BALKAN 8000 "Custom" series

The Chicago based BALKAN label dates from the early Fifties; In March 1952 it was reported that the company was to be found at 1425 W. 18th Street, in Chicago. Two years later the concern had moved to  Berwyn, an outer Chicago suburb. The 8000 series was the vehicle for Hillbilly material, although why it was initially designated as a Custom Series is not quite clear. Few of the releases on the label made it to the pages of BILLBOARD or similar trade publications, although the company did take out the occasional advert in the trade press. One such advert in BILLBOARD, the 19th June 1954 issue, announced the release of the labels First Hillbilly Record, Denver Duke's "When We meet Up Yonder" (BALKAN 8000)

BALKAN 8001

CHICKIE ANDREA WITH JIMMY BOVDIK 

AND HIS MELODY MATES

(A) I'll Never Be Happy Again

(Dell Gonzales)

(B) We Couldn't Just Say Goodbye

()

Label scans of BALKAN 8002 courtesy of 

Ronald Keppner

Label scans of BALKAN 8003 courtesy of 

Ronald Keppner