Enjoy records
Profile
Enjoy was Bobby Robinson's label. This Harlem label had been home to saxophone legend King Curtis, and in 1979 it put out its first hip hop record, "Rappin' and Rockin' in the House" by The Funky Four (Plus One More).
Bobby Robinson
Bobby Robinson owned a record shop in New York City. He established many record labels in the '50s and '60s, on some he was the sole owner, on others he was in partnership with his brother Danny Robinson. Among them were Red Robin Records established in 1952 (Bobby and Danny), Whirlin' Disc Records established in 1956 (Bobby), Fury Records established in 1957 (Bobby), Everlast Records established in 1957 (Bobby and Danny), Fire Records established in 1959 (Bobby), and Enjoy Records established in 1962 (Bobby and Danny).Red Robin and Whirlin' Disc recorded mostly vocal group rhythm and blues music. Originally Fury was established as a record label and Fire was to be the publishing arm. When Bobby Robinson issued "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison, it was a sensation and went to the top of the singles charts. At the height of this success, Robinson was sued by Savoy Records who, unknown to Bobby, had Wilbert Harrison under a 5 year contract that was to expire in August 1959, the "Kansas City" record came out in March 1959. Because Fury was tied up in litigation, Robinson began releasing material on the Fire Record label. The litigation lasted until September 1959 and prevented Robinson from issuing any follow-up Wilbert Harrison records while he was so hot.
Fire Records became known as a blues label and issued albums by Lightnin' Hopkins, Buster Brown and Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup. Bobby Robinson made occasional forays into New Orleans where he recorded Lee Dorsey and Bobby Marchan.
The biggest hits produced by Bobby Robinson were "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison which sold over 2 million records, "Fannie Mae" by Buster Brown and "Ya Ya" by Lee Dorsey both of which sold over one million records. In addition to these artists, he also had hits with Elmore James (some of his best work), Gladys Knight and the Pips (their first recordings), Lewis Lymon and the Teen Chords, Bobby Marchan, King Curtis, Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford and Les Cooper. --http://www.bsnpubs.com/fire.html
Frank Heller
Frank Heller was a recording engineer, composer and musician from 1970 to 1996.
He recorded all of the Enjoy records in NYC from roughly 1979 to 1981. He also recorded Spoonie's "Spoonin' Rap" for Pete Brown.
He made up the groove and played the bass and drums on Spoonies record....The weird little percussion tracks were played by Spoonie and Frank Heller. Incidentally, the drums were recorded on a 16 track, bounced to stereo where 4 bars were looped on a 2 track machine and shot back to the 16 track...after which all the instrumental overdubs and vocals were laid on....making this the very first rap record ever to use a drum loop....2 years before the first sampler became available. It was recorded in a studio called Studio 21 Sound on 59th St and Madison Ave. [...]
CDs
- The Best of Enjoy Records [CD, Amazon US]
[FR] [DE] [UK]
Enjoy was Bobby Robinson's label. This Harlem label had been home to saxophone legend King Curtis, and in 1979 it put out its first hip hop record, "Rappin' and Rockin' in the House" by The Funky Four (Plus One More).
- Superappin - Grand Master Flash & Furious Five
- Love Rap - Spoonie Gee & The Treacherous Three
- Body Rock - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee)
- At The Party - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee)
- It's Magic - Fearless Four
- Move With The Groove - The Disco Four
- Funk Box Party - The Masterdon Committee
- Feel The Heart Beat - The Treacherous Three (with Kool Moe Dee) [a remake of Taana Garder's Heart Beat on West End]
- Just Having Fun - Doug E. Fresh
- New Rap Language, The - The Treacherous Three
- Rockin' It - The Fearles Four (mixed by Frank Heller]
- The Best of Wilbert Harrison - Aim records
[CD, Amazon US]
[FR] [DE] [UK]
Primarily known to be a two hit wonder. The hits are "Let's Work Together" and "Kansas City". [...]