Finer Arts Records

Finer Arts Records & Morey Bernstein

Morey Bernstein from L.A. To Denver

The Finer Arts Record Label has a long and somewhat clouded history – and the name Finer Arts lives to this day as a family owned enterprise in Denver, Colorado – although the vinyl recording days are long past.   But the label’s heyday was back some nearly 50 years ago when Morris Bernstein served as a partner with Frank Kavelin and also as a producer, song writer and more.

Tiny Capulin Colorado – Home to Morey Bernstein

Morris was the son of immigrant parents and was born in southern Colorado in the town of Capulin.   Some sources say he was born in 1920. The “Composer/Classical Music” resource states that he was born on February 29th, 1916 in Capulin.  The very tiny town of Capulin (currently about 200 residents) doesn’t list Bernstein as a “notable resident” probably because they are oblivious to the song composer/producer/record label owner.

Capulin is located a little southwest of Alamosa, Colorado.

The photo below is of a Moritz Bernstein in front of his dry goods store around 1890 in Walsenburg, Colorado – located not far at all from Morey’s town of Capulin.  This possibly could be a member of Morey’s family.

Moritz Bernstein 3rd from left

During his lifetime, Morris composed more the 600 songs.  Many of the songs performed by the Finer Arts recording acts were written by him.  According to the Jewish Theater News in Denver, Morris composed for political figures Roy Romer and President Ronald Regan.

Bernstein of Finer Arts

Finer Arts began in Hollywood, California where it’s earliest releases were recorded.  Many of these releases would be reissued by Finer Arts on labels bearing the Denver address.  Morris also owned Trans-World Records which had the distinction of releasing Otis Redding’s first single.  Bernstein and Kavelin apparently did have disagreements and so the label fractured sometime in the 1960’s with Bernstein setting up in Denver, Colorado recording new acts but also releasing previous tracks from the original label in California.

Visit the Kavelin family page to learn much more about Bernstein – Finer Arts – Lute Records and more.

In 1961 and 1962 Morey started up another label based in the Los Angeles area.  The label was Reveille and only managed to hang in there for five releases.  One of the musicians recording for Reveille was Denver, Colorado’s Terry Miller who may have come to Morey’s attention due to that connection.

Reveille was housed in a dual-address studio – 6201 Santa Monica Blvd/1107 El Centro.  Many labels passed through the building complex over the 1950’s and 1960’s including Aut, Class, Co Co, Combo, Con-Quer, Deck, Dig, Double-Play, Empire, Golden Crown, Heart Song, Orpheus, Starla, Tampa and Zen!  Nearby Reveille were other independents such as Kem, Jewell, Antler and Ensign, Crest and Discovery.  It was truly the era of the enterprising small independent record label pioneer!

Labels in the L.A. Neighborhood

Finer Arts lists 60 South Glencoe Street on most of its labels.  Apparently Morey’s place of business for Finer Arts was located at 295 Monaco Parkway which would place it very close to his place of residence.  Not known if he maintained a studio there or not.  As I spoke with Steve Faulkner of the Denver band Umbra – Steve told me the band met with Morey at his home and talked about recording – Steve didn’t have a good feeling about what Morey offered and so Umbra decided to pass – Faulkner doesn’t think there was a studio at this home.

60 South Glencoe – Denver – Home – Studio or Both?

Jewish News – April 1st,1955

Denver Jewish News – November 25th, 1955

Jewish News – December 23rd, 1955

Jewish News – June 29th, 1956

Jewish News – January 17th, 1958

April 20th, 1962

Jewish News – June 30th, 1967

Cantor Weiss

Morey Bernstein

Among Bernstein’s compositions was the sound track to “Israel O’ Israel” became the basis for a later production of “Suddenly Hope”.  The Israel sound track was released on Finer Arts release 777 in 1982.

Juanita Brown with Dusty Brooks

Juanita Brown was a lead vocalist with Dusty Brooks and His Tones – The two sides here were both composed by song writer and record label owner for Finer Arts out of Denver, Colorado – Morey Bernstein.  Seems odd that Morey who spent his early years in Los Angeles working with Al Kavelin of Lute Records would compose a couple of Sun tracks but not odd when research revealed these tracks were indeed recorded in L.A. and leased to Sun.

