Polaris

Prolific record label from Cambridge. Existed at least from 1965 to 1966. Address was 1232 Cambridge Street. Joseph Melino was the label's president.

Polaris Records didn't have its own permanent tracking space, so Melino routinely cycled his artists through the top independent studios in the Greater Boston area. Depending on the session, Polaris bands tracked at Fleetwood Recording Studio in Revere, Ace Recording Studios on Boylston Place, and AAA Recording Studios in Dorchester. Engineer Ray Fournier was a frequent technical hand on these releases.

In mid-1966, Joe Melino invested heavily in a massive, statewide "Battle of the Bands" competition to scout new talent for Polaris. The event suffered from terrible, under-attended turnouts and massive financial losses. In the immediate aftermath, a discouraged Melino completely folded the Polaris imprint. He partnered with a new investor, moved into an office at the Astor Motor Inn, and launched his next short-lived endeavor: Astor Records.

45 Releases

1. Robin Sisters / Robbin Sisters : Santa's Little Workshop / Chimney Top Twist ‎(100) (79298/79299) , December 1962
2. Russ Conway : I'm Still Missing You / Let This Be The Night ‎(200)
3. Robbin Sisters : Walking With My Darling / Blue & Lonely Piano (300) (79412/79413)
4. Bobby Edwards : Walk On Back / The Older I Get ‎(301) (200,893/200,894), 1966?
5. Jimmy Windrow : Big Rig / I Don't Know ‎(303) (SoN 35331/35332) , 1966
6. Billy Bo & His Arrows : Voodoo Rhythm / Shuffle (400) (79445/79446) , 1964/1965?
7. The Fantasmics : Wild One / Heaven Or Hell ‎(401) (200,884/200,883) , 1965/1966
8. Devonaires : Gone Gone Gone / Mazzola (402) (1965)
9. Renegades : Waiting For You / Tell Me What To Say ‎(501) (May 1966)
10. The Atarras : Blue Is The Color ‎(7") (601) , April 1966
11. Billy English : So Long Blues / Stop And Go ‎(635)
12. Bob Bell : Country Rhumba / Because My Foolish Heart (3002 / 200,862)
13. Jerry Devine : Telephone Song / These Trembling Hands ‎(701) (200,874/200,875) , 1965
14. New Breed : It's Love / Wasting My Time (711) , 1966
15. Cammy Lawrence : Your My Angel / Kids On My Street ‎(3780) (200,354/200,355) , 1965 (good female-led doo wop)
16. Jim Vaughn : Colors Of Love / Try To Remember ‎(F001)
17. Bugs : Pretty Girl / Slide ‎(P-0001) , 1966
18. Bob Bell & The Sundowners : Country Rhumba / Because My Foolish Heart‎ (P3002) , 1966
19. Richie's Renegades : Don't Cry / Baby It's Me ‎(PS002) (Aug 1966)
20. Lynn Harmonizers : Lord I'm Tired ‎(S001)

LP Releases

1. Jerry Devine - Something Devine ‎(PLP2001)
2. Bob Bell & The Sundowners - After Sundown ‎(PLP 3001)

Info

• Opened May 3, 1965.