JAS gospel discography (1960s-80s)

 

Jas gospel

  • JAS Records was started in New York, 1968, by Deacon Watts (Elder Shumpert Watts Jr.), Rev. James Granger and Al Hayward. This information was formerly given on the Deacon Watts website. Other sources list most JAS releases as from 1965-66. The LP’s were probably released between the mid 1970’s and 1980. It’s possible that these LP’s were issued in an effort to revive JAS Records after the label slowed down in 1972. The JAS label may have been connected to the Honey-B label.
  • The name JAS comes from the first names of the label owners: James, Al and Shumpert.
  • Except for a few, all JAS 45’s seem to have been released with both a 300 and 500 number printed on the labels. I have 500 numbers for all of these releases so I sorted the listing according to that. Where known, the 300 number is given between brackets.
  • JAS 1017 (Mighty Mellotones) is a reissue of Honey B 1017 (late 50’s recordings). It could be the first release on JAS and it’s definitely an early release as it shows the Cathedral Station address, which was used until #509. The company then moved to W. 125 St. JAS 526 and later issues do not show an address on the labels. The back cover of LP 1101 (Converter Singers) shows a PO box address in the Bronx, NY.
  • Jimmy Jones (#519, 527) is the same artist as Jimmey Jones on the Gospel Recording Co. label (#538, with “Mr. Bass” printed on the labels) and he also recorded as Jimmy Jones and the Sensationals on Savoy. The Deacon Watts website referred to this artist as “Gospel’s most well known and talented contra-bass recording artist”. Deacon Watts became his booking manager in 1961.
  • Apart from gospel there were some secular releases on JAS as well: 506 (300), 511 (303), 514 (308), 515, 520 (314), 522 (316), 525 (319) and 529 (323). No details for the other unlisted numbers.
  • JAS LP 1101 has been released twice and it seems likely that the LP by the Spiritual Echoes was released several years earlier than the LP by the Soul Converters.
  • This page lists all known JAS gospel releases (45’s and LP’s).

 

45rpm releases:

releaseartistartist as shownsongsyear
JAS 1017Mighty MellotonesMighty Mello TonesBeams Of Heaven b/w I Want To Be Right196?
JAS 500Mighty MellotonesMighty Mello TonesSwing Low b/w We Are Trying To Reach Our Goal196?
JAS 501Converter SingersConverted Singers of the Bronx When We All Get To Heaven b/w In Vain 196?
JAS 504Sensational Gospel SpiritsI Made It Over b/w Down On My Knees196?
JAS 505Mighty MellotonesMighty Mello TonesJesus Will Never Fail b/w Mean World196?
JAS 507 (301)Finney, ShirleyShirley Finney b/w Shirley Finney and MotherBring Us Out b/w Will It Be196?
JAS 508 (302)Gospel SpecialGreat Change In Me b/w Guide My Mind196?
JAS 509 (304)Mighty MellotonesJesus b/w Seek Seek196?
JAS 512 (306)Converter SingersAll Over This Land b/w Soul Caught On Fire196?
JAS 513Rountree SistersGo To Jesus b/w You Can’t Stop Me196?
JAS 516 (311)Gospel Warriors of Wash., DCLord We Need You b/w Let The Lord Come196?
JAS 517 (313)Straight Gate ChoirLet Him Tell You What To Do b/w To The Mount Of Prayer I’ll Go196?
JAS 518 (312)Spiritual Echoes of NYCBe Careful b/w Let You Will Be Done196?
JAS 519 (310)Jones, JimmyJimmy Jones and the Northern AiresWhen Jesus Call Me b/w I Believe I’ll Go Back Home196?-7?
JAS 521 (315)Mighty MellotonesWhile We Pray b/w Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray196?-7?
JAS 523 (317)Huggins and the Heavenly Echoes, Bro.Precious Lord b/w Do You Want To Be Saved196?-7?
JAS 524 (318)Thrashing WondersLong Line Of Poor Folk b/w Sign Of The Judgement196?-7?
JAS 526 (320)Sky Light SingersSkylightsSo Hard To Bear b/w Tell Him All196?-7?
JAS 527 (321)Jones, JimmyJ. Jones and the NorthernairsI Don’t Know Why b/w Theres Been A Change In Me1970
JAS 528Rehobath Church of God in ChristStay With Jesus b/w Fire1970-71
JAS 530 (324)Converter SingersConvertersHe Will Give What We Need b/w We’ve Gone Away From God1971
JAS 531 (325)Birds of HarmonyYou Have To Cry Sometime b/w Old Time Religion197?
JAS 534Manhattan F.Y.C.’ersI See Him In A Baby’s Smile b/w I Woke Up This Morning Feeling Fine197?
JAS 535 (328)Converter SingersSoul ConvertersJust As I Am b/w Wait Right On197?
JAS 536 (329)Golden HarmonizersI Will Be Alright b/w You Can’t Hurry God197?
JAS 537 (330)Gospel RevivalsDown By Jordan b/w Religion It All Over Me197?
JAS 538 (331)Converter SingersSoul ConvertersWhat Have You Done b/w Get Right With God1979-81?
JAS 539 (332)Wearyland Gospel SingersTry Jesus b/w One Of These Mornings1979-81?

 

LP releases:

releaseartistartist as showntitleyear
JAS LP 1100Mighty MellotonesMighty Mello TonesNo Man Greater Than God197?
JAS LP 1101Spiritual EchoesJesus Will Fix It197?
JAS LP 1101Converter SingersSoul ConvertersJust As I Amc. 1980-81