Somerset Records

Somerset Records was an American budget record label created in 1957 by record producer Dave Miller through his Miller International Company. The label emerged from Miller's earlier experience operating Essex Records and from his interest in producing and distributing inexpensive albums at a scale broader than that of a conventional hit-oriented pop label. Somerset became associated with low-priced popular, easy-listening, orchestral, and stereo albums, often presented with colorful commercial artwork and sold through nontraditional retail channels such as supermarkets and drugstores. Miller's budget-label model combined several cost controls. His company operated its own pressing facility in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, used public-domain repertoire where possible, and employed non-union musicians from outside the United States for many recordings. Rather than concentrating exclusively on original star performers, Somerset frequently issued cover versions of contemporary songs and recordings designed for long-term catalog sales. The albums were marketed as affordable alternatives to full-price releases, with records placed on portable display racks or cardboard retail “dumps” that could be installed in a variety of stores. The company also used artist Anthony “Chic” Laganella for attention-getting cover designs. Somerset's best-known associated series was 101 Strings, an orchestral studio project whose first album appeared in September 1957. The 101 Strings name was used for recordings involving German orchestras, and Somerset issued 24 titles in the series during 1958. The label also promoted its stereo and high-fidelity credentials through the Somerset Stereo Fidelity imprint. Miller claimed that the company had produced the first budget stereo albums, although the historical record does not establish that claim independently here. The company pursued an international distribution strategy. In 1959, Miller signed the London Philharmonic Orchestra to his label. Somerset albums were distributed in the United Kingdom by Pye Records and later reached France through Disques Vogue. Miller also established Europa Records in Germany to reproduce the commercial approach used by Somerset in European markets. Recordings connected with the Somerset and later Alshire operations appeared under the Europa name in parts of Europe. Miller sold Somerset to Al Sherman in 1963. Sherman changed the operating name to Alshire Records, but the Somerset name continued to appear on some releases, and Miller remained credited as a producer on certain albums. This ownership transition makes the later boundaries of the Somerset brand less clear than its original Miller International period. The label is principally remembered for demonstrating how low prices, controlled manufacturing, catalog-oriented repertoire, distinctive packaging, and mass-market distribution could create a substantial record business outside the mainstream major-label system. Its present operating status and ownership are not established by the supplied sources.

Somerset Records developed from Dave Miller's earlier work in independent record production and manufacturing. After serving in the United States Navy, Miller and his brother-in-law Ralph Joseph recorded weddings directly to disc. Miller later worked at the RCA Victor pressing plant in Camden, New Jersey, where he gained practical knowledge of record manufacture. He and his brother Paul subsequently formed Palda Records, and Miller founded Essex Records in Philadelphia in 1951. Essex achieved local success, particularly through early releases by Bill Haley and His Comets. The relationship later ended in a royalty dispute after Haley moved to Decca Records, and Miller's resulting bankruptcy shaped his later business philosophy. Rather than relying on a small number of current pop hits, he pursued a model based on inexpensive recordings with durable catalog potential. In 1957, Miller and Miller International office manager George Phillips founded Somerset Records and Somerset Stereo Fidelity. The operation controlled costs through its own pressing facility in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; the use of public-domain material; cover versions; and recordings made with non-union musicians from outside the United States. The label sold records through supermarkets, drugstores, and other outlets that could accommodate compact display racks or cardboard record stands. Its budget albums were sold to salesmen at wholesale prices and then retailed at prices substantially below standard full-price LPs, although the exact figures are not treated here as current financial data. Somerset's output included stereo, orchestral, easy-listening, and popular-song albums. The 101 Strings series was especially important. Its first album appeared in September 1957, and 24 titles were released under the name in 1958. Miller also used distinctive cover art by Anthony “Chic” Laganella to help the records stand out in mass-market retail environments. Original compositions and arrangements were associated with writers and musicians including Monty Kelly, Robert Lowden, and Joseph Kuhn, while Miller's Chesdel Music, formed in 1962, handled publishing interests connected with some material. The business expanded internationally during the late 1950s. In 1959, Somerset signed the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Pye Records distributed Somerset material in the United Kingdom, and Disques Vogue handled distribution in France. Miller also formed Europa Records in Germany, using it to reproduce the Somerset commercial approach in European markets. Some Somerset and later Alshire recordings therefore circulated under related European branding. Miller sold Somerset to Al Sherman in 1963. Sherman renamed the operation Alshire Records, but Somerset continued to appear on certain releases, and Miller remained credited as a producer on some albums. The transfer marked the end of Somerset as a clearly independent Miller-controlled operation, although the brand's catalog identity persisted. The label's later corporate ownership, current activity, and exact catalog disposition are not established by the supplied references. Somerset's historical significance lies in its integration of recording, pressing, packaging, low-price retail distribution, and international licensing into a scalable budget-record business.

