Calla Album Discography

Calla Album Discography
by David Edwards and Mike Callahan
Last update: July 25, 2019

The Calla label started in 1965 as an independent New York label, owned by Nathan (Nate) McCalla. Calla hit big with J.J. Jackson's "But It's Alright" in 1966, a song recorded in England with British musicians backing Jackson, and then turned this 45 hit into an LP of the same name. Calla licensed the rights to J.J. Jackson's material to Warner Brothers some time later, and the same song re-charted in 1969 on WB. Other artists on the label included the Sandpebbles, Jean Wells, Billy Mitchell, and Betty LaVette, Rudy Love, and the Persuaders.

Early singles and possibly the first album were distributed by Cameo-Parkway, but Cameo-Parkway soon ran into problems staying in business. With Cameo-Parkway on the rocks, McCalla decided to do his own distribution. McCalla was a friend of Morris Levy and was part of the Roulette Records group of labels, but operated independently as far as distribution. This worked well until 1972, when the material seemed to dry up.

Calla was all but inactive for the 1972-1975 years. But in 1976, Calla issued a handful of albums on the 1230 and 5000 series distributed by a company called Shakat Records. The albums that sold well were shifted to CBS for distribution later that same year, and CBS eventually reissued several of the Calla albums on Epic, with a small Calla logo.

Calla shut its doors in 1977, when Nate McCalla decided to go on an extended stay outside the United States. When he returned in 1980, he was soon murdered. Like many record company execs, Nate McCalla was less of a studio man and more of an office man, one who knew what he liked, signing a wide variety of musical genres to his label. He leaves a relatively small but quite interesting musical legacy.

Given the switching of distributors during the early days, the relative chaos of label design is not surprising. The label for 1101 (far left) was red and yellow with black printing. The label is divided into quarters with alternating red and yellow quarters. "CALLA" is in yellow on a red quarter directly above the center hole. The label for 1102 was yellow with black print (near left)

The label for 1103 was similar to the label for 1101, but was red and white instead of red and yellow (far left). Most of the copies of 1104 we've seen have been promos. The one commercial copy we've come across had a white label with red print, with just print and no graphics (near left) The promo label is below.

The promo label for 1104 was white with black print (far left). The labels for 1105 and 1106, both released in 1970, featured a white label with color circles at the top (near left).

By 1971, Calla ended the 1100 series and started a 2000 series. Both of the releases in the 2000 series had an orange label with dark print (far left). The 1230 series and the 5000 series, both of which started in 1976, were distributed by Shakat Records. Most of the releases in these series used a new red and green label with black printing (near left), with "CALLA" in white in a red area above the center hole. The bottom of the label is green. This was also the original label for the Epic reissues.

One release, 2-CAS 1240, used a blue label with no graphics (far left). Second pressings of the Epic releases used an Epic label with a small Calla logo in the lower left of the label (near left). Later pressings of the Epic releases used the then-current Epic labels.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Calla Records, which is currently inactive. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and Follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 1998, 1999, 2005, 2019 by Mike Callahan.

