RECORDS
Independent American label: Specialty Records was formed by Art Rupe in 1944, in Los Angeles, California; the company moved to Hollywood in 1949. Specialty's repertoire consisted of Blues, Gospel, R'n'B, Jazz and Rock 'n' Roll. Its biggest star, Little Richard, was signed in 1955; it also had successes with records by Lloyd Price and Larry Williams. By 1960 the label had all but closed down; thanks to public interest in early Rock 'n' Roll it was reactivated in 1969, and items from its back-catalogue were repackaged and re-released. Specialty was sold to Fantasy records in 1990. The British version of Specialty dates from the early 70s to the early '80s, during which period Sonet used it to reissue some classic records from Specialty's vaults - thus the 'SON' prefix. Nineteen singles were issued, in an SON-5000 numerical series, and there was also an EP, numbered SONE-1. Two different label designs were used: a yellow one, which altered slightly in its later period, and a black-and-white one which copied the American original (3). The initial period of activity seems to have been from 1972-74, during which time SON-5000 to 5015 were issued: these all had the first type of label. SON-5016 had the second type of label, which had 'A Specialty Records Inc. Recording' under the logo; it also had 'Made in England' at three o'clock, and the artists' names were in capitals. Some earlier singles can also be found with this label as well: I've seen 5011, 5013 and 5015 with it. Presumably these were re-pressed at about the same time as that single came out. The last two singles, SON-5017 and 5018, seem to have had only the black-and-white label, as did the EP. Many other records in the series can be found with this kind of label: presumably they, too, are re-pressings, but were done at a later period than those which I have already mentioned - the black-and-white copy of SON-5012 has '1978' on it. As a result of all this activity at least one single, SON-5011, can be found with all three kinds of label. Manufacture and distribution were by Pye. Thanks to Robert Lyons For The Info.
| 72 | Little Richard | Poor Boy Paul | SPECIALITY | SON | 5001 |
| 73 | Little Richard | Tutti Frutti | SPECIALITY | SON | 5002 |
| 73 | Lloyd Price | Short Fat Fanny | SPECIALITY | SON | 5003 |
| 73 | Don & Dewey | Justine | SPECIALITY | SON | 5004 |
| 73 | Lloyd Price | Lawdy Miss Clawdy | SPECIALITY | SON | 5005 |
| 73 | Liggins Joe | Honey Dripper | SPECIALITY | SON | 5006 |
| 73 | Mayfield Percy | Please Send Me Some One To Loce | SPECIALITY | SON | 5007 |
| 73 | Art Neville | Cha Dooky Doo | SPECIALITY | SON | 5008 |
| 73 | Sims Frankie Lee | Lucy Mae Blues | SPECIALITY | SON | 5009 |
| 73 | Cooke Sam | I'Ll Come Running Back To You | SPECIALITY | SON | 5010 |
| 74 | Byrne Jerry | Lights Out | SPECIALITY | SON | 5011 |
| 74 | Landers Bob | Cherokee Dance | SPECIALITY | SON | 5012 |
| 74 | Williams Larry | Slow Down | SPECIALITY | SON | 5013 |
| 74 | Montrell Roy | That Mellow Saxophone | SPECIALITY | SON | 5014 |
| 75 | Little Richard | Long Tall Sally | SPECIALITY | SON | 5015 |
| 75 | Little Richard | I Got It | SPECIALITY | SON | 5016 |
| 75 | Fuller Johnny | Haunted House | SPECIALITY | SON | 5017 |
| 76 | Little Richard | Girl CanīT Help It | SPECIALITY | SON | 5018 |
| 76 | Little Richard | Long Tall Sally | SPECIALITY | SONE | 1 |