• 1963

  Sale to Al Sherman

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  Somerset was sold to Al Sherman and the operation was renamed Alshire Records, although Somerset remained in use for some releases.

• 1962

  Chesdel Music is created

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  Miller established Chesdel Music as a publishing company connected with his recording activities.

• 1959

  London Philharmonic Orchestra agreement

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  Somerset signed the London Philharmonic Orchestra and expanded distribution in Europe through Pye Records and Disques Vogue.

• 1958

  101 Strings catalog expands

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  Somerset released 24 101 Strings titles during the year.

• 1957

  Somerset Records is founded

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  Dave Miller and George Phillips established Somerset Records under Miller International Company, alongside Somerset Stereo Fidelity.

• 1957

  First 101 Strings album appears

  [1]Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org

  The first album using the 101 Strings name was released in September, establishing one of the label's most recognizable series.

Affordable, widely distributed stereo and orchestral entertainment for mass-market listeners, emphasizing catalog longevity and accessible pricing rather than exclusive star talent.

• Budget LP albums · 1957

  Somerset budget albums

  The core Somerset product was the low-priced LP, generally built around accessible repertoire, cover versions, orchestral arrangements, or themed entertainment programming. The label's economics depended on controlling recording and pressing costs, using broad distribution, and presenting albums as practical impulse or value purchases rather than premium collector products.

• Stereo and high-fidelity albums · 1957

  Somerset Stereo Fidelity

  Somerset Stereo Fidelity was the label's stereo-oriented budget imprint. Its branding connected inexpensive records with the consumer interest in stereophonic sound and high fidelity during the late 1950s. The imprint helped Miller International market technically themed albums while retaining the company's mass-market pricing and distribution model.

• Orchestral recording series · 1957

  101 Strings

  101 Strings was an orchestral recording identity used by Miller International for recordings involving German orchestras. Its first album appeared in September 1957, and Somerset released 24 titles in the series in 1958. The series became one of the most visible examples of the label's strategy of building durable, repeatedly marketable catalog properties.

• Orchestral albums · 1959

  London Philharmonic Orchestra recordings

  Somerset's 1959 agreement with the London Philharmonic Orchestra extended the label's orchestral positioning and supported its international distribution strategy. These releases complemented the label's broader program of accessible classical and easy-listening material.

• 1963

  Transfer Somerset to Al ShermanM&A

  Background

  Miller decided to sell the Somerset operation after establishing its budget-label catalog and distribution model.

  Action taken

  Al Sherman acquired Somerset and changed the operating name to Alshire Records, while retaining Somerset on some releases.

  Aftermath

  The Somerset identity continued in parts of the catalog, but the label no longer operated solely as Miller's original company.

  Source

• 1959

  Expand Somerset into European marketsStrategy

  Background

  The label's budget-album model had potential beyond the United States, particularly in markets developing demand for stereo and orchestral recordings.

  Action taken

  Somerset signed the London Philharmonic Orchestra and arranged United Kingdom distribution through Pye Records, with French distribution through Disques Vogue. Miller also established Europa Records in Germany.

  Aftermath

  Somerset-related recordings circulated through a wider European network, including releases under the Europa name.

  Source

• 1957

  Adopt a mass-market budget-record modelStrategy

  Background

  After the instability associated with hit-driven independent recording, Miller sought a business model based on inexpensive albums and catalog material that could remain commercially useful for years.

  Action taken

  Miller International combined in-house pressing, public-domain and cover repertoire, overseas recording resources, distinctive packaging, and supermarket and drugstore distribution.

  Aftermath

  The approach enabled Somerset to issue large quantities of low-priced albums and develop internationally distributed series such as 101 Strings.

  Source

1. 1Dave Miller (producer)en.wikipedia.org