Here’s an interesting promotional piece from the Johnny Johnson Agency from 1953 promoting an appearance of the Tones with Juanita at the Rossonian Lounge in Denver, Colorado!  As Bernstein was a Denver lounge and entertainment figure – it all seems to add up!

Morey Bernstein passed away on January 2nd, 2006.  He is buried at the Golden Hill Cemetery located in Lakewood, Colorado.

Morey Bernstein’s Baby Grand – 1961

Denver Newspaper Article – Morey Bernstein – March 24th, 1962

Morey had his hand in a couple of Denver-area night spots including the referenced Keyboard Lounge in this article.

Jewish News Denver – April 20th, 1962

Jewish Intermountain News – June 30th, 1967

Cantor Weiss

Bernstein

Finer Arts Billboard Listing – September 14th, 1967

Hollywood Argyles

There are two acts that stand out above the others within the Finer Arts catalog:  First, The Hollywood Argyles with their release of Finer Arts 1002 as listed below.   The original Argyles were the creation of Gary Paxton – who in fact recorded “Alley Oop” solo back in mid 1960.  There were many Hollywood Argyle releases prior to the Finer Arts 1961 recording.  Based on the success of the release – Gary put together a performing group to fill appearance dates.  Prior to the Argyles – Paxton was one-half of the duo Skip and Flip (“Cherry Pie” and “It Was I”).  Skip was Skip Battin, who would later join the Byrds.  I contacted Paxton and he told me he never traveled to or worked in Denver, but did production work for Morris often in Hollywood, thus the Hollywood Argyle release on Finer Arts.

Paxton also told me that he had traveled for a time to Nashville to do some work and thus tracks such as the two shown below on Capitol Records which were most likely cut in the Country Music Capitol.

This from Reader Rob Finnis (September 26th, 2022):

“Craig, in 1976, I wrote the first ever biography of Phil Spector. It was published by a small imprint, Rock On Books, funded by Ted Carroll who went on to co-found Ace Records for whom I worked for many years putting together CDs (including the Golden Age or RocknRoll series). The Phil Spector Story, now very hard to find, laid the road map for others to follow, some acknowledging me, others not. We did get word back of Spectors approval.

“Anyway, to get to the point, among those I interviewed was ex-Teddy Bear Marshall Leib. When Spector disbanded the latter trio, Leib went on the road with Gary Paxton and 4 others as the Hollywood Argyle’s road band to cash in on their one-off smash hit, Alley Oop which had been created by studio musicians.

Marshall Leib

“Leib told me that the follow up, Bug Eye/Gun Totin Critter, was recorded by the road band while gigging in Denver, Colorado. Whereas Alley Oop had been the result of a boozy session in LA, the follow up was cut sober in an unfamiliar Denver studio and failed to capture the spontaneous magic of their only hit. “

“Point is, the Denver connection suggests Morrey Bernstein may have had a hand in matters beyond those already known. Incidentally, the Road band comprised: Paxton, Leib, Bobby Rey, Deary Weaver, Gary Spider Webb + one other. 

Just a little snapshot in time throwing further light on matters Denver!

Best wishes

Rob Finnis”

Otis Redding & the Shooters

The other Finer Arts release of note is one by Otis Redding (with the Shooters on one side).  According to the Jewish News article, “Bernstein claims to have discovered by Otis Redding and Jan and Dean.”  Quiet a claim.  This record below was released on Trans World records – and some sources claim the Finer Arts 2016 is a “reissue”.  An item on-line however – publicizing a switch in ownership for Finer Arts also included Trans World.  So go figure.  For sure the Finer Arts recording date is one of the very earliest for Redding (he also had a release on Orbit records in 1961).  Which came first?

Where does Trans World fit in?  Who discovered Otis Redding?  D The advertisement for this release from Billboard appears below – November, 1966.  An Otis Redding biography indeed does relate about an early trip to Hollywood where Otis tested the waters and it was during this visit that he recorded the tracks shown here – first released on the Trans-World label – which was also a Morey Bernstein venture – Then he up and departed back to Texas to resume his quest.

