Yazoo Records

Yazoo Records emerged in the mid-1960s through the work of Nick Perls, whose collecting and archival interests focused on rare American recordings from the 78-rpm era. The label's first five releases were issued under the name Belzona Records and carried the catalog numbers L 1001 through L 1005. After the label was renamed Yazoo Records, those initial releases were reissued under the new identity. The Belzona and Yazoo labels used an Art Deco peacock emblem adapted from the 1927 label design of Black Patti Records. This visual reference placed the young imprint within a longer history of African American recording and signaled its interest in historically significant material. Yazoo's core activity was the compilation and reissue of early blues, country, jazz, and related rural American recordings. Perls assembled rare performances from the 1920s by artists including Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell, the Memphis Jug Band, Blind Blake, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Through curated reissues, the label helped make difficult-to-find recordings available to listeners beyond specialist collectors. Perls expanded his activities in 1970 by founding Blue Goose Records. That label was used for recordings by rediscovered Black blues artists and by younger blues and jazz performers. Blue Goose therefore complemented Yazoo's archival orientation with a platform for newly recorded or newly documented performers, while both labels remained connected to blues and related roots traditions. In 1987, Shanachie Records acquired Yazoo. The acquisition preserved the Yazoo name and catalog within a larger independent music framework. Shanachie subsequently used the label in a way that continued to emphasize heritage music while allowing some movement toward contemporary roots releases. In 2014, Yazoo signed The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, identified in the available reference material as its first current artist. The band’s album So Delicious followed on February 17, 2015. Yazoo's historical importance comes from its role as a preservation-oriented label. Rather than operating primarily as a mass-market artist-development company, it built its identity around rare recordings, editorial selection, historical framing, and the recovery of early American musical traditions. Its catalog connects archival blues and rural music with later audiences and performers. Publicly available reference material does not provide enough information to establish a precise founding year, current headquarters, present executives, or a definitive current operating status.

• 2015

  So Delicious released

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band released So Delicious through Yazoo on February 17, 2015.

• 2014

  First current-artist signing

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Yazoo signed The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, its first current artist according to the available reference material.

• 1987

  Acquisition by Shanachie Records

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Shanachie Records acquired Yazoo Records.

• 1970

  Blue Goose Records is founded

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Nick Perls founded Blue Goose Records as a related label for rediscovered Black blues artists and younger blues and jazz performers.

• Belzona launches its first five releases

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The first five releases associated with the label were issued under the Belzona Records name with catalog numbers L 1001 through L 1005.

• Belzona is renamed Yazoo Records

  [1]Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label adopted the Yazoo Records name and reissued its first five releases under the new identity.

A specialist heritage label centered on the preservation, curation, and reissue of early American roots music, with a later extension into contemporary blues and roots artists.

• Music catalog

  Archival blues reissues

  Yazoo's central product category consists of curated reissues of early blues recordings, particularly rare 78-rpm performances from the 1920s. The catalog includes work by artists such as Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, and Blind Lemon Jefferson. These releases are presented as historically meaningful collections intended to preserve and contextualize foundational recordings.

• Music catalog

  Roots, country, and rural American music compilations

  The label also covers early country and other rural American genres commonly grouped under roots music. Its compilation-oriented approach organizes historically significant performances for listeners interested in the development of American vernacular music.

• Music catalog

  Jazz archival releases

  Jazz is part of Yazoo's broader roots-music remit. The label's archival model emphasizes scarce or historically important recordings and uses editorial curation to connect individual performances with the wider development of American music.

• Contemporary roots album · 2015

  So Delicious

  So Delicious is an album by The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band released through Yazoo on February 17, 2015. Its release followed the band's signing in 2014 and represented Yazoo's documented expansion from historical reissues into a contemporary roots-music artist.

• 2014

  Expansion into a current artist releaseStrategy

  Background

  Yazoo had been primarily identified with archival reissues and historical recordings.

  Action taken

  The label signed The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band as its first current artist.

  Aftermath

  The signing led to the release of So Delicious in February 2015 and broadened the documented scope of the label.

  Source

• 1987

  Acquisition by Shanachie RecordsM&A

  Background

  Yazoo operated as a specialist label focused on early American roots recordings.

  Action taken

  Shanachie Records acquired Yazoo Records.

  Aftermath

  The Yazoo name and catalog continued within Shanachie's broader music organization.

  Source

• Renaming Belzona Records as Yazoo RecordsStrategy

  Background

  The label's first five releases had appeared under the Belzona name before the imprint adopted the Yazoo identity.

  Action taken

  The first five releases were reissued under the Yazoo Records name, establishing the label's continuing brand.

  Aftermath

  Yazoo became the principal identity associated with the archival catalog.

  Source

1. 1Yazoo Recordsen.wikipedia.org