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Tops Records was a Los Angeles-based record label owned by Tops Music Enterprises, both founded in 1947 by Carl L. Doshay and Sam Dickerman. After a prolific and profitable run, Tops merged with PRI Records in 1958, which in turn, sold to a group of investors in 1960, then went bankrupt in about 1962. Its assets — which included a huge library of recordings — were sold to Pickwick Records, a label that had been its main competitor throughout the 1950s. Pickwick's assets were purchased by PolyGram Records in the late 1970s.

Selected artists

 * Lena Horne
 * Billy Daniels
 * Johnny Desmond
 * The Ink Spots
 * Kate Smith
 * Dave Burgess (born 1934), who later was a member of The Champs

Many of Tops releases were produced as low-priced knock-offs of hits. Some of the artists used pseudonyms.


 * Pseudonymous artists
 * George Jones made some his first records for Tops under the name Hank Smith & The Nashville Playboys

Selected staff

 * Late 1940s
 * Carl L. Doshay (1917–2010), founder and president
 * Sam Dickerman (1915–2000), founder and vice president
 * Corky Carpenter (pseudonym of Amos Randolph Carpenter; 1922–1986), A&R
 * Harold Spina, A&R
 * Dave Pell, producer


 * 1960s
 * Louis Capone, joined Tops in October 1962 as Vice President
 * Norm Wieland, joined Tops January 2, 1962, as sales manager; he previously had been in sales for Billboard in New York

First release

 * "My Happiness" (© 1948)
 * Borney Bergantine (1909–1952) (music)
 * Betty Peterson Blasco (née Betty Peterson; 1918–2006) (words)
 * Blasco Music, Inc.
 * Betty Peterson was the wife of the publisher, Louis O. Blasco (1903–1954)


 * "Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue"
 * Sunny Skylar (1913–2009) (w&m)

Selected singles, 78 and 45 rpm

 * 45s were also released under the "Hollywood Hit Club" label, a Tops label


 * 45–R280 (1956)
 * Side A: "Blue Suede Shoes" / "Heartbreak Hotel"
 * Hank Smith and the Nashville Playboys
 * Side B: "Juke Box Baby" / "Rock Island Line"
 * Bud Roman / Scat Benny

10-inch $33 1/3$ rpm LPs issued with a paper sleeve
 Tops Masterpieces (series) 
 * L100 – Six All-Time Favorites Series
 * L101 – Six All-Time Hits, John Laurenz (195?)
 * L103 – Instrumental All-Time Hits / Western All-Time Hits (with vocal)
 * The Plainsmen / Ozie Waters (né Vernon Scott Waters; 1903–1979) (vocals)


 * L105 – Tops Presents Square Dances: Six All-Time Favorites, Virg Honeycutt & His Cimarron Rangers (195?)
 * L900 – Tops Masterpieces Series
 * Issued with a cardboard sleeve that was open at the top and had foldover flaps down the left and right sides of the back of the jacket


 * L901 – Organ Favorites, Beverly Laine (195?)
 * L902 – Strauss Waltzes, Royal Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L903 – Favorite Hymns, Christian Chapel Choir (195?)
 * L904 – Polka Party, Polkateers (195?)
 * L905 – American Waltzes, Jack Owens with Roy Shields Orchestra (195?)
 * L906 – Music for Listening, Al Sack Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L907 – South of the Border Favorites, Al Sack Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L908 – Rhumba Favorites, Henry King (195?)
 * L909 – All Time Favorites, Tops All Star Orchestra (195?)
 * L910 – Lena Horne Sings, Lena Horne (195?)
 * L911 – "William Tell Overture" and "Dance of the Hours," Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L912 – Piano Favorites, Sondra Bianca (195?)
 * L913 – Die Fledermaus Overture, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L914 – Nutcracker Suite, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L915 – Cole Porter Hits, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
 * L916 – Oklahoma, Tops All Star Orchestra (195?)
 * L917 – Pop Concert, Imperial Viennese Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L918 – South Pacific, Hal Lomen Orchestra (né Halsten Ole Lomen; 1913–1991) (195?)
 * L919 – Irving Berlin Hits, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
 * L920 – Larry Clinton Plays For Dancing, Larry Clinton Orchestra (195?)
 * L921 –
 * L922 –
 * L923 – Twilight on the Trail, John Laurenz with Joe Venuti Orchestra (195?)
 * L924 – Rhapsody in Blue, Richard Berkman, piano (195?)
 * L925 – George Gershwin Favorites, All Star Cast (Various Artists) (195?)
 * Artists include: Jeannie McKeon, Lena Horne & Phil Moore Orchestra, Eddie Krawll, Allen Shrader Orchestra, Roy Bargy Orchestra, and the Al Sack Orchestra


