Kranky (2000)

A shout out to Chicago!

Dream Team (1988)

'Dream Team' is my favorite record label name ever. And this little logo, is it supposed to represent a basketball? It must. This is also the only record I have with both a 'superside' and a 'sonicside.'

Dunes (1961)

This one was not planned. As I was walking home from the bank this afternoon, I stopped into a small antique shop that was advertising a 50% closing sale. While I perused, the store owner, an older southern woman, first referred to me as 'beach bum', then asked me what I was looking for. I handed her a stack of sleeveless 45 singles, with this Dunes 7 inch on the top of the pack. 'This one is warped, honey', she said .'It's yours!' She ended up giving me the entire bunch. When I asked her to put aside the two pricier singles I found in a separate pile, she replied back: 'I'll keep them right here in my drawer. They'll be here waiting for you, until eternity.'

Superstar (Unknown)

This VU collection comes with a very nice booklet featuring rare photos and a short biography written in Italian. Unless I missed something, there is no visible release date. If this was intended to be an introduction to the band, or a 'Best of', the label picked out some heavy cuts: 'Venus in Furs', 'European Sun', 'Pale Blue Eyes','Black Angel's Death Song', 'Beginning to See the Light' , and 'Sister Ray' as the opener! Superstar!!!

Resistance (1984)

Resistance Records was a small California label with ties to the mid-80's L.A. punk/post-punk scene. These designs are special relics from a mysterious and often overlooked period in SoCal's musical history.

FM (1963)

FM is a great name for a record label; the letters looks nice written out in large font. From looking at the center-label design alone, you'd think this was either an old library record or something with grooves on it. In fact, The Big Three was an American folk group featuring a young Mama Cass. I would never have guessed it.

SST (1987)

A classic SST move: cram the entire track list onto side one's center-label and leave the space on side two for the artwork. Here's just one more reason to admire the supreme team that was SST Records.

Hot Wax (1971)

I like this one a whole lot. There is something ominous going on here: the 'hot wax' name and the words When Will it End placed between the flame-like waves in the background. Cool stuff.

Unity (1978)

I wish I knew more about this California-based New Music/New Age label. The release is by Oakland-based minimalist composer Jordan de la Sierra and is entitled 'Gymnosphere: Song of the Rose-Music from the Hearts of Space'. The double LP comes with a thick, illustrated booklet filled with text. I will leave you with the introduction:

Greetings to all fellow members
and space colonizers
here present
in this our local universe:
It is my intention to share this offering
of pure sound with shape
with all beings who live and breathe
expressing love through the grace of music
as a form of spacial food
for our finer being bodies
with the sublime wish that we all
may further enjoy our experience.

In truth and goodness and beauty

Jordan

Deram (1967)

When Decca Records off-shoot 'Deram' got the opportunity to release a tune called 'My Dream', it ran with the concept. Reinventing itself by forming the simple, yet amazing, anagram, the 'Dream' label was born!

But wait, there is more. Who in the world are 'Dave, Derek, Dek & John'? If you look close enough, the clues are there. 'My Dream' is the b-side ' of 'Love you 'til Tuesday', the first hit single by then rising mod-rocker Davie Jones, who had just recently changed his stage name to David Bowie.

Sussex (1972)

This is my last post. I have Alexander to thank for my love of Mr. Withers and this Sussex design is completely amazing.

DB Records (1980)

Red Bird (1964)

Deptford Fun City (1978)