Bluebird Children's Records

Series. A series of children's recordings released by RCA Victor in the 1950s and early 1960s. Releases include storytelling and music. Catalogue numbers beginning with WBY are 45 RPM, those beginning with BY are 78 RPM, LBY are LPs. Series may appear as: Bluebird Children's Records: Example Children's BLUEBIRD Records: Example Bluebird Children's: Example Bluebird: Example Bluebird (3) was a venerable record label, launched by RCA Victor as a less expensive alternative to the full priced Victor brand. It was extremely popular during the depression, and maintained its own catalogue. Many important jazz, blues and country records of the era were released on Bluebird (3) that did not appear on the parent label. However, following the Petrillo ban of 1942, during which the American Federation of Musicians went on strike and recording activities largely came to a halt, the Bluebird (3) brand suffered irreparably. The artist roster was gutted as Bluebird's stars (ie. Glenn Miller And His Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra, Spike Jones and others) were transferred to the more expensive Victor label. Following WWII, demand for cheap records dwindled and the Bluebird trademark was removed from labels in 1946. The label remained dormant for most of the rest of the decade, until it introduced "unbreakable" vinyl pressings in July, 1949, with a new 45-rpm series following shortly thereafter. The label suffered a final indignity in March, 1950, when it was reclassified as a children's series under the RCA Victor label. These records were produced in both 78- and 45-rpm formats well into the late 1950s. The name then faded altogether with little fanfare.