- GAZELL PRODUCTIONS
Sam Charters, cofounder of Gazell, seems to have been everywhere. As a
producer with the Vanguard, Folkways and Prestige labels, he worked with
the cream of jazz and folk. He also produced jazz albums for Sonet, a
Swedish label. He produced Clifton Chenier's Grammy-winner, I'm Here.
Charters has written a number of books, including The Roots of the Blues,
winner of the Deems Taylor Award in 1983. The Gazell catalog contains
excellent albums he produced for Sonet. The newer stuff includes Dave Von
Ronk's Humming to Myself. The collaboration between Charters, a chronicler
of music history, and Van Ronk, whose expressive voice is imbued with
music history, works well.
TYPE: Cajun; Folk; Jazz
ARTISTS: Rob Brown, Dave Burrell, Charles Gayle, Dave
Van Ronk, Rocking Dopsie, Steve Lacy.
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD
ADDRESS: PO Box 527
Mansfield Center CT 06250 PHONE:203.429.1062
A&R CONTACT: Sam Charters
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Heidi Green
VOLUME SALES: Heidi Green
- GIORNO POETRY
SYSTEMS
In the late '60s, a happy thought struck poet John Giorno. "A
poet," he realized, "has many ways to communicate with an
audience." Just sending a poem to a publisher suddenly felt...well,
prosaic. In 1967 he released his first poetry LP. He started the telephone
service Dial A Poem in 1968. Giorno Poetry Systems developed as an
originator of striking sound and video recordings. Giorno discovered that
many of his friends and their friends wanted to work with him. (His
friends include Laurie Anderson, Phillip Glass, and Patti Smith.) He
describes his recordings as "all sorts of artists working
together." Kash Kow (a best of Giorno album) includes historic cuts
by Laurie Anderson, Glenn Branca and Frank Zappa as well as new songs by
Debby Harry, Buster Poindexter and Cabaret Voltaire.
TYPE: Experimental; Rock; Spoken
ARTISTS: John Giorno; Laurie Anderson; William S.
Burroughs; Lenny Kaye; Meredith Monk.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: 222 Bowery
New York NY 10012 PHONE: 212.925.6372
CONTACT: Peter Wright
- GLEEFUL MUSIC
Oregon-based composer/pianist/teacher Gordon Lee knew he could create some
very good music. His credits range from Gladys Knight and the Pips to
Sonny Fortune to Don Cherry to Bobby Hutcherson. As a composer, he's
received his share of commissions. But, he reports, "I can't get the
time of day from big labels." Lee borrowed money to start Gleeful
Music, and it's working. His first release attained warm reviews and was
named Best Jazz Recording of 1990 by a regional music association. The
second album also received good reviews. A German record company snatched
up the rights to release it overseas. Gleeful's third entry was Hollis
Taylor's Twisted Fiddle. Taylor, a classically trained violinist shreds
categories. Dirty Linen reviewer Mike Parrish said, "one minute she
is playing straight bluegrass fiddle; then she slips into a Stephane
Grappelli by way of Vassar Clements...[Twisted Fiddle] is an intriguing
hybrid...spiked with good musicianship and a sense of humor.
TYPE: Country, Western; Jazz;
ARTISTS: Mel Brown; Gordon Lee; Jim Pepper; Hollis Taylor
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 3221 NE 33rd Ave.
Portland OR 97212 PHONE: 503.282.1966
CONTACT: Gordon Lee
- GLITCH RECORDS
Austin-based music magazine** periodically assembles compilation albums of
unsigned Texas bands. At the time of this writing, they've helped 56 bands
to wider exposure via five albums. There even were a few 45s.
TYPE: Comedy; Experimental; New Music; Pop; Rap; Rhythm & Blues; Rock
ARTISTS: Hundredth Monkey (with Kris McCay); Daniel Johnston; Johnny Law;
Los Defectors; Joe Rockhead; Strappados with David Roach; Texas
Instruments;
CATALOG: Send SASE FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 4429
Austin TX 78765
- GLOBAL PACIFIC
RECORDS
Neil Sapper condenses the Global Pacific presence into "ethnic
rhythms, jazz improvisations and new age sensitivity." The company
began in Hawaii in 1979 as a distributor of new age music that was
developing locally. Hawaii's landscape seemed to nurture spirituality,
feeling and a blend of eastern and western sensibilities. Global Pacific
formed its own label and opened an office in Sonoma in 1981. Emphatically
instrumental new age music led the label to jazz, which in turn nudged the
company toward world music. (Talk about putting the Global in Global
Pacific.) Highlights include drummer Brian Melvin's Standard Zones,
featuring Jaco Pastorius. It stayed on jazz charts for seven weeks.
Dolphin Smiles by Steve Kimmler & Tejabell stretched out on jazz
charts for thirty-three weeks and new age charts for forty-two weeks.
Global Pacific's catalog includes other recordings it distributes.
TYPE: Jazz; New Age; World
ARTISTS: Charles Michael Brotman; David Driesen; Georgia Kelly; Bob
Kimmler; Steve Kindler; Ben Tavera King
Brian Melvin
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 270 Perkins St.
Sonoma CA 95476 PHONE: 707.996.2748
A&R CONTACT: Howard Sapper
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Howard Sapper
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Tom Sapper
- GLOBAL VILLAGE MUSIC
Originally a computer scientist, Michael Schlesinger started this label as
a musician issuing albums for other musicians. That part of the mission is
very much alive. For example, Schlesinger says, "Mandolinists have
learned a lot of material from the two-volume mandolin set Global Village
released."
This label's catalog of music from different cultures features reissues of
otherwise lost 78s painstakingly discovered and compiled. You'll also find
contemporary recordings that revitalize the various legacies. Of special
note is the large selection of Jewish musics. Recordings come with copious
notes. Global Village continually wins awards and recognition from the
likes of the Library of Congress, NAIRD and the Grammies.
TYPE: African; Bluegrass; Eastern European; Ethnic; Folk; Italian; Jewish;
Music Instruction; Spoken
ARTISTS: Alhambra; The Badgett Sisters; The Golden Jubilees; The
Mazeltones; Sima Miller with Arnold Miller; Dave Taras;
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 2051
Cathedral Station
New York NY 10025 PHONE: 212.695.6024
CONTACT: Michael Schlesinger
GM RECORDINGS
- All that some people
need to know about GM Recordings is that the "G" represents
Gunther Schuller, the label's owner. In brief Schuller is a composer,
conductor, educator, architect of "Third Stream" music (fusion
of jazz and classical, instrumentalist (Miles Davis Nonet, New England
Ragtime Ensemble), author (The Swing Era) and recipient of the MacArthur
Award (a/k/a, The Genius Grant). Richard Dyer of the Boston Globe wrote
"Gunther Schuller's interest in anything is an ironclad guarantee of
quality, and some of the discs he has produced have enabled us to
experience important music noone else would have taken the trouble to
record."
TYPE: Classical; Experimental; Jazz; Ragtime
ARTISTS: Bethany Beardslee; Ran Blake; Eric Dolphy; Lou Krassner;
Marimolin; New England Ragtime Ensemble; Orange Then Blue
CATALOG: $1 FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 167 Dudley Rd.
Newton Centre MA 02159 PHONE:617.332.6398
CONTACT: Bruce Millard
- GOLDWAX RECORD
COMPANY
In the '60s, Memphis label Goldwax put out some solid sounds but was
eclipsed by its homeys, Stax/Volt and Hi. Quentin Claunch, who was there
at the beginning, reactivated the company in 1988. James Carr, an original
Goldwax artist has had a spotty recording career due to personal problems.
His strong voice and fluid delivery have inspired people to call him one
of the finest of soul singers. His debut album with the new Goldwax
demonstrates why. Also look for the label's compilation, Echoes of
Yesteryear. It includes the original version of O.V. Wright's "That's
How Strong My Love Is." The song was admired and later covered by
many artists, including Otis Redding; Little Milton and the Rolling
Stones.
TYPE: Jazz; Rhythm & Blues; Rock; Soul
ARTISTS: Black Oak Arkansas; James Carr; O.C. Carr; Percy Milem; Silk
Storm; Little Joe "Blues Boy" Thomas; Jamilynn Weld
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: Box 30166
Memphis TN 38130-0166
A&R CONTACT: Quinton Claunch
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: E.W. Clark, Sr.
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: R.D. Clark
- GONG SOUNDS
Gladstone A. Gilbert (a/k/a Gilley Dread) named the label after Bob Marley
whose nickname was "Tuff Gong." Gilbert, Marley's personal
assistant for many years, has a strong musical background going back to
school days in Kingston, Jamaica. Back then, he promoted dances that
featured musicians who are among today's reggae elite. In recent years,
he's been a highly successful record producer. One of Gong's artists, John
Holt, has had 41 #1 singles in Jamaica. UB40 recorded a few of his songs.
TYPE: Caribbean; Children's; Country, Western; Dance; Pop; Rhythm &
Blues; Sound Effects; Rap
ARTISTS: Dennis Brown; Explosion; Jonzhaft; Joanna Marie; Screwdriver;
Stan Wayne
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: 10775 S.W. 188th St.
Miami FL 33157 PHONE: 305.378.9243
A&R CONTACT:
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
- GOSPEL WORLD RECORDS
The Void Brothers, a down home gospel group led by Landy Void, usually
bring their spirited sound to audiences in The Carolinas, particularly the
Northern one. They don't like to travel far from home, but they've also
entranced churchgoers and festival attendees in Georgia, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The gospel group also has performed
in nightclubs and prisons. "What we realized," Landy Void told
Melinds Ruley of The Independent Weekly, "was we can't just segregate
ourselves to church. There's a lot of people who won't go to church and
hear the music there. And we have a chance to bring church to them."
Raleigh's News and Observer declared that The Void Brothers is,
"...one of the brashest gospel outfits to ever lift their voices
skyward. Onstage Landy Void is a one-man hurricane of salvation...When he
sings it's as if Wilson Pickett is back on the prowl."
TYPE: Gospel
ARTISTS: Landy G. Void; The Void Brothers
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Cassette
ADDRESS: Rte. 3, Box 476
Pittsboro NC 27312 PHONE: 919.542.2467
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Landy G. Void
- GOURD MUSIC
At this label, they no doubt are singing, "Give me that
old time acoustic." Gourd specializes in "music performed
on vintage acoustic instruments by some of the leading
musicians in the field today." Just mentioning the
instruments by name warms the soul. Try it: woodwinds;
harps; dulcimers; violins; cellos; assorted fretted,
stringed instruments. Although the instruments are old, the
approach is bold as various albums contain tracks that flow
from traditional to classical to contemporary works. For
example, Northern Lights, a group that features hammer
dulcimer and Celtic harp, includes (on its eponymous album)
both "Sleepers Awake" by J.S. Bach and "Pyramid in the
Woods" by Andreas Wollveider
TYPE: Folk; New Age
ARTISTS: Nick Blandon; Neal Hellman; Northern Lights;
Orison; Barry Phillips; Victorian Christmas; Joe Weed
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 585
Felton CA 95018 PHONE: 408.425.4939
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Neal J. Hellman
- GREAT LAKES RECORDS
Bugs Beddow, who cuts loose on both trombone and flute, has worked on his
craft both as teacher and player. He's also been a studio musician behind
B.B. King, Mitch Ryder, the Temptations, Johnny Taylor and Earl Klugh. And
he started Great Lakes Music. His label showcases what writer H.V. Mielke
called, "an electric and energetic brand of modern jazz."
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Bugs Beddow Band
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD
ADDRESS: PO Box 48101
Oak Park MI 48237 PHONE: 313.546.BUGS
CONTACT: Bugs Beddow
- GREEN LINNET RECORDS
Green Linnet is a doorway to the vitality and versatility of traditional
Irish and Scotch musics. Sprightly jigs and reels, melancholy bachelor
musings, wistful maiden laments, and urgent songs of freedom are all
there. So is the constant exploration that goes on in the music. Besides
the more traditional instrumentation (fiddle, accordion, flute, etc.), you
might hear a heart-pounding duet of bagpipe and synthesizer. Excellent
albums crowd the label's catalog. The Rights of Man is a live recording of
a benefit concert by Celtic music's Who's Who to honor Joe Doherty. The
late folk singer Ewan McColl's Black and White presents selections
compiled by his family. Colin Irwin of Folk Roots called Patrick Street's
Irish Times "quite, quite quite stunning."
TYPE: Celtic; Folk
ARTISTS: Altan; Bothy Band; Capercaillie; De Dannan; Pentangle; Silly
Wizard; The Story
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Video
ADDRESS: 43 Beaver Brook Rd.
