Mountain Records
Encyclopedia
Mountain Records is a record label
started in Cape Town
, South Africa
in 1980
by Patrick Lee-Thorp.
The record label produces mostly South African music and is known as the home of Cape Jazz
recordings, having issued a number of albums by such names as Basil Coetzee
, Robbie Jansen
, Jonathan Butler, Tony Schilder and others.
In the early years of the label's existence a certain amount of commercial success was garnered from releases by such artists as David Kramer
, Robin Auld and later the neo-traditional African band, Amampondo
. This success was partly due to the labels involvement in the live presentation of these artists.
From the outset through to the early 1990s the state owned radio and TV media, SABC, restricted their stations from playing certain music by Kramer, Edi Niederlander, Coenie de Villiers
and others because of the critical text in the songs by these performers released by Mountain Records.
From 1996 the label set up a European base, with an office in Hamburg, Germany. The label continued to market their own artists but also facilitated the release or distribution of non-label South African acts such as Brenda Fassie
, Philip Tabane and the Soul Brothers. The artists, Tony Bird (USA), Janvier Honfo (Benin) and Celso Fonseca (Brazil) all African music inspired, were released on the label through the European offices. A sub-label, known as Sea Records was launched in about 1989 to release Jazz productions and several German jazz ensembles had their music issued on the label.
The label still maintains an office in Cape Town. Their latest releases include a DVD of the original Amampondo line-up performing live, and the re-issue of a classic Morris Goldberg recording and the third part in the label's Cape Jazz series. Former Amampondo leader, Dizu Plaatjies
has two solo projects on the label. The latest, entitled African Kings, was launched in Paris and Cape Town in February and March 2009 respectively. These are distributed by EMI
in southern Africa and New Music Distribution in Europe.
Mountain Records have won numerous awards with their artists. These include, Sarie Award, Scotty Award, SA Music Awards (ASAMI) and most recently the SAMA Award for the aforementioned "African Kings" release in 2009.
It should not be confused with a British record label of the same name, believed to have been started by Bill Fehilly, which was distributed successively by EMI
, Phonogram
and RCA
, and released material between 1975 and 1980 by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Nazareth
and Voyager
. A label (Mountain of Light) emerged in the UK in 2000 presenting the music of the artist formally known as Cat Stevens
. The is no evidence that it is associated with either of the aforementioned. Recent internet searches in 2011 have turned up numerous record labels incorporating "mountain" in their names.
Interviewed in 2000, label management of the African company stated that they were not aware of the existence of the UK based label until several years into business by which time the name had established itself substantially in the World Music
field having appeared in African and European world music charts a number of times with Amampondo, Celso Fonseca, Cape Jazz
(a compilation) and Jean Bosco Mwenda.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
started in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
by Patrick Lee-Thorp.
The record label produces mostly South African music and is known as the home of Cape Jazz
Cape jazz
Cape jazz is a genre of jazz, similar to the popular music style known as marabi, though more improvisational in character, which is performed in the very southern part of Africa...
recordings, having issued a number of albums by such names as Basil Coetzee
Basil Coetzee
Basil "Manenberg" Coetzee was a South African musician, perhaps best known as a saxophonist.Mountain Records describes Basil thus: 'His distinctive raunchy tenor sound and the untiring commitment to his cultural roots made him one of the best known jazzmen to come out of South Africa...
, Robbie Jansen
Robbie Jansen
Robert Edward Jansen was a South African musician and a folk hero in the Western Cape. He was born in Cape Town, South Africa.-Biography:...
, Jonathan Butler, Tony Schilder and others.
In the early years of the label's existence a certain amount of commercial success was garnered from releases by such artists as David Kramer
David Kramer
David Kramer is a South African singer, songwriter, playwright and director, most notable for his musicals about the Cape Coloured communities, and for his early opposition to apartheid.-Early life:...
, Robin Auld and later the neo-traditional African band, Amampondo
Amampondo
Amampondo is a South African percussion ensemble which was started by Dizu Plaatjies in Langa Cape Town in 1978. The other founding members were Simpiwe Matole; Michael Ludonga; Mzwandile Qotoyi; Leo Mbizela and Mandla Lande.-Origins:...
