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   On Internet since 1999

The Birka Jazz Archive
Records we have bought and sold over the years - the rare and the beautiful!


Please note!
Birka Jazz record store is closed but Birka Jazz Archive is still available. Scroll down and use the links to browse this comprehensive archive of rare jazz album covers





AMERICAN LABELS

COLUMBIA RECORDS
The pioneers of album cover design

CLEF, NORGRAN, VERVE (1)
David Stone Martin

CLEF, NORGRAN, VERVE (2)
The photographic covers

BLUE NOTE  10" LPs
Searching for a modern jazz identity

BLUE NOTE  1500 series
Defining the hard bop style

BLUE NOTE  4000 series
Masterpieces of Reid Miles

PRESTIGE RECORDS
Images of East Coast jazz

RIVERSIDE RECORDS
Street cred with Thelonious Monk

PACIFIC JAZZ
Moods of Chet and Claxton

CONTEMPORARY
Cool West Coast, great Sound

SAVOY RECORDS
Masterworks by Charlie Parker

DIAL RECORDS
Small label, big Bird sound

ATLANTIC RECORDS
Bold and striking albums

EMARCY RECORDS
The classic drummer logo label

BETHLEHEM RECORDS
The beautiful design of Burt Goldblatt

DEBUT RECORDS
Artist-operated jazz label with Mingus & Roach

CANDID RECORDS
Legendary, early 1960s LPs

ESP-DISK
Free jazz and silk screened covers

IMPULSE RECORDS
Edgy and experimental

RCA VICTOR
The high spirit of Jim Flora

VARIOUS US labels (1)
ABC-Paramount, Aladdin, Argo, Capitol, Coral, Dawn, Decca,
and more

VARIOUS US labels (2)
Epic, Fantasy, HiFi, Imperial, Jazzland, Jazz West, Jubilee, Mercury, Mode, and more

VARIOUS US labels (3)
Roost, Signal, Storyville, Tampa, Transition, United Artists, Vee Jay, and more



EUROPEAN LABELS

SWEDEN (1)
The EP era and Metronome Records in 1950s

SWEDEN (2)
The LPs in the 1950s, and Swedish jazz abroad

SWEDEN (3)
Changing times in the 1960s

SWEDEN (4)
New energy to Swedish jazz in the 1970s

DENMARK
Montmartre, Debut Records and the heydays in Danish jazz

NORWAY
Krog and Garbarek, greats in Norwegian jazz

FINLAND
Plenty of merged styles in Finnish jazz

FRANCE
Americans in Paris, force in French jazz

ENGLAND
Esquire and Tempo, classic labels in British jazz

GERMANY
Jazz labels with strong identity

ITALY
Rare Italian jazz covers

HOLLAND
From Diamonds to ICP in
Dutch jazz

POLAND
Unique series of Polish jazz on Muza


OTHER COUNTRIES
Jazz labels around the world







         

Candid Records

Legendary,
early 1960s LPs

CANDID was founded in New York in 1960 by Archie Bleyer as a subsidiary of the Cadence label. It was run by jazz writer Nat Hentoff, who in collaboration with the designer and photographer Frank Gauna created a superb series of jazz albums.

But the Candid dream came to an end already in 1961, after about 30 LP issues. The catalogue then passed in the hands of singer Andy Williams, who reissued some of the albums on his Barnaby label. Otherwise the legendary Candid sessions were not to appear for a quarter of century.

In the late 1980s the catalogue was acquired by Alan Bate´s London-based company Black Lions. Bates re-named his company, and gave re-birth to the Candid name. He reissued all the classic titles, as well as items which had previously not been released.

The designer and photographer Frank Gauna is also known for his fine works for United Artists committed jazz series in the early 1960s.



See also

United Artists' jazz series from early 1960s is found at
Various US labels  (2)



LINKS

Candid Records
illustrated discography


Candid Records Listing
Michael Fitzgerald


Interview NAT HENTOFF
jerryjazzmusician.com


 Charles Mingus presents Charles Mingus   Label: Candid 8005   12" LP 1960
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna

Candid Records

 Otis Spann Is The Blues   Label: Candid 8001   12" LP 1960
 Design: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Max Roach: We Insist!   Label: Candid 8002   12" LP 1960
 Design: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Don Ellis: How Time Passes   Label: Candid 8002   12" LP 1960
 Design: Frank Gauna
 
 

 The World of Cecil Taylor   Label: Candid 8006   12" LP 1960
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy   Label: Candid 8007   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Nancy Harrow: Wild Women Don't Have The Blues   Label: Candid 8008   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Clark Terry: Color Changes   Label: Candid 8009   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Benny Bailey: Big Brass   Label: Candid 8011   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Toshiko Mariano Quartet   Label: Candid 8012   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Booker Ervin: That´s It!   Label: Candid 8014   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Phil Woods: Rights of Swing   Label: Candid 8016   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Charles Mingus: Mingus   Label: Candid 8021   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Charles Mingus: Newport Rebels   Label: Candid 8022   12" LP 1961
 Design: Frank Gauna
 
 

 Booker Little: Out Front   Label: Candid 8027   12" LP 1961
 Design and photo: Frank Gauna
 
 

 
      
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