Danbury CT 06810 PHONE: 203.730.0333
A&R CONTACT: Wendy Newton
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Steve Katz
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Chris Teskey
- GREEENER PASTURES
This label was established by Wayne Green, publisher of CD Review and
founder, by the way, of BYTE magazine. Green has a knack for stepping
quite lively into the future, but he apparently appreciates music of the
past. He explains that the film, The Sting, sparked his affection for
Scott Joplin's music. At the same time, he felt that too few interpreters
captured the proper Joplin spirit.
"During a music conference in New Orleans," writes Green,
"I happened to walk by a small and dingy bar late one night. Music
was pouring out into the street. Ragtime! I steered my wife Sherry into
the bar where we splurged on a couple of Cokes and listened to the most
remarkable ragtime piano we ever heard. Two hours later I was ready to go
into the record business."
The piano player was then twenty-five-year-old Scott Kirby. As the label's
artist list indicates, Green's musical enthusiasms extend beyond ragtime.
TYPE: Bluegrass; Classical; Ragtime
ARTISTS: Banjo Dan and the Mid-Nite Plowboys; Masanobu Ikiemiya; Scott
Kirby; Kukuruza
CATALOG: FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: Forest Rd.
Hancock NH 03449 PHONE: 603.525.4201
A&R CONTACT: Grace Cohen
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Phil Martus
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Phil Martus
GUITAR RECORDINGS
The sprightly Guitar for the Practicing Musician, is the flagship magazine
of Cherry Lane Music Group, an important music publisher. Guitar
Recordings, which sprang from the mag, delivers performances by musicians
for musicians. Its material comes from both virtuosi with cult followings
and "unknowns" who deserve to be showcased. Veterans include
people like Leslie West, Steve Morse, Buck Dharma and Paul Gilbert whose
licks are assiduously studied by tyros. A new generation of fretting
phenomena includes guitarist Blues Saraceno who at eighteen (an eyeblink
ago) toured with Jack Bruce; bassist Randy Coven who has played with Steve
Vai and Brian Setzer; and heavy metal violinist Mark Wood.
TYPE: Comedy; Heavy Metal; Pop; Rock
ARTISTS: Bruno Bettencourt; Randy Coven; Brad Gillis; Blues Saraceno;
Billy Sheehan; Mark Wood
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 10 Midland Ave.
PO Box 1490
Port Chester NY 10573 PHONE: 914.935.5200
A&R CONTACT: John Stix
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Mike Connelly
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Relativity Entertainment
GWE RECORDS
In case you wondered, GWE stands for Green With Envy. To continue the
tale, Green stands for Wayne Green, owner of Greener Pastures. GWE is
Green's label for rock and pop. Already GWE has been involved in an
important project, the Right As Rain album, cosponsored by CD Review and
Ben (of Ben & Jerry's ice cream) Cohen's Community Products. The album
features performances by Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Paul Winter and Animal
Logic. Proceeds from the album's sales go to the Rainforest Action
Network.
TYPE: Jazz; Pop; Rock
ARTISTS: Marty Balin; Cabo Frio
CATALOG: Free ** FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: Forest Rd.
Hancock NH 03449 PHONE: 603.525.4201
A&R CONTACT: Grace Cohen
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Phil Martus
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Phil Martus
GRIND CORE INTERNATIONAL
Red Light Records which
succeeded with rock and heavy metal, started Grind Core for a specific
market. "Death Metal," explains the Red Light Report, "has
been very popular throughout the world, and now America has its own record
company specializing in this brutal musical style." Much of the music
is available through imports, and these are expensive. As the Report
reports, fans "can now buy great Death Metal at a lower cost."
What an opportunity to delve into Death Metal philosophy. As Dead Youth
lead vocalist Dave Piekanz opines, "We like to remind the world that
life sucks and anyone who disagrees with us can go to hell."
TYPE: Hard Core; Alternative; Death Metal
ARTISTS: Broken Hope; Crowbar; Dead Youth; Morbid Saint; Transmetal
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 880 Lee St., Ste. 200C
Des Plaines IL 60016 PHONE: 708.297.6538
A&R CONTACT: Mark Nawara
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Mark Nawara
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: John Fichera
GSP RECORDS
Focusing on classical and solo guitar recordings, GSP routinely receives
excellent reviews for its releases. In reviewing David Tanenbaum's
Estudios, Chris Kilvington of Classical Guitar Magazine wrote, "This
double-disc CD recording should become part of our instrument's
heritage..." A Los Angeles Times critic reviewed William Kanegiser's
Rondo Alla Turka by saying, "Kannegiser has an amazing talent for
creating delicately honed, lucid phrases from technically difficult
passages...giving the [Mozart Sonata in A] exceeding vitality and
warmth."
TYPE: Classical
ARTISTS: Paulo Bellinati; William Kanengiser; Hubert Kappel; David
Tanenbaum
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 1411 Clement St.
San Francisco CA 94118 PHONE: 415.663.3540
A&R CONTACT: Dean Kamei
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Pat Phillips
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Dean Kamei
HANNIBAL RECORDS
In March 1991, Rykodisc bought Hannibal Records. As a business deal, it's
great for both parties. But music listeners may get the best benefit --
easier access to the Hannibal catalog (particularly its splendid
collection of world music).
TYPE: African; Folk; World
ARTISTS: Incredible String Band; Kanda Bongo Man; Kate and Anna McGarrigle;
Songhai; Richard and Linda Thompson; Trio Bulgarka
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Pickering Wharf, Bldg. C
Salem MA 01970 PHONE: 508.744.7678
A&R CONTACT: Jeff Rougvie (612) 375-9162
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS: Call 215.629..0030
VOLUME SALES: Randy Hope (612) 375-9162
HAPPY HOUR
Back in 1985, Judith Wahnon was thinking about changing careers anyway.
Her friend saxophonist Joe Hackney wanted to do a record. Joe Hackney's
album released in 1986 unspooled a string of highly regarded jazz
instrumental recordings. Happy Hour is best known for its Brazilian Jazz
and its Stan Kenton tribute album. The label has brought some amazing
musicians to the public's attention. Musicians gasp at the sheer
creativity of composer/multi-instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal. He plays
keyboard, woodwinds, strings, reeds, brass, sewing machine, and teakettle.
His music dazzles, challenges and captivates. Happy Hour's most popular
album is Alumni Tribute to Stan Kenton. As the title suggests, Kenton Band
musicians, gathered by Trumpeter Paul Cacia, made a "new" Stan
Kenton album. Included among the players are Lee Konitz, Laurindo Almeida,
and Bob Cooper. Pete Rugolo and Bill Russo and Shorty Rogers contributed
arrangements.
TYPE: Jazz, Brazilian, Instrumental
ARTISTS: Antonio Adolfo, Paul Cacia, Joe Hackney,
Joao* Parahyba, Hermeto Pascoal, Olmir "Alemao*" Stoker
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 5206 Benito St.
Montclair CA 91763 PHONE: 1.800.252.5169
CONTACT: Judith Wahnon
HARMONIA MUNDI
More than thirty years old, Harmonia Mundi specializes in audiophile
recordings of renaissance and baroque music. The musicians use authentic
instruments. HM shuns recording studios. Instead, tapes roll in venues
such as monasteries and churches more in tune with the music. Some of the
earlier pieces in the catalog were recorded in caves. The label's
recording of Handel's Oratoria Susanna (1991) received a Grammy nomination
and a Gramaphone Magazine Award. A recent major release Handel's Messiah
uses CD technology to give a rewarding musicological (and musical)
experience. It seems Handel wrote several variations of the great work.
You can program your CD player to yield any of the different versions.
Harmonia Mundi also distributes works from over different labels. The
music ranges from classical to international to jazz.
TYPE: Classical
ARTISTS: William Christie; Les Arts Florissantes; Nicholas McGegan;
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; Rene* Jacobs; Drew Minter; Philippe
Herreweghe
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 3364 S. Robertson Blvd.
90034 PHONE: 310.559.0802
A&R CONTACT: Robina Young
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Rene Goiffon
HEADS UP INTERNATIONAL
Through a string of good events, Dave Love closed down his Texas recording
studio and moved to Seattle where he assumed presidency of the new Heads
Up International label. Love quickly explored an idea about a contemporary
sound that he thought would quickly find a niche.
"We want to use folkloric and urban elements," he explained.
"We want strong contact between ethnic oriented music and
contemporary jazz."
Venezuelan harpist Carlos Guedes and Paraguayan harpist Roberto Perrera
are two musicians whose separate journeys work well with Love's
aspirations. Each in their separate albums pull together captivating
rhythms and melodies. TYPE: Blues; Ethnic; Hispanic, Latin; Jazz
ARTISTS: Ann Armstrong; Kenny Blake; Bochinche; Carlos Guedes; Matz
Nilsson and Hawk on Flight; Roberto Perera; Debbie Spring
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 976
Lynnwood WA 98046 PHONE: 206.787.1037
A&R CONTACT: Dave Love
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Doug Lexa (818.886.2650)
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Dave Love
HEART MUSIC
Jazz lover Tab Bartling's enthusiasms drove him to found Heart Music. He
plays guitar, a bit of sax, and basic piano. He's been recording and
mixing at home since his early teens. In 1989, he concluded, "there
wasn't enough original music out there." He joined the fray by
signing two Texas talents, Tony Campise (saxophone) and Erich Avinger
(guitar) to Heart Music. All of the young albums rose to the top of the
radio charts. Ben Kettlewell of Option called Erich Avinger's Si*
"one of the finest guitar-based albums that I have listened to for a
long time." Downbeat's Michael Point said that in Once In A Blue
Moon, Tony Campise's energetic and endlessly expressive musical creations
echo a historic tradition and update it to the space age, embellishing and
expanding the classic sound with brilliant new extrapolations."
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Erich Avinger; Tony Campise
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 160326, Austin, TX 78716-0326 PHONE : 512.795.2375
FAX: 512.795.9573
http://www.heartmusic.com/
A&R CONTACT: Tab Bartling
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Tab Bartling
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Jeanna Inks
HEARTBEAT RECORDS
This is one of the Rounder family of labels. Heartbeat is devoted to
Caribbean music.
TYPE: Reggae
ARTISTS: Burning Spear; Mikey Dread; Linton Kwesi Johnson; Sugar Minnott;
Sly and Robbie; Chris Wayne
CATALOG:**
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 1 Camp St.
Cambridge MA 02140 PHONE: 617.354.0700
A&R CONTACT: A & R Dept.
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bill Nowlin
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Duncan Browne
HEARTS OF SPACE
TYPE: Experimental; Native American; New Age; Space Music; World Music
ARTISTS: Paul Augerinos; Mychael Danna; Constance Demby; Raphael; Giles
Reaves; Robert Rich; Tim Storey
CATALOG: No
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 31321
San Francisco CA 94131 PHONE: 415.759.1130
A&R CONTACT: Stephen Hill
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Leyla Rael Hill
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Christopher Stimson
- HERITAGE RECORDS
Banjoist Bobby Patterson wanted to preserve old-time mountain string
music, so he began Heritage Records in 1974. His love of the music shows.
For example Oldtime Music From Coal Creek, demonstrates what turn of the
century mountain music was like. This comes through in both style and tune
selection. The Young Fogies with various artists, including Alice Garrard
and Andy Cahan, spotlights younger practitioners of the old-time music and
comes with extensive notes. The Heritage catalog includes ten years of
recordings done at the Brandywine Mountain Music Convention.
Patterson also records the Galax Fiddlers Convention, which he described
as "the world's largest and oldest fiddlers convention."
TYPE: Bluegrass; Children's; Folk; Gospel;
ARTISTS: The Christian Quartet; Albert Hash & the Whitetop Mountain
Band; Johnny Hunsucker; Jim Shumate;
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Rt. 3, Box 290
Galax VA 24333 PHONE: 703.236.9249
CONTACT: Bobby Patterson
- HIGH WATER RECORDING
COMPANY
TYPE: Blues, Gospel; Hispanic, Latin; Jazz
ARTISTS: Chicago Bob; The Fieldstones; Jessie Mae Hemphill; Hammie Nixon;
Hollywood All Stars; The Pattersonaires; Spirit of Memphis Quartet.
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: Vinyl
ADDRESS: College of Communication and Fine Arts
Memphis TN 38152 PHONE: 1.901.678.2350
CONTACT: Dr. David Evans
- HIGH WINDY AUDIO
A folk label in the best tradition, High Windy wins friends and influences
giggles with its "Time For A Tale" series of storytelling
cassettes. And, yes, Pete Seeger's Stories & Songs For Little Children
contains "Abiyoyo." David Holt's recording of mountain music,
Grandfather's Greatest Hits, has several peaks. Banjoist Holt, a
three-time Frets Magazine reader's poll winner, is a familiar figure on
public broadcasting and the Nashville Network. Playing with him on various
cuts of this album are Doc Watson, Mark O'Connor, Jerry Douglas, Duane
Eddy and Chet Atkins. In fact, the Holt version of "Dixie" makes
history as Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins and Doc Watson play together for the
first time.
