Black Lion Records
# Black Lion Records

Black Lion Records was a British jazz record company and label based in London, England.

Alan Bates founded Black Lion Records in 1968. The label had two series of releases, one for British jazz musicians and one for international musicians. It released a large amount of reissue material, including items by Art Tatum, Jay McShann, Ben Webster, Earl Hines, Bud Freeman, Bud Powell, Don Byas, Coleman Hawkins, Mal Waldron, and Duke Ellington. It had a subsidiary called Freedom Records, which concentrated on free jazz releases; this wing was bought by Arista Records in 1975.

The label was distributed by Polydor for part of its existence. It became part of D. A. Music in the 1980s, while Bates bought Candid Records in 1989 and shifted the focus of his activities there.

## Discography

| Catalogue | Artist | Album | Year |
| - | - | - | - |
| 3701-2 | Various | The Original Jazz Masters Series Volume 1 (CD, Comp) | |
| 3702-5 | Various | The Original Jazz Masters Series Volume 2 (CD, Comp) | 1973 |
| 4291 | Cecil Taylor | Silent Tongues (LP, Album) | 1977 |
| 27 707-9 | Various | Black Lion Jam Session (2xLP, Comp) | 1973 |
| 65 102 | Philly Joe Jones* | Gone, Gone, Gone! (LP, Album) |
| 65104 | Stanley Cowell* | Brilliant Circles (LP, Album, RP) | 1983 |
| 65.115 | Sun Ra and His Arkestra* | Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album, RE) |
| 65122 | Bud Powell | The Invisible Cage (LP, Album, RE, RM) |
| 65 605 | Cecil Taylor | The Great Paris Concert (2xLP, Album, RE) | 1983 |
| 25 113-2 B | Alexis Korner, Memphis Slim | Rock Me Baby | 1972 |
| 26 300 4 U | Barney Kessel | Blue Soul (LP, Comp) | 1975 |
| 28 401-8 MB | Teddy Wilson | Stomping at the Savoy (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 28 410-9 U | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 28 414-1 U | Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich & Charlie Shavers | Anatomy of a Jam Session (LP, Album, Mono, RE) | 1971 |
| 28 415-8 U | Dexter Gordon | The Montmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 28 416-6 U | Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band* | At Her Majesty's Pleasure... (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 28 420-8 U | Alex Welsh & His Band* | If I Had a Talking Picture of You (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| 28 421-4 U | Sun Ra and His Arkestra* | Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| 28 433-1 Z | Charles Tolliver's Music Inc.* | Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (2xLP, Album) | 1972 |
| 28 449-7 U | Thelonious Monk | The Man I Love (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| 28 462-0 U | Stéphane Grappelli | Just One of Those Things! (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| 28 477-8 U | Dexter Gordon | Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| 2460 125 | Alex Welsh and His Band, Humphrey Lyttelton, George Chisholm | The Melody Maker Tribute to Louis Armstrong Vol. III (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 2460 128 | Bill Coleman (2) / Ben Webster | Swingin' in London (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| 2460 139 | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| 2460-189 | Oscar Pettiford | Blue Brothers (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| 2460 191 | Paul Gonsalves / Ray Nance | Just a-Sittin and a-Rockin (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| 2460 194 | Freddy Randall – Dave Shepherd | Jazz All Stars |
| 2460-200 | Earl Hines | Tour de Force (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| 2460-208 | Chris Barber | Drat That Fratle Rat! (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| 2683 047 | Stephane Grappelli* With Hot Club of London, The* | I Got Rhythm! (2xLP, Album) | 1974 |
| B-11836-75 | Various | Jazz at Black Lion (2xLP, Comp) | 1975 |
| BL-047 | Stéphane Grappelli | I Got Rhythm! (2xLP, Album) | 1974 |
| BL – 105 | Stéphane Grappelli / Barney Kessel | I Remember Django (LP, Album) | 1970 |
| BL 106 | Sun Ra and His Arkestra* | Pictures of Infinity (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-108 | Dexter Gordon | The Monmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-111 | Ben Webster | Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves (LP, Album) |
| BL-130 | Barney Kessel | Swinging Easy! (LP, Album) | 1969 |
