The Little Label that Could: Tossin' and Turnin' Part 4

(image via rateyourmusic.com)

Beltone Records. A brief little, wildly influential record label. Sure they didn't have a long discography, and they dissolved in 1963, but their little time gave us the gem we all love, Tossin' and Turnin'.

Beltone Records started out as Beltone Recording Corporation in 1946, and they first gained great notoriety by developing a functional stereo recording system with Design Records in 1959. 

They began their record label in 1960, spearheaded by company president Les Cahan, well known for discovering the Jive Five. Their focus was on Rhythm and Blues, and their A&R representative was composer  Joe Rene, the conductor whose wife was one of the songwriters behind Tossin' and Turnin'. 

Beltone Records was distributed by King Records, which would later be responsible inadvertently of launching James Brown's career. At one point, Beltone had a subsidiary label named Lescay Records, largely a forgettable label, but they were also the publishing company for the song, Tossin' and Turnin'

Most of the above information came from back-issues of Billboard Magazine.

Tossin' and Turnin' Pt 2: Bobby Lewis, Deconstructed

(Image from last.fm)

Bobby Lewis released Tossin' and Turnin' in 1961, his first hit from his first recording. He was born in 1925, apparently, and started playing piano at age five.

He ran away from home at 14 and began working in the music industry early on, connecting with greats like Duke Ellington, and started performing at the Apollo Theater in 1960. Tossin' and Turnin' was selected by the songwriters for their good friend to perform as a favor, but nobody had a clue just how big of a favor it would be.

Since Bobby had one more hit with the song, "One Track Mind," he can't really be called a One Hit Wonder, but honestly, there's no way he would have ever topped the success of Tossin' and Turnin'. The circumstances were too perfect, which we'll examine on another day.

Bobby Lewis is completely blind now, but he still performs occasionally and grants interviews when asked. Seems like a top shelf guy to me. It's worth noting that he's the first African American since The Drifters to land a number one spot, and the first of the '60s.

See you next time for more inspection of the song!

Tossin' and Turnin' Pt. 1: The Song

The #1 Hit single of 1961 was the song "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis, released early in the year. I'm going to be dissecting the song for the next few days. Check it out below:

See you tomorrow with our first angle!