TYPE: Children's; Folk; Spoken
ARTISTS: David Holt; Jay O'Callahan; Vicky Lansky; Pete Seeger
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box 553
Fairview NC 28730 PHONE: 800.637.8674
CONTACT: Virginia Callaway
- HIGHER OCTAVE MUSIC
This label's catalog (they call it a "selection guide")
overflows with harmony. The mostly New Age albums gathered from around the
world present new and interesting blends. For example, Ottmar Liebert's
music weaves jazz and pop influences into classic guitar approaches.
Fittingly, his first Higher Octave album was titled Nouveau Flamenco. As
of the first quarter of 1992, Liebert is the first Higher Octave artist to
have gone gold. No less an authority than Keyboard Magazine said William
Aura is one of the world's top five "new age synthesizer
heroes."
TYPE: African; Asian; Hispanic, Latin; New Age
ARTISTS: William Aura; Cusco; Peter Davison; Eko; Himekami; Ottmar Liebert
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 8033 Sunset Blvd., #41
Los Angeles CA 90068 PHONE: 213.856.0039
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Scott Bergstein
- HIGHTONE
Record producer Bruce Bromberg and distributor Larry Sloven started
Hightone in 1983 to make Robert Cray's record Bad Influence. Like good
gardeners, the Hightone folks have continued to put out music with healthy
roots. They like what they call Western Beat music. It draws upon the same
general sources that shape its first cousin, country rock. However Western
Beat uses the more traditional parts of blues and country for the mix.
Western beat Hightoners include Rosie Flores, Heather Miles, Dave Alvin,
and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Australian aborigine Archie Roach is a relatively
recent addition to the label. Using contemporary folk forms, he sings and
writes powerful songs about his country.
TYPE: Blues; Country, Western; Rock; Gospel; World;
ARTISTS: Robert Cray Joe Louis Walker; Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Pajamas; Dave
Alvin; Gary Stewart; Rosie Flores; Archie Roach
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 220 4th St., ste. 101
Oakland Ca 94607 PHONE: 510.763.8500
CONTACT: company
- HOME COOKING RECORDS
A long time presence on the Texas music scene, Roy Ames delights in
sharing Texas roots musicians with the world. More than 6,000 masters sit
in the Home Cooking archives. These are both the work of musicians that
Ames has recorded, as well as material from other labels for which he has
acquired the rights. They are not all out of the vault yet.
Writer Don Howland called Home Cooking the "little label for whom
everyone who loves American music (period) must offer thanks in their
prayers each night."
Two Home Cooking compilations worth noting are Deep in the Soul of Texas
(rhythm & blues) and Texas Guitar Greats. Of the former, Chicago
Tribune writer Tom Popson said, "Packed with plenty of rich, emotive
singing."
TYPE: Blues; Rock
ARTISTS: 13th Floor Elevators; Albert Collins; Janis Joplin; T-Bone
Walker; Sonny Boy Williamson; Johnny Winter
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box 980454
Houston TX 77098 PHONE: 713.666.0258
A&R CONTACT: Roy C. Ames
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Evelyn Biscamp
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Roy C. Ames
- HOMECOMING RECORDS
John Stewart's strong voice and powerful songs made him
a major force within the Kingston Trio during what Martin
Mull has referred to as "the great folk scare of the late '50s and
early '60s." Although the Trio sits comfortably in the popular music
archives, Stewart's name continued to surface -- as the composer of
"Daydream Believer," with a top ten album, "Bombs Away,
Dream Babies" which contained three hit singles, including
"Gold," and, since 1984, at Homecoming Records. The label
reflects Stewart's past, present, and future. In addition to featuring
Stewart's solo projects, it's a bonanza for veteran and new Kingston Trio
devotees.
TYPE: Folk, Pop
ARTISTS: John Stewart, Heriza & Ford, Modern Folk
Quartet.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 2050
Malibu CA 90265-7050
- HOMESPUN TAPES
For a little more than a quarter-century, Homespun Tapes under the
direction of Artie Traum has been dishing out lessons for folk, blues,
bluegrass, rock and jazz musicians. Traum has a faculty for assembling a
faculty. They provide informal, anecdotal lessons. For example, you can
study: guitar with Doc Watson, Richard Thompson, Jorma Kaukonen and/or
Rory Block; fiddle with Kenny Kosek, Vassar Clements, Michael Doucet,
and/or Kevin Burke; piano with Dr. John; Banjo with Bela Fleck or Bill
Keith; bass with Rick Danko; and dulcimer with John McCutchen. The Big
Book of Home Learning says it's like having a private lesson with one of
the best musicians in the country."
TYPE: Music Instruction
ARTISTS: Vassar Clements; Dr. John; Maria Muldaur;
Jorma Kaukonen; Pete Seeger; Happy Traum; Doc Watson
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: Box 694UN
Woodstock NY 12498 PHONE: 1.800.33.TAPES
- HOMESTEAD RECORDS
In 1983, Dutch East India Trading, a distributor, started the Homestead
label. The mission was to release experimental music that, in the words of
one staffer "could not possibly achieve mainstream success."
They saw a market niche beneath the mainstream niche. In so doing, the
company made a very loud impact on rock music. It pushed Sonic Youth,
Dinosaur Jr, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds into hearing range. Sonic Youth's
first album, Bad Moon Rising, is considered a landmark in the noise rock
genre.
TYPE: Experimental, New Music, Rock
ARTISTS: Sebadoh, Lovechild, King Kong, Cake Kitchen,
Tall Dwarfs, Weird Paul, Daniel Johnston,
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Box 800
Rockville Centre NY 11571 PHONE: 516.764.6200
A&R CONTACT: Ken Katkin
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Ken Katkin
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Terry Felice
- HUDSON RIVER CO
Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball opened this label (and booking agency)
in 1988 as a vehicle for their music. And what a ride! You may have heard
them during the two-year run of their NPR program, Great Acoustics: Live
From the Hudson River Cafe. Their songs about their lives and feelings
have touched many people. Ball's album Mothers and Daughters deals with
that special relationship. In reviewing it, Buzz Magazine said,
"...undertaken with care and love...instead of making mere music
[she] makes art." The Washington Post called Shaw's Born and Raised,
"a sparkling tribute to the past with a gaze cast unflinchingly on
the future." Rory Block produced Shaw's album which features guest
appearances by John Sebastian, Vassar Clements, Garth Hudson, Cindy Cash
and, yes, Rory Block.
TYPE: Country, Western; Folk; Middle of the Road; Pop
ARTISTS: Bridget Ball; Christopher Shaw
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 609
Averill Park NY 12018-0609 PHONE: 1.518.674.8282
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Anna Mae Harris
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Anna Mae Harris
- HYPERNORMAL RECORDS
Singer/songwriter John Swetye has launched what probably is the newest
label listed on these pages. His first album "is about traveling;
breaking away for the first time on your own." His songs have been
received well when other artists played them on gigs where he was an
accompanist. Swetye thought he would record them so they could be heard
exactly the way he wanted them to be heard. TYPE: Bluegrass; Folk; Pop;
Rock
ARTISTS: John Bowman; Jon Goodloe
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 2384
Noroton Heights CT 06820 PHONE: 203.324.3439
A&R CONTACT: John Swetye
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Alice Swetye
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: John Swetye
- ICHIBAN RECORDS
About 25 years ago, John Abbey was a young Englishman who adored American
black music. Since then, he started Blues & Soul, a British magazine;
was a tour promoter for American acts in Europe and Japan; and, as of
1985, the cofounder and president of Ichiban Records. (On a Japanese tour
with James Brown, fans kept calling Brown, "Ichiban soul
brother." Abbey learned that ichiban means "number one.")
The label is fulfilling Abbey's goal of presenting black American music.
Getting bona fide hits from Clarence Carter (Doctor C.C. and "Strokin'")
and Slave (Unchained At Last) gave Ichiban some credibility and maybe even
a few dollars. Now the company distributes fifteen other indies, including
Curtis Mayfield's Curtom Records.
TYPE: Blues; Gospel; Jazz; Rap; Rhythm & Blues; Soul
ARTISTS: Blues Boy Willie; M.C. Breed; Clarence Carter; Tyrone Davis; Ben
E. King; Curtis Mayfield
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 724677
Atlanta GA 30339 PHONE: 404.926.3377
A&R CONTACT: John Abbey
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: John Abbey
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Nina Easton
- IKAUMA RECORDS
If you've seen Oliver Stone's film JFK, you've heard Brent Lewis's music,
albeit briefly. Three selections from his album, Earth Tribe Rhythms, are
heard during a prison scene. Percussionist Lewis is best known for his
work on the Ikauma, a set of twenty-two tuned drums made especially for
him by Dave Wheat. This is the only such set in the world. Earth Tribe
Rhythms presents this melodic percussion surrounded by African beats.
Lewis went from a conga player, backing Judy Collins in a Denver nightclub
in 1958 to working with Xavier Cugat and Charo for seven years to studying
in Africa. With his second album he is joined by drum masters of different
cultures.
TYPE: Percussion; World Music;
ARTISTS: Brent Lewis
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 461352
Los Angeles CA 90046 PHONE: 213.876.5625
CONTACT: Brent Lewis
- INDIA ARCHIVE MUSIC
Lyle Warchovsky has managed rock bands, and currently is a marketing
consultant to "Top 40" acts. But he started his own record label
in 1989 because of his lifelong passion for Indian music. He began with
Vilayat Khan. Indian percussionist Badl Roy, who has played with Ornette
Coleman and Miles Davis, suggested to Warchovsky that the two of them go
to India to record. They journeyed to Bombay, New Delhi and Calcutta, and
met many superb musicians. They also hooked up with the Sangeet Research
Academy, which Wachovsky calls "one of the great schools and
repositories of living knowledge." Many of the musicians recorded in
India, though rigorously trained virtuosi, are not professional
performers. The U.S. based India Currents Magazine called this label,
"a class act among the Indian recording companies."
TYPE: Indian Classical and Light Classical
ARTISTS: Amjad Ali Khan; Imat Khan; Vilayat Khan
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 2170 Broadway, #243
New York NY 10024 PHONE: 212.740.1508]
CONTACT: Lyle Wachovsky
- INDIA NAVIGATION
Bob Cummins was a lawyer who specialized in government contracts; but he
had a passion for jazz. When he came to New York in 1968, he quickly got
involved in what was called "the loft scene." Musicians played
in loft spaces and audiences gathered to bear witness to vigorous,
creative jazz. Cummins bought a Tandberg tape recorder to capture the
sessions for those musicians who wanted a document. From this experience,
India Navigation was born. A couple of these recordings, including a Chet
Baker/Lee Konitz performance, actually ended up on the label. Much praise
has gone to India Navigation's Clarinet Summit -- Live at the Public
Theater. It captures an astonishing event that produced remarkable music.
The rare concert featured a clarinet quartet that spans jazz history --
Alvin Baptiste of New Orleans, Ellington stalwart Jimmy Hamilton, and
avant-gardists John Carter and David Murray.
The label's support probably helped make the concert possible. The
musicians prepared in India Navigation's office.
"I heard them rehearse," recalls Cummins, "and I said God
do you know how good this sounds?"
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Arthur Blythe; Anthony Davis; Chico Freeman; Jay Hoggard; Cecil
McBee; David Murray; James Newton.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 177 Franklin St.
New York NY 10013 PHONE: 212.219.3670
CONTACT: Bob Cummins
- INDIAN HOUSE
Tony and Iola Isaacs started Indian House more than twenty-five years ago.
The recordings present the traditional music with which various Native
American nations have accompanied their lives. For example, the catalog
lists Navajo Gift Songs and Round Dance, Cheyenne Peyote Songs, and Kiowa
Gourd Dance. The Isaacs' constant goal was to capture the mood and
feeling. Many recordings were done on location.
TYPE: Native American
ARTISTS: Various artists
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 472
Taos NM 87571 PHONE: 505.776.2953
- INTER-AMERICAN
MUSICAL EDITIONS
Here's the bureaucracy part. Inter-American Musical Editions is a
department within the Division of Performing Arts of the Organization of
American States. The rest is pure music. OAS started the label in 1978 to
promote musicians, composers and music from the Americas. Inter American
sells recordings of Ginastera and Villa-Lobos compositions, as well as
Tangos Vivencias performed by Argentinean tango master Atilio Stampone.
