Alligator Records is an American, Chicago-based independent blues record label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971.Trakin, Roy Alligator Records Founder Bruce Iglauer to Receive A2IM Lifetime Achievement Award Hollywood Reporter. August 4, 2015 Iglauer was also one of the founders of the Living Blues magazine in Chicago in 1970.
History Iglauer started the label using his savings to record and produce his favorite band Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers, whom his employer, Bob Koester of Delmark Records, declined to record. Nine months after the release of this first album, he stopped working at Delmark Records to concentrate fully on the band and his label. Only 1,000 copies of the Taylor's debut album were made, while Iglauer took over managing the group. Other early releases for the fledgling label included recordings by Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell and Fenton Robinson. In 1976, Koko Taylor's I Got What It Takes was nominated for a Grammy Award, and Albert Collins soon signed to the label. Iglauer mainly worked as executive producer.
In 1982, the label won its first Grammy Award for the album, I'm Here, by Clifton Chenier. The second Grammy came in 1985 for Showdown! by Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland, and Robert Cray. In 1991, a 20th anniversary compilation album was issued.
Since its founding, Alligator Records has released over 250 blues and blues/rock albums, as well as a defunct reggae series. Alligator artists include Lonnie Mack, Marcia Ball, Koko Taylor, Lonnie Brooks, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Eddy Clearwater, Sam Lay, Smokin' Joe Kubek, Roomful of Blues, Eric Lindell, JJ Grey & Mofro, Lee Rocker, Cephas & Wiggins, and Michael Burks. More recently, veterans Charlie Musselwhite and James Cotton have re-signed to the label.
Alligator celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011 while reporting a profit for the previous year. In January 2021, Exceleration Records invested in Alligator, becoming a financial and administrative partner with Iglauer. In 2021, Alligator celebrated its 50th anniversary, in observance of which Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared June 18, 2021 as “Alligator Records Day” in Chicago, and U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky added comments on Iglauer's and Alligator's part in the "American cultural legacy of Chicago blues music" to the Congressional Record.
In 2026, the 55th anniversary of Alligator Records was celebrated on the second day of the Chicago Blues Festival with a City of Chicago proclamation presented by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recognizing Bruce Iglauer (who, in turn, called the staff of Alligator Records to the stage to share in the recognition) and with an evening of music by various artists.
Discography Alligator Records commenced releasing LPs in 1971 continuing through to the present with a focus on Chicago blues artists.Multiple sources: Alligator Records discography , accessed November 5, 2019 Emerson, Dan Lowertown Blues Festival takes over Mears Park on Saturday Twin Cities Pioneer-Press. August 4, 2015 Dickens, Tad Tinsley Ellis helps Blue Ridge Blues Blues & BBQ Festival celebrate 10 years Roanoke Times, August 4, 2015
Blues Catalog No. (AL) Album Artist Details4701Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers4702Big Walter Horton with Carey Bell and Carey Bell4703The Son Seals Blues Band4704Natural Boogie4705Somebody Loan Me a Dime4706I Got What It Takes4707Beware of the Dog4708Midnight Son4709Stomping on a Saturday Night4710I Hear Some Blues Downstairs4711The Earthshaker4712Live and Burning4713Ice Pickin'4714Bayou Lightning4715Someday You'll Have These Blues reissue of Joliet LP4716Been Gone Too LongLonesome Sundown reissue of Joliet LP4717Johnny Jones with Billy Boy Arnold and Billy Boy Arnold 4718Crawfish FiestaProfessor Longhair4719Frostbite4720Chicago Fire4721Turn On the Night4722Condition: BlueTony Mathews4723Stone Crazy!4724From the Heart of a Woman4725Frozen Alive!4726The New Johnny Otis Show with Shuggie Otis and Shuggie Otis4727Genuine Houserocking Music4728Raw MagicMagic Slim4729I'm Here! and His Red Hot Louisiana Band4730Don't Lose Your Cool4731Hot Shot4732Playing for KeepsBig Twist and the Mellow Fellows4733Live in Japan4734Whoopin''' | |with Johnny Winter and Willie Dixon; reissue of Mad Albino LP |- |4735 |Guitar Slinger|
