Alley Records story

 Probably one of the most famous recording companies in Arkansas, Alley Records was based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, home to many local musicians and labels. The person who was behind Alley was Joe Lee, a jazz musician who had extended experiences in the music business.

It was the year 1961. Joe Lee, Bill Keisker, Ed Cooper, and Charles Moyers set up the Variety Recording Studio on 213 East Monroe Street in Jonesboro and created the Alley label. Keisker, who was a retired physician from Jonesboro, built the studio's control board himself. Eventually, Joe Lee became the sole owner of Alley and Variety. Previously, he had recorded and worked as an A&R manager for Fernwoord Records out of Memphis. Lee later also recorded for his label. Apart from Alley, Lee also ran Jon-Ark and the Papa Joe's label. Variety also served as a custom recording service for other musicians who did not recorded for Lee's record labels.

Billboard review from May 26, 1962

The first Alley single was also the most successful. Bobby Lee Trammell, who had returned from California and now lived in his hometown Jonesboro, came in and asked Lee to record him. Trammell still performed wild rockabilly and rock'n'roll, although the time for hard rocking cats faded. Although the studio wasn't even furnished completely, Trammell insisted to do the session. The product was "Arkansas Twist" b/w "It's All Your Fault," which quickly became a hit. Even before its release, it sold 4,600 copies and before it was played on radio, 8000 exemplares were sold. On June 9, 1962, Billboard reported that "two other disks [that] are breaking well in the area [Memphis/Mid-South] are 'Arkansas Twist' by Bobby Lee Trammell on the Alley label, [...]." The song became Trammell's signature song and Alley's most popular record.

Others who recorded for Alley were Arkanas rockabilly singer Larry Donn, Kenny Owens, Jimmy Doyle Payne (Trammell's bass player), Ray Coble, the Exquires, and many others. The Folk Swingers, who made a guest appearance on the WSM Grand Ole Opry, had a single on the label as well as the Pacers, who were under contract with Razorback from Newport. Bobby Crafford, owner of Razorback and a member of the Pacers, had leased the masters to Alley. From 1962 on, 146 singles were released on Alley. In the 1990s, the studio burned down and many of the tapes were destroyed. By that time, Alley was already closed down. In 2006, Ram Records issued a compilation with 18 Alley recordings.

A detailed discography can be found on Arkansas 45rpm Records.

Sources: Delta Boogie, Sheree Homer/Ken Burke: "Catch that Rockabilly Fever"