 * L926 – Square Dance Party (With and Without Calls), Cimarron Rangers (195?)
 * L927 – Music for Dreaming, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
 * L928 – Junior Jazz at the Auditorium, Various Artists (195?)
 * 1954 all-star session with Howard McGhee, Jack McVea, Lucky Thompson, Irving Ashby, Jimmy Bunn, Red Callender, and Jackie Mills


 * L929 – Jazz Technocracy, Earle Spencer & His Orchestra (195?)
 * L930 – Hot Piano, Wilbert Baranco & His Orchestra (195?)
 * L931 – Moanin' Low, Lena Horne (195?)
 * L932 – Latin Rhythms, Henry King & His Orchestra (195?)
 * L933 – Kiddie Favorites (195?)
 * L934 – Sentimental Favorites, Barclay Allen at the Piano; Vocals by John Laurenz (195?)
 * L935 – Hawaiian Favorites, Akoni Loni & His Islanders (195?)
 * L936 – Honky Tonk Piano, Lew "Ace" Raymond (195?)
 * L937 – Peer Gynt Suite, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
 * L938 – Warsaw Concerto, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
 * L939 – Scheherezade, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
 * L940 – Roumanian Rhapsody, Royal Viennese Symphonic Orchestra (195?)
 * L941 – Western Favorites, Various Artists (195?)
 * Artists include Ozie Waters, Bob Sandy, the Plainsmen, and the Rhythm Rangers


 * L942 – Rigoletto: Acts I & II, Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House, Rome (195?)
 * L943 – Rigoletto: Acts III & IV, Orchestra & Chorus of the Teatro Eliseo Opera House, Rome (195?)
 * L944 – Songs of Faith, Family Altar Quartet (195?)
 * L945 – Barber Shop Ballads, Four Rhythmaires (195?)
 * Lew Raymond, Organ


 * L946 – Music for Lovers, John Laurenz (195?)
 * L947 – Caravan of Favorites, Al Sack Orchestra (195?)
 * L948 – Jazz Jamboree, Earl Spencer & His Orchestra (195?)
 * L949 – Music for Romance, Roy Bargie & His Orchestra (195?)
 * L950 – Pop Serenade, All Star Cast (Various Artists) (195?)
 * L951 – Cool and Crazy!, All Star Swing Orchestras (Various Artists) (195?)
 * L952 – Over the Rainbow, Phil Moore, piano (195?)
 * L953 –
 * L954 – Richard Berkman Plays Great Piano Gems, Richard Berkman (195?)
 * L955 – Stephen Foster Favorites, Eddie Truman
 * L956 –
 * L957 – Songs You Remember, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
 * L958 – Music for Dining
 * L959 – Music to Love By, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (1957)
 * L960 – Music for Sweethearts, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
 * L961 – Parade of Favorites, Jay Wilbur conducts the Melbourne Concert Orchestra (195?)
 * L962 – One Night of Love, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
 * L963 – Memories of You
 * L964 – Music for Reminiscing
 * L965 – World Favorites, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (195?)
 * L966 – Serenade for Strings
 * L967 – Favorites for Listening
 * L968 – Music for Moonlight
 * L969 – Songs from the Heart
 * L970 – Moonlight Cocktails, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
 * Jay Wilbur Concert Orchestra


 * L971 – Candlelight Favorites
 * L972 – Concert for Listening
 * L973 – Concert of Favorites
 * L974 – Songs of the Dawn, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
 * Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Jay Wilbur


 * L975 – Midnight Serenade, Jay Wilbur (195?)
 * L976 – Musical Gems
 * L977 – Light Classical Favorites
 * L978 – Caprice for Strings
 * L979 – Melodies on the Move
 * L980 – Soft Lights and Sweet Music
 * L981 – Music for Relaxing, Webb Tilton (né Samuel Webb Tilton; 1915–1986)
 * Orchestra & Chorus conducted by Jay Wilbur


 * L982 – Songs for Young Lovers
 * L983 – Down Memory Lane
 * L984 – Songs of the Open Road
 * L985 – Concert Americana
 * L986 - Music for Midnight
 * L987 – Ballet Music
 * L988 – Favorite Overtures
 * L989 – Classical Favorites (Vol. I)
 * L990 – Classical Favorites (Vol. II)

