Southern Records
Encyclopedia
Southern Records is an independent record label
closely associated with Crass Records
, Corpus Christi Records
and Dischord Records
. It is based in London
and previously had offices in Chicago
(closed November 2008), Le Havre
(closed July 2009) and Berlin
(closed December 2008).
Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder. Loder became friends with musician, author and poet Penny Rimbaud
and collaborated with him and others in an experimental progressive band called EXIT
. Rimbaud later formed anarchist punk band Crass
and Southern Studios and John Loder were the obvious choice of venue for the recording of their first album The Feeding of the 5000
, originally released on Small Wonder Records
. When Small Wonder encountered problems manufacturing the release, due to the allegedly blasphemous nature of some of the lyrics, Crass determined they would need to start their own label to take full responsibility and control of their output. Loder facilitated this by acting as the business manager behind the label: arranging manufacture, distribution and accounting.
The success of Crass and their label thrust Loder into the emerging international independent record business, as he formed alliances with small distributors around the world to distribute the band's output. Through this work he came into contact with a handful of like-minded bands and labels that inspired his passion in a similar way as Crass. He in particular formed a lasting partnership with Dischord Records
, helping them to release the Minor Threat
records in Europe by pressing and distributing them on their own Dischord imprint.
The first release on the Southern Records label (not to be confused with Southern Studios
, the recording studio and distributor) was Babes in Toyland
's album Fontanelle, in August 1992.
Southern closed its USA distribution and label offices in November 2008 and moved all operations to London.
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:...
closely associated with Crass Records
Crass Records
Crass Records is an independent record label which was set up by the anarchist punk band Crass.-Overview and history:Prior to the formation of Crass, Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher had published their creative works via their own Dial House based Exitstencil Press...
, Corpus Christi Records
Corpus Christi Records
Corpus Christi Records is an independent record label started by some of the members of Crass and their recording engineer and business partner John Loder, to release records by artists who did not perhaps fit in with some of the stricter ideals of the Crass Records label.Several of the artists on...
and Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
. It is based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and previously had offices in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
(closed November 2008), Le Havre
Le Havre
Le Havre is a city in the Seine-Maritime department of the Haute-Normandie region in France. It is situated in north-western France, on the right bank of the mouth of the river Seine on the English Channel. Le Havre is the most populous commune in the Haute-Normandie region, although the total...
(closed July 2009) and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(closed December 2008).
Southern was originally a recording studio owned and operated by John Loder. Loder became friends with musician, author and poet Penny Rimbaud
Penny Rimbaud
Jeremy John Ratter , better known under his pseudonym of Penny Rimbaud, is a drummer, writer, poet, former member of performance art groups EXIT and Ceres Confusion, and co-founder of the anarchist punk band Crass with Steve Ignorant in 1977.-Biography:Rimbaud Jeremy John Ratter (born 8 June 1943,...
and collaborated with him and others in an experimental progressive band called EXIT
EXIT (performance art group)
EXIT were a performance art group during the mid 1970s. EXIT members Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher later founded anarchist punk rock band Crass, adopting many of EXIT's experimental/multi media techniques into Crass' presentation....
. Rimbaud later formed anarchist punk band Crass
Crass
Crass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
and Southern Studios and John Loder were the obvious choice of venue for the recording of their first album The Feeding of the 5000
The Feeding of the 5000 (album)
The Feeding of the 5000 is the first album by Crass, released in 1978. Crass never gained a large mainstream audience, but their virulently anti-establishment lyrics and anarchist politics brought the band a committed following upon the record’s release....
, originally released on Small Wonder Records
Small Wonder Records
Small Wonder Records was a UK independent record label owned and managed by Pete Stennett, that specialised in releasing records by punk rock and post-punk bands. It operated out of a record shop of the same name at 162 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17, east London...
. When Small Wonder encountered problems manufacturing the release, due to the allegedly blasphemous nature of some of the lyrics, Crass determined they would need to start their own label to take full responsibility and control of their output. Loder facilitated this by acting as the business manager behind the label: arranging manufacture, distribution and accounting.
The success of Crass and their label thrust Loder into the emerging international independent record business, as he formed alliances with small distributors around the world to distribute the band's output. Through this work he came into contact with a handful of like-minded bands and labels that inspired his passion in a similar way as Crass. He in particular formed a lasting partnership with Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
, helping them to release the Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
records in Europe by pressing and distributing them on their own Dischord imprint.
