Modern Records

Modern Records
Name	Modern Records
Founded	1945
Founders	Jules Bihari; Joe Bihari; Saul Bihari
Status	Defunct (original); revived (various imprints)
Country	United States
Location	Los Angeles, California
Genres	Blues; R&B; Rhythm and Blues; Soul; Doo-wop

Modern Records

Modern Records was an American independent record label founded in 1945 by the Bihari brothers Jules, Joe, and Saul in Los Angeles, California. The label became a vital outlet for postwar blues and rhythm and blues artists associated with the Great Migration, the Chitlin' Circuit, and the early rock and roll scene, releasing recordings that influenced artists on the West Coast, in Chicago, and on international tours. Modern's catalog and business maneuvers intersected with other companies, artists, and venues central to mid‑20th century American popular music.

History

Modern Records was established amid the postwar expansion of the American music industry and the rise of independent labels such as Chess Records, Sun Records, and King Records; it navigated relationships with distributors like Vee-Jay Records and competitors including Specialty Records and Savoy Records. Early signings and releases connected Modern to venues like the Apollo Theater, circuits such as the Chitlin' Circuit, and broader movements exemplified by the Great Migration and the urban blues scenes of Los Angeles and Chicago. Throughout the 1950s Modern recorded artists who performed at events tied to promoters like Alan Freed and who later appeared on media platforms including American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show. Legal disputes and catalog sales later involved entities such as RPM Records (US), Crown Records, and publishing firms with links to BMI and ASCAP, while reissues connected Modern's masters to companies including Chess Records (ARC) reissues and various European reissue labels.

Artists and Repertoire

Modern's roster featured seminal artists who bridged blues, R&B, and early rock and roll, including B. B. King, Etta James, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, and Lightnin' Hopkins whose recordings circulated alongside contemporaries like Ike Turner, Little Richard, and Bo Diddley. The label also recorded vocal groups and soloists tied to doo‑wop and soul traditions such as The Platters, Roy Brown (singer), Jimmy Witherspoon, and Earl Hooker while sessions often involved session musicians connected to studios like Gold Star Studios, producers with ties to Sam Phillips, and arrangers associated with Quincy Jones. Modern's A&R and talent scouting intersected with radio personalities like Alan Freed and regional promoters who booked acts at venues such as The Roxy Theatre and festivals comparable to later events like Monterey Pop Festival.

Business Operations and Labels

The Bihari brothers operated Modern alongside affiliated imprints including RPM Records (US), Crown Records, and later reissues under different corporate names, coordinating licensing deals with publishers tied to Hill & Range and distribution networks that served independent retailers in markets covered by chains like Tower Records and independent jukebox operators. Financial and contractual practices brought the label into contact with legal institutions and litigants reminiscent of disputes involving A&M Records and Atlantic Records over royalties and master ownership; later rights transfers involved catalog purchasers similar to companies like Ace Records (UK) and Charly Records. Modern's manufacturing and pressing activities engaged pressing plants with contracts comparable to those used by Columbia Records and Capitol Records, while international licensing extended to markets reached by distributors associated with Decca Records and EMI.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Modern's recordings contributed to the development of American popular music traditions represented by figures like Chuck Berry and movements linked to the British Invasion where bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles cited American blues influences; Modern's masters were later sampled, covered, and anthologized alongside compilations curated by labels like Rhino Entertainment and Verve Records. The label's influence is evident in music scholarship hosted by institutions like Smithsonian Folkways and exhibitions at museums such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; tribute tours and documentary projects produced by filmmakers in the tradition of Martin Scorsese's music films have highlighted artists from Modern's catalog. Modern's role in regional scenes also informed academic studies at universities with programs like Berklee College of Music and archival projects coordinated with libraries such as the Library of Congress.

Notable Releases and Chart Performance

Notable releases on Modern and its affiliates included singles and albums that charted on industry listings compiled by Billboard (magazine) and Cash Box (magazine), with hitmakers from Modern appearing on national charts alongside peers from Philips Records and Decca Records. Charting singles by artists associated with Modern were frequently featured in year‑end lists and covered by contemporaneous publications such as DownBeat and Rolling Stone, while reissues later achieved placements on catalog charts overseen by Nielsen SoundScan and influenced compilation sales tracked by RIAA certifications. Several Modern recordings became standards that were reinterpreted on landmark albums released by artists on labels like Atlantic Records and Motown Records.

Technological and Distribution Changes

Modern's operation spanned transitions from 78 rpm shellac and 45 rpm vinyl singles to long‑playing 33⅓ rpm albums, aligning production with technological shifts in pressing introduced by major plants used by Columbia Records and manufacturing innovations influenced by developments at companies like RCA Victor. The label adapted to distribution changes from regional jukebox circuits to national radio syndication via networks comparable to Mutual Broadcasting System and later reissue strategies that leveraged compact disc formats promoted by firms such as Sony Music Entertainment and digital licensing models that paralleled practices at Apple Inc. and streaming platforms. Archival remastering of Modern masters involved engineers and studios that have worked with labels like Chesky Records and archival projects overseen by preservationists at institutions such as The British Library.

Category:American record labels