About Sue UK

126 | 9 April 2024

Sue Records UK was a subsidiary of Island Records, and was launched by Chris Blackwell and David Betteridge in 1963. The first issue, WI 301, was ‘Mockingbird’ by Inez and Charlie Foxx.  The first few releases were all sourced from Juggy Murray’s Sue records of New York. Gradually records were leased from other American record companies, and Juggy Murray returned his distribution in the UK to Decca/London American. Guy Stevens took over as label manager from David Betteridge after the first few releases on the label. UK Sue’s records were snapped up by collectors of soul, blues and rock and roll music and were much sought-after.

In the 1980s Ensign records relaunched the Sue label for a short time. In recent years some CDs have been released celebrating this legendary 1960s record label, which was originally closed by Island in 1969, but refused to die…

…arguably the most collectable series of discs on a single label.

– Clive Richardson, Soul Citizen

Fascinating label.

– Graham Shaw

This website was launched on 30th October 2011. As well as celebrating Sue Records UK we also remember the product of Sue Records USA, which was founded by Henry ‘Juggy’ Murray and Bobby Robinson in 1957. The label got into financial difficulties and the masters were sold to United Artists in 1968. The masters are thought to be currently owned by Universal.

West Hampstead Life have an article which includes the history of Island Records. (Opens in new window.)

Island’s former address 108 Cambridge Road is now the site of a large block of apartments.

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Guy Stevens | Manchester Soul | 14674

Sue Records US address was 265 West 54th Street, New York City.

Some memorabilia of Sue Records UK:

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A Sue UK Release Sheet | Collection of Grahame Joyce | 15075

Sue and Island Release Sheets were printed by a local printer, Mr. Reed, of Cambridge Road.

Guy Stevens’ Compliments slip | Collection of Graham Shaw

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Shop window sticker | Collection of Álvaro Rubio Romo

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Undated picture of patrons outside the Scene Club, where Guy Stevens DJ’d | Collection of Graham Shaw

Ensign publicity material | Collection of Dave Hewitt | ensignpr.img

Cowlings Record Shop, Belvoir Street, Leicester. Where I used to buy my Sue singles. Leicester Graphic advertisement, Collection of Leicester University.

All photos are credited where known. Some photos are public domain. Thanks to the many Sue fans who continue to help with information and photos and scans from their own collections.

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Collectors Frenzy | 14555

23 thoughts on “About Sue UK”

  1. Hello. I have enjoyed looking through this site, which I have just discovered today. Sue has been my favourite UK label for many years and I have had the pleasure of contributing to a couple of reissue projects reviving the label’s music.
    May I offer a couple of comments? The Big Mama Thornton single was recorded in California in 1965. The lead singer of The Anglos was Joe Webster, not Jimmy Miller.
    Best wishes,
    Mike Atherton

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    1. Hi Paul, apologies for contacting you through yr site (great site btw). Love to speak to you regards a Guy Stevens documentary film we’re in production on. Mike.

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  3. Paul

    From its beginning, the UK Sue label was the major source of my intro to a whole world of rock, soul and R&B back in the 60s. I am forever grateful to DJ Mike Raven for pointing me to the label and a big thanks to you and your site for flying the flag too.

    TC

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  4. Can I offer my support in creating the first ever UK Sue appreciation meet. I am sure there are many of us out there and would love to bring together the many collectors, experts and enthusiasts. Ideally it could be located in the UK (although i know live in NY now) but would love to travel to such an event. It could combine with a possible swap meet, auction and guest speakers. Just a thought and hopefully this idea may gain traction.

    Best
    Graham Shaw

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  5. Something a bit like it happened in London last September – a gathering of former Island employees, some of whom stretched back to the Sue days, in what used to be their after-work local pub in West London. I was lucky to be invited along as a guest. There used to be a Sue Appreciation Society, based at 13, Grantock Road, somewhere in East London, but that was a long time ago.

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  7. When Sue Records purchased the Fury label from Bobby Robinson was my records with the group? My group the “Emotions” and the “Three Emotions” recorded on Bobby’s Fury label. Red Fury label records number 1010 is: “Candlelight and It’s Love”, . Yellow Fury label record number 1026 is “The Night We Met and The Girl I Left Behind”. I am Bill Rodriguez and I am the originator and one of the singers of the group. You can hear these songs on YouTube and see a black and white photo of us. I still have a group and still sing. billyr75wr@yahoo.com

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    1. Hello Bill, those recordings were not issued on the UK version of Sue Records. Does anyone reading have any further information that can help Bill, please? Very best wishes, Paul

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  8. We read that the label was named after founder Henry Juggy Murray’s mother. Anybody here that knows where the Sue logo (the little child and the stars) originated from?
    Thank you, it is highly appreciated,
    Benny & Sue !

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      1. I believe that Sue was Juggy Murray’s daughter and that she had a birth mark on her cheek, which her father thoughtfully included in the logo. I was told that maybe 30 years ago but I can’t remember by whom.

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  9. John Powney, RIP, whom I met in the early eighties, by which time he had amassed a collection comprising 35,000 singles covering Doo Wop, R&B, Northern and Deep Soul and who possessed a phenomenal amount of knowledge, prior to the existence of the internet told me that the label was named after Juggy’s eldest daughter who interestingly was named after Juggy’s mother confirming both Benny and Mike’s information. John also said the logo was meant to represent Juggy ‘s daughter. I did read in a short biography somewhere that the daughter had a birthmark on her cheek roughly shaped like a star and this was why Juggy decided to incorporate this into the logo.
    It was John who introduced me, and many others to both the American and British Sue labels and who helped me to obtain many of the Sue singles currently in my collection.

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  10. Great to see the site fully updated and telling the Sue UK story in all its red and yellow glory !!!
    Maybe worth a mention somewhere of the LP ‘The Sue Story’ which UK Decca issued on its London label in 1965. Has 12 tracks that Decca must have had the UK rights to before Sue UK was set up (plus they do slip in Barbara George ‘I Know’, which London American had leased from AFO, before Barbara George moved to Sue US). Presumably Decca saw the opportunity to get on the bandwagon and compete with ILP-925.

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    2. AFO (All For One) was distributed nationally in the States by Sue Records, so I guess Sue could place AFO masters in other territories – just as, for example, Bell U.K. issued records from labels such as Amy and Mama which they distributed in the States.

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  11. Discogs has both albums being issued in 1965. The Sue LP issued on the London label was re-issued in 1969 on United Artists. Best wishes to everyone, Paul

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    1. It’s an odd ‘un. The U.S. Sue L.P. ‘The Sue Story’ Chapter 1′ came out in 1964, with the same track listing as the London release but a different cover with several artist photos. It was then reissued a year or so later as ‘Sue Old Goodies’, with the same front cover which London used – but the back sleeve still titled it as ‘The Sue Story’! I think the U.K. Sue L.P. came first over here but I can’t be sure. I can confirm that Sue ILP-925 came out in July 1965.

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