25 years after it closed, it’s still Manchester’s favourite factory. Gareth Murphy speaks to the key figures behind one of the world’s most iconic labels and reveals how Factory Records and its Haçienda nightclub pumped out the sounds, sleeves and spirit that defined an entire epoch of British pop culture… Continue reading Factory Records in Depth – “Family Spirit and Northern values…”
As the influential label turns 30 this year, Giacomo Lee looks back on the legendary Warp catalogue to discover it goes far beyond bleeps and brain-melting beats. The history of Warp Records can be summed up by a tale of two record shops. One a Sheffield enterprise from the late 1980s, the other a pop-up opened towards the end of last year in London. The … Continue reading The Top 40 Warp Records You Need
The joyful indie label, Fierce Panda, has been a stepping stone for the careers of a swathe of UK talent. Will Simpson meets its founding father. “Is it going to be fun?” That’s the question Fierce Panda owner Simon Williams asks when Long Live Vinyl approaches him for an interview about his label. Certainly, fun is the spirit in which it was launched, with two … Continue reading Fierce Panda in Depth – “The House of Fun…”
Founded in 1989 by members of Superchunk as a vehicle to release their own records, Merge has flourished. Huw Baines marks their anniversary. The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there. The opening line of L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between has been misused and retrofitted a thousand times, yet it serves an evocative purpose – as we look over our shoulders at the … Continue reading Merge Records in Depth – “Adapt To Survive…”
As the embers of punk faded, 2 Tone’s message of unity shone bright, offering hope to a generation lost. Forty years on, Long Live Vinyl talks to its prime players: Jerry Dammers, Lynval Golding and Neville Staple of The Specials, The Selecter’s Pauline Black and The Beat’s Ranking Roger, to tell the full story Continue reading 2 Tone in Depth – “Special Forces…”
Bristol’s Invada Records is the label and recording studio founded by Geoff Barrow of Portishead. A hard-working operation concerned only with the music, Invada is at the heart of the film-score resurgence. Long Live Vinyl sits down with label manager Redg Weeks to find out the Invada story…How did Invada Records start?“Geoff Barrow came back from Australia after taking a small period of time out … Continue reading Invada Records Q&A – “It’s the Music that Matters…”
The key to Music On Vinyl’s prodigious reissue schedule is owning a globally renowned vinyl factory in the Netherlands. Chris Parkin discovers their pressing need. Receiving the keys to a pressing plant is a bit of a boon when you’re in the business of releasing records. Just ask Jack White. His Third Man Records label jumped the pressing queue by setting up its own plant … Continue reading Music On Vinyl Q&A – “That’s Badass!”
A new reissue label is here to give lost classics the care they deserve. John Earls meets Needle Mythology founder Pete Paphides, along with Ian Broudie and Stephen Duffy – the first two artists whose overlooked gems finally have chance to shine. Continue reading Needle Mythology Q&A – with Stephen Duffy, Ian Broudie & Pete Paphides
With its catalogue of funk, soul, jazz, Nina Simone, Afrobeat and more, Chris Parkin finds out how, for this Belgian reissue label, preserving music is a serious business… The driving force behind Belgium’s Tidal Waves Music has serious form when it comes to reissuing records. Sebastiaan Putseys started out reviving hardcore punk records in the late 90s before setting up One Way Static in 2012. … Continue reading The Big Reissue: Tidal Waves Music
They’ve established a catalogue of stellar archive jazz recordings and contemporary releases, built a reputation for faultless vinyl remastering and even released their own turntable. Mike Gerber meets Darrel Sheinman, the man behind the Gearbox label
Label Stories – Gearbox: Top Gear
You’ve thrived as a trader in London’s financial sector, then established a successful maritime security business… Continue reading Gearbox Records Q&A – “Analogue to the Future…”
