Monday, June 28, 2021

Ace Recording Co. (Mt. Vernon)

The above photo (found in a antique store) appears to show Joseph Biagi, owner and manager of the Ace Recording Co. in Mount Vernon, Illinois, showing off some of his equipment sometime in the 1950s.

The signs in the photo read "Register Here For A Free Recording" and"Hear Yourself As Others Hear You."

The Ace Recording Co. opened its doors sometime in the late 1940s.  The Mother's Day ad seen here is from 1949.

In addition to owning and operating the Ace studio, Mr. Biagi was an art instructor at the Mount Vernon high school.    
The Ace Recording Co. was listed in the directory of Record Labels and Their Manufactures published in the March 15, 1952 issue of Billboard magazine.  At the time, it was just one of five labels and/or recording studios with Illinois addresses outside of the Chicago area listed in the directory.

It is unclear how many, if any, musical groups recorded at Ace.  Most of the advertisements in the local newspaper were about rentals, repairs and the sale of home audio equipment such as the Dejur dictating / transcribing machine.  

The 1950 announcement seen here mentions Mr. Biagi's objective of making Mt. Vernon the "audio visual headquarters of Southern Illinois."

Thursday, June 24, 2021

WESN Show #53 - June 24, 2021


ARTISTTRACKLABELYEARTOWN / CITY
Lloyd Benton & The Country FourYodeling For FunMootrey's Studio1972Ashton / Franklin Grove
Wiley MooreCornbread & Butter BeansCornbelt1964Decatur
Bill Chambers & The HillsidersShe's Treatin' Me BadSun-Nel1958East St. Louis
Illinois Play Boys (vocal by Joe Durbin)Top Of The WorldBonny1971Princeton
The TravelersKeep Your Money (And Save Your Breath)Midwest1964Champaign-Urbana
Mississippi Wunder BoyNashville DreamBonny1971LaSalle Co
Gene PiersonEngineer MountainNashville1963Springfield
Don KillionBlack Land DustBonny1972Oglesby
Wayne Barnhill & The Rhythm AcesSing The Blues To DaddyIllini1974Bloomington-Normal
Frank DurbinA Drink Of CourageMerryman1969Kappa
Lyle Grobe & The Rhythm RamblersMorning DewMidwest1978Dixon
Carl Trantham With The Rhythm All StarsOur True LoveStarday1958Peoria
J.J. Dickens & The Barrier BreakersI Want The Whole World To Love YouMountain1970LaSalle-Peru
Junior GarnerGo On And Live With The DevilNashville1963Decatur
Jim DurdelBright Lights UptownNashville1962Arthur
Steve Bounds & Ronald Brading18 Wheels (Drive The Blues Away)Farmer City Music Hall1978Farmer City / Bloomington
Terry PetersenLove Ain't Worth A Dime Unless It's FreeIllini1974Chenoa
Marvin LeeNo One To BlameMidwest1964Champaign-Urbana
Lucky Leroy and the Rhythm RamblersNow Get Goin'Go-Lish1955Harrisburg
Earl Palmer & Ronnie LayneLonesome For MeGlobe?Lexington


Wednesday, June 16, 2021

WESN Show #52 - June 17, 2021


ARTISTTRACKLABELYEARTOWN / CITY
The GardeniasMy Baby's TopsFederal1956Alton
Al Sears and His Rock 'n' RollersGoin' UptownHerald1955Macomb
Count DemonTake It Upstairs Pt. 1Po' Boy's1962Champaign
Jimmy Binkley and His ComboWine, Wine, WineChecker1954Peoria
Billy Gayles w/ Ike Turner's Rhythm RockersI'm Tore UpFederal1956Cairo / East St. Louis
Jimmy Bell's TrioJimmys Swing BoogieAristocrat1949Peoria
Preston Jackson and The Rhythm AcesThree Quarter Stomp Pts. 1&2Hit1963Decatur
Johnny WrightGotta Have You For MyselfStevens1959Madison
Byron GipsonEtta MaeSpecialty1956Peoria
Eddie SnowAin't That RightSun1955Springfield
Albert KingLet's Have A Natural Ball!Bobbin1960Brooklyn
Jimmy Binkley and His ComboYou Made A Boo BooChecker1956Peoria
Preston Jackson and The Rhythm AcesJoniVee Jay1961Decatur
Byron GipsonThe One I LoveSpecialty1956Peoria
Count DemonI Don't BelievePo' Boy's1962Champaign
Eddie SnowBring Your Love Back HomeSun1955Springfield
Little Cooper and the DriftersMoving SlowStevens1959East St. Louis
Birdlegs & PaulineIn So Many WaysCuca1963Rockford
Jmmie Bell TrioStranger In Your TownPremium1951Peoria

Ads for local performances by artists on the show