| BL-131 | Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band* | At Her Majesty's Pleasure... (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-146 | Illinois Jacquet | Genius at Work! (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-152 | Thelonious Monk | Something in Blue (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-153 | Bud Powell | The Invisible Cage (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BL-155 | Memphis Slim | Rock Me Baby! |
| BL-158 | Art Tatum | The Genius | 1967 |
| BL-159 | Coleman Hawkins & Bud Powell | Hawk in Germany (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| BL-190 | Ben Webster | Duke's in Bed! (LP, Album) | 1969 |
| BL-191 | Paul Gonsalves, Ray Nance | Just a-sittin' and a-rockin' (LP, Album) |
| BL 192 | Dollar Brand | This Is Dollar Brand | 1965 |
| BL-197 | Thelonious Monk | The Man I Love | 1973 |
| BL-302 | Ben Webster | Saturday Night at the Montmartre | 1974 |
| BL-307 | Sonny Stitt & the Giants | Night Work | 1974 |
| BL-309 | Dexter Gordon | Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BL-310 | Barney Kessel | Blue Soul (LP, Comp) | 1975 |
| BL-311 | Piano Red | Ain't Goin' to Be Your Low Down Dog No More | 1974 |
| BL-313 | Stephane Grappelli* | The Talk of the Town (LP, Album) | 1975 |
| BL 278.108 | Ben Webster | Duke's in Bed! (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLM 51010 | Sweet Substitute | Sophisticated Ladies | 1981 |
| BLM 51101 | Ottilie Patterson with Chris Barber | Madame Blues & Doctor Jazz! (12"") | 1984 |
| BLM 51503 | Ornette Coleman | An Evening with Ornette Coleman Vol. 1 (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | 1972 |
| BLM 51504 | Ornette Coleman | An Evening with Ornette Coleman Vol. 2 (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| BLM 52001 | Duke Ellington | Serenade to Sweden (LP, Album) | 1982 |
| BLM 52004 | Bo Diddley | I'm a Man (LP, Album) | 1982 |
| BLM 52009 | Sonny Stitt & the Giants | Loverman | 1974 |
| BLM 52011 | Duke Ellington | Magenta Haze | 1983 |
| BLM 52014 | Bo Diddley | Road Runner | 1983 |
| BLM 52022 | Earl Hines | The Pearls | 1983 |
| BLM 61001 | Chris Barber and Dr. John with Freddie Kohlman | Take Me Back to New Orleans (2xLP) | 1980 |
| BLM61003/4 | Chris Barber | The Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band – Barbican Blues (2xLP) | 1982 |
| BLP 306 | Earl Hines & Paul Gonsalves | It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing! | 1975 |
| BLP 12100 | Ray Russell | Secret Asylum (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 12113 | Alex Welsh featuring George Chisholm, Humphrey Lyttelton, Bruce Turner | An Evening with Alex Welsh and His Friends Part 2 | 1972 |
| BLP 12121 | Alex Welsh Band, The* | Showcase 2 | 1976 |
| BLP 12131 | Alex Welsh & His Band | Dixieland Party (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLP 12134 | Humphrey Lyttelton | Take It from The Top – A Dedication to Duke Ellington | 1975 |
| BLP 12136 | Ken Colyer | Darkness on the Delta | 1979 |
| BLP 12145 | Rod Mason | Good Companions (LP, Album) | 1977 |
| BLP 12150 | Cleo Laine | At the Wavendon Festival | 1976 |
| BLP 12151 | Dudley Moore | At the Wavendon Festival (LP, Album) | 1976 |
| BLP 12163 | Alan Elsdon Band, The* | Jazz Journeymen | 1977 |
| BLP 12174 | Pete Allen (2) | Turkey Trot | 1979 |
| BLP 12175 | Digby Fairweather | Havin' Fun (LP, Album) | 1979 |
| BLP 12185 | Pete Allen (2) | Down in Honky Tonk Town | 1979 |
| BLP 30102 | Dexter Gordon | The Montmartre Collection Vol. 1 (LP, Album, RE) | 1981 |
| BLP 30103 | Sun Ra and His Arkestra* | Pictures of Infinity (Album) ◄ (3 versions) | 1971 |
| BLP 30104 | Nat King Cole, Buddy Rich & Charlie Shavers | Anatomy of a Jam Session (LP, Album, Mono, RE) | 1971 |
| BLP 30105 | Ben Webster | Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves (LP, Album) |
| BLP 30106 | Earl Hines | Tea for Two | 1971 |
| BLP 30107 | Barney Kessel | Swinging Easy! (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BLP 30109 | Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band | At Her Majesty's Pleasure.... (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | 1971 |
| BLP 30110 | Ruby Braff | Hear Me Talkin ' | 1971 |
| BLP 30111 | Hampton Hawes | Spanish Steps (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | 1971 |
| BLP 30114 | Teddy Wilson | Stomping at the Savoy (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BLP30116 | Philly Joe Jones | Trailways Express (Vinyl, Ste) | 1971 |
| BLP 30117 | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars | Charles Tolliver and His All Stars (LP, Album) | 1971 |
| BLP 30119 | Thelonious Monk | Something in Blue (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | 1971 |
