Rush - bless-this-soul

Rush2709F

Rush Records was located in Chicago, IL and in operation from c. 1961 – 1968. The label also released secular material.

The label owner was Henry Rush Jr. who died in 2004 at the age of 67. Click here to see an early photo and here to see the obituary from the Lamar Democrat and Sulligent News.

An ad in the Chicago Defender indicated that Rush 2703 by the Norfleet Brothers was recorded and released in 1961. Other sources date this 45 and most Rush releases as from the late 1960’s but that appears to be incorrect. The label’s main series (2700) was probably released before 1965.

At one time during its history, Rush was a division of Bandera (see the first of two labels of Rush 601, a release by Little Ben and the Cheers, one of the secular appearances of the Norfleet Brothers) and later of Salem Records (Salem Records is mentioned on the labels of Rush 606 by the C & H Community Singers).

The small Audio label was a sub label of Rush, on which one gospel 45 was released (#2801 by the Glory Airs). The R&B Indies also makes a connection with Saint, which could have had the same address as Rush had for some time (two addresses are known for Rush). However, this needs verification. It’s seems more likely that Saint was connected to St. Lawrence (or Saint Lawrence). Both artists on Saint (Lucy Rodgers and the Messiah’s of Glory) were also on St. Lawrence. The numbering (both record numbers and matrix numbers) shows similarity with the St. Lawrence numbers and many sides on both labels seem to have been produced by Monk Higgins, who was probably not involved with the Rush recordings. On the other hand, Lucy Rodgers also had a release on Rush…

To further complicate it: Rush, St. Lawrence and Saint were in some way connected to Checker, f.i. some issues on Rush were reissued on Checker and the Lucy Rodgers recordings that ended up on the Saint 45 and on one of the two St. Lawrence 45’s were made during the same sessions that resulted in her Checker LP (#10034). The producer on many Checker sides was (again) Monk Higgins. Of course, the Chess brothers and their crew worked with many smaller labels in the Chicago area.

This discography lists all known gospel releases on the Rush label from Chicago, IL.

45rpm releases:

release	artist	artist as shown	songs	year
Rush 2701	Close Harmonieers		Jesus Is On The Main Line b/w Jesus Is The Light Of The World	1961
Rush 2702	Jubilee Hummingbirds		I’m On My Way Home b/w Lead Me Jesus Every Day	1961
Rush 2703	Norfleet Brothers		The Story Of Martin Luther King, Pt. 1 b/w The Story Of Martin Luther King, Pt. 2	1961
Rush 2704	Wings Of Heaven		Look For Me In Heaven b/w I Was Lost	1961-62
Rush 2705	Clouds Of Joy (of Columbus Ohio)		On My Way To Heaven b/w Lord, I’m In Your Care	1961-62
Rush 2706	Jubilee Hummingbirds		He’ll Understand b/w My Confession	1961-63
Rush 2707	Excello Gospel Singers		Near The Cross b/w Just To Behold His Face	1961-63
Rush 2708	Space Spiritual Singers		You’ve Got To Move b/w Trouble In My Views	1961-63
Rush 2709	Gay and Gay Singers, Sister Fannie b/w Donald "Preacher" Gay		A New World In My View b/w I’ll Wait Till My Change Come	1961-63
Rush 2710	Lewis, Rev. Singing Sammy		What Is This, Pt. 1 b/w What Is This, Pt. 2	1961-63
Rush 2711	Bailey Singers, Harold		I’m Looking For My Lord b/w Since Jesus Came Into My Heart	1961-64
Rush 2712	Lewis, Rev. Singing Sammy	Rev. Singing Sammy Lewis and the Harold Bailey Singers	I Just Can’t Tell It All b/w Gonna Walk In Jerusalem	1961-64
Rush 2713	Thomas Singers, Mildred		God Can Use You b/w Love Lifted Me	1961-64
Rush 2714	Bailey Singers, Harold		Have A Little Talk With Jesus b/w I Thank The Lord	1961-64
Rush 2716	Reed and James Bond, Clarence		A Sinners Prayer b/w The Preacher And The Deacon	1961-64
Rush 2717	Bailey Singers, Harold		On A Hill b/w Rock In A Weary Land	1961-64
Rush 2719	Rodgers, Lucy	Lucy Rogers Singers	He's Been Good b/w The Blood Of Jesus	1961-64
Rush 2720	Lewis, Rev. Singing Sammy		I'm Glad About It, Pt. 1 b/w I'm Glad About It, Pt. 2	1961-64
Rush 2721	Jubilaires		Farther Along b/w Sweeping Through Those Gates	1961-64
Rush 2722	Faithful Wonders		God’s Love Is Everywhere b/w You’ve Got To Move	1961-64
Rush 2723	Reed, Clarence		To Far To Turn Around b/w (When I’ve Made) The Last Payment On My Fare	1961-64
Rush 403	Reed, Clarence	(Poet) Clarence Reed	Build Up The Walls b/w When I Have Paid My Fare	196?
Rush 606	C and H Community Singers		He Came Along (He Opened My Eyes) b/w Be Attitude	1968?
Rush 607	C and H Community Singers	Rev. Lannell Hallman and C and H Community Singers	Just A Closer Walk With Thee b/w I Thank God	1968?
Rush 609	C and H Community Singers		He’s (Jesus) Alright b/w He’s Been My Everything	1968?

LP release: