Hi David, Thanks so much for the suggestion, I hadn't looked. It's not listed at either, but
was worth a shot. I think the problem is that the label has been defunct for decades. But
I'll keep hunting. Thanks for taking the time to write, much appreciated. Best wishes,
Joe

red_garnett, April 8, 2006; 6:50 PM

I have a record copy on CD of Ferde Grofe's Aviation Suite.

halifax, October 3, 2006; 6:40 AM

Dear Halifax, Thanks so much for your email. Is the performance you have the 1946
one or the later one on CBS with Stulen conducting? Best wishes, Joe

red_garnett, October 6, 2006; 10:57 AM

Hi Red. I've found a document from 1964 that indicates that American Recording Artists, Inc. (ARA) was owned by Mills Music, Inc., the publishing company that was owned by Jack and Irving Mills. I think this must be the same Irving Mills who managed Duke Ellington. I can give you links to this document and a full discography of the label.

The address I have is ARA, American Recording Artists, Inc., 5655 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles 36, California 3

http://sec.edgar-online.com/2005/03/29/0000950123-05-003729/Section21.asp

discography:

http://settlet.fateback.com/ARA100.htm

harrisonjon, November 22, 2006; 4:55 PM

dear harrisonjon, thanks so much for taking the time to write me, for the info, and for
the link - I really appreciate it. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving! Best wishes, red

red_garnett, November 22, 2006; 5:07 PM

Hi, Red. I didn't know that the Grofe version was recorded in 1946--glad to learn this. I have the 10" LP, which came out in 1950 on Remington, featuring Grofe conducting the Hollywood Studio Orchestra--on cassette tape, that is. I bought the tape from a dealer in 1981 for $15 or $20 (the LP would have cost me $40) and am just now transferring it to audio-restoration software. (Luckily, the tape has held up.) I prefer Grofe's recording to the 1984 Jan Stulen version, even though the third movement ("Plane Loco") doesn't appear on it. Except, that is, for the opening measures, which serve as the suite's intro, believe it or not. I have two listings for the Remington LP--the first, from the early 1950s, gives the label and number as "Remington 2," whereas a later discography gives it as "Remington 3." I guess we can take our pick! Anyway, hope this is of help.

hartsfeld, March 5, 2007; 6:29 AM

I just picked up the Aviation Suite today. It's on the REM HOLLYWOOD label, not Remington..no connection. Rem reissued some ARA recordings including the Spellbound 78 set. No connection with Mills Music..ARA was founded by a legendary character named Boris Morris who was a Hollywood studio music director, wheeler dealer and double agent. It specialized in pop and big bands and was out of business by the end of 1946 if not earlier.

Rem also put out some rare jazz reissues on 78s. The Avation Suite LP comes in a sleeve labelled Guild Records but the disc inside is on Rem. No notes, no information, and the matrix numbers are (presumably) the original 78rpm numbers: 1196, 1197, 1198 & 1199 (one for each movement). If anyone knows anything else about this recording or the music, I'd love to hear about it!

David Lennick

dlennick, March 10, 2007; 4:53 PM

Sorry..I know how to spell Boris Morros but obviously my computer doesn't.. dl

dlennick, March 10, 2007; 5:51 PM

REM HOLLYWOOD--that's great to know. I was fooled by a 1986 source that gives Remington as the label and another that lists "Rem.," which suggests a shortened form of Remington. Mystery solved. Music-wise, the piano score for the suite (published by Robbins Music and arranged by Domenico Savino) apparently gives the year as 1944. And it features the four movements heard on the REM LP. However, the 1984 Jan Stulen "first recording" on CBS gives the year of composition as 1946 and features five movements. 1944 would make the suite a wartime composition--that seems more likely to me.

Lee

hartsfeld, March 12, 2007; 3:17 AM

Dear Mr. Lennick, Hello. I was the one who originally placed the inquiry on the Grofe/Aviation Suite - ARA Records issue. I may have additional information that would be of interest to you, but as it involves posting another person's contact information, I'd greatly prefer to correspond with you directly. If interested, please write to me at red_garnett@yahoo.com. Hope to hear from you. Thanks very much. Best wishes, Joe

red_garnett, June 1, 2007; 1:50 PM

What color is the label? If it a Yellow Label with ARA in Black letters it could be from American Recording Studios (also known as American Sound Studios). It then went from “ARA” to “Satellite Records” which in turn changed to the “STAX” label. I think all of them were Distributed by “Atlantic Records”. I have lived in Memphis, Tn where all these studio’s and labels are located. Quite few big acts recorded on these small labels before they made the big time. Elvis was one of them. He then went to the “SUN” label, also in Memphis. I’m a record collector and I have a 45rpm record of Travis Wammack who is also a Memphian. Travis went on to be the main studio guitarist for a new studio “The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio”. They were very successful also. Probably more than you wanted to know. Later,
Lou_Michaels


lmr51, January 1, 2009; 5:01 PM

I have a set of Art tatum records called "Piano Impressions" that the labels say ARA Records in Hollywood Ca. The records are 78's but unfortunatly they are broken....I am going to attempt to repair them as they are actually in really good shape. I found something about repairing them and I think it may work.

emerson_cole, August 4, 2009; 1:58 PM

So is it recordes with ARA lables? I have a large selection of 78's and 33 few 45's that
are to be sold this weekend at 7845 Ironwood dr Dublin ca. ARA title "Page
Cavanaugh Trio" other lables "Columbia" "Immortal" ".BlueBird

oif1tj, October 27, 2010; 8:15 PM

Hi all, I am in possession of the "Spellbound" album, a 4-disk 78RPM set on ARA. It appears to be in near-perfect condition. I was doing a bit of preliminary research on the album preparatory to listing it on eBay. If anyone has any questions on the set, feel free to ask them before the records become part of somebody else's collection. Regards, P. Clay

picho, November 19, 2011; 8:06 PM