cosimo code
INFOCLIENTMATRIXLABELDATEARTISTTITLE
placeholder94101Ace 606Little Jerry & The ChantsThe Shape You Left Me In
placeholder94102Ace 606Little Jerry & The ChantsOoh Wee Baby
placeholder94105Ace 60510/24/60
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Big Boy Myles with Mac Rebennack's OrchestraNew Orleans
placeholder94106Ace 60510/22/60
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Big Boy Myles with Mac Rebennack's OrchestraGray Bonnet
placeholder111Vin 102511/14/60
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Danny RayLove Me
placeholder112Vin 1025Danny RayGone
placeholder84113Rustone 1404Emmet & The JadesHit The Road
placeholder84114Rustone 1404Emmett & The JadesThey Tell Me
placeholder150115Nix 10011/21/60
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The Melody MatesEnchantment
placeholder150116Nix 100The Melody MatesPromenade
placeholder94117Ace 6151/21/61
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Harry LeeAre You For Real
placeholder94118Ace 6151/23/61
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Harry LeeLooking, Seeking, Searching
placeholder7120Coaster 800Dee Thomas & The VersatilesIn The Garden Of Love
placeholder7121Coaster 800Dee Thomas & The VersatilesDon't Know Where I'm Going
placeholder21124drew-Blan 10022/20/61
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Charles LemanBye Bye Baby
placeholder21125drew-Blan 1002Charles LemanBelieve In Me
placeholder21126drew-Blan 1003Jimmie DaleMy Pride And Joy
placeholder21127drew-Blan 1003Jimmie DaleEmma Lee
placeholder9128Merit 1002Joe ValentineI Still Love You
placeholder9129Merit 1002Joe ValentineYoung Lover
placeholder11134Valiant 3376Johnny DavisSend Me Someone To Love
placeholder11135Valiant 3376Johnny DavisMy Kind Of Baby
placeholder11136Valiant 3378Errol DeeThis Is The End
placeholder11137Valiant 3378Errol DeeLet Me Give You My Love
placeholder11138Valiant 3338Joel MooreSeeking
placeholder11139Valiant 3338Joel MooreRhumatiz
placeholder12144Rex 10161/9/61
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Van BroussardI Can't Complain
placeholder12145Rex 10161/7/61
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Van BroussardWinter Wind
placeholder94149Ace 60712/5/60
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Jimmy ClantonWhat Am I Gonna Do
placeholder94150Ace 60711/26/60
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Jimmy ClantonIf I
placeholder96151Ric 975recorded
11/3/60
Martha NelsonI Don't Talk Too Much
placeholder96152Ric 97512/3/60
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Martha NelsonBless You Darling

1960


clantonDuring 1959, Cosimo Matassa was running the Rex label in conjunction with his studios at 523-25 Gov. Nicholls Street in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter. However, he admitted he was distracted from his studios and label by managing national teen idol Jimmy Clanton, who recorded for Johnny Vincent's Ace label of Jackson, Mississippi.

At the time the independent record business was reeling from the Congressional payola hearings. Many of the pioneering independent labels withdrew from New Orleans, including Aladdin, Chess, Modern and Specialty; even Lew Chudd's Imperial, under Dave Bartholomew, cut back considerably on its local sessions.

gonzoIn 1960 Imperial resumes a busy recording schedule at the Cosimo studios led by Fats Domino. His Top 10 pop hit with Walking To New Orleans brings welcome fresh attention to Matassa's facility. In the fall, Joe Jones has an even bigger hit with You Talk Too Much (Roulette, originally Ric) at No. 3 pop; and session keyboardist James Booker has a Top 50 hit with the organ-instrumental Gonzo (Peacock) produced by Edward Frank, a former member of the Cosimo Studio Band. To cope with the extra business, Matassa brings in young engineers Skip Godwin and Bert Frilot as assistants. A new 3-track recording machine is acquired, giving the potential for basic stereo sessions.

In October, Matassa introduces a new sequential master series starting at 100 with record company clients allocated individual prefixes. The principal client in the last quarter of the year is Ace... and The Cosimo Code is launched!
- John Broven
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