The first release on the Southern Records label (not to be confused with Southern Studios
Southern Studios
Southern Studios is a recording studio in the Wood Green area of London. It was founded in 1974 by John Loder, and came to be the recording studio of choice for Crass and their record label Crass Records. Southern Studios Ltd. continues to grow its label and provide label management and...
, the recording studio and distributor) was Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (band)
Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
's album Fontanelle, in August 1992.
Southern closed its USA distribution and label offices in November 2008 and moved all operations to London.
Artists who released material on Southern
- 90 Day Men90 Day Men90 Day Men is a progressive rock band formed in 1995 in St. Louis, Missouri and later based out of Chicago, Illinois. Their name is a slang term used by corrections officers to refer to prison inmates who are slated to undergo psychiatric examination.-History:...
- Action BeatAction BeatAction Beat is an instrumental improvisational noise rockband from Bletchley, UK, consisting of a rotating line up of three or more drummers and four guitar players and a bass player. The band was founded in 2004 by core members Don McLean and James Carney...
- AntisectAntisectAntisect are an English anarcho-punk band, formed in 1982 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, UK. Their debut album, In Darkness There is No Choice, was released in 1983...
- AsvaAsvaAsva is a village in Laimjala Parish, Saare County, on the eastern part of Saaremaa Island, Estonia....
- AtombombpocketknifeAtombombpocketknifeAtombombpocketknife was an American indie rock band from Chicago. The band featured Che Arthur on guitar and released three full-length albums between 2000 and 2004.-History:...
- Babes in ToylandBabes in Toyland (band)Babes in Toyland was an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland , with Lori Barbero and Michelle Leon , who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992...
- Bellafea
- Billy MahonieBilly Mahonie- History :Formed in 1997, the original line-up consisted of Gavin Baker , Howard Monk , Hywell Dinsdale and Kevin Penney . Their first release was on the Fierce Panda record label, a split-single with Rothko, followed by a release on the Fierce Panda offshoot Livid Meercat...
- Bob Tilton
- Cat On Form
- Chrome HoofChrome HoofChrome Hoof are an experimental orchestra based in London, England. The group was formed in 2000 by Cathedral bassist Leo Smee and his brother Milo Smee. Initially performing as a duo, their music was mostly electronic. Since the start, however, the group have continuously recruited new members...
- CircleCircle (band)Circle is an experimental rock band, founded in Pori, Finland in 1991. Their eclectic style is "ever changing, ever Circular", classified into genres such as progressive, Krautrock, ambient, heavy metal, speed-kraut, and avant-rock, among others...
- ChumbawambaChumbawambaChumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
- CrassCrassCrass are an English punk rock band that was formed in 1977, which promoted anarchism as a political ideology, way of living, and as a resistance movement. Crass popularised the seminal anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, and advocated direct action, animal rights, and environmentalism...
- CrucifixCrucifix (band)Crucifix was an American hardcore punk band from Berkeley, California, active from 1980 to 1984. They were among the most popular acts of the San Francisco hardcore scene of the early 1980s...
- DianogahDianogahDianogah is a Chicago, Illinois based indie rock outfit formed in 1995, noted for their use of two bass guitars. Members include Kip McCabe, Jay Ryan and Jason Harvey. Dianogah's first full-length album, As Seen From Above, was recorded by Steve Albini, who also produced their second full-length...
- Geoff Farina
- FrightwigFrightwigFrightwig was an American 1980s all-women band from San Francisco, California. They pioneered the riot grrrl movement and were influential to its development. They often played at The Farm. They were known for inviting a male audience member on stage to "dance" during the song "A Man's Gotta Do...
- Gang Gang DanceGang Gang DanceGang Gang Dance is an American experimental music band based in Manhattan, New York City. The band is known for its distinctive sound which features synthesized electronics and percussion, plus the varied vocal styles of singer Lizzi Bougatsos...
- Glorytellers
- Hawnay TroofHawnay TroofHawnay Troof is the electronic indie solo project of Vice Cooler formed in late 2001.Regardless of the bands American punk and electronic background, many untraditional ideas have been incorporated into its sound...
- Him
- Jenny HoystonJenny HoystonJenny Hoyston is the vocalist and guitarist of the San Francisco, CA, USA political punk and no wave band Erase Errata, releases records and performs worldwide under her solo moniker Paradise Island and has made records with William Elliott Whitmore .Hoyston began her road...