TYPE: Caribbean; Classical, Folk; Pop
ARTISTS: Ivan Citera; Jose Fernandez Bardesio; Pedro Vargas; Alberto
Williams; Lia Cimaglia-Espinosa
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 1889 F St. NW,
Washington DC 20006 PHONE: 202.458.3072
- ITW RECORDS
In the mid-'60s Ian Whitcomb did the only reasonable thing a mild-mannered
Trinity College history major could do. He went crazy-mad a la Jerry Lee
Lewis and pounded out Top 10 hit, "You Turn Me On" to the
amusement and delight of audiences around the globe. Since then, he's done
the musical equivalent of community service. He's written six books,
including the pop music history volumes, After The Ball and Irving Berlin
and Ragtime America. As a composer, arranger, producer and performer he's
taken audiences to different musical eras and locales. Now located in
Altadena (CA), Whitcomb hosts a popular FM radio show, "devoted to
ragtime, traditional jazz, and the music of Tin Pan Alley." ITW
albums include Ragtime Revels, Tango Dreams, and Let the Rest of the World
Go By. As these words are written, the next project is the score of his
new musical, Lotusland, played by full orchestra and sung by the cast.
(Whitcomb's ragtime/Jazz musical comedy set in 1920s California received
its world premiers on radio station KPCC.)
TYPE: Broadway; Comedy; Country, Western; Middle of the Road; Pop;
Ragtime; Spoken
ARTISTS: The Bungalow Boys; The Dance Band; Debbie Dawn; Buck Henry;
Regina; Ian Whitcomb
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box 451
Altadena CA 91003 PHONE: 213.684.4697
CONTACT: Write to Ian Whitcomb at above address.
- JAZZAND
Guitarist Rick Stone always was a do-it-yourselfer. So it may be no
surprise that after shopping himself around to record companies without
results in 1985, he decided to put an album out by himself. It was not the
wisest financial move he ever made; but it did help him learn much about
the music business. Stone's second album (Far East), featuring his brand
of straight ahead jazz, did much better. In fact, it stayed on the Gavin
chart for 16 weeks. Joining Stone on this recording are Kenny Barron,
Curtis Boyd, and Don Gladstone.
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Rick Stone (with Kenny Barron)
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 12 Micieli Pl.
Brooklyn NY 11218 PHONE: 718.972.1220
CONTACT: Rick Stone
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
- JAZZOLOGY RECORDS
If you go to New Orleans do stop at Nina Buck's Palm Court Jazz Cafe (1204
Decatur St.). It's got fine food, true hospitality, and hot jazz (e.g.
Danny Barker and Pud Brown). You also might find George H. Buck who
entered the record business in 1949 "to document authentic
jazz." George Buck has built a mini-conglomerate of record companies.
The Jazzology siblings include Southland (blues); Circle (big bands); Solo
Art (ragtime) and Audiophile (pop). The labels emphasize traditional and
swing jazz. To get maximum benefit, join the Collector's Jazz Club. A
nominal membership fee gets you discounts on the recordings and an
information-packed quarterly magazine, Jazz beat.
TYPE: Blues; Jazz; Pop; Ragtime;
ARTISTS: Eddie Condon; Harry James; Bunk Johnson; George Lewis; Jelly Roll
Morton; Maxine Sullivan; Margaret Whiting
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 1206 Decatur St.
New Orleans LA 70116 PHONE: 504.525.1776
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: George H. Buck, Jr.
- JIN
Floyd Soileau's Flat Town Music Company encompasses a group of record
labels that send the region's music out to the world. Jin, which features
the local brand of rock, got its name from the woman Soileau was dating
and subsequently married. ("I figured," he told Living Blues
writer James Tighe, "I'd score a few points with her that way.")
The whole enterprise started from a store -- Floyd's Record Shop -- that
Soileau still owns. Because of the store, a tape of Cajun music came to
Soileau that was recorded by friends of a friend. Soileau released it.
"When word got out there was some crazy fool in Ville Platte
releasing French music," Soileau told Tighe, "I had a lot of the
legends come see me."
Along the way, Soileau became a bit of a legend himself.
TYPE: Swamp Rock
ARTISTS: Johnny Allan; Rod Bernard; Cookie & Cupcakes; Cypress City;
Tommy McLain; Warren Storm; Clint West
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Drawer 10
Ville Platte LA 70586 PHONE: 318.363.2139
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
- JONKEY ENTERPRISES
Jazziz Magazine called Chuck Jonkey "music's answer to Indiana
Jones." As Jonkey explains it, "I travel around the world
collecting sounds and instruments for exotic music." He's been to
Latin America, Thailand, the Indian Subcontinent, and Malibu. When he
returns, he blends the sounds -- wild animals, flowing waters, chanting
Buddhist lamas, etc. -- with the music of the jungle, the ancient temple
or wherever he heard the notes. And he folds in his own appropriate
compositions. The recordings affect the listener both as music and as
portraits of place. Two Jonkey recordings are strictly environmental (no
music). They are Amazon Night and Malibu.
TYPE: Environmental; World Music
ARTISTS: Chuck Jonkey; Carl Malone
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 663 W. California Ave.
Glendale CA 91203 PHONE: 818.247.6219
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Jonkey Enterprises
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Jonkey Enterprises
- JOSHUA TREE
PRODUCTIONS
JTP, an artist owned label, has a definite international feel. Ricardo
Bomba plays Brazilian music, and ZOE combines the sound and sensibility of
many nations.
TYPE: Jazz; New Age; New Music;
ARTISTS: Ricardo Bomba; ZOE
CATALOG: No.
FORMATS: Cassette
ADDRESS: 8502 E. Vista Dr.
Scottsdale AZ 85250 PHONE: 602.941.5509
CONTACT: E. Bruce Porter
- JUNE APPAL
RECORDINGS
Appalshop, a nonprofit media center, glistens like a diamond in the
coalfields of Eastern Kentucky. Spun from the Community Film Workshop of
Appalachia, an effective job-training program, Appalshop documents and
presents regional culture, traditions and social issues. Its tools are
film, video, radio, theater and music. June Appal is the center's
recording division. Several June Appal albums appear on the Library of
Congress Selected List of Sound Recordings. They include Whoa Mule by Lee
Sexton; Relics & Treasure by Uncle Charlie Osborne and Rock Dust by
Morgan Sexton
TYPE: Blues; Children's; Celtic; Folk; Gospel;
ARTISTS: Dusty Miller; Uncle Charlie Osborne; Lee Sexton; Morgan Sexton
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 306 Madison St.
Whiteburg NY 41858 PHONE: 606.633.0108
CONTACT: Carolyn H. Stargill
- JUNGLE RECORDS
"The inspiration came on a smokey guitar-flashing night
at Austin's Continental Club," declares a Jungle press
release. "The LeRoi Brothers were scorching their way
through another frenetic set, punctuated by rousing vocals
and a powerhouse rhythm. Something had to be done to get
this band on vinyl. Bruce Sheehan heard the plea and Jungle
Records was born."
What hath Bruce wrought? A record label that celebrates rowdy, riveting
music. The LeRoi Brothers inaugural album, Check This Action, was
celebrated with a rock and roll parade along Austin's Congress Avenue. The
band, ensconced on the bed of a pick-up truck, wailed. Take note of Reggae
band Killer Bee's album, Groovin'. It features work by guest artists Cyril
Neville; Daryl Johnson; and Timbuk 3.
TYPE: Cajun; Reggae; Roots Rock.
ARTISTS: Big Guitars From Texas; Evan Johns and the H-
Bombs; Highwaymen; Killer Bees; LeRoi Brothers; Wild Seeds.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 3034
Austin TX 78764 PHONE: 512.443.7444
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bruce Sheehan
- JUSTICE RECORDS
Lawyer Randall Jamail worked with his father Joseph on the winning side of
the $3 billion Pennzoil v. Texaco lawsuit. His share of the fee let him
say goodbye law, hello music. In growing a record company, Jamail has
linked an informed musical taste with original business approaches. He
introduced accounting systems that are kinder to artists, and marketing
methods that limit guesswork. The best Justice news is that the label puts
out fine music. Of particular note is Just Friends: A Gathering in Tribute
to Emily Remler. Writer Aaron Howard said the album is an excellent
memorial to Remler in that "it is a delight from first track to
last." The record is a double event because it marks the return of
guitarist Herb Ellis to recording. And, yes, Ellis subsequently signed a
Justice contract.
TYPE: Jazz; Rhythm & Blues
ARTISTS: Herb Ellis; Rebecca Coupe Franks; Kellye Gray; Stefan Karlsson;
King & Moore; Emily Remler; Harry Sheppard
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 3100 Alabama Ct.
Houston TX 77027 PHONE: 713.520.6669
A&R CONTACT:
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
- KALEIDOSCOPE RECORDS
The adjectives for Kaleidoscope tumble out quickly -- bold, eclectic,
sharp, delightful. A label with strong folk roots, Kaleidoscope has built
an engaging catalog. The Bobs, an a capella group are vocal virtuosi. They
have a wide musical range, leavened with a sense of humor. The group's
Grammy-nominated Sing the Songs of album features a memorable "Helter
Skelter." You'll also find distinctive bluegrass by the likes of the
Good Ol' Persons and banjoist Don Reno. Some revere the label primarily
for its series of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys radio transcriptions.
Wills is the sire of western swing, that heady blend of jazz and
traditional country music that was so popular in the '30s and '40s.
Western swing in general and Wills in particular directly influenced both
rock and roll and country music.
TYPE: Bluegrass; Cajun; Children's; Country, Western; Folk; Rock; Western
Swing
ARTISTS: The Bobs; Good Ol' Persons; Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick; The
Sundogs; Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys; Kate Wolf
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box O
El Cerrito CA 94530 PHONE: 510.845.9200
A&R CONTACT: Clarence Thomas
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Jeff Alexson
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Jeff Alexson
- KAMEI RECORDINGS
A tasteful jazz label, Kamei is affiliated with GSP Recordings. The
artists habitually receive praise. For example, Option Magazine's John
Baxter said with the album, Still of the Night, Bruce Forman
"fashioned what may become a classic jazz guitar recording."
TYPE: Jazz; Pop
ARTISTS: Bruce Forman; Jeff Linsky; Alex Murzyn; Morning & Jim Nichols
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassett
ADDRESS: 1411 Clement St.
San Francisco CA 94118 PHONE: 415.668.3540
A&R CONTACT: Dean Kamei
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Pat Phillips
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Dean Kamei
- KARIBU PRODUCTIONS
"I was working with James "Guitar Slim" Stephens as part of
my research for the Southern Folklife Project at Chapel Hill," said
folklorist Tim Duffy, "He told me about Guitar Gabriel and urged me
to find this guy." It seems that Guitar Gabriel, once known as Nyle
Jones, was an amazing guitarist with ties to "Blind Boy" Fuller,
Lightnin' Hopkins, and Mance Lipscombe. He walked away from a recording
career because he disliked being ripped off. Gabe performed locally in
churches and clubs when Duffy located him on March 27, 1991. The two
started working together and Gabe's new career blossomed. They've done
eighty-five shows together, including festivals in Europe, and they made
their first tape, Toot's Blues.
TYPE: Blues
ARTISTS: Guitar Gabriel
CATALOG: Free * FORMATS: Cassette, CD
ADDRESS: PO Box 12522
Winston Salem NC 27117-2522 PHONE: 919.784.4363**
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Tim Duffy
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Tim Duffy
- KERRVILLE FOLK
FESTIVAL
Since 1972, a friendly folk festival in Kerrville (TX) 1972-5, has
showcased singer/songwriters and won admiration from all over the country.
It's been praised as the single most important songwriter event in the
country and, The Los Angeles Times said, "in a world that seems
depersonalized, an endearing example of the musicians playing for the love
of it." Festival officials record the event every year for
documentation, and some copies are made available to the public. Most are
out of print; but eight or nine volumes, in varying quantities, are on
sale.
TYPE: Folk
ARTISTS: Various
CATALOG: No FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 1466
Kerrville TX 78029 PHONE: 512.257.3600 (area code changes to 210 after
11/1/92
A&R CONTACT: Rod Kennedy
- KICKING MULE RECORDS
Kicking Mule started pounding its hooves in the early 1970s as an outlet
for acoustic guitar music. The first albums were by Stefan Grossman, who
at the time was part-owner of the company with Ed Denson. ("Stefan
had ten albums," said Ed Denson, "and he had taken them to every
label in the country. Nobody wanted them. We put them out and found
everybody else was wrong.") Kicking Mule, discovering a market of
eager guitarists, issued books that showed fingering. Other instruments
joined the mix, as did other excellent acoustic musicians joined the
label. Eclectic, inventive guitarist Bob Brozman shines on Snappping the
Strings. (Note guest appearance by George Winston.) The cowboy band Horse
Sense has taken its authentic Western music on USIA-sponsored tours of the
world. Kicking Mule's 48-page catalog presents recordings, instruction
books and tapes, and videos from KM and other companies.
