International Artists
Encyclopedia
International Artists was an independent record label
based in Houston, Texas
that originally existed from 1965
to 1970
.
During its existence IA released 12 albums and 39 singles and was owned by a group of businessmen in Houston. Among its staff were producer Lelan Rogers, brother of country singer
Kenny Rogers
. The label is famous for its roster of well-known Texas
psychedelic rock
bands, including The 13th Floor Elevators, The Red Crayola and Bubble Puppy
, as well as lesser known bands such as The Golden Dawn, Lost And Found and Endle St. Cloud. International Artists also released an album by blues
guitarist
Lightnin' Hopkins
that featured session work by the 13th Floor Elevators' rhythm section.
The label originally folded in 1971, but was revived by Lelan Rogers in 1978. Rogers released a box-set that reissued all 12 albums. In 1980 the double-LP
Epitaph for a Legend (IA #13) reissued rare International Artists tracks from Roky Erickson
's first band, The Spades, early demo
s by the Red Krayola, and forgotten relics from other Texas blues and psychedelic artists. A six-CD box set, The Best of International Artists, was released in 2003 and included the entire Epitaph compilation along reissues of the debut albums by the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, Lost & Found and Bubble Puppy.
In 2008, now under the control of Charly Records, the label began to re-issue all of its past albums together with some rarities and previously unheard recordings, including a 10CD box set dedicated solely to the Thirteenth Floor Elevators.
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
based in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
that originally existed from 1965
1965 in music
-Events:*January 4 – Fender Musical Instruments Corporation is sold to CBS for $13 million.*January 12 – Hullabaloo premieres on NBC. The first show included performances by The New Christy Minstrels, comedian Woody Allen, actress Joey Heatherton and a segment from London in which Brian Epstein...
to 1970
1970 in music
- Events :*January 3**Davy Jones announces he is leaving the Monkees**Former Pink Floyd frontman Syd Barrett releases his first solo album The Madcap Laughs....
.
During its existence IA released 12 albums and 39 singles and was owned by a group of businessmen in Houston. Among its staff were producer Lelan Rogers, brother of country singer
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. The label is famous for its roster of well-known Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
bands, including The 13th Floor Elevators, The Red Crayola and Bubble Puppy
Bubble Puppy
-Origins:The group was formed in 1966 in San Antonio, Texas by Rod Prince and Roy Cox. Looking to form a "top gun rock band" based on the concept of dual lead guitars, a staple of southern rock that was highly unusual on the psychedelic music scene, Prince and Cox recruited Todd Potter: a gymnast,...
, as well as lesser known bands such as The Golden Dawn, Lost And Found and Endle St. Cloud. International Artists also released an album by blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Lightnin' Hopkins
Lightnin' Hopkins
Sam John Hopkins better known as Lightnin’ Hopkins, was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist, from Houston, Texas...
that featured session work by the 13th Floor Elevators' rhythm section.
The label originally folded in 1971, but was revived by Lelan Rogers in 1978. Rogers released a box-set that reissued all 12 albums. In 1980 the double-LP
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Epitaph for a Legend (IA #13) reissued rare International Artists tracks from Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
's first band, The Spades, early demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
s by the Red Krayola, and forgotten relics from other Texas blues and psychedelic artists. A six-CD box set, The Best of International Artists, was released in 2003 and included the entire Epitaph compilation along reissues of the debut albums by the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, Lost & Found and Bubble Puppy.
In 2008, now under the control of Charly Records, the label began to re-issue all of its past albums together with some rarities and previously unheard recordings, including a 10CD box set dedicated solely to the Thirteenth Floor Elevators.
External links
- The Official International Artists Records web site
- The International Artists label Story and discography by Patrick LundborgPatrick LundborgPatrick Lundborg is a writer on pop culture and author of the book The Acid Archives.Lundborg has a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Science from Stockholm University, 1991. With special focus on psychedelic music and culture, Lundborg has published four books and written numerous...
, 2008