Paula Records was an American label founded in 1965 in Shreveport, Louisiana, by Stan “The Record Man” Lewis and his wife Paula Lewis—hence the name. The label was part of Lewis’s small but influential regional music empire, which also included Jewel Records and Ronn Records. Paula served as the more pop- and soul-oriented branch of that family, releasing a mix of Southern soul, R&B, pop, and blues throughout the late ’60s and ’70s.

Musically, Paula Records was a fascinating cross-section of Southern regional sounds meeting national pop sensibilities. The label’s roster included artists like John Fred & His Playboy Band, whose 1967 novelty-soul hit “Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)” became a #1 Billboard single, as well as Fontella Bass, The Uniques, and Toussaint McCall—whose slow, organ-driven ballad “Nothing Takes the Place of You” is still considered a deep-soul classic.

The sound of Paula Records had that unmistakable Shreveport warmth—raw but polished enough for radio, often featuring musicians connected to the Louisiana and East Texas R&B circuit. Collectors prize Paula vinyl not just for the music but also for its distinctive light-blue label design and quirky catalog numbering, shared with the Jewel and Ronn imprints.

Nerd note: some Paula singles were pressed on surprisingly heavy vinyl for a small Southern label—great fidelity if you find clean copies, especially the early stereo issues from the late ’60s.)