TYPE: Blues; Country, Western; Folk; Music Instruction;
ARTISTS: Janita Baker; Bob Brozman; Horse Sense; Madeline MacNeill;
Melissa Morgan;
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 158
Alderpoint CA 95411 PHONE: 707.926.53128
CONTACT: Ed Denson
- KNITTING FACTORY
WORKS
No less an authority than the Wall Street Journal proclaimed the Knitting
Factory to be the nightclub that "singlehandedly invigorated, if not
created an eclectic post-punk jazz rock music scene..." The Journal
is right again. Opened in 1987 the club, owned by Michael Dorf and Bob
Appel, quickly and serendipitously moved from being the cozy coffee
house/all good organic foods to eat/bar/art gallery/ performance space to
the leading leading edge spot in town. The food service is gone; but the
sincerity remains. The influence has grown, what with Knitting Factory
festivals, a "Live at the Knitting Factory" syndicated radio
show, and now the record label. The albums mirror the club's "down
with musical borderlines" attitude.
TYPE: Jazz; New Age; New Music;
ARTISTS: Samm Bennett; Thomas Chapin; Defunkt; Amy Denio; The Jazz
Passengers; Spanish Fly; Zahar
CATALOG: Free FORMATTS: CD; Video
ADDRESS: 47 E. Houston St.
New York NY 10012 PHONE: 212.219.3006
- KOLEET PRODUCTIONS
TYPE: Children's; Jewish
ARTISTS: Cindy Paley
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: Cassette
ADDRESS: 14246 Chandler Blvd.
Sherman Oaks CA 91401 PHONE: 818.907.8954
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Cindy Paley
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Cindy Paley
- KOM-A-DAY
This label specializes in the tall tales and outrageous stories of Cajun
humorists.
TYPE: Cajun, Comedy
ARTISTS: Dave Pettijean; Justin Wilson
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Drawer 10
Ville Platte LA 70586 PHONE: 318.363.2139
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
- KOCH INTERNATIONAL
CLASSICS
Headquartered in the Austrian Tyrol village of Elbigenalp (pop. 1,000),
Koch has given classical music lovers something to yodel about. Back in
1975, the then twenty-three-year-old Franz Koch, keyboardist for an
Austrian pop group, launched his label. He began with Austrian folk music
because he felt a market existed. (He was right.) He wanted to be an
international player so he moved to middle of the road music and then
classical. TV advertising of the folk music helped fuel an expansion that
included the opening of CD and LP factories and the formation of a record
distributing service. Regional divisions opened in Germany, Switzerland,
Netherlands, United Kingdom and the U.S.A. It first acted in the States as
a distributor. The American record label, born in 1990, immediately hit
the Billboard charts and secured two Grammy nominations. Joseph McClellan
of the Washington Post wrote that, "Koch demonstrates superbly the
special value of small vs. large record companies. These competing values
can be summed up in terms of imagination and care (small labels) vs.
economic muscle and the right connections (large labels)." The Koch
catalog includes the recordings of the many other companies it
distributes.
TYPE: Classical
ARTISTS: American Chamber Players; Atlantic Sinfonietta; New York Festival
of Song; New Zealand Sympghony Orchestra; Phoenix Symphony Orchestra
CATALOG: FREE FORMAT: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: Musimail
PO Box 485
Westbury NY 11590-0485
A&R CONTACT: A&R Dept.
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: A&R Dept.
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Customer Service
- KOMOTION
INTERNATIONAL
About forty musicians belong to this artists' collective. They rehearse
and record there. They also do shows in the performance space. Komotion
also presents evenings of poetry, dance, performance art, and exhibits in
the visual arts. The recordings include compilations and magazines on
cassette. The Looters album displays a style that attracts San Francisco
audiences -- strong harmony, solid rock rhythm and world music influences.
TYPE: Experimental; Rock; Spoken; World Music;
ARTISTS: Beatnigs; Josef Brinckman; The Looters; Alejandro Merguia;
Political Asylum; Yeastie Girlz
CATALOG: Send self-addressed stamped envelope
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box 410502
San Francisco CA 94141-0502
PHONE: 415.648.4923
CONTACT: Komotion
- KOPAESTHETICS
RECORDS
Computer consultant Bob Drake says he entered the record biz without
realizing it. He felt 1938, a cabaret show starring Ricky Ritzel and
Spider Saloff just had to be recorded. After all, Saloff and Ritzel are
major cabaret artists. Bob Harrington of the New York Post reported,
"Ritzel's gravelly voice and Saloff's pure disciplined tones stand in
dark contrast; but they have two things in common: They know how to sell a
song and they're both superb musical comedians." So Drake went and
made the recording. He figured he could recover expenses by selling copies
to audience members who wanted a souvenir. An attack of serendipity caused
Drake to record a second album, this by the Fine Young Madrigals. The
singers are Shakespearean actors and their robust performance demonstrates
why madrigals were seventeenth century pop music. Two albums convinced
Drake that he indeed was a record label.
TYPE: Blues; Broadway; Classical; Folk; Jazz; Middle of the Road; New Age;
Pop; Rock;
ARTISTS: Fine Young Madrigals; Ricky Ritzel; Spider Saloff
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 410 W. 53rd St., #223
New York NY 10019 PHONE: 212.765.6901
A&R CONTACT: Bob Drake
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Kiki Belle
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Tim Tattan
- KORA PRODUCTIONS
David Gilden doesn't even remember why he decided to attend a 1978
Smithsonian concert of music from Mali. But the event changed his life.
When he entered the museum, he was a third year jazz composition major at
Berklee College of Music, and he had a particular interest in
synthesizers. When he walked out, he knew his future was the
multi-stringed Kora, an African harp. Today Gilden plays a 21-string Kora
from Gambia (W. Africa), and he named his record company after the
instrument. His first album, Jato (The Lion), shows his ease with
traditional West African music. His third album, Ancestral Voices, shows
he did not toss his previous training into the trash can. Deedee Finney of
Option called the newer album "an artful cross-cultural
amalgam." She added that Ancestral Voices is "lush with
Fairlight electronics, fretless bass, Zimbabean thumb pianos, Chinese and
Javanese gongs, chimes, birds. . . Stark traditional pieces are cushioned
by grand-visioned themes (a la Kitaro) and expansive motifs -- in the ECM
Jazz sense..." TYPE: High Tech World;
ARTISTS: David Gilden
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 5802 Meadow Dr.
Frederick MD 21702 PHONE: 617.923.9879
CONTACT: David Gilden
- KOSS CLASSICS
The Koss Corporation manufactures fine stereophones and therefore gives
the world an earful of music. In 1989, the company ventured one step
further. That's when Michael Koss became shocked by the small number of
American orchestras that were recording. Koss Classics was a remedy. This
diligent enterprise delivers underplayed works by major composers, as
performed by undernoticed but fine symphonic ensembles.
"We're out here to preserve American orchestras," explained a
company spokesman. "That's how it started and that's how it's
continued."
TYPE: Classical
ARTISTS: Foss Festival Players (Lukas Foss); Indianapolis Symphony
Orchestra (Raymond Leppard); Milllar Brass Ensemble; Milwaukee Symphony
Orchestra (Zdenek Macal); Gillian Weir
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD
ADDRESS: 4129 N. Port Washington
Milwaukee WI 53212 PHONE: 1.800.USA.KOSS
A&R CONTACT: Michael Koss
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Michael Koss
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Paul Barragry
o
LA LOUISIENNE RECORDS
Carol Rachou, a Cajun who could speak French fluently wanted to record fellow
Cajun Alex Broussard in 1958. He didn't want to put a French song on the jazz
label he already owned, so La Louisienne was born. The new label became his main
concern. He recorded and produced 95% of the music himself. Carol's son, David,
who grew up with the company, took over in the mid-'80s. The fine recording
artists, most of whom were Cajun, helped the company develop its reputation for
quality. Country star Eddy Raven is now with a major, but his first album is
still in the La Louisienne catalog. Beausoleil Accordionist Jimmy Breaux's
recent album, displays his more traditional side. Guitarist David Doucet joined
him on this one.
TYPE: Cajun, Country, Western
ARTISTS: Nathan Abshire; Jimmy C. Newman; Eddy Raven; Aldous Roger; Ambrose
Thibedeaux; Rufus Thibedeaux
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 711 Stevenson St.
Lafayette LA 70501 PHONE: 318.234.5577
CONTACT: David Rachou
- LANDMARK
This is a small label that was established by a major
jazz catalyst, Orrin Keepnews. Now it is part of the Fantasy, Inc.
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Bobby Hutcherson; Yusef Lateef; Keith
MacDonald; Jack DeJohnette; Ron Carter
CATALOG: FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Tenth and Parker
Berkeley CA 94710 PHONE:
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Legal Dept.
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Kirk Roberts
- LAND O' JAZZ
PO Box 26393
New Orleans LA 70186
TYPE: Jazz.
ARTISTS: Eddie Miller, Armand Hug, Raymond Burke, Plato Smith.
ALBUM: "Just Friends"/ Eddie Miller, Armand Hug $8.95.
With song titles like "Lazy River" and "'S
Wonderful,"
it seems that Land O' Jazz gives asylum to those looking for
good times.
o
LANDSLIDE RECORDS
450 14th St. NW
Suite 201
Atlanta GA 30318
TYPE: Alternative Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz
ARTISTS: Zeitgeist, Nappy Brown, Love Tractor, The
Heartfixers.
ALBUM: "Tore Up"/ d Nappy Brown with the Heartfixers.
$9.50.
·
·
LASER RECORDS
1304 Fletcher Rd.
Tifton GA 37194
TYPE: Rock, New Wave.
ARTISTS: DDT, The Upbeats
ALBUM: "Beat City"/ The Upbeats. $11.30.
o
LAURIE RECORDS
In the '50s and '60s, a brash independent label sent songs to the heart of
America by such artists as The Chiffons, The Passions, Dion and Gary
"U.S." Bonds. It had a monster novelty hit, "Snoopy and the Red
Baron," by the Royal Guardsmen. And it invaded the American pop charts with
such foreign recordings as "Morgan." "Marina" and
"Petite Fleur." By the late '70s the company was sitting on its assets
in the form of previously released material in inventory. First, Laurie did a
heavy direct marketing through television number. And then it simply licensed
its vintage recordings to other manufacturers. In the mid '80s a new generation
came along and introduced some mega-vitamins into the system. Now there's a
healthy blend of the golden oldie and the shining newie. An excellent example of
the latter is A Yaqui Way of Knowledge by Wild Strawberries. As the Chiffons
might have said, this tribute to Carlos Castaneda is "so fine."
TYPE: African; Blues; Country, Western; Folk; Jazz; New Age; Rock
ARTISTS: Blackfoot; The Chiffons; Dion and the Belmonts; Charlie Louvin; Ted
Taylor; Wild Strawberries
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 450 Livingston St.
Norwood NJ 07648 PHONE: 201.767.5551
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Robert Schwartz
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Ron Bollon (301.686.2486)
o
LEONARDA PRODUCTIONS
In the mid-'70s, violinist Marnie Hall pizzacatoed away
with three other women in a string quartet.
"Do you," audiences invariably would ask, "play music
by women composers?"
The answer was no. In fact, Hall only knew of one woman
composer. She didn't fret. Instead, she studied the matter
and happily discovered lots of "wonderful music." Leonarda
Productions, founded by Marnie Hall as a nonprofit recording
company, helps the rest of us discover some of this exciting
music.
"We've unearthed a lot of history along the way," says
Marnie Hall, "and were the first or among the first to
record music by Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre; Fanny
Mendelssohn Hensel; Clara Schumann; Josephine Lang; Pauline Viardot-Garcia; Alma
Mahler; Rebecca Clarke; and our namesake, Isabelle Leonarda."
Of special note are Leonarda's cassette samplers and the recordings that can be
used in the classroom in conjunction with Diane Peacock Jezic's book Women
Composers: The Lost Tradition Found.
TYPE: Classical; Jazz; New Music.
ARTISTS: The Atlanta Chamber Players; The Capricorn
Players; Katherine and Kristine Ciesinski; Katherine Hoover.
John Ostendorf; Sharon Robinson;
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 1736
Cathedral Station
New York NY 10025 PHONE:
CONTACT: Marnie Hall
o
LIVING MUSIC RECORDS
(See American Gramaphone)
Living Music's founder and principal artist is Paul Winter.
o
LOS HERMANOS RECORDS
Back in 1967, high school students the Hicks Brothers (Bruce and Jerry) and Greg
Humphreys had a rhythm & blues band. Now they run a management company and,
as of January '91, a record label that specializes in singer-songwriters. The
first artist was client David Munyon. Humphreys and Munyon had met in Nashville.
Humphreys was eating in Mack's Cafe. Munyon was singing there for meals and
tips. Impressed, Humphreys proffered his card.
Now in California and a client, Munyon got many smiles from the majors but no
record contract. The managers decided to do it themselves. Backing Munyon are
super sidemen Warren Haynes, Matt Rollings, Leland Sklar, Sneaky Pete and
Anthony Crawford.
