarmen McRae
S6111Slaughter on 10th AvenueHugo Montenegro
S6112Journey to the Center of the MindThe Amboy Dukes
S6113The Art of Lovin'The Art of Lovin'
S6114The Best of Pete JollyPete Jolly
S6115Ellie PopEllie Pop
S6116Outside Looking InThe Tangerine Zoo
S6117The Orient ExpressThe Orient Express
S6118MigrationThe Amboy Dukes
S6119Stone CircusStone Circus
S6120NucleusNucleus
S6121A Spoonful of Cathy YoungCathy Young
S6122Last NikleLast Nikle
S6123Totie Fields LiveTotie Fields
S6124Hour WorldThe British Casuals
S6125The Best of the Original Amboy DukesThe Amboy Dukes
S6126Drive ItLincoln St. Exit
S6127JosefusJosefus
S6128December's ChildrenDecember's Children
S6129Electric Holy ManHenry Tree
S6130FreeportFreeport
S6131KatmanduKatmandu
S6132LacewingLacewing

300 series (12" LPs)

The Mainstream 300 Series commenced in 1971 as the label focussed more on funk/soul and jazz artists as well as reissuing jazz LP's originally released on Time Records before the label folded around 1976.
Catalog numberTitleArtistNotes
MRL 300Rated X for ExcitementRon Frangipane & His Orchestra
MRL 301Motion Pictures: The NOW GenerationJoe Scott & His Orchestra
MRL 302ImagesDean Christopher & His Orchestra
MRL 303Blood, Sweat & BrassThe Phoenix Authority
MRL 304The Music of Laura NyroRon Frangipane
MRL 305Hard Mother BluesErnie Wilkins & His Orchestra
MRL 306A 65-Piece Rock WorkshopBob Shad & The Bad Men
MRL 307A Symphony of Our TimeJoe Scott
MRL 308Hometown BluesSonny Terry & Brownie McGheeReissue of 56049
MRL 309Carmen McRaeCarmen McRae
MRL 310Ray Charles, Arbee Stidham, Lil Son Jackson, James WayneRay Charles, Arbee Stidham, Lil Son Jackson, James Wayne
MRL 311The BluesLightnin' HopkinsReissue of 56040
MRL 312Charles WilliamsCharles Williams
MRL 313Hip EnsembleRoy Haynes
MRL 314A New Shade of BlueHarold Land
MRL 315Blue MitchellBlue Mitchell
MRL 316Screamin' BluesMaynard FergusonReissue of 56045
MRL 317Dave HubbardDave Hubbard
MRL 318Hadley CalimanHadley Caliman
MRL 319Right OnMaxine Weldon
MRL 320Straight No ChaserClark Terry/Bob Brookmeyer QuintetReissue of 56043
MRL 321A Taste of HoneyMorgana KingReissue of 56015
MRL 322Sings and Swings OrganGloria Coleman Ltd.
MRL 323David YoungDavid Young
MRL 324Sonny RedSonny Red
MRL 325Dizzy Gillespie and the Mitchell Ruff Duo in ConcertDizzy Gillespie
MRL 326Dirty BluesLightnin' HopkinsReissue of Time 1384
MRL 327Stan HopeStan Hope
MRL 328Sun, Moon and StarsLaMont Johnson
MRL 329Charles McPhersonCharles McPherson
MRL 330John WhiteJohn White
MRL 331Charles KynardCharles Kynard
MRL 332HomecomingArt Farmer
MRL 333CrankinCurtis Fuller
MRL 334MatrixMichael Longo
MRL 335Strayhorn: A Mitchell-Ruff InterpretationMitchell-Ruff
MRL 336AwarenessBuddy Terry
MRL 337The Guerilla BandHal Galper
MRL 338GoldCarmen McRae
MRL 339Chilly WindMaxine Weldon
MRL 340A Time in My LifeSarah Vaughan
MRL 341WishboneReggie Moore
MRL 342IapetusHadley Caliman
MRL 343Vital BlueBlue Mitchell
MRL 344Choma Harold Land
MRL 345Trees and Grass and ThingsCharles Williams
MRL 346Katumbo Johnny Coles
MRL 347Angyumaluma Bongliddleany Nannyany Awhan Yi!Clark TerryReissue of 56066
MRL 348The Night Blooming JazzmenThe Night Blooming Jazzmenfeaturing Kittie Doswell and directed by Leonard Feather
MRL 349The Loud MinorityFrank Foster
MRL 350Get It TogetherVarious ArtistsCharles Kynard, Charles McPherson, Dave Hubbard, Charles Kynard, Dave and the Jay Jay's, Charles Williams and Johnny Coles
