Rita Records - 1960-61

This label was formed by Roland Janes and Billy Lee Riley in 1960. They had a huge hit on their third release with Harold Dorman’s “Mountain of Love” which reached #21 on the charts. Dorman’s composition was eventually covered by Johnny Rivers in 1964 which reached #9 and Ronnie Dove whose recording pegged out at #67 in 1968.  

The actual recording for the label took place in the Hi Records studio in Memphis.  Rita folded in 1961 and Janes eventually opened Sonic Sound on Madison Avenue in 1962.

Rita Records Discography-45 R.P.M.

                      Recorded in 1960

1001   Bill Hardy              Funny Paper People/Rockin’ at the Zoo    

1002   Willy Willis           San Antonio Rock/Cattywampus               

1003   Harold Dorman      Mountain of Love/To Be With You             

1004   Jimmy Van Eaton   Foggy/Beatnik

1005   Lightnin’ Leon       Repossession Blues/Dark Muddy Bottom

1006   The Catalinas         Ring of Stars/Wooly Wooly Willy

1007   Roland Janes          Down Yonder/Beautiful Dreamer

1008   Harold Dorman      I’ll come Running/River of Tears

1009   Gloria Brady          Five Minutes More/Play Fair With Me

1010   Don Hosea             John Henry/Misery

1011   Jimmy Angel         That’s Alright/Angel Tears

1012   Harold Dorman      Moved to Kansas City/Take a Chance on Me

 

                      Recorded in 1961

1013   Billy Riley               Too Much Woman for Me/That’s What I Want  

1014   Tommy Hawk          I Thought About Living/Chief Sitting Bull

1014   Tommy Hawk          Rockin’At the Zoo/Chief Sitting Bull

1015   Don Hosea               Misery/John Henry