LP Records

 * L1501 – Square Dance Party
 * L1502 – Lena Horne
 * L1503 – Nutcracker Suite
 * L1504 – Classic Favorites
 * L1505 – Music For Listening
 * L1506 – Porter and Berlin Favorites
 * L1507 – Music To Love By, Jay Wilbur Orchestra (1957)
 * L1508 – Jazz Greats
 * L1509 – Honky Tonk Piano
 * L1510 – Twelve Top Hits, the then current best–selling songs as listed by the nation's leading disk jockeys
 * L1511 – Rock & Roll with Scatman Crothers
 * L1512 – Organ Favorites
 * L1513 – Favorite Hymns
 * L1514 – All–Time Favorites
 * L1515 – World's Greatest Overtures
 * L1516 – Piano Recital
 * L1517 – Hawaiian Favorites
 * L1518 – Rock and Roll With Joe Houston
 * L1519 – Themes From The Movies
 * L1520 – Strauss Waltzes
 * L1521 – Modern Jazz
 * L1522 – Sweet Georgia Brown
 * L1523 – Page Cavanaugh
 * L1524 – Music For A Lonely Night
 * L1525 – Christmas Favorites
 * L1526 – Party Favorites
 * L1527 – Music For Day Dreaming
 * L1528 – Charlie Ventura
 * L1529 – Holiday In Italy
 * L1530 – 24 Kiddie Favorites
 * L1531 – Time On My Hands
 * L1532 – Concert in Jazz, Earle Spencer and his Orchestra
 * L1533 – Barrelhouse Piano
 * L1534 – HiFi Piano
 * L1535 – A Night In Havana
 * L1536 – Rhapsody In Blue
 * L1537 – My Fair Lady
 * L1538 – Holiday In France
 * L1539 – Scheherezade
 * L1540 – A Tribute To Eddie Duchin


 * L1541–L1550 (??)


 * L1551 – Silhouettes Holiday for Strings


 * L1552–L1556 (??)


 * L1557 – Penthouse Serenade
 * Jay Gordon Concert Orchestra


 * L1558–L1560 (??)


 * L1561 – The Ink Spots
 * L1562 – Irving Fields Plays Irving Berlin
 * L1563 – Piano by Starlight


 * L1564–L1569 (??)


 * L1570 – Pied Pipers Tribute to Tommy Dorsey]]''
 * L1571 –
 * L1572 – The Roaring 20's (Banjo in Hi-Fi) (1957)
 * Paul Martin and His Old Timers, featuring the banjo of Paul Martin


 * L1573 – Ray Eberle Plays Glenn Miller Favorites
 * L1574 –
 * L1575 – Johnny Long Plays
 * L1576 –
 * L1577 – We Sing the Old Songs
 * Curt Massey and Martha Tilton


 * L1578–L1587 (??)


 * L1588 – Sons of the Purple Sage
 * L1589 – Robert Alda With Orchestra
 * Roy Sebastian, conductor


 * L1590 (??)


 * L1591 – Music from Mike Todd's Around the World in 80 Days


 * L1592–L1605 (??)


 * L1606 – Connie Haines Sings Helen Morgan


 * L1607–L1626 (??)


 * L1627 – Salute to Glenn Miller
 * Arranged and conducted by Jerry Gray


 * L1628 – ''
 * L1629 – ''
 * L1630 – ''
 * L1631 – ''
 * L1632 – ''
 * L1633 – ''
 * L1634 – South Pacific
 * L1635 – Johnny Desmond ‎Swings
 * L1636 – ''
 * L1637 – ''
 * L1638 – ''
 * L1639 – ''
 * L1640 – ''
 * L1641 – ''
 * L1642 – ''
 * L1643 – ''
 * L1644 – ''
 * L1645 – ''
 * L1646 – ''
 * L1647 – ''
 * L1648 – ''
 * L1649 – ''
 * L1650 – ''


 * L1651 – Let's All Sing
 * L1652 – Gigi
 * L1653 – Top Western Hits
 * L1655 – ''The Gay 90s with Beatrice Kay
 * L1665 – Harmonica Favorites, George Fields (1959)
 * L1666 – Tops Sampler (1959)


 * L1667–L1759 (??)


 * L1760 – The Shining Star, Kay Starr (vocalist)

CL Series

 * CL1639 – All Star Blues