Mainstream Records

Mainstream Records on vinyl: jazz vocals and jazz-funk from New York

In short: Mainstream Records was founded in New York in 1964 by producer Bob Shad. In the sixties Carmen McRae and the debut of Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin came out here, in the seventies Sarah Vaughan and a series of jazz-funk and soul-jazz records that collectors and DJs look for today. The Vinyl Room currently has 59 Mainstream records.

From our stock

Mainstream first pressings

Jazz vocals

Jazz-funk & soul

New in

→ Carmen McRae · Jazz-funk · Jazz on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing

What makes Mainstream special?

Bob Shad was an experienced jazz producer and brought new and old together at Mainstream: fresh recordings and older sessions that he reissued. In the sixties Carmen McRae became the face of the label – in our stock, for example, “"Live" & Wailing”, “Alfie” and “In Person / San Francisco”.

In the seventies Mainstream opened up to jazz-funk and soul: Blue Mitchell’s “Graffiti Blues” or Charles Williams’ “Stickball” show that sound. Then there are surprises such as the flamenco guitarist Sabicas, the Lecuona Cuban Boys and the soundtrack to “The Heroes Of Telemark”.

FAQ

Who founded Mainstream Records? Producer Bob Shad, in New York in 1964.

Which singers recorded for Mainstream? Above all Carmen McRae in the sixties and Sarah Vaughan in the seventies, plus Irene Kral.

Why do DJs look for Mainstream records? Because of the seventies jazz-funk and soul-jazz recordings, for example by Blue Mitchell and Charles Williams.

What music do you have on Mainstream? Mostly jazz – vocals, cool jazz and jazz-funk –, plus soul and easy listening, 59 records in all.