February 14th is Valentine's Day. This year we are also making it Vee Jay Day... and here is a short tribute to the Vee Jay records that were pressed here in Canada during the 1960s. Included for you here are a few updates to our Vee Jay discography. Please check out that page for a potted history of the label in Canada.
First up here is an early Eddie Harris release which was the popular sax instrumental of the famous film theme. This disc put the name of Eddie Harris on the map amongst jazz enthusiasts in Canada. It is a haunting cover and you can HEAR how he developed the sound of his electronic sax through the next few years.
(Phonodisc) Delta D-3140 - Eddie Harris - Exodus / Alicia (1961, issued in the USA as Vee Jay 378)
Eddie Harris followed Exodus with a couple of jazz covers of songs from the film Breakfast At Tiffany's.
(Compo) Vee Jay VJ 420 - Eddie Harris - Moon River / Mr. Yunioshi (1961)
Another interesting release appeared in 1963 as follows.
(Compo) Vee Jay VJ 496 - Eddie Harris - Lolita Marie / Mima (1963)
For my money, the Compo version of the Vee Jay label, with its simple black and silver design, is one of the really great Canadian labels from the 1960s.
Four all of you label-ologists out there, here are some other Canadian Vee Jay label updates that we have spotted recently:
Vee Jay VJ 390 X - Jerry Reed - I'm A Telling You / I See A Fool (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 398 X - Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City / I'm Mr. Luck (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 405 - Jerry Butler - Moon River / Aware Of Love (Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 420 - see the first Eddie Harris entry above
Vee Jay VJ 433 - Ray Whitley - Yessiree Yessiree / A Love We Can Have And Hold (1962, Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 440 - Gene Chandler (Duke Of Earl) - Walk On With The Duke / London Town (1962, Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 493 - John Lee Hooker - Frisco Blues / Take A Look At Yourself (Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 496 - see the second Eddie Harris entry above
Vee Jay VJ 572 - The New Wine Singers - Journey Medley / I'm Going Home (Picture sleeve, Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 589 - Orville Couch - Dance Her By Me / Strike A Match (Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 606 - Jon Savage - I Got A Crush / New Fangled Jingle Jangle Swimming Suit From Paris (Compo)
Vee Jay VJ 609 X - Joe Simon - My Adorable One / Say (That My Love Is True) (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 613 X - Betty Everett and Jerry Butler - Ain't That Loving You Baby / Let It Be Me (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 633 X - Betty Everett and Jerry Butler - Smile / Love Is Strange (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 639 X - The Four Seasons - Connie O / Never On Sunday (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 648 X - Gary Le Mel - On Broadway / Theme From "Mondo Pazzo" (Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 707 X - Jerry Butler - Just For You / Believe In Me (1965, Quality)
Vee Jay VJ 713 X - The Four Seasons - Little Boy / Silver Wings (1965, Quality)
The oddest thing for Canada pressings of Vee Jay is that the label really got started with Quality, switched to Compo, and then returned to Quality.
Please let us know if you have any Vee Jay updates for our growing list! Vee Jay records pressed in Canada are not easy to come across as they were mostly produced in small pressing runs.
Lastly, we wish a Happy Valentines Day to all of our Capitol6000 visitors!