Jewel Records (New York record label)

Jewel Records was an American record label founded in New York City in 1922. It primarily focused on budget recordings and reissues of popular music. Its early releases often featured recordings of popular songs by lesser-known artists, marketed to consumers seeking affordable alternatives to established acts. The label was known for utilizing pseudonyms for its artists, often to conceal their identities due to contractual obligations with other record companies.

Jewel Records, along with its sister labels such as Banner, Cameo, and Romeo, were subsidiaries of the Cameo Record Corporation. These labels aimed at the lower end of the market, offering records at reduced prices through variety stores and mail-order catalogs. The sound quality of these pressings was sometimes lower than that of major labels, reflecting the cost-saving measures employed in their production.

The label's operations ceased sometime in the 1930s, as the Great Depression significantly impacted the recording industry and the demand for budget-priced records diminished. The catalogs of Jewel and its associated labels were eventually acquired by other entities. The recordings offer a glimpse into the popular music tastes of the 1920s and early 1930s, showcasing a range of genres including popular song, dance music, and early jazz.