CALLA ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Cover	Number - Title - Artist - [Release Date] (Chart) Contents
	C/SC-1100 Series:
	C/C(S)-1101 - J. J. - J.J. Jackson & The Greatest Little Soul Band In The World [1967] Red and yellow label. But It's Alright/Try Me/That Ain't Right/You've Got Me Dizzy/A Change Is Gonna Come/I Dig Girls//Come See Me (I'm Your Man)/The Stones That I Throw/Give Me Back The Love/Ain't Too Proud To Beg/Love Is A Hurting Thing/Boogaloo Baby/Let It Out
	C(S)-1102 - Taking Care Of Business - Larry Page & His Orchestra [1968] Yellow label. Waltzing To Jazz/Michelle/Take Five/Jo-Jo/Hoe-Down//Everyone's Gone To The Moon/Theme From Peyton Place/Leanda's Theme/Gravy Waltz/Sunshine Superman/African Waltz
	SC-1103 - World! Here Comes Jean Wells! - Jean Wells [1968] Red and white label. Have A Little Mercy/Drown In My Own Tears/Broomstick Horse Cowboy/What Have I Got To Lose/After Loving You//Our Sweet Love Turned Bitter/Try Me And See/Sit Down And Cry/I Feel Good/Easy Away A Little Bit At A Time
	SC-1104 - The Magic Touch of the Billy Mitchell Group - Billy Mitchell Group [1969] White label with red print. Oh Happy Day/Crystal Blue Persuation/Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby/Lunch Bucket/Willow Weep For Me//The Chokin' Kind/My Sisters, My Brothers, And All The Others/Crimson And Clover/When I Fall In Love/Stop
	SC-1105 - Taste of Jamaica - Calypso Joe [1970] White label with color circles. Donkey City/Welcome To Jamaica/Shame And Scandal In The Family/Jamaica Farewell/Man Smart Woman Smarter/Love In The Cemetery//You Sweeten Me/Island In The Sun/Red Head/Yellow Bird/Fire In Yu Wire/Come Come To Jamaica
	SC-1106 - Pepper Pot Calypso Songs Me Mama Never Taught Me (Wreck A Pum Pum) - Lord Creator [1970] White label with color circles. Wreck A Pum Pum/Sixty Million Frenchmen/Mr. Walker/Floria/Short Shorts/Black Is Beautiful//The Lizzard/Pussy Cat/Mable/Mr. Rake And Scrape/Claudette/Race Track
	2000 Series:
	SC-2001 - The Fuzz - Fuzz [1971] (10-71, #196) Orange label. Think I Got The Making Of A True Love Affair (Prelude) (S)/Think I Got The Making Of A True Love Affair (S)/I'm So Glad (Prelude) (S)/I'm So Glad (S)/All About Love (Prelude) (S)/All About Love (S)/It's All Over (Prelude) (S)/It's All Over (S)//Like An Open Door (S)/Search Your Mind (S)/Leave It All Behind Me (S)/Ohh Baby Baby (S)/I Love You For All Seasons (S)
	SC-2002 - The Next Morning - Next Morning [1972] Orange label. The Next Morning/Life/Changes Of The Mind/Life Is Love//Back To The Stone Age/Adelane/Faces Are Smiling/Jam Of Love 6:18
	1230 Series:
	CAS 1236 - I Want the World to Know - Best of Both Worlds [1976] Appeared in the Nov. 1976 Schwann catalog as a new entry, same as Calla LPS 5003. Anyway The Wind Blows/Broad Jumping/I Want The World To Know/Invisible Flowers/Greedy Green//50-50/Lost In A Shuffle Of Love/Momma Bakes Biscuits/Naked Truth/Theme From I Want The World To Know
	CAS 1237 - Rudy Love and the Love Family - Rudy Love & Love Family [1976] Green label. Ain't Nuthin' Spooky/Disco Queen (Instrumental)/My Imagination/Shake Your Tail Feathers//Does Your Momma Know/Love Electricity/Disco Queen (Vocal)/She's My Sister/Come Back Home
	CAS 1238 - It's All About Love - Persuaders [1976] Green label. It's Love/Count The Ways/I Need Love/The Quickest Way Out (Vocal)/Who Will It Be Tonight//Sure Shot (Gamblin' On A Sure Shot)/Hey Sister I'm Your Brother (She's My Sister)/Tryin' To Love Two Women/The Quickest Way Out (Instrumental)
	CAS 1239 - One More Day - Institutional Radio Choir Church of God in Christ [1976] Same as Zanzee SZLP-2600. I Feel the Spirit Moving/Look Up and See God/Just a Prayer Away/Talk It Over with Jesus//Keys to the Kingdom/One More Day/I Must Tell Jesus
	2-CAS 1240 - Birth of a Legend - Bob Marley & Wailers [1976] (2-LP set) Blue label. Record 1: I Made A Mistake/One Love/Let Him Go/Love And Affection/Simmer Down//Maga Dog/I Am Going Home/Donna/Nobody Knows/Lonesome Feeling; Record 2: Wings Of A Dove/It Hurts To Be Alone/I'm Still Waiting/Who Feels It Knows It/Do You Remember//Dancing Shoes/I Don't Need Your Love/Lonesome Track/Do You Feel The Same Way/The Ten Commandments Of Love
	5000 Series:
	CAS 5001 - Truth Is On It's Way - Nikki Giovanni [1976] Green label. Great Pax Whitey- Peace Be Still/Nikki Rosa-It Is Well/My Tower-Pretty Little Baby/Alabama Poem-I've Decided To Make Jesus My Choice/Ego Trippings//All I Gotta Do-I Stood On The Banks Of Jordan/Second Rapp Poem- This Little Light Of Mine/Poem For Aretha-Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen/Woman Poem- Amazing Grace/Poem For A Lady Of Leisure Now Retired-Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone
	CAS 5002 -
	LPS 5003 - I Want the World to Know - Best of Both Worlds [1976] Green label. Anyway The Wind Blows/Broad Jumping/I Want The World To Know/Invisible Flowers/Greedy Green//50-50/Lost In A Shuffle Of Love/Momma Bakes Biscuits/Naked Truth/Theme From I Want The World To Know
	Calla/Epic Issues:
	ZX-34759 - Birth of a Legend - Bob Marley & Wailers featuring Peter Tosh [1977] Reissue of disc 1 of Calla SC-1240. Green label. Original cover is tan with a photo of the group. Later reissue has a yellow cover with a drawing. Made A Mistake/One Love/Let Him Go/Love And Affection/Simmer Down//Maga Dog/I Am Going Home/Donna/Nobody Knows/Lonesome Feeling
	ZX-34760 - Early Music - Bob Marley & Wailers featuring Peter Tosh [1977] Reissue of disc 2 of Calla SC-1240. Green label. Wings Of A Dove/It Hurts To Be Alone/I'm Still Waiting/Do You Feel It/Do You Remember//Dancing Shoes/I Don't Need Your Love/Lonesome Track/Do You Feel The Same Way/The Ten Commandments Of Love
	PZ-34802 - It's All About Love - Persuaders [1977] Reissue of Calla SC-1238. Green label. It's Love/Count The Ways/I Need Love/The Quickest Way Out (Vocal)/Who Will It Be Tonight//Sure Shot (Gamblin' On A Sure Shot)/Hey Sister I'm Your Brother (She's My Sister)/Tryin' To Love Two Women/The Quickest Way Out (Instrumental)
	ZX-35012 - This Song Is For You - Rudy Love & The Love Family [1978] Abridged reissue of Calla SC-1237. Green label. This Song Is For You/Disco Queen (Instrumental)/My Imagination/All I Can Say//Take Nothing For Granted/Love Electricity/Come Back Home/World Citizen
	CD Compilation:
	AVI CD 5015 - Soul Records of the 60s, Volume 1: Calla Records - Various Artists [1996] Let Me Down Easy - Betty LaVette (M)/Only Your Love Can Save Me Now - Betty LaVette (M)/Baby You're My Everything - Little Jerry Williams (M)/Prove It - Mary Wheeler (M)/Spinnin' Top - Orlons (M)/If You Ask Me - Little Jerry Williams (M)/But It's All Right - J.J. Jackson (M)/I Dig Girls - J.J. Jackson (E)/After Loving You - Jean Wells (S)/Prayer Of Love - Ernie & Jean Terrell (M)/Four Walls - J.J. Jackson (M)/Forget It - Sandpebbles (S)/I Feel Good - Jean Wells (S)/Love Power - Sandpebbles (S)/Have A Little Mercy - Jean Wells (S)/Just A Little Bit - Roscoe Gordon (M, same as Vee-Jay version)/(I've Got To) Do It To It - Tony Fox (M)/Sit Down And Cry - Jean Wells (S)/If You Didn't Hear Me The First Time (I'll Say It Again) - Sandpebbles (S)/Try Me And See - Jean Wells (S)/Never My Love - Sandpebbles (S)/Love Won't Wear Off - J.R. Bailey (M)/Oh Happy Day - Billy Mitchell (S)/Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Billy Mitchell (S)

