UpFront Records

UpFront Records on vinyl: gospel, soul and jazz on a budget label

In short: In the seventies UpFront was an American budget label. It reissued older recordings by well-known musicians at low prices, often with a new title and a new cover – from gospel via soul to jazz. The music is usually older than the record; “first pressing” here means the first pressing of this UpFront edition. The Vinyl Room currently has 31 UpFront records.

From our stock

First pressings of these editions

Gospel

Soul & soul jazz

New in

→ The Impressions · Gospel · Soul jazz · How to spot a first pressing

What makes UpFront special?

The strongest part is the gospel: Shirley Caesar with “Tell It To The Lord”, Rev. James Cleveland, the Staple Singers with “Uncloudy Day”, plus the Harmonizing Four and the Highway QC’s – quartet gospel as it was sung in American churches. The collection “Queens Of Gospel” brings great voices together.

Alongside there’s soul from The Impressions (“Winners”), The O’Jays, the Isley Brothers and Sam Cooke, jazz from Herbie Hancock (“Traces”), Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and Count Basie, and vocals from Nina Simone, Gloria Lynne and Joe Williams.

FAQ

What is UpFront Records? An American budget label of the seventies that reissued older recordings at low prices.

Are UpFront records original editions? Usually not: the recordings first came out elsewhere. First pressing here means the first pressing of the UpFront edition.

Why so much gospel? A large part of the catalogue is gospel – soloists such as Shirley Caesar and groups such as the Harmonizing Four.

What do you have on UpFront? Gospel, soul and jazz – 31 records in all.