|4736 |Nightflight|
|4737 |High Compression|
|4738 |Bad Axe|
|4739 |Strike Like Lightning|
|4740 |Queen of the Blues|
|4741 |When a Guitar Plays the Blues|
|4742 |Serious Business|
|4743 |Showdown!|, Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland
|4744 |Bar Room Preacher| |reissue of Blue Phoenix LP |- |4745 |Pressure Cooker|
|4746 |Live from Chicago - Mr. Superharp Himself!|
|4747 |Dancing on the Edge|
|4748 |3rd Degree|
|4749 |Roughhousin' |Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4750 |Second Sight|
|4751 |Wound Up Tight|
|4752 |Cold Snap|
|4753 |All the Way Crazy|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4754 |An Audience with the Queen|
|4755 |Live from Chicago! Bigger Than Life!!|Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows
|4756 |Hot Wires|
|4757 |I'm in the Wrong Business!|
|4758 |Edge of the City||
|4759 |Live from Chicago: Bayou Lightning Strikes|
|4760 |The Siegel–Schwall Reunion Concert|Siegel–Schwall Band
|4761 |Disturbing the Peace|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4762 |Years Since Yesterday|
|4763 |Generic Blues Album| |reissue of Reecy LP |- |4764 |Big News from Baton Rouge!!|
|4765 |Georgia Blue|
|4766 |The Swamp Boogie Queen|
|4767 |Big Fun|
|4768 |Harp and Soul|Lazy Lester
|4769 |That Woman is Poison!|
|4770 |Lucky Strikes!|
|4771 |One More for the Road| |reissue of Blue Side LP |- |4772 |Chicken, Gravy and Biscuits|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4773 |Live from Austin|
|4774 |Devil Child|
|4775 |Midnight Drive|
|4776 |The Big Break|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4777 |Two-Fisted Mama|
|4778 |Fanning the Flames|
|4779 |Standing My Ground|
|4780 |The Uppity Blues Women|Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women
|4781 |Ace of Harps|
|4782 |Let's Buzz!|
|4783 |Louisiana Legend| |reissue of King Snake LP |- |4784 |Jump for Joy|
|4785 |Return of the Thin Man| |reissue of King Snake LP |- |4786 |Live! Attack of the Killer V|
|4787 |Keep It To Ourselves| |recorded in 1963; reissue of Storyville LP |- |4788 |Blowin' Like Hell|
|4789 |Triple Play|
|4790 |Harp Attack!|, Carey Bell, Junior Wells and Billy Branch
|4791 |Don't Let the Bossman Get You Down!|
|4792 |Tore Up!| |with the Heartfixers; reissue of Landslide LP |- |4793 |Street Party|
|4794 |Captured Live|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4795 |Walking On Fire|
|4796 |Hot Flash|Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women
|4797 |Lost in the Blues| |reissue of Sonet LP |- |4798 |Living in the Danger Zone|
|4799 |Satisfaction Guaranteed|
|4800 |The Touch|
|4801 |Signature|
|4802 |Alone & Acoustic | and Junior Wells |reissue of Isabel LP |- |4803 |No Foolin'!|
|4804 |No Looking Back|
|4805 |Trouble Time|
|4806 |Serious Intentions|
|4807 |Short Fuse Blues| |reissue of Black Cat LP |- |4808 |...What You See Is What You Get|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4809 |Bayou Blood|
|4810 |Women Be Wise|Sippie Wallace |reissue of Storyville LP |- |4811 |Broadcasting|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4812 |Night Vision|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4813 |In the Shadow of the City|
|4814 |Working Overtime|
|4815 |Back Where I Belong|
|4816 |Down in the Alley|
|4817 |Force of Nature|
|4818 |In My Time|
|4819 |Blue Blazes|Sugar Blue
|4820 |Soul Fixin' Man| |reissue of Ruf LP |- |4821 |Bloodlines|Michael Hill's Blues Mob
|4822 |Nothing but the Truth|
|4823 |Storm Warning|
|4824 |Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues|
|4825 |Hoodoo Moon|
|4826 |Old, New, Borrowed & Blue|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4827 |Groove Time|
|4828 |Deep Down|
|4829 |Straight Up!|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4830 |Too Much Fun| and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
|4831 |In Your Eyes|Sugar Blue
|4832 |Steel on Steel|
|4833 |Ace in the Hole|
|4834 |Blue Streak|
