One-derful Records was an independent R&B and soul label based in Chicago. Founded by George Leaner (June 1, 1917 – September 18, 1983) in 1962, One-derful was one of the few black-owned labels in Chicago until its demise in 1968. The label is most known for the release of "Shake a Tail Feather" by the Five Du-Tones in 1963. Other artist on the label included the Sharpees, McKinley Mitchell, Alvin Cash, and Harold Burrage. A few subsidiary labels were launched: Mar-V-Lus, M-Pac, Halo, and Midas Records.
History A native of Mississippi, George Leaner relocated to Chicago with his family. His uncle, Al Benson, became an influential disc jockey in Chicago. After serving in the army during World War II, Leaner began working at sister's Groove Record Shop and became an assistant to blues producer Lester Melrose in 1946. In 1947, Leaner and his brother Ernie Leaner (1921 – 1990) joined M.S. Distributors and two years later Chord Distributing Company. In 1950, they went into recording, producing Little Walter and Muddy Waters at Monroe Passis' Parkway Records. That year, Ernie founded a distribution company, United Distributors, which George worked at as a junior partner in the operation.
George Leaner launched One-derful in 1962 after McKinley Mitchell brought him a demo. Leaner created an A&R and production team with songwriter Andre Williams who he met working at United and musician Monk Higgins. He hired writers Otis Hayes, Eddie Silvers, and Larry Nestor. Along with creating the label, there was also a studio, Tone Recordings, in the One-derful building at 1827 S. Michigan Ave. United Distribution, which handled records from not only One-derful but other local and national labels, was located in the building as well. Musicians who recorded at the studio include Mighty Joe Young, Syl Johnson, Lonnie Brooks and the Jackson 5 recorded. Larry Blasingaine and his band Larry & the Hippies were the backing band for many One-derful sessions.
The label's debut single "The Town I Live In" by McKinley Mitchell reached No. 8 on the R&B chart. The next year, "Shake a Tail Feather" by the Five Du-Tones reached No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 28 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. Despite having some chart success, many of the artists on the label didn't receive royalties and the label struggled to generate profits. Attempting to capitalize off the Five Du-Tones popularity, a Five Du-Tones Revue Tour was formed which included the Du-Ettes, the Exciters, and Johnny Sayles, but it was not financially successful. After the label folded in 1968, Ernie Leaner and his nephew Tony Leaner formed the short-lived Toddlin' Town Records.
After Ernie Leaner died in 1990, his children inherited One-derful and its assets. They have organized and maintained an archive of more than 700 masters. One of those master's is a rare 1963 recording of "A Wonderful Thing (Love)" by a band called the Rockmasters. They included Eddie Levert who went on to become an R&B sensation with the 1970s and 1980s era trio, the O'Jays. After Michael Jackson's death in 2009, they discovered a master of the Jackson 5's recording of "I'm a Big Boy Now" ("Big Boy") from a July 1967 session which predated their Steeltown recording of "Big Boy" in November 1967.
Selected discography +Catalog No.Release dateSingle (A-side, B-side)USUS R&BArtistNotes4804Jan 1962A: "The Town I Live In"1158McKinley MitchellBillboard review (Feb 10, 1962)B: "No Love Like My Love"4806Mar 1962A: "I'll Be There"Betty EverettCash Box review (Mar 31, 1962)B: "Your Love Is Important to Me"4807May 1962A: "Come Back Home"Benny TurnerCash Box review (May 19, 1962)B: "When I'm Gone"4815Mar 1963A: "Shake A Tail Feather"5128The Five Du-Tones Cash Box review (Mar 30, 1963)B: "Divorce Court"4827Jul 1964A: "Please Forgive Me"Du-EttesCash Box review (Aug 1, 1964)B: "Lonely Days"4834Jun 1965A: "A Flame In Your Heart"Otis ClayB: "Three Is a Crowd"4835Jul 1965A: "Do The 45"117The Sharpeesreached No. 40 on Cash Box R&B chartB: "Make Up Your Mind" 4839Oct 1965A: "Tired Of Being Lonely"The Sharpeesreached No. 90 on Cash Box Top 100 chartB: "Just to Please You"4841Mar 1966A: "I'm Satisfied"105Otis ClayB: "I Testify"4847Apr 1967A: "One Man's Poison"Liz LandsB: "Don't Shut Me Out"4848Jul 1967A: "That's How It Is (When You're In Love)"13134Otis ClayB: "Show Place"4850Nov 1967A: "A Lasting Love"48Otis ClayB: "Got to Find a Way"
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