| The story of IFJM and Cascade Records is the story of a father and son both named Fred James. It all started in the early 1950s when trumpeter Fred Sr. was in college. He formed a traditional, New Orleans style Jazz band called The Riverboat Rascals. The band became quite popular and worked every weekend. After university, Fred enlisted in the Army where he played special services shows with Vic Damone's band. After completing his service, he relocated to Wichita, KS where Fred Jr. grew up. The Riverboat Rascals reunited for concerts and recordings every few years through the second half of the 1960s. IFJM Records (short for "Internationally Famous Jazz Men") was founded to release the group's recordings. By the late 1960s, Fred Sr. was a member of the Johnny Harris Quartet. They held down the house band position at Bill's Le Gourmet nightclub. The club booked the cream of Kansas City and Mainstream Jazz acts of the day. Fred also worked with Jay McShann and Claude Williams during this period. He released "Feelings" by the Harris quartet on IFJM in 1969. The LP did quite well and the master recording was sold to Pacific Arts/Shiloh Records and re-released in 1971.
By the early 1970s Fred Jr. had moved to Nashville, TN to get into the Music business. He worked on the road and in the studio with some of Nashville's finest before launching the Cascade Records imprint in the late 1970s and releasing his own "Music Man" LP and some very rare and collectable 45s by a variety of Roots Music artists. The label also functioned as a "custom" label, releasing records for hire. By the 1980s, Fred Jr. was getting into record production in earnest. His father turned over his IFJM masters to his son in hopes that they could get them reissued and re-licensed. The remainder of the Johnny Harris recordings were promptly licensed to Cadence Jazz and Fred Sr.'s own solo album was released. Fred Jr. also recorded The International Submarine Band, Orion and The Memphis Horns/Markeys. He worked as guitarist with these bands in the mid 1980s. The catalog also has some of the earliest recordings by Mary-Ann Brandon, Mello Mel Owens and Bleu Jackson. All went on to bigger things in the 1990s. Fred soon formed Bluesland Productions and went on to become a force in the independent record world. This catalog is a little look into the formative years of this record producer. |
- The Riverboat Rascals - It's A Long Way To Tipperary
- The Riverboat Rascals - Winin' Boy Blues
- The Riverboat Rascals - Last Night On The Back Porch
- The Riverboat Rascals - Tishomingo Blues
- The Riverboat Rascals - New Orleans
- The Riverboat Rascals - Closer Walk With Thee
- The Riverboat Rascals - Riverside Blues
- The Riverboat Rascals - The Hesitating Blues
- The Riverboat Rascals - Butter And Egg Man
- The Riverboat Rascals - St. James Infirmary
- The Riverboat Rascals - When The Saints Go Marching In
- The Riverboat Rascals - Missouri Waltz
- The Riverboat Rascals - I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll
- The Riverboat Rascals - I Want A Girl
- The Riverboat Rascals - South
- The Riverboat Rascals - Yellow Dog Blues
- The Riverboat Rascals - Ice Cream You Scream
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Stormy Monday
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Here's That Rainy Day
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - I Could Write A Book
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Red Top
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Blues For Bill
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Since I Fell For You
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Summertime
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Green Dolphin Street
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Feelings
- The Johnny Harris Quartet - Sophisticated Lady
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Music Man
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Sad Songs
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - I'm Movin'
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Nobody's Dancing But Me
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - This One's For You
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Sweet Liberty
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - It's Your Love
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - There's One In Every Crowd
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Easy Evil
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Wyoming Child
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - I'm Movin' (alt take)
- Alfred James (Fred James Jr.) - Summer Nights
- Fred James (Sr.) - Midnight Drag
- Fred James (Sr.) - Blazz
- Fred James (Sr.) - Lost In The Shuffle
- Fred James (Sr.) - El Dia De La Corrida
- Fred James (Sr.) - Dad's Digs
- Fred James (Sr.) - What Else Can You Do
- Fred James (Sr.) - Stone Blues
- Fred James (Sr.) - 100 Years Of The Blues
- The James Brothers - Just Like A Girl
- The James Brothers - We're Still Going strong
- The James Brothers - What Goes On
- The James Brothers - Used To Do
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - Lovey Dovey
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - I'm A Hog For You
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - Don't Mess With Me Baby
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - Try Love
- Fred James & Mary-Ann Brandon - Fatback
- The International Submarine Band - The Way You Used To Do
- The International Submarine Band - Feel A Whole Lot Better
- The International Submarine Band - One Day Week
- The International Submarine Band - Why Don't You Love Me Like You Used To Do
- The International Submarine Band - Monsters Holiday
- The International Submarine Band - Cadillac Poor
- The International Submarine Band - Don't Kick The Jukebox
- The International Submarine Band - High Country
- The International Submarine Band - Give Me Some Credit
- The International Submarine Band - Memphis Song
- Bleu Jackson - Makin' Whoopie
- Bleu Jackson - You Left Your Mark On Me
- Bleu Jackson - Shakey Jake
- Bleu Jackson - Eight Feet Baby
- Bleu Jackson - Fever Of Love
- Bleu Jackson - Don't Mess With Me Baby
- Mello Mel Owens - Groove Thing
- Mello Mel Owens - It Takes Two
- Mello Mel Owens - Boney Legged Woman
- Mello Mel Owens - Low Down Alcohol
- Mello Mel Owens - Love And Tenderness
- Mello Mel Owens - The Eyes Don't Lie
- Bucky Lindsey - When We're Dancing
- Little Larry with Johnny Jones Band - Don't Pity Me
- Little Larry with Johnny Jones Band - Somebody Somewhere
- The Chills - Come On Everybody
- The Chills - He's Cool, She's Hot
- The Chills - La La Land
- Orion (Jimmy Ellis) - Old Pipeliner
- Orion (Jimmy Ellis) - Restless
- Orion (Jimmy Ellis) - Never Too Old To Rock & Roll
- Orion (Jimmy Ellis) - Back On The Street
- Ed Logan - Last Night
- Ed Logan - Philly Dog
- Ed Logan - Knock On Wood
- Ed Logan - I've Been Loving You Too Long
- Fred & Bucky - Party Town
- Fred & Bucky - Sneaky Suspicion
- The Hi-Toppers (featuring Earl Gaines, Buford Majors, Walter Hamilton) - Deedle Da (2 takes)
- The Hi-Toppers (featuring Earl Gaines, Buford Majors, Walter Hamilton) - Sloe Blues (2 takes)
- The Hi-Toppers (featuring Earl Gaines, Buford Majors, Walter Hamilton) - Bustin' Out
- The Hi-Toppers (featuring Earl Gaines, Buford Majors, Walter Hamilton) - Midnight Drag (2 takes)
- The Hi-Toppers (featuring Earl Gaines, Buford Majors, Walter Hamilton) - Left Hand Corner
- Roscoe Shelton - Look What You're Doing To Me (live)
- Roscoe Shelton - Think It Over (live)
- The Del Rays - Birth Of The Boogie (3 takes)
- The Del Rays - Woman Man
- The Del Rays - Going Back To Birmingham
- The Del Rays - Harlem Nocturne
- The Del Rays - Shadow My Baby (2 takes)
- The Del Rays - Southshore Drive
- The Del Rays - Del Rio
- The Del Rays - Red Hot Rockin' Blues
- The Del Rays - Geronimo Stomp
- The Del Rays - Dateless Night
- The Del Rays - Blues Jam Boogie
- The Del Rays - Pussy Cat
- The Del Rays - Ask Me Again
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