PLANET
Important Australian independent label formed by Bob Crawford (aka Robert “King” Crawford) and Marcus Herman – sound engineer and technician. It existed from 1951 to 1961.
The label began when Bob Crawford borrowed 90 Australian pounds from his Aunt Ethel (a needlework designer in the Block Arcade, Melbourne) while still in his teens and was registered on 14th March 1951.
Initially the label was established to release some 78rpm records while Bob Crawford was lead singer/crooner with Alan Rhodes & The Jump Men.
The label folded in about 1961 caused by debts from a scam artist masquerading as a band manager and an ill-fated “merger” with a company called “Telefil (Aust.) Co. Pty. Ltd.” (headed by Philip Opas Q.C.) – which turned out to be nothing but a debt-laden shell and resulted in the deliberate erasing of all Planet master tapes (by the firm secretary Mrs. Kinnon who bulk erased them to then sell on as blank re-usable tape). Much of the artwork was also lost at this time.
Source: kingcrawford.com.au
jazzart
Melbourne’s music store owner Bob Clemens established his own record label, Jazzart, in 1948 and, over 4 years, issued a large selection of Australian Dixieland (or traditional jazz) and progressive (or modern) jazz.
Source: Australian Jazz Museum
Ampersand
Jazz label from William Miller (Melbourne) started in September 1943.
The 10″ series ran to 36, there was a 12″ from 1201-1206 and some 10″ re-issues from US sources R101 to R105. All but 26/27 issued on vinyl rather than shellac.
Production of 78s ended in 1955.
Source: 78rpm.net.nz