Thanks to Jonas Carlsson, Gerry Ross, and Chris Mezzolesta.

Back to the Roulette Story

Back to the Discography Listings Page

Back to the Both Sides Now Home Page

		Given the switching of distributors during the early days, the relative chaos of label design is not surprising. The label for 1101 (far left) was red and yellow with black printing. The label is divided into quarters with alternating red and yellow quarters. "CALLA" is in yellow on a red quarter directly above the center hole. The label for 1102 was yellow with black print (near left)
		The label for 1103 was similar to the label for 1101, but was red and white instead of red and yellow (far left). Most of the copies of 1104 we've seen have been promos. The one commercial copy we've come across had a white label with red print, with just print and no graphics (near left) The promo label is below.
		The promo label for 1104 was white with black print (far left). The labels for 1105 and 1106, both released in 1970, featured a white label with color circles at the top (near left).
		By 1971, Calla ended the 1100 series and started a 2000 series. Both of the releases in the 2000 series had an orange label with dark print (far left). The 1230 series and the 5000 series, both of which started in 1976, were distributed by Shakat Records. Most of the releases in these series used a new red and green label with black printing (near left), with "CALLA" in white in a red area above the center hole. The bottom of the label is green. This was also the original label for the Epic reissues.
		One release, 2-CAS 1240, used a blue label with no graphics (far left). Second pressings of the Epic releases used an Epic label with a small Calla logo in the lower left of the label (near left). Later pressings of the Epic releases used the then-current Epic labels.