Double Trouble: The Cobra Records Story 1956-1959

The Cobra label was founded on Chicago's West Side in 1956 by Eli Toscano. As a record-shop owner he had his finger on the pulse of what was selling, and a triumvirate of late-Fifties signings, Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy (who appeared on sister label Artistic), fired a warning shot across the bows of established Chicago labels Chess and Vee-Jay. The influence of Cobra Records was far in excess of its 34-single output. The evidence is here.