. This success was partly due to the labels involvement in the live presentation of these artists.
From the outset through to the early 1990s the state owned radio and TV media, SABC, restricted their stations from playing certain music by Kramer, Edi Niederlander, Coenie de Villiers
Coenie de Villiers
Coenie de Villiers , born 11 October 1956, is a South African singer/songwriter, piano player, pop artist who sings in his mother tongue, Afrikaans...
and others because of the critical text in the songs by these performers released by Mountain Records.
From 1996 the label set up a European base, with an office in Hamburg, Germany. The label continued to market their own artists but also facilitated the release or distribution of non-label South African acts such as Brenda Fassie
Brenda Fassie
Brenda Fassie , was a South African pop singer. She was known for her "outrageousness" and widely considered a voice for disenfranchised blacks during apartheid. She was affectionately known as the Queen of African Pop and her nickname amongst fans was Mabrr.-Biography:Brenda was born in Langa,...
, Philip Tabane and the Soul Brothers. The artists, Tony Bird (USA), Janvier Honfo (Benin) and Celso Fonseca (Brazil) all African music inspired, were released on the label through the European offices. A sub-label, known as Sea Records was launched in about 1989 to release Jazz productions and several German jazz ensembles had their music issued on the label.
The label still maintains an office in Cape Town. Their latest releases include a DVD of the original Amampondo line-up performing live, and the re-issue of a classic Morris Goldberg recording and the third part in the label's Cape Jazz series. Former Amampondo leader, Dizu Plaatjies
Dizu Plaatjies
Dizu Plaatjies is the founder and former leader of the South African group, Amampondo. He is a graduate of the University of Cape Town School of Music and now lectures there in African Music. Since leaving Amampondo he has started a new ensemble called Ibuyambo...
has two solo projects on the label. The latest, entitled African Kings, was launched in Paris and Cape Town in February and March 2009 respectively. These are distributed by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in southern Africa and New Music Distribution in Europe.
Mountain Records have won numerous awards with their artists. These include, Sarie Award, Scotty Award, SA Music Awards (ASAMI) and most recently the SAMA Award for the aforementioned "African Kings" release in 2009.
It should not be confused with a British record label of the same name, believed to have been started by Bill Fehilly, which was distributed successively by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Phonogram
Phonogram Records
Phonogram Records was started in 1962 as a joint venture between Philips Records and Deutsche Grammophon. In 1972, Phonogram was merged with Polydor Records into PolyGram....
and RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
, and released material between 1975 and 1980 by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Nazareth
Nazareth (band)
Nazareth is a Scottish hard rock band, founded in 1968, that had several hits in the UK in the early 1970s, and established an international audience with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog. Perhaps their best-known hit single was a cover of the ballad "Love Hurts", in 1975...
and Voyager
Voyager (band)
Voyager were an English pop-rock band, formed initially in Newbury, Berkshire, as 'The Paul French Connection' by Paul French , Paul Hirsh , Chris Hook , and former member of Mr Big, John Marter...
. A label (Mountain of Light) emerged in the UK in 2000 presenting the music of the artist formally known as Cat Stevens
Cat Stevens
Yusuf Islam , commonly known by his former stage name Cat Stevens, is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, educator, philanthropist, and prominent convert to Islam....
. The is no evidence that it is associated with either of the aforementioned. Recent internet searches in 2011 have turned up numerous record labels incorporating "mountain" in their names.
Interviewed in 2000, label management of the African company stated that they were not aware of the existence of the UK based label until several years into business by which time the name had established itself substantially in the World Music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
field having appeared in African and European world music charts a number of times with Amampondo, Celso Fonseca, Cape Jazz
Cape jazz
Cape jazz is a genre of jazz, similar to the popular music style known as marabi, though more improvisational in character, which is performed in the very southern part of Africa...
(a compilation) and Jean Bosco Mwenda.
External links
- Official website (Posted by Mountain Records Germany)
- http://45-sleeves.com/UK/mountain/moun-uk.htm (Posted by Mountain Records Germany)