- Joan of ArcJoan of Arc (band)Joan of Arc are an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They formed in 1995, following the breakup of Cap'n Jazz.Singer Tim Kinsella has been the only permanent member of the group; he has also recorded as a solo artist....
- KarateKarate (band)Karate was an American band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy. In 1995, Jeff Goddard joined the band as bass player, and Vitt moved to second guitar...
- The LapseThe LapseThe Lapse was an American indie band formed in late 1997. The band was first signed to Gern Blandsten, then Southern Records. The Lapse was the duo of then boyfriend/girlfriend Chris Leo and Toko Yasuda . They formed The Lapse after the breakup of their previous band, The Van Pelt...
- Les Savy FavLes Savy FavLes Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington...
- Lungleg
- Master Musicians of Bukkake
- Miasma & the Carousel Of Headless Horses
- Mothlite
- The Owl ServiceThe Owl ServiceThe Owl Service is a novel by Alan Garner first published in 1967. It is a contemporary interpretation, which Garner described as an "expression of the myth", of the story of the mythical Welsh figure of Blodeuwedd, whose story is told in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi.The legend concerns a...
- The Paper ChaseThe Paper Chase (band)The Paper Chase was an alternative rock band formed in 1998 by well known producer/engineer John Congleton in Dallas, Texas, signed to Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records. Their Albums "God Bless Your Black Heart" and "Now You Are One Of Us" have been released on vinyl by the Austrian label Trost...
- RacebannonRacebannonRacebannon is an American noise punk band from Bloomington, Indiana.-History:Racebannon was formed in Indianapolis in 1996 by Michael Anderson and James Bauman. The group cites The Melvins, Melt Banana, and Ice Nine as early influences. They cobbled together a lineup from members of other...
- RexRex (band)Rex was an American Indie rock band formed in 1994 . Rex was considered one of the most important and influential slowcore bands and released three albums and one EP on Southern Records, as well as a collaboration with Red Red Meat on Perishable Records...
- Therapy?Therapy?Therapy? is an alternative metal band from Northern Ireland. The band was formed in 1989 by guitarist–vocalist Andy Cairns from Ballyclare and drummer-vocalist Fyfe Ewing from Larne, Northern Ireland. The band initially recorded their first demo with Cairns filling in on bass guitar...
- The SortsThe SortsThe Sorts are a primarily instrumental post-rock band based in Washington, D.C. and formed in 1994 by Josh LaRue , Stuart Fletcher and Chris Farrall . LaRue, Fletcher and Farrall comprised the band's core, appearing on all recordings, but they have been joined on several releases by Carlo Cennamo...
- Sir Richard BishopSir Richard BishopSir Richard Bishop is a composer, improviser, and explorer on acoustic and electric guitar whose work often reflects the shadow worlds of India, the Middle East, North Africa, and other points along the Gypsy trail. This is combined with a singular, experimental approach to the guitar that takes...
- Slow LorisSlow lorisSlow lorises are a group of five species of strepsirrhine primates which make up the genus Nycticebus. Found in South and Southeast Asia, they range from Northeast India in the west to the Philippines in the east, and from the Yunnan province in China in the north to the island of Java in the south...
- Sweep the Leg JohnnySweep the Leg JohnnySweep the Leg Johnny was a Chicago-based math rock band in existence from 1996 till 2002. The name is a reference to a line in the film The Karate Kid....
- Tartufi
- Ten Grand
- Todd
- TrencherTrencher (band)Trencher, formed in 2001, is a London-based band. They have toured extensively with bands such as The Locust, Some Girls and Daughters amongst others. They were one of the last bands to record a Peel Session in 2004...
- UiUi (band)Ui is an American post-rock/funk band based in New York City, which started in 1990. The group was started by Sasha Frere-Jones and Clem Waldmann. Wilbo Wright joined the group in 1993. The group's songs are often described as "bass-heavy", as the band frequently uses two bass guitars. Other...
- William Elliott WhitmoreWilliam Elliott WhitmoreWilliam Elliott Whitmore is an American blues singer and musician from Lee County, Iowa. He has recorded a number of albums released on Southern Records, and now is a member of the Anti Records family. His act consists mostly of playing the banjo or guitar while singing, though on occasion he...
See also
- Southern StudiosSouthern StudiosSouthern Studios is a recording studio in the Wood Green area of London. It was founded in 1974 by John Loder, and came to be the recording studio of choice for Crass and their record label Crass Records. Southern Studios Ltd. continues to grow its label and provide label management and...
- List of independent UK record labels
- List of record labels