Vicki Martin

Billboard Magazine – November 12th, 1966

Cash Box Magazine – November 12th, 1966

Finer Arts 45s Followed by Bernstein-Related Discography

Finer Arts 1001 – Doug & Freddy & the Pyramids – “I Know You’re Lyin'” b/w Take a Chance of Love”

The orange label release is an original commercial first issue and the Red Label could have been a 2nd issue but could be first. The second set of scans below were a re-release of Doug and Freddy once the label was located in Denver.

Finer Arts 1002 – Hollywood Argyles – “The Morning After” b/w “See You in the Morning”

Finer Arts 1003 – Larry Stevens – “Just Think of Me” b/w “Somewhere There is a Someone”

Finer Arts 1004 – Robie Lester – “Ballad of Cheatin’ Life” b/w “Miracle of Life”

Finer Arts 1005 – Viviane Greene – “Thanks for Nothing” b/w You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You”

Greene is listed on this 1950 Denver Post newspaper advertisement as an “added attraction” for the nationally known group The Charioteers – appearing at the Rossonian Lounge at 2650 Welton Street (image from “The Denver Eye”)

Finer Arts 1006 – Joni Davis – “Somewhere There is Someone” b/w “Too Lonesome to Cry”

(A rare Finer Arts picture sleeve – Only one I know of)

Finer Arts 1007 – Fabulous Enchanters – “Why Are You Crying” b/w “Something Blue”

The Fabulous Enchanters were a local duo who released this one single on Morey Bernstein’s Finer Arts label which dates from 1962. “Something Blue” was penned by Bernstein as was usually the case with many Finer Arts releases.

From Kevin Guthrie –  November,2018: “The late Denver jazz pianist Jack Collins Davis played piano with the Fabulous Enchanters. He was a teenager, when they went to L.A. to record. I believe Vern Byers; a Denver promoter had something to do with it. Red Mitchell was the bassist on the date.”

Group Members:

Marlene McDade
Ronald Stewart

Finer Arts 1009 – Ce Cee Carol – “Oh! Mr.Judge” – b/w Tag-A-Long”

Finer Arts 2008 – Vicki Martin – “Beware My Love” b/w “Handful of Dust”

Finer Arts 2009 – Julie D’Anne – “Restless Wind” b/w “Tag-a-Long”

Finer Arts 2010 – Don Rutherford – “Eskimo Song” b/w “Punishment of Love”

Finer Arts 2011 – Hustlers – “The Heart is a Lonely Hunter” b/w “Julianne”

This group started off at the University of Colorado in the 1960’s. Members included Mike Wuergler (bass), Mel Anderson (guitar), Jan Camp (vocals, percussion) and Adrian Anderson (banjo).

Hustlers – January 31st, 1969 – Play Regis College

Intermountain Jewish News – September 21st, 1962

Morey’s Daughter-In-Law 1962

The Greeley Daily Tribune – March 9th, 1965

The Hustlers – Fort Collins – January 1964

The Hustlers – September 16th, 1966

The Hustlers – 1968

The Hustlers – Steamboat Springs – February 6th thru 8th, 1969

Finer Arts 2011 – Hustlers – “I Came Home” b/w “Lowlands of the Sea”

(undocumented release – redundant #)

Finer Arts 2012 – Jerry & Julie – “Thanks for Nothing” b/w “Too Lonesome to Cry”

Finer Arts 2013 – Vern Swain – “Cloudy Summer Afternoon” b/w “It Ain’t Me Babe”

Finer Arts 2014 – Hustlers – “Ski Country” b/w “Times I’ve Had”

Finer Arts 2016 – Otis Redding & the Shooters – “She’s Alright” b/w “Tough Enough”

Finer Arts 2017 – Dawn & the Twilights – “Cry Em’ Out” b/w Do It”

Finer Arts 2018 – Cantor Maurice Weiss – “Blow the Shofar, Blow” b/w “He Who Knows”

Finer Arts 2019 – Marvells – “Miracle of Life” b/w “What About the Mountain”

Like many recordings acts on Finer Arts – label owner Morey Bernstein wrote many of their tracks. A YouTube visitor attended a performance by the Marvells at Denver’s Cole Jr. High School in the 1960’s.