| BLP 30120 | Bud Powell | The Invisible Cage (LP, Album, RE, RM) |
| BLP 30121 | André Previn | That Old Blue Magic | 1972 |
| BLP 30124 | Art Tatum | The Genius (LP, Album, Mono) | 1967 |
| BLP 30125 | Coleman Hawkins & Bud Powell | Hawk in Germany (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| BLP 30126 | Don Byas | Anthropology | 1967 |
| BLP 30133 | Teddy Wilson | Moonglow (LP, Album) | 1972 |
| BLP 30134 | Johnny Griffin | You Leave Me Breathless (Album)(two versions) | 1972 |
| BLP 30136 | Cliff Jackson | Carolina Shout ! (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 30137 | Ben Webster | Duke's in Bed (LP, Album) | 1969 |
| BLP 30139 | Dollar Brand | This Is Dollar Brand (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 30141 | Thelonious Monk | The Man I Love | 1973 |
| BLP 30142 | Mal Waldron | Blues for Lady Day (Album) ◄ (3 versions) | 1973 |
| BLP 30143 | Earl Hines | Tour De Force (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 30144 | Jay McShann | The Band That Jumps the Blues (LP, Comp, Mono) | 1973 |
| BLP 30150 | Bill Coleman & Guy Lafitte | Mainstream at Montreux (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 30151 | Barney Kessel | Summertime in Montreux (LP, Album) | 1973 |
| BLP 30152 | Stéphane Grappelli | Just One of Those Things! (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLP 30155 | Ben Webster | Saturday Night at the Montmartre (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLP 30156 | Teddy Wilson | Striding After Fats (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLP 30157 | Dexter Gordon | Blues Walk! The Montmartre Collection Vol. II (LP, Album) | 1974 |
| BLP 30161 | Barney Kessel | Blue Soul (LP, Comp) | 1975 |
| BLP 30162 | Piano Red | Ain't Goin' to Be Your Low Down Dog No More | 1975 |
| BLP 30172 | Carmen McRae and the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band | November Girl | 1975 |
| BLP 30173 | Ben Webster | Midnight at the Montmartre (LP, Album) | 1977 |
| BLP 30182 | Ben Webster | Sunday Morning at the Montmartre (LP, Album) | 1977 |
| BLP 30183 | Stephane Grappelli*, Roland Hanna · Jiri Mraz* · Mel Lewis | Stephane Grappelli Meets the Rhythm Section (LP, Album) | 1975 |
| BLP 30185 | Oscar Pettiford featuring Attila Zoller | The Legendary Oscar Pettiford (LP, Album) | 1975 |
| BLP 30187 | Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band* | Wild Bill Davison With Freddy Randall and His Band (LP, Album, RE, Sec) | 1977 |
| BLP 30196 | Memphis Slim | Chicago Boogie (LP, Album) | 1976 |
| BLP 30200 | Teddy Wilson | Cole Porter Classics (LP, Album) | 1978 |
| BLP 30203 | Art Tatum | The V-Disc | 1978 |
| BLP 60109 | Walter Bishop, Jr. | Milestones | 1989 |
| BLP 60122 | Freddie Hubbard | Minor Mishap | 1989 |
| BLP60112 | Barney Kessel | Autumn Leaves (LP, Comp) | 1989 |
| BLP 60116 | Thelonious Monk | The London Collection: Volume Two | 1988 |
| BLP 60 911 | Lee Wiley – Ellis Larkins | Duologue (LP, Album) | 1988 |
| BLP 12110/1 | Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, The | Live in Berlin (2xLP) | 1973 |
| BLP 12124/5 | Chris Barber | The Chris Barber Jubilee Album 1 (1949 – 1959) (2xLP) | 1974 |
| BLP 30131/30132 | Charles Tolliver 's Music Inc.* | Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival (2xLP, Album) | 1972 |
| BLPX 12137/8 | Max Collie Rhythm Aces | World Champions of Jazz (2xLP, Gat) | 1976 |
| CBB 1 | Chris Barber Jazz And Blues Band, The | The Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band | 1978 |
| CD 9007 | Steve Lacy | The Straight Horn of Steve Lacy (CD, Album, RE) |
| ESTEREO 4288 | Roswell Rudd | Flexible Flyer (LP, Album) | 1975 |
| INT 147.002 | Stephane Grappelli* & Earl Hines | The Giants | 1977 |
| INT 147.006 | Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band* | Wild Bill Davison with Freddy Randall and His Band (LP, RE) | 1977 |
| INT 147.014 | Count Basie | Ain't It the Truth | 1981 |
| INT 157.005 | Alex Welsh & His Band* – George Chisholm – Humphrey Lyttelton – Bruce Turner | Salute to Satchmo (2xLP, Album, RE) | 1977 |
| INT 157.007 | Chris Barber and Dr. John | Take Me Back to New Orleans (2xLP) | 1980 |
| Mono 28446-3 U | Fred McDowell | Mississippi Delta Blues (LP, Bla) | 1965 |
| PA-7041 | Th89elonious Monk | Something in Blue (LP, Album, RE) | 1972 |
| PAP-9054 | Cleo Laine | At the Wavendon Festival | 1976 |
| (S) 4256 | Johnny Griffin | You Leave Me Breathless | 1972 |
| S-4265 | Ornette Coleman | In Europe Volume 1 (LP, Album) | 1975 |
| BLCD 760124 | Oscar Pettiford | Montmartre Blues | 1989 |