TYPE: Folk; Jazz; New Age; Rock;
ARTISTS: David Munyon; Jay Patten
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 188559
Sacramento CA 95818 PHONE: 916.452.3967
A&R CONTACT: Greg Humphrey
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bruce Hicks
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
o
LOST LAKE RECORDS
Box 9388
Stanford CA 94305
TYPE: Reissue of different types of music.
ARTIST: Shadowfax, John Renbourne, Bola Sete, Robbie
Basho.
ALBUM: "Sir JohnALot of"/ John Renbourne. $10.
LOVELY MUSIC
325 Spring St.
New York NY 10013
TYPE: Avant Garde, Experimental
ARTISTS: Robert Ashley, Alvin Lucier, Pauline Oliveros.
ALBUM: "Chicago Slow Dance"/ George Lewis. $10.98
o
LUMINA RECORDS LTD.
236 Lafayette Street #4
New York NY 10012
TYPE: New Music label offering composed and improvised
music.
ARTISTS: Richard Teitelbaum, Ned Rothenberg, John Zorn.
ALBUM: "Blends & the Digital Pianos"/ Richard
Teitelbaum $8.
Lumina specializes in the work of composer/performers.
o
LYRICHORD DISCS
Many master musicians from around the world grace the
Lyrichord recordings. The catalog overflows with references
to the rhythms and instruments of different cultures.
TYPES: African, Asian, Caribbean, Eastern European,
Ethnic.
ARTISTS: Mustapha Tettey Addy, Roberto Lara, The
Jolly Boys, Sir Lancelot, Dr. L Subrmanian.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 141 Perry St.
New York NY 10014 PHONE: 212.929.8234
A&R CONTACT: Greg Sandberg
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Nick Fritsch
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Greg Sandberg
o
MAD ROVER
TYPE: New Music; Rock
ARTISTS: Fool Launch; Helen Keller Plaid; Texas
Midgets; Vomit Launch.
CATALOG: Send self-addressed stamped envelope Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 22243
Sacramento CA 95822
CONTACT: Rich Hardesty
o
MAGENTA RECORDS
Box 9388
Stanford CA 94305
TYPE: Jazz.
ARTISTS: Anthony Braxton, Richard Beirach, Mitchell
Forman, Ben Sidran.
ALBUM: "On the Cool Side"/ Ben Sidran. $10.
o
MAGGIE'S MUSIC
TYPE: British Isles/Celtic, Folk
ARTISTS: Ceoltori, Sue Richards, Maggie Sansone
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 4144
Annapolis MD 21403 PHONE: 301.268.3394
CONTACT: Maggie Sansone
o
MAGNA CARTA
Progressive Rock
TYPE: Rock
ARTISTS: Magallan**
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 225 Lafayette St., Ste. 407
New York NY 10012 PHONE:
A&R CONTACT: Doug Keogh
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Doug Keogh
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Relativity (718.740.5700)
o
MAISON DE SOUL
Welcome to another of Floyd Soileau's labels. Maison
de Soul specializes in Zydeco.
TYPE: Blues; Zydeco
ARTISTS: Lynn August; Clifton Chenier; Boozoo Chavis;
Willis Prudhoome; Rockin' Dopsie; Rockin' Sidney; Zydeco
Force
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Drawer 10
Ville Platte LA 70586 PHONE: 318.363.2139
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Floyd Soileau
o
MALACO RECORDS
PO Box 9287
Jackson MS 39206
TYPE: Blues; Gospel; Rhythm and Blues; Soul
ARTISTS: Bobby Bland, Z. Z. Hill, Missisissippi, Johnnie
Taylor, Formula 5,
Jackson Southernaires, Violinaires, Truthettes.
ALBUM: "Members Only"/Bobby Bland. $8.98.
CATALOG costs $2
o
MALIBU RECORDS
PO Box 4011
Malibu CA 90265
TYPE: Blues, New Wave, Ethnic Russian
ARTISTS: Z.Z. Hill, Avatar, Grisha Dimant.
ALBUM: "A Velvet Soul"/Z.Z. Hill $8.
o
MAME-LOSHN MUSIC
Menke Katz, a renowned Yiddish language poet wrote hundreds of songs, often
using the folk melodies he heard in Mikhalishek his village in Lithuania. His
grandchildren started this company both to pay homage to him by recording his
songs and to further the Yiddish language. Katz's granddaughter Sheh Sheh,
though now a high school French teacher, was a rock and roll vocalist.
TYPE: Yiddish
ARTISTS: Sheh-Sheh
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: Cassette
ADDRESS: 61 Sylvia Drive
West Islip NY 11795 PHONE: 516.842.3121
CONTACT: Shelley Sullivan
o
MAMLISH RECORDS
PO Box 417
Cathedral Station
New York NY 10025
TYPE: Primarily Country Blues.
ARTISTS: The Poddrell Brothers, Lonnie Johnson,
Barbecue Bob, Big Joe Williams.
ALBUM: "Barefoot Bill's Hard Luck Blues"/ Ed Bell.
$8.95.
o
MAMMOTH RECORDS
TYPE: Pop; Rock
ARTISTS: Antenna; Big Wheel; Blake Babies Chainsaw Killers; Dillon Fence;
Machines of Loving Grace; Vanilla Trainwreck
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Carr Mill, 2nd Flr.
Carrboro NC 27510 PHONE: 919.932.1882
CONTACT: Jay Faires:
o
MARDI GRAS RECORDS
This label started in 1978. Owner Warren Hildebrand said, "My daddy was a
wholesale distributor for all kinds of labels. I saw there was a need for a
local label."
TYPE: Cajun; Gospel; Jazz; Ragtime; Rhythm & Blues;
Zydeco
ARTISTS: Dejan's Olympia Brass Band; Rebirth Brass
Band; David Thomas Roberts
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 3331 St. Charles
New Orleans LA 70115 PHONE:
CONTACT: Warren Hildebrand
o
MASTER TRAK ENTERPRISES
413 N. Parkerson
PO Box 1345
Crowley LA 70526
TYPE: Country, Rock, Louisiana Swamp Music.
ARTISTS: Sonny Landreth, Bob Henderson, Sammy Kershaw,
Tammy Lynn, Judy Ann.
ALBUM: "Way Down in Louisiana"/ Sonny Landreth. $10.
o
MIDNIGHT CIRCUIT
This ambitious label was formed by and to promote talented musicians who gather
in the shadow of the Las Vegas bright lights. Despite the diversity of musics,
the players are united in their quality. As Midnight Circuit CEO Bill Carr
succinctly put it, "These are the pros."
TYPE: Blues; Broadway; Country, Western; Folk; Hispanic, Latin; Jazz; New Music
ARTISTS: Bill Carr Pulse; Hi-Jinx; Larry Lester; Rollen Rodak; "Peg
Leg" Paul Ray; Suzette, Suzette
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 1835 E. Charleston, Ste. 101
Las Vegas NV 89104 PHONE: 702.387.6901
A&R CONTACT: Bill Carr
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Chris Pearson
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Larry Jenks
o
MIDNIGHT INTERNATIONAL RECORDS
See, there is this record store/distributor/mail order
vendor in Manhattan. It's across the street from the
Chelsea Hotel, HQ for the ne'er do well, once did well and
shoulda done well. In 1983 the store, Midnight Records
launched the label, Midnight International. The store
continued to sell rock rarities, obscurities and imports.
The label fit right in with the tradition.
"As far as we're concerned," says Midnight founder J.D.
Martignon, "Midnight is a label with limited commercial
ambition and an enormous appetite for undiscovered talent."
TYPE: Rock
ARTISTS: Dimentia 13; the Fuzztones; "Screaming" Jay
Hawkins; Plan 9; Plasticland
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 390
Old Chelsea Station
New York NY 10011 PHONE: 212.675.2768
o
MINSTREL RECORDS
35-41 72nd St.
Jackson Heights NY 11372
TYPE: Folk.
ARTISTS: Almeda Riddle, Bob Coltman, Frank Warner, Jeff
Warner & Jeff Davis.
ALBUM: "Come All You Good People"/ Frank Warner. $8.50
o
MISTER ROGERS RECORDS
What can we say about Mr. Rogers? The soft-spoken minister brings so much
quality and thought to children's television programming. More important than
his ability to communicate with children is what he chooses to communicate. He
helps kids work through changes and deal with their feelings. One ounce of
Rogers today may spare kids a pound of Bradshaw tomorrow. In addition to
recordings, the catalog describes books (some for parents), toys and T-shirts.
TYPE: Children's
ARTISTS: Fred Rogers.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: 4802 Fifth Ave.
Pittsburgh PA 15213 PHONE: 412.687.2990
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: William Isler
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Patty D'Amore
o
MOABIT MUSIC
150 Fifth Ave.
New York NY 10011
TYPE: New Wave and very ProBettina Koster, Malaria, In the Service of Malaria.
ALBUM:"Beat the Distance"/Malaria. $8.98. This is a
12"
with a 45 rpm side, containing two songs; and a 33 rpm side
containing five songs.
o
MODERN BLUES RECORDINGS
Established in 1987, this label definitely belongs in a bluesphile's blues file.
The Freddy King and Albert King reissues are digitally remastered. Detailed
liner notes describing artist and sessions accompany the recordings. And the
music's pretty good, too. Of Freddy King's Just Pickin', Rolling Stone wrote,
"...A bonanza of uptempo roadhouse stompers, all twenty-four carat
crunch..." The company started a series of new recordings with Rockin'
Eighty-Eights, showcasing three piano greats -- Johnnie Johnson, Clayton Love,
and Jimmy Vaughn. ("If there's been a better blues/R&B album released
this decade, I've missed it." Rick Swenson of Record Roundup.)
TYPE: Blues
ARTISTS: Johnnie Johnson; Albert King; Freddy King; Clayton Love; Jerry Portnoy;
Jimmy Vaughn
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 41 Old Middletown Rd.
Pearl River NY 10965 PHONE: 914.735.3144
CONTACT: Daniel Jacoubovitch
o
MONTANA FOLKLIFE Council
35 South Last Cha ( MT 59620
TYPE: Traditional Music and Narratives from Montana.
ARTISTS: Wally McRae (cowboy poet), Ken Trowbridge
(singer), Allec Allery (Red River fiddler)
ALBUM: "When the Work's All Done This Fall: Songs,
Stories and Poems from Montana Cattle Camps and Cow
Trails."/ compilation. $7.50
o
MONSTER MUSIC
A manufacturer of high end hi fi cables (those octopus tentacles that connect
your stereo components to each other) Monster Cable Products created this record
label. This proves that Monster is plugged into music in more ways than one. The
new venture was started, according to company president Noel Lee, in order to
"...release recordings of exceptional music quality that have been recorded
in a style that captures the true essence and feel of the talent that performs
it." What saves this mission statement from being a pompous declaration is
the company's act of signing daring and engaging artists of quality. The
Looters, for example, is a highly political, highly praised, underrecorded band
described by Bay area journalist Jonathan E. as "...a San Francisco musical
institution...epitomizing the best that The City has to offer."
TYPE: Hip Hop; World;
ARTISTS: Looters; Marlene; Midnight Voices
CATALOG: No FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 274 Wattis Way
So. San Francisco CA 94080 PHONE: 415.871.6000
CONTACT: Thad Wharton
o
MONTUNO RECORDS
TYPE: Caribbean; Haitian; Hispanic, Latin; Jazz.
ARTISTS: Batacumbele; Manny Oquendo/Libre; Airto/Flora
Purim; Armando Sanchez; Ska Sha; Maurice Sixto; Tabou Combo.
CATALOG: ?
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 1470 Broadway
* BMT Subway Mezzanine
New York NY 10036 PHONE: 212.840.0580
CONTACT: Jesse Moscowitz
o
MOSS MUSIC GROUP
48 W. 38th St.
New York NY 10018
TYPE: "Diversified line of Classical, Cross-over, Jazz
and Popular repertoire." Also environmental material (as in
nature sound effects).
ARTISTS: Sviatoslav Richter, Tokyo String Quartet,
Jascha Heifetz, Anthony Newman, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and
Barbara Cook.
ALBUM: Golden Voices of Zarzuelas"/ Placido Domingo,
Monserrat Caballe, et.al. $9.23
MMG is a mini-conglomerate of several labels offering
lots of Classical, some good Jazz and a few other very
specialized forms.
§
MOTION PICTURE BROADCASTING & RECORDED SOUND DIVISION
Library of Congress
Washington DC 20540
TYPE: Folk, Poetry.
ARTISTS: Roy Acuff, Son House, Aunt Molly Jackson,
Woody Guthrie, T.S. Eliot, Robert Frost, Robert Lowell.
ALBUM: "Songs of War and History"/ Compilation
including works by Roy Acuff, Louisiana Red, Wladyslaw Polak. $8.95.
Yes, this is Uncle Sam's own label, and just as
underpromoted as any other independent. Most of the records
are compilations. Many performances were gathered in the field,
as it were. Treasures abound. You may have heard some of these
treasures on the National Public Radio (NPR) series, "Our
American Heritage," hosted by Bob Carlin, a fine musician in
his own right.
