Editing General Records (section)

==History==

Established around 1939, General Records was a division of Consolidated Records, Inc., of [[New York City]]. The label was owned by pioneering sound engineer [[Hazard E. Reeves]], of Reeves Sound Studios (1939–1944) in Manhattan.<ref>Sutton, Allan, and Kurt Nauck. ''American Record Labels and Companies: An Encyclopedia (1891–1943)''. Denver, Colorado: Mainspring Press, 2000. {{ISBN|0967181909}}</ref>{{Rp|85, 319}}

The audio fidelity is above average for the era, and most General [[gramophone record|discs]] were pressed in good quality [[shellac]], although the quality declined as good shellac became scarce with the start of [[World War II]].

The most famous General Records are a series of recordings by [[Jelly Roll Morton]]. The recording sessions in December 1939 and January 1940 were the last in Morton's career.<ref>Reich, Howard, and William Gaines. ''Jelly's Blues The Life, Music, and Redemption of Jelly Roll Morton''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo, 2003.</ref>{{Rp|193}}

In 1946 [[Milt Gabler]] of [[Commodore Records]] purchased the stock, masters and rights of General Records when the company went out of production. Morton's solo piano album, ''New Orleans Memories'', and his "Tavern Tunes" series (recorded with the Morton Sextet and the Morton Seven<ref name="drjazz"/>) were included in the purchase. The out-of-print recordings were re-released on the Commodore label.<ref name="Jazz Record">"Commodore Buys General". ''The Jazz Record'', August 1946, page 18.</ref>

"Recorded late in his career, the General records caught Jelly Roll at perhaps the peak of his ability, and many of these records, particularly ''Mamie's Blues'' and ''Don't You Leave Me Here'', are regarded as blues classics," " wrote ''The Jazz Record'' in August 1946. "Half the series are straight old ragtime piano, which ties in nicely with the present day revival of interest in old piano rags."<ref name="Jazz Record"/>