MRL 351SenyahRoy Haynes
MRL 352In PersonCarmen McRaeReissue of Time S/2104
MRL 353White HeatBarry Miles
MRL 354Wild BirdHal Galper
MRL 355Cuore di MamaMorgana King
MRL 356Pure DynamiteBuddy Terry
MRL 357The AwakeningMike Longo
MRL 358Otra VesZoot SimsReissue of 56013
MRL 359DuesMaynard FergusonReissue of 56031
MRL 360 A Time for BluesArbee Stidham
MRL 361Sarah Vaughan with Michel LegrandSarah Vaughan
MRL 362Alice ClarkAlice Clark
MRL 363Dance of AllegraPete Yellin
MRL 364YesterdayVarious ArtistsStan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Wardell Gray, Dave Lambert, Benny Green, Allen Eager - Reissue of 56025
MRL 365Siku Ya Bibi Charles McPherson
MRL 366WogaCharles Kynard
MRL 367DamisiHarold Land
MRL 368Driftin'BluesCharles BrownReissue of 56007
MRL 369SoftlyRuth BrownReissue of 56034
MRL 370SmokinCurtis Fuller
MRL 371Gentle EyesArt Farmer
MRL 372Six by SixMaynard FergusonReissue of 56060
MRL 373Clark Terry Bob Brookmeyet QuintetClark Terry Bob Brookmeyer QuintetReissue of 56086
MRL 374Blues' BluesBlue Mitchell
MRL 375MannekindShelly Manne
MRL 376FamilyPaul Jeffrey
MRL 377EllerineEllerine Harding
MRL 378A Little Lovin'Mel Dancy
MRL 379Feelin' GoodSarah Vaughan
MRL 380FuriosoReggie Moore
MRL 381StickballCharles Williams
MRL 382ScatbirdBarry Miles
MRL 383Bertha Belle BrowneBertha Belle Browne
MRL 384Bananas Are Not Created EqualJay Berliner
MRL 385Ups 'n DownsBud Powell
MRL 386DaahoudMax Roach and Clifford Brown
MRL 387I Want YouCarmen McRaeCompilation of tracks from 56028, 56044 and 56065
MRL 388Freedom Jazz DanceThe Night Blooming Jazzmen
MRL 389Your Mama Don't DanceCharles Kynard
MRL 390WatershedPaul Jeffrey
MRL 391Lean on HimBuddy Terry
MRL 392The Last Tango = BluesBlue Mitchell
MRL 393Our Way The Barry Sisters
MRL 394Soul MakossaAfrique
MRL 395Today's ManCharles McPherson
MRL 396WindowsJack Wilkins
MRL 397It's the Right ThingPete Yellin
MRL 398Inner JourneyHal Galper
MRL 399March 1936Andy Kirk and His 12 Clouds of Joy
MRL 400Graffiti BluesBlue Mitchell
MRL 401Live in JapanSarah Vaughan
MRL 402Many Shades of BlueBlue Mitchell
MRL 403Live & Doin' ItCarmen McRae
MRL 404Sarah Vaughan with the Jimmy Rowles QuintetSarah Vaughan
MRL 405Low Down Dirty BluesLightnin' Hopkins
MRL 406Paul JeffreyPaul Jeffrey
MRL 407Going Down SlowSonny Terry & Brownie McGhee / Peppermint Harris
MRL 408JazzVarious ArtistsHarold Land, Bobby Hutcherson, Blue Mitchell, Joe Sample, Stanley Clarke, Freddy Robinson, Hadley Caliman, Buddy Terry, Woody Shaw, Eddie Henderson
MRL 409Billie Holiday Revisited ByVarious ArtistsSarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Morgana King and Others
MRL 410Guitar PlayersVarious Artists
MRL 411Frank TurbaFrank Turba
MRL 412Send in the ClownsSarah Vaughan
MRL 413BootyVarious ArtistsBlue Mitchell, Roy Haynes, Charles Kynard, Charles Williams
MRL 414Dr. SlingshotThe Amboy DukesCompilation of tracks from 56104 and S6112
MRL 415Red LightThe Stroziers
MRL 416The Don Burrows Quartet at the Sydney Opera HouseDon Burrows
MRL 417Looking Backwards to TomorrowJeannie Lewis
MRL 418Black BloodBlack Blood
MRL 419More Sarah Vaughan Live in JapanSarah Vaughan
MRL 420The Lonely OneTerry Huff and Special Delivery
MRL 421Ted Nugent and The Amboy DukesTed Nugent and The Amboy DukesCompilation of tracks from S6104, S6112 and S6118