§
MULTIPHASE RECORDS & TAPES
PO Box 15176
St. Louis MO 63110
TYPE: New and Progressive Music
ARTISTS: Carl Weingarten, Delay Tactics, Gale Ormiston,
Fo Jammi, Walter Whitney, David Udell.
ALBUM: 'Urban Cabaret, Vol.2/ Cassette Compilation.
$5.99. (Make check payable to Multiphase founder, Carl Weingarten
§
MUSE RECORDS
TYPE: Blues; Jazz
ARTISTS: Graham Haynes; Morgana King; Mark Murphy; Houston Person; Wallace Roney;
James Spaulding; Dakota Staton;
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 160 W. 71st St.
New York NY 10023 PHONE: 212.873.2020
A&R CONTACT: Barney Fields
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
160 W. 71st St.
§
MUWORKS RECORDS
The New York Improvisers is made up of Derek Bailey; Fred Frith; Bill Laswell;
Sonny Sharrock; John Zorn
TYPE: Experimental; Jazz; New Music; Rock;
ARTISTS: Pheroan Aklaff; Thomas Chapin; Lunar Bear Ensemble; Machine Gun; Robert
Musso; New York Improvisers
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 111 4th Ave., #5A
New York NY 10003 PHONE: 212.228.7413
A&R CONTACT:
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
§
MUSIC OF THE WORLD
Audio Magazine writer Michael Wright described Bob
Haddad of Music of the World this way. "[He's] one of those
rare idealists who prefers to pursue indigenous music rather
than the Top 40.
TYPE: African; Asian; Cajun; Ethnic; Hispanic, Latin;
World.
ARTISTS: I.K. Dairo; Imrat Khan; Badal Roy; Trichy
Sankaran and Glen Velez.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 3620
Chapel Hill NC 27515 PHONE: 1.919.932.9600
A&R CONTACT: Bob Haddad
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Martha Lorantos
§
MUSIC SOUTH ORGANIZATION
TYPE: Blues; Rockabilly
ARTISTS: Booker T. Laury; Phoebe Lewis; Randy & the
Radiants; Sunbuddies; Carla Thomas; Rufus Thomas.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 9429
San Rafael CA 94912 PHONE: 415.459.6800
A&R CONTACT: Allan Kaplan
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Carol Tufte
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Anthony King
§
MUSIC WEST RECORDS
TYPE: New Age
ARTISTS: James Asher; Jim Chappell; Ekimi; Oystein
Sevag*; Mark Sloniker; Chris Spheeris; Paul Voudourisaus
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 9429
San Rafael CA 94912 PHONE: 415.459.6800
A&R CONTACT: Allan Kaplan
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Carol Tufte
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Anthony King
o
NEBULA RECORDS
Starting as the New Age sister company of Centaur, Nebula soon stretched out
into jazz. One particularly striking album is Friends, an acoustic work
featuring Steve Masacowski, Ellis Marsalis and Rick Margitza.
TYPE: Jazz; New Age; World
ARTISTS: Christopher Boscole; Nancee Kahler; Peter Kater; Steve Masakowski; Bill
Norman Group
CATALOG: Free
FORMAT: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 8867 Highland Rd., Ste. 206
Baton Rouge LA 70808 PHONE: 504.336.4877
§
NESAK INTERNATIONAL
By 1989, retirement enticed the then-50-year-old Martin Kasen. He sold his
company, Peter Pan Records and Tapes, which he had been running for 27 years.
The leisure life -lasted for all of three months. Kasen wanted something to do.
The new enterprise is a niche-marketing textbook. The catalog contains a canny
mix of themed albums (e.g. "I Love to Dance The Polka," "I Love
the Soul of Spain,...) and artists from around the world who have strong
personal followings. So far jazz bassist/singer /songwriter Jay Leonhart is the
best-known Nesak artist. His songs and style have earned him comparison to
Johnny Mercer, Randy Newman and Dave Frishberg.
TYPE: Caribbean; Classical; Ethnic; Gospel; Jazz; New Age
ARTISTS: Ronnie Benjamin; Iris Gillon; Jay Leonhart; Gilead Limor; New York
Theatre Symphony Orchestra
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Video
ADDRESS: 460 Ridgedale
E. Hanover NJ 07936 PHONE: 201.386.5670
CONTACT: Martin Kasen
§
NEW ALBION RECORDS
In the mid 1980s Foster Reed, a mandolinist gave composer friends financial
backing so that they could make demos. But record companies ignored them. This
music industry arrogance angered Reed and so he started New Albion. Over the
years, he has fashioned a label that, as the company's literature puts it,
"focuses on the poetic imagination of the post World War II period. Most of
the works center on classical composition of the second half of the 20th
century; some include music from other cultures, free jazz and new age."
Several albums amply demonstrate the New Albion. For example, there's Joan La
Barbara's recording of John Cage's Singing Through. This recording, a selection
of John Cage vocal works form over five decades, is considered state of the art
in both performance and recording. Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel celebrates a
Houston meditation chapel for which painter Mark Rothko was commissioned to
create some large paintings
TYPE: New and Unusual Music.
ARTISTS: John Cage, Stuart Dempster; Lou Harrison; Joan
LaBarbara; Pauline Oliveros; Margaret Leng Tan; William
Winant.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD
ADDRESS: 584 Castro St., #515
San Francisco CA 94114 PHONE: 415.621.5757
A&R CONTACT: Foster Reed
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Martha Chesley
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Mike Wilpizeski
§
NEW ALLIANCE RECORDS
TYPE: **
ARTISTS:
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 1389
Lawndale CA 90260 PHONE: 213.430.6838
A&R CONTACT:
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT:
VOLUME SALES CONTACT:
§
NEW WORLD RECORDS
701 Seventh Ave.
New York NY 10036
TYPE: Nearly every category of American Music (jazz,
folk, country R&B, Rock, Orchestral, and chamber)
ARTISTS: Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, John Phillips
Sousa Band, Cecil Taylor, Max Morath and Bill Monroe.
ALBUM: "Music of Harry Partch and John Cage"/ Partch,
David Tudor, others. $11.98.
§
NEXT STEP RECORDS
You don't have to waltz gingerly anymore. Next Step delivers what ballroom
dancers need -- strict rhythms and contemporary sounds. The songs have been
written just for the albums, and this definitely is music to dance by. In the
words of Terpsichorean Magazine: "Good party tape!"
TYPE: Ballroom; Latin; and Swing Dance
ARTISTS: Rick Rhodes; Sophisticates; Tango Nomads
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 912 E. 3rd St., Studio 104
Los Angeles CA 90013 PHONE: 213.617.3362
CONTACT: Barbara Wright
§
NIGHTHAWK RECORDS
PO Box 15856
St. Louis MO 63114
TYPE: Black Roots Music: Blues & Reggae.
ARTISTS: The Itals, the Gladiators, Henry Townsend,
Justin Hinds & the Dominoes, the Ethiopians.
ALBUM: "Travel With Love"/ Justin Hinds & the Dominoes.
$8.98.
o
NIGHT LIGHT RECORDINGS
PO Box 16
Hillsboro NH 03244
TYPE: Folk
ARTISTS: Tom Rush
ALBUM: "Tom Rush: New Year"/ $10.95
§
NIGHTINGALE RECORDS
This German New Age label is distributed in America by Higher Octave Music. The
music ranges from meditative to let-the-spirit-dance. In addition to works by
individual artists, two compilations are available. Assembled by Higher Octave,
they are Connection and LightDance.
TYPE: African; Asian; Hispanic, Latin; New Age
ARTISTS: Gambheera, Ariel Kalma, Karunesh; Luna, Prabodhi,
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 8033 Sunset Blvd., #41
Los Angeles CA 90068 PHONE: 213.856.0039
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Scott Bergstein
§
NORTH STAR RECORDS
TYPE: Classical; Folk;
ARTISTS: Arthur Delmoni; the Mair-Davis Duo; Tracy
Moore; Judith Sillmann; Bill Thomas; Cheryl Wheeler.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 95 Hathaway St.
Providence RI 02907 PHONE: 401.755.8400
A&R CONTACT: Ginny Shea
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bruce Foulke
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Richard Waterman
§
NORTHEASTERN RECORDS
This label first astonished and delighted serious music listeners (mustn't call
them fans) because it specialized in classical music's neglected repertoire and
new composers. In those days the label was owned by Northeastern University (NU)
Press. But then there was a loud background noise, the sound of a financial
crunch, and the university prepared to drop the label. Instead Lynn Joiner who
operated the record company for NU was allowed to buy it. Privatization strikes
again. Now Northeastern Records is being praised for the tasteful way in which
it is diversifying.
TYPE: Classical; Country, Western; Ethnic; Folk; Jazz; Rock
ARTISTS: Willie Alexander; The Fringe; Peter Keane; Les Miserables Brass Band;
Shirim Klezmer Orchestra; Barry & Holly Tashian; John Lincoln Wright
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: PO Box 3589
Saxonville MA 01701-0605 PHONE: 508.820.4440
CONTACT: Lynn Joiner
§
OLD HOMESTEAD RECORDS
TYPE: Bluegrass; Country, Western; Folk; Gospel; Jazz;
Old Radio.
ARTISTS: The Carter Family, Uncle Dave Macon, The
Delmore Brothers, Charlie Monroe, Larry Sparks.
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Box 100
Brighton MI 48116
A&R CONTACT: John Morris
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: BMI
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: John Morris
§
OMNISOUND RECORDS
Box 128
Delaware Water Gap PA 18327
TYPE: Jazz specialty
ARTISTS: John Coates, Jr., Bill Goodwin, Dave
Frishberg, Janet Lawson.
ALBUM: "Close Ties"/ Gene Bertoncini and Michael Moore.
$9.98.
§
OPEN SKY RECORDS
In 1979 classical pianist/composer Martin Scott Kosins began a project that was
painted with magic. Through chance meetings he was able to secure the services
of several remarkably talented people. They agreed to join in a recording of his
music, including a narrative (Songs of the Seeker) that honored his spiritual
teacher Meher Baba. The artists included actor John Carradine and jazz master
Bud Shank. Kosins found record companies were long on interest; but short on
contracts. Open Sky was born. Songs... was followed by a children's album, and
again Kosins called upon John Carradine. The distinguished actor was joined by
Loretta Swit and Keith Carradine. Then Open Sky began a new series -- Great
Performers -- for which everyone should give thanks. Quite simply veteran
artists (a/k/a/ grownups) were brought back into the recording studio.
Highlights include Just Like Old Times by The Ink Spots (not the originals but
their direct descendants) and Sentimental reasons by Al Hibbler with the Hank
Jones All-Stars. In addition to its leader, the musical combo consists of Buddy
Tate, Milt Hinton and OIiver Jackson.
TYPE: Children's; Classical; Jazz; Middle of the Road; Spoken
ARTISTS: John Carradine; Keith Carradine; Al Hibbler; The Inkspots; Hank Jones;
Martin Scott Kosins; Buddy Tate
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 10735 Vernon
Huntington Woods MI 48070 PHONE: 313.546.7558
CONTACT: Martin Scott Kosins
o
ORANGE RECORDS
150 Fifth Ave.
New York NY 10011
TYPE: Punk, Rock
ARTISTS: David Peel, The Squirrels, G.G. Allin, Little
Joe Cook.
ALBUM: "Death to Disco"/ David Peel. $5.98
Orange also offers a picture disc single of "In My
Life." The picture shows John Lennon, Yoko Ono and David Peel
($4.98).
§
§
ORGAN
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
PO Box 26811
Richmond VA 23261
TYPE: Historical American Organ.
ARTISTS: Thomas Murray, Earl Miller, Lois Regestein,
Rosalind Mohnsen, Brian Franck.
ALBUM: "An Evening at Woolsey Hall"/ Charles Krigbaum.
$15
(2-record set).
§
ORDER RECORDS
Baltimore based classically trained keyboardist Jeff Order is a prolific
composer/producer. He has a string of jingles, soundtracks and theme songs under
his belt. He also has his own record company for which he records new age works
twat are highly regarded. Todd Hauser of WSUP radio said that Order's Isis
Unveiled is "truly a wonderful work of art!"
TYPE: New Age
ARTISTS: Jeff Order
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette
ADDRESS: 6503 York Rd.
Baltimore MD 21212 PHONE: 410.377.2270
A&R CONTACT: Joyce Klein
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Joyce Klein
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Ron Bollon (Laurie) 800.344.8249
§
ORIGIN JAZZ LIBRARY/SUNBEAM/TESTAMENT
The Origin umbrella covers splendid, significant, and (it's only fair to
mention) entertaining reissues on three labels -- Origin Jazz Library (OJL),
Sunbeam and Testament. OJL and Testament specialize in blues. Its compilations
give stirring overviews of styles, regions and instruments. Sunbeam, primarily
offering broadcast transcription and soundtrack albums, is more of a swing and
nostalgia label.