|4835 |My Blues & My Guitar|
|4836 |Eldorado Cadillac|
|4837 |Between Midnight and Day|
|4838 |Cool Down|Cephas & Wiggins
|4839 |Border Town Legend|
|4840 |Cleaning House|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4841 |Wake Up and Live!|
|4842 |The Hard Way|
|4843 |Roadhouse Rules|
|4844 |The Big Squeeze| and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
|4845 |Have Mercy!|Michael Hill's Blues Mob
|4846 |Son Seals Live: Spontaneous Combustion|
|4847 |Ticket to Chicago|
|4848 |Music Makin' Mama|
|4849 |Reckless|
|4850 |Fish Ain't Bitin'|
|4851 |Up and In|
|4852 |Fire It Up|
|4853 |Swinging from the Rafters|
|4854 |Good Luck Man|
|4855 |Hound Dog Taylor: A Tribute|Various Artists
|4856 |Live & Uppity|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4857 |Turn the Heat Up|
|4858 |New York State of Blues|Michael Hill's Blues Mob
|4859 |The Skin I'm In|
|4860 |Smoke and Steel|
|4861 |Ride with Me|
|4862 |Shadow of the Blues|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4863 |Homemade|Cephas & Wiggins
|4864 |Greens from the Garden|
|4865 |Under the Spell|
|4866 |Lone Star Shootout|, Long John Hunter and Phillip Walker
|4867 |Front Porch Blues|
|4868 |Get Wild!|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4869 |Live in Chicago| |reissue of Ruf LP |- |4870 |Bitter Sweet Blues|
|4871 |Suspicion|
|4872 |Vü-Dü Menz| and Henry Butler
|4873 |Royal Blue|
|4874 |That's My Partner! | and Little Smokey Smothers
|4875 |Wicked|
|4876 |The Chill|
|4877 |Speaking in Tongues|
|4878 |Make It Rain|
|4879 |Presumed Innocent|
|4880 |Ain't Gonna Hush!|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4881 |Outside Looking In|
|4882 |Step It Up!| and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
|4883 |That's Big!|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4884 |From Austin with Soul|
|4885 |Can't Look Back|
|4886 |Heads Up!|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4887 |Talking to Strangers|
|4888 |Somebody Told the Truth|Cephas & Wiggins
|4889 |That's Right!|Roomful of Blues
|4890 |The Live One|
|4891 |So Many Rivers|
|4892 |I Smell Smoke|
|4993 |Simple Truths|
|4894 |Double Take | and Billy Branch
|4895 |Watch Your Back|Guitar Shorty
|4896 |Release the Hound|
|4897 |Deep in the Heart|
|4898 |Second Nature| and Lurrie Bell
|4899 |Have a Little Faith|
|4900 |Standing Room Only|Roomful of Blues
|4901 |Corky Siegel's Traveling Chamber Blues Show!|
|4902 |Nine Lives|Little Charlie & the Nightcats
|4903 |Live! Down the Road|
|4904 |Live − Highwayman|
|4905 |The Soul Truth
|4906 |Flash Forward|
|4907 |Racin' the Devil| |reissue of Hypertension LP |- |4908 |Change in the Weather|
|4909 |Rattleshake|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4910 |Shoulder to Shoulder|Cephas & Wiggins
|4911 |We The People|Guitar Shorty
|4912 |State of Grace|
|4913 |Dirty Deal|
|4914 |Country Ghetto|JJ Grey & Mofro
|4915 |Old School|
|4916 |Moment of Truth|
|4917 |Black Cat Bone|
|4918 |Low on Cash, Rich in Love|
|4919 |Raisin' a Ruckus|Roomful of Blues
|4920 |Blood Brothers| and Bnois King
|4921 |West Side Strut|
|4922 |Peace, Love & BBQ|
|4923 |Iron Man|
|4924 |What Love Will Do|
|4925 |Orange Blossoms|JJ Grey & Mofro
|4926 |Full Tilt|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4927 |Havin' the Last Word|Saffire − The Uppity Blues Women
|4928 |Gulf Coast Highway|
|4929 |Lay Your Burden Down|
|4930 |Twisted|Rick Estrin & The Nightcats |Produced by Kid Andersen |- |4931 |Hard Believer|
|4932 |Speak No Evil|
|4933 |Feed My Soul|
|4934 |Bare Knuckle|Guitar Shorty
|4935 |The Devil is an Angel Too|
|4936 |American Patchwork|
|4937 |Have Blues, Will Travel| and Bnois King
|4938 |Georgia Warhorse|JJ Grey & Mofro
|4939 |The Well|
|4940 |Giant
|4941 |Hook, Line & Sinker|Roomful of Blues
|4942 |Roadside Attractions|
|4943 |The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue Live!|Various Artists
|4944 |Brighter Days: The Film and Live Concert Album|JJ Grey & Mofro |CD and DVD |- |4945 |Hellfire|
|4946 |Stronger For It|
|4947 |Soul Shot|
|4948 |Black Eye Galaxy|
|4949 |Jump Start|Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials
|4950 |One Wrong Turn|Rick Estrin & The Nightcats |Produced by Kid Andersen |- |4951