Abbey Records was a U.S. record label active from 1949 to 1953, founded by Pete Doraine. Initially based in Queens, New York, it moved to Manhattan in mid-1949. The label’s biggest hit was The Old Piano Roll Blues by J. Lawrence Cook in 1950, reaching No. 13 on the charts. Another notable hit was Slippin’ Around With Jole Blon by Bud Messner, which peaked at No. 7 on the country charts the same year. Abbey expanded its operations, producing LPs by 1952 and experimenting with marketing, such as promotional recordings for a hand cream brand.
The label covered various genres, including pop, country, gospel, R&B, jazz, and classical, with designated numerical series for different styles. Lawrence Cook was Abbey’s best-selling artist, recording piano roll-based performances in collaboration with QRS Piano Rolls. Other artists on the label included Charlie Barnet, Stuart Foster, and Charlie Spivak.
Abbey had a publishing arm, Margold Music Corp., and some of its recordings were distributed in Canada via Quality Records. The label ceased operations around 1953.
Abbey Records Discography
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