Finer Arts 2020 – Julie D’Anne & the Soulmates – “Introduction to Zepporah the Lonely Butterfly”b/w Zepporah the Lonely Butterfly”

Finer Arts 2021 – Eric Mitchell – “Home Again” b/w – I’m Here My Love”

Finer Arts 2022 – Marlene McDade – “Miracle of Life” b/w “How Can I Tell Him”

Finer Arts 2023 – Mel “Chub” Anderson – “Sometimes” b/w “These Changing Times”

Finer Arts 2024 – Marvells – “How Could You Hurt Me So” b/w “Cause I’m Loving You”

Finer Arts 2025 – Newcomers – “My People” b/w Blow the Shofar, Blow”

Finer Arts 2026 – Marvells – “I’m a Fool for Losing You” b/w “Tomorrow”

Finer Arts 6201 – The Well Diggers – “Crazy Alice” b/w  “Destination Heartbreak” by Jeannie Wyland & Sweettree

Finer Arts 45-3 – Kaylen Wells – “Time” – b/w “You Gave Me You”

Finer Arts 777/45 – Doug Duggan – “Come Home” b/w “Stop”

Finer Arts 777 – Susan Nelson – “The Soft Touch Of You” b/w “Time Will Make My Hurt Go Away”

Finer Arts 45-5 – Marina & Ocean Fire – “Hot Ride” b/w “I Know You’re Lying”

Trans-World 45’s

Trans World 6907 – Ce Cee Carol – “Tag-A-Long” b/w Oh! Mr. Judge”

Trans World 6908 – Otis Redding & The Shooters – “She’s All Right” b/w “Tuff Enough” featuring Jackie

Trans World 6906 – Hong Kong White Sox ‘ “Cholley-Oop” b/w “He’d Better Go” by Brumley Prunk

Finer Arts LP’s

LP – The Hustlers – Finer Arts 103 – Ski Country

LP – The Hustlers – Finer Arts 104 – The Hustlers In Action

LP – Finer Arts FA-S-202 – Vicki Martin – A Handful of Dust

LP – Finer Arts 2001 – The Vincent Brothers – Prelude to Discovery

LP – Finer Arts 777 – Morey Bernstein – Israel Oh Israel

Other Recordings with Bernstein Connections

78 – The Sugar Tones – Onyx – Annabelle b/w Today Is Your Birthday – 1951

78/45 – Dusty Brooks – Sun 182 – Tears and Wine b/w Heaven Of Fire – May, 1953

45 – Q – Earl Robbins & The Miller Sisters – I Ain’t Gonna Worry No More – 1955

45 – Dynasty 626 – Jackie Curtis – Home Again – August, 1959

45 – Cascade 5912 – Tommy Knacklin and the Four Jets – Worry, Worry, Worry b/w Somewhere There Is Someone – 1959

45 – Everest – Austin Cromer – The Miracle Of Life – June, 1960

45 – Landa 681 – Robie Lester with Don Ralke Orch. – The Miracle of Life b/w Ball of Cheating John – 1961

The A Side is a Morey Bernstein Composition and the record is produced by Finer Arts – probably during the Hollywood based days

45 – Reveille 1001 – Terry Miller – Sweet Lovin’ b/w Later Let Me Know – March,1961

45 – Reveille 1002 – The Idols – Just A Little Bit More b/w Why Must I Cry – April, 1961

45 – Reveille 103 – The P. F. Flyers – The Turtle and the Hair b/w Heartaches Of Love – 1961

45 – Reveille 105 – Terry Miller – Open Sesame b/w For Stealing Her From Me – April, 1962

45 – Reveille 106 – The Cordials – The International Twist b/w Eternal Love – April, 1962

LP Cut Brazil – Continental – Zenaide Xavier – Milagre De Vita – 1962

Morey Bernstein Comments

(From Allen Reisman Feb 21)

“I know his sons Barry & Allan, haven’t seen them since we were kids”

(From Carolyn Steuer Feb 21)

“Didn’t he write the song Alley Oop? I lived near him in the Cobblestone Townhome complex. He was quite the ladies man—and he was no spring chicken then.”

(From Joyce Singular Feb 21)

“I met Morey Bernstein when I believe his sons purchased Ebbets Field nightclub from Barry Fey – I thought their names were Richard and Brian but I could be wrong. Ebbets was located in Brooks Towers and one night after working at Ebbets, he invited a few of us upstairs to his place and played the piano – a very nice man…”