Bear Family Records

Bear Family Records
Founded	1975
Founder	Richard Weize
Genre	Various
Country of origin	Germany
Location	27729 Holste-Oldendorf
Official website	www.bear-family.de

Bear Family Recordsis aGermany-basedindependent record label,that specializes in reissues of archival material, ranging fromcountry musicto 1950srock and rollto old German moviesoundtracks.

History

The label has been in existence since 1975, founded by collectorRichard Weize,started with the double LPGoing Back to DixiebyBill Clifton.It has become known for its extravagant (and expensive) box sets. The company describes itself as "a collector's record label" due to its primary business, which is reissuing rare recordings in CD format in small amounts. Historically, their material has had only limited availability in the U.S, stocked atErnest Tubb Record Shop,and through mail order sources. Many of their box sets are available throughAmazon Marketplace.

Artists

Among the many artists who have been the subject of extensive box set releases by Bear Family areBob Wills,Merle Haggard,Waylon Jennings,David Allan Coe,Hank Snow,Jim Reeves,Johnny Cash,Willie Nelson,Dean Martin,Bill Haley & His Comets,the Kingston Trio,Louis Jordan,The Everly Brothers,Chet Atkins,Ann-Margret,Pat Boone,Frankie Laine,Petula Clark,Burl Ives,theCarter Family,Fats Domino,Rosemary Clooney,Doris Day,Connie Francis,Lesley Gore,Ricky Nelson,Nat King Cole,Gene Autry,Johnny Sea,Joe Dowell,the Treniers,Porter Wagoner,Dolly Parton,Jerry Lee Lewis,The Vipers Skiffle Group,Merle TravisandWeldon Rogers.

Bear Family has also made a habit of producing thorough compilations of artists with a more limited fanbase, such as two separate five-CDJohnnie Raycollections, five-CD box set ofMerle Travis±, six-CD box sets ofSlim Whitmanandthe Orioles,a seven-CDRod McKuenset, eight-CD collections ofLonnie Donegan,Del Shannon,Neil SedakaandGene Vincent,a nine-CD omnibus ofJohnny Burnette,a 16 CD omnibus ofJim Reeves,or a set of five boxed sets with a total of 26 CDs coveringDoris Day'scomplete recording history for Columbia Records

Compilations

The company has also released several hundred 'Various Artists' compilations, organized by theme or genre. These include such eclectic projects as a ten-CD politicalprotest songbox set, an eleven-CD set of the Jewish and Yiddish performers of the mid-1930s, a seven-CD box featuring 195 different versions of the song "Lili Marleen,"compilations of music based on and from the TV seriesBonanza,a four-CD collection of Britishmusic hallsongs of the early 20th century, a ten-CD set of late-1930scalypsomusic,a 52-CD "History of Pop Music" set and a 26-CD compilation detailing the country hit parade from 1945 to 1970.

In 1982, RCA combined song sung independently by Reeves andPatsy Clineinto duets using three-track mastering recorders onto a 24-track tape. New orchestration and new backing tracks were added, and the tracks were then remixed for stereo. RCA's similar album was,Greatest Hits of Jim Reeves & Patsy Cline.These duets appeared on theRemembering Patsy Cline & Jim ReevesLP.

In 1996, the label released a 16 CD compilation titledWelcome to my World,byJim Reeves,including more than 75 unissued titlesand many demo recordings.

See also

• Bear Family Records albums
• List of record labels

External links

• Official website
• Bear Essentials– Bear Family Records reviews (updated often)
• Conelrad: Atomic Platters– with information on the 2005 Bear release