TYPE: Bluegrass; Blues; Broadway; Comedy; Film Soundtracks; Folk; Gospel; Jazz;
and Pop
ARTISTS: Tommy Dorsey; Benny Goodman; Lonnie Johnson; Al Jolson; Fred McDowell;
Charlie Patton; Otis Spann;
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: Vinyl
ADDRESS: Box 85
Santa Monica CA 90406 PHONE: 90406
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bill Givens
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Bill Givens
TYPE: Guitar and piano folk blues exclusively.
ALBUM: The Mississippi Blues No. 1 - 1927-40"/
Compilation of songs by Bukka White, Mississippi John Hurt, Son House,
others. $9.95.
§
ORIGINAL CAST RECORDS
Here's a haunting melody: The show was a flop; but the songs survived. This
label specializes in cast albums of "flop shows that have wonderful
music." Have you ever wondered what happened to the musical version of
Flowers For Algernon? It's here, and it stars Phantom of the Opera's Michael
Crawford. An Original Cast best-seller is Craig Carnelia's Is There Life After
High School? Many cabaret singers love Carnelia's songs.
TYPE: Broadway
ARTISTS: Jill Eikenberry; Angela Lansbury; Andrea Marcovicci; Robert Morse;
Chita Rivera; Patti LuPone; Paul Sorvino.
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: Box 496
Georgetown CT 06829 PHONE: 203.438.2663
LICENSING & PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bruce Meko
§
ORIGINAL MUSIC
It seems as if John Storm Roberts took his journey through life just so we could
benefit from Original Music, the company founded by him and Anne Needham. Born
and raised in England, he discovered music through the record player and
flamenco albums his parents gave him. Oxford-educated and a journalist by
inclination, he developed an intimate knowledge of African music while working
on the East African Standard in Nairobi. Pneumonia took him to London where he
worked for the BBC as a producer and translator. Then he moved to New York where
he edited the magazine Africa Today. During this period he began his field
recordings and wrote major books about music, Black Music of Two Worlds and The
Latin Tinge. Original Music began as a "scheme" to help sell his two
books and one field recording of African music that had pressed into
vinyl. Original has grown. The many Original releases are joined in the catalog
by noteworthy world music recordings from other labels, as well as books and
videos. The catalog, chatty and instructive is a gem all by itself. from other
companies, is released quarterly
TYPES: African; Caribbean; Hispanic, Latin
ARTISTS: Losta Abelo; Francis Bebey; I.K. Dairo; Kimo Kids; Oriental Brothers;
Tempos
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: 418 Lasher Rd.
Tivoli NY 12583 PHONE: 914.756.2767
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: John Storm Roberts
§
ORPHAN RECORDS
PO Box 86
Sterling Heights MI 48311-0086
TYPE: Rock, New Music, Urban, Specialty Musics.
ARTISTS: Jimmy Lifton, Steve Danger & High Voltage, The
Voice, Ian Caution.
ALBUM: Jimmy Lifton"/$5. An EP with six songs.
§
OVERTONE RECORDS
216 Stratford Street
Syracuse NY 13210
TYPE: Classical
ARTISTS: Helen Boatwright, Paul Hindemith, Albert
Fuller, Aldo Parisot.
ALBUM: "Collegium Musicum of Yale University School of
Music, conducted by Paul Hindemith. Vol. I"/ Includes works
by Monteverdi, J.S. Bach, Weelke and Gesualdo. $10.
- OWL RECORDING
For more than 25 years, Owl has been releasing distinctive recordings of
classical music with an emphasis on the contemporary repertoire. The
high musical quality is matched by recording quality that meets
audiophile standards. Owl tends to stress the composers whose works it
records. Representative composers include Morton Subotnick; Vincent
Perischetti; Samuel Barber; Daniel Gutwein; Iannis Xenakis; George*
Rochberg; Ted Dockstader; and John Luther Adams. Of Daniel Gutwein's
With Honor and with Dignity, Ear Magazine testified, "Ominous and
foreboding...dream-like, ethereal...dramatic, propelled by active
rhythms and searing shards of sound..."
TYPE: Classical; Experimental; New Music
ARTISTS: Arctic Chamber Orchestra; Ellen Burmeister; Columbine Chamber
Orchestra; Daniel Gutwein; Ramon Kireilis; Sharon Mabry; The Prism
Orchestra
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: CD, Vinyl
ADDRESS: PO Box 4536
Boulder CO 80306 PHONE: 303.449.6510
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Write to company
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Write to company
- PAINTED SMILES
RECORDS
Life may not be a cabaret; but that's not Ben Bagley's fault. Bagley, a
producer/director of off-Broadway revues, changed direction in the early
1970s and started Painted Smiles Records. The label specializes in
little known and/or previously unrecorded show music of Broadway's most
famous composers. Because of his theatre ties, he continues to get some
top-of-the-marquee names to work with him.
The Painted Smiles CD, Cole Porter Revisited Volume 5, was named number
one vocal recording of the year by Tower records. (Natalie Cole came in
number 3.) Performing on the album are Ann Hampton Callaway, Arthur
Siegel, Sandy Stewart, Tommy Tune, and Julie Wilson.
74-09 37th Avenue
Jackson Heights NY 11372
Charlie Johnston
TYPE: The ARTISTS: Katharine Hepburn, Richard Chamberlain,
Margaret Whiting, Bobby Short, Barbara Cook, Blossom Dearie.
ALBUM: "Tallulah"/ the original cast album with Helen
Gallagher $10.83.
- PALO ALTO RECORDS
755 Page Mill Rd.
Palo Alto CA 94304
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Mal Waldron, Elvin Jones, Linda Hopkins, Tom
Scott, McCoy Tyner.
ALBUM: "Jazz Monterey"/ Choice moments from 25 years of
the Monterey Jazz Festival. $13.97
- PAR T
413 N. Parkerson
PO Box 1345
Crowley LA 70526
TYPE: Comedy.
ARTISTS: Jeb & Cousin Easy, Sammy Kershaw, Reverend
Calhoun,
"Jus" Casey.
ALBUM: "Laughin' With Jeb and Cousin Easy"/ (includes
the golf game routine). $10
- PATHWAYS OF SOUND
6 Craigie Circle
Cambridge MA 02138
TYPE: Spoken Word and Folk Music.
ARTISTS: E. B. White, Julie Harris, Jessica Tandy, Hume
Cronyn, Lauren Bacall.
ALBUM: "A. A. Milne's 'Winnie The Pooh' Read by Maurice
Evans"/ $11.98.
Joe Berk founded the company "to heighten appreciation of
the written word."
- PAUSA RECORDS
PO Box 10069
Glendale CA 91209
TYPE: Total Jazz, including Big Band, Mainstream,
Fusion, Contemporary.
ARTISTS: Four Freshmen, Alphonse Mouzon, Tom Grant, Dan
Siegel, Susannah McCorkle, Rob McConell.
ALBUM: "Wishful Thinking"/ Wishful Thinking. $10.48

- PHILO RECORDS
This is one of the Rounder family of labels. Philo is devoted to most
acoustic kind of angloish folk music.
TYPE: Folk
ARTISTS: Nanci Griffith; Christine Lavin; Patty Larkin; Mary McCaslin;
Utah Phillips; Jean Redpath; Kilimanjaro; Bill Staines.
CATALOG:
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 1 Camp St.
Cambridge MA 02140 PHONE: 617.354.0700
A&R CONTACT: A & R Dept.
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Bill Nowlin
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Duncan Browne
c/o Roundup Records
PO Box 154
N. Cambridge MA 02140
- PDS RECORDS
TYPE: Dance/House music; Hip Hop; Pop; Rap; Reggae; Rhythm & Blues;
Soul;
ARTISTS: Black Hostages; Tony D.; Jam Master A.D.J.
CATALOG: No FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Video
ADDRESS: PO Box 412477
Kansas City MO 64141 PHONE: 816.523.5100
A&R CONTACT: Derrick Peters
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Pete Shivers
- PERFORMANCE RECORDS
When Stephen Kaplan and Art Marko are asked to define Performance, they
refer to a Stereo review summation of the label: "Twilight Zone
music from beyond." It is an apt enough description for a company
whose catalog includes Charles Manson, Slappin' Mammy's Blackface in
Bondage (a heavy metal tribute to Al Jolson) and the soundtracks from
Plan 9 From Outer Space and Turn on, Tune in, Drop Out. Then there is
G.G. Allin, a scatological performer -- not in word but in deed.
"We are interested in records that major labels will not and cannot
deal with," explained Stephen Kaplan. These also include some
notable reissues from the 60s, such as Little Bit of Soul: The Very Best
of the Music Explosion
TYPE: Experimental; Rock; Soundtrack
ARTISTS: G.G. Allin; Blotto; Timothy Leary; Charles Manson; Nico; Slaves
of New Brunswick;
CATALOG: No
FORMATS: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 2 Oak St.
New Brunswick NJ 06901 PHONE: 908.545.3004
A&R CONTACT: Stephen Kaplan
LICENSING AND PERMISSIONS CONTACT: Stephen Kaplan
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Art Marko
- PLEIADES RECORDS
Southern Illinois University Press
SIU at Carbondale
Box 3697
Carbondale IL 62901
TYPE: Historic Instruments, Chamber Music, Shaker
Music.
ARTISTS: Calvert Shenk, Judith Nelson, Stanley Ritchie,
Malcolm Bilson, Judith Davidoff.
ALBUM: "Heinrich Ignaz von Biber"s Eight Sonatas for
Violin and Basso Continuo"/Judith Davidoff and Peter Wolf $17.45
(2-record set).
- PM/PLUG RECORDS
For bassist Gene Perla, the ingredients were all there -- several forms
of frustration plus a good measure of happenstance. The frustrations
came from the lack of care he noticed in so many of the recordings on
which he had played. He was dismayed by "how projects were
completed, how mixes were done, how documentation was done on the record
covers." Moreover he didn't like the traveling life. ("I
didn't really view myself as carrying around a double bass and sleeping
in strange beds for the rest of my life.") Happenstance appeared in
the form of a fellow musician whose desire to get a record contract
meant nothing to the record industry. "I'll do it for you,"
Perla found himself saying. That was 1972 and more than 25 albums ago.
Perla's PM Records is a straight-ahead jazz label that contains a good
many joys. You'll notice that a featured player on several albums is Jan
Hammer who later gained prominence for the distinctive music he wrote
and scored for "Miami Vice." Also, please notice Heads Up by
Stone Alliance, Gene Perla's own group.
TYPE: Jazz
ARTISTS: Ed Bickert; Jan Hammer; Dave Liebman; Elvin
Jones; Daphne Hellman; Nina Simone; Stone Alliance.
CATALOG: Free FORMATS: Cassette, Vinyl
ADDRESS: 20 Martha St.
Woodcliff Lake NJ 07675-8027 PHONE:
1.201.930.9149
CONTACT: Gene Perla
- POCKET SONGS
Welcome to the "What goes around comes around" dept.
You may recall the Music Minus One (MMO) label that began in
1951 when the LP was in diapers. It offered instrumental
arrangements with one part missing so that the musician at
home could rehearse with the recorded ensemble. Pocket
Songs, launched in 1985 by the MMO originator, renews the
concept in this age of Karaoke. It provides instrumental
background for singers. Each song on a Pocket Songs album
comes in two versions -- with and without a vocal. The
vocal, recorded on the right channel, is intended to be a
guide. You sing along, gradually turning the right channel
down. When you're ready to fly solo, you take it home with
the instrumental version. Pocket Songs has a library of
more than 700 albums.
ARTISTS: You
TYPE: Blues; Broadway; Children's; Country, western;
ethnic; gospel; Hispanic, Latin; jazz; Reggae; Rhythm & Blues; Rock;
Soul
CATALOG: Free
FORMATS: CD, Cassette,
ADDRESS: 50 S. Buckhout St.
Irvington NY 10533 PHONE:
LICENSING & PERMISSIONS CONTACT: David Kratka
VOLUME SALES CONTACT: Chris Reising
- PRIVATE MUSIC
220 E. 23rd St.
New York NY 10010
TYPE: Predominantly instrumental, a blending of
acoustic and synthesizer sounds.
ARTISTS: Jerry Goodman, Patrick O'Hearn, Sanford
Ponder.
ALBUM: "Ancient Dreams"/Patrick O'Hearn $11.98
(cassette) The album is produced by Private Music founder Peter Bauman,
a former member of Tangerine Dream.
The label offers only CDs and cassettes --"no vinyl!"
Feedback
- And don't forget to read
about regional indies.
·
·
Copyright © 1992, 2002 Norman Schreiber
Reproduction of all or any contents in any media without permission is a strict
no-no.
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