Air Week: February 5-11, 2018

Cat Records

Matt The Cat has a thing for record labels and he loves loading the “Juke In The Back” with 78s from one label. This week, we do it again as we feature Cat Records, the short-lived subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Atlantic set Cat up to be their Rock n’ Roll label, but after only a year and a half and 18 single releases, they decided to disband it in favor of Atco Records. During those 18 78s and 45s, Cat issued some smokin’ Rhythm & Blues, jivin’ vocal groups as well as a few pop and novelty records. Cat Records only enjoyed one national hit, “Sh-Boom” by The Chords, but what a spectacular hit it was. It topped out at #2 on the R&B chart and crossed-over to an impressive #5 Pop. R&B greats Floyd Dixon, Jimmy Lewis, Margie Day and songwriter Rose Marie McCoy all stopped by Cat for one or two releases AND the first Mickey & Sylvia record was issued on Cat in 1954. So put your nickels to good use this week as we explore the brief history of Cat Records on the “Juke In The Back.” 

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