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| {{mbox|type=content|text=This is a '''temporary''' page created because the article at ] is suspected to be a ]. Please work on a substitute article below.<br />Admins: Please don't delete this page unless you are sure it is no longer needed.<!-- Please don't remove this header, and create the new article below this line. -->}} | {{mbox|type=content|text=This is a '''temporary''' page created because the article at ] is suspected to be a ]. Please work on a substitute article below.<br />Admins: Please don't delete this page unless you are sure it is no longer needed.<!-- Please don't remove this header, and create the new article below this line. -->}} | ||
| {{Infobox record label | {{Infobox record label <!-- See Misplaced Pages:WikiProject_Music --> | ||
| | name = <!-- "label name" displayed in box title, defaults to page title --> | | name = <!-- "label name" displayed in box title, defaults to page title --> | ||
| | image_name =<!--415 Records logo.jpg Per 6/26/2011 edit by User:Δ, this non-free file can only be used in the mainspace, so hold for this article to move into the mainspace, if it does.--> | |||
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| | parent = <!-- parent company, such as "]" --> | | parent = <!-- parent company, such as "]" --> | ||
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| | location = San Francisco, California<!-- headquarters city and state --> | | location = San Francisco, California<!-- headquarters city and state --> | ||
| | url = <!-- such as "{{URL|www.atlanticrecords.com}}" --> }} | | url = <!-- such as "{{URL|www.atlanticrecords.com}}" --> }} | ||
| ⚫ | '''415 Records''', later renamed '''Popular Metaphysics''', |
||
| ==Untitled== | |||
| ⚫ | '''415 Records''', later renamed '''Popular Metaphysics''', was a ] record label created in ]. The label focused its efforts on local ] and ] acts of the late 1970s through the early 1990s, including ], ], and ]. Its name, pronounced four-one-five (not four-fifteen), was a play on both the telephone area code for the San Francisco area and the law enforcement scanner code for a disturbance.<ref name=Levitin>{{cite web|url=http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/levitin/415.html|title=A Brief History of 415 Records|first=Daniel|last=Levitin|accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> The label was active until ], the year it released its first recording as Popular Metaphysics, a self titled album by ],<ref name=Levitin/> which turned out to be 415's final release.<!--This may have had to do with the sudden death of Bill Graham in October 1991. need a cite though.--> A reunion concert was held at Slim's in San Francisco in September 2009, celebrating 415 Records and featuring several of its recording artists.<ref name=SFGATESelvin>{{cite web |url=http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-09-04/entertainment/17204663_1_romeo-void-debora-iyall-wire-train/2 |title=S.F. concert in honor of 415 Records |page=2 |last=Selvin |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Selvin |date=September 4, 2009 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| 415 Records was founded in San Francisco in 1978 by entrepreneurs ], ], and ]. Klein was a writer and entertainment promoter, Knab owned the eclectic San Francisco record store ], and Bridges was a music collector and retailer. Klein and Knab had become friends when Klein did some photography for his friend ], whose camera store was next door to Knab's Aquarius Records on Castro Street. They went on to work together on various radio shows around the Bay Area, including an alternative radio show on ], and they started recording and promoting local musicians out of Knab's record store.<ref name=SFBGIntvw1>{{cite web|title=SFBG Radio: Talking to Howie Klein|url=http://www.sfbayguardian.com/politics/2011/02/12/sfbg-radio-talking-howie-klein|accessdate=2011-06-27}}</ref> | |||
| 415 Records was the first North American record label to focus on ] rock and ]. The British label ] had done similarly with ], two years earlier, with their first release in August of 1976.<ref name=INDPStiff>{{cite web|title=The spirit of Stiff Records lives on|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/stiff-records-if-it-aint-stiff-it-aint-worth-a-debt-415988.html|publication=The Independent on Sunday|publisher=The Independent|date=2006-09-15 |accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> 415 was founded in San Francisco by entrepreneurs ], ], and ], in 1978, to feature primarily post-punk and new wave musicians from the San Francisco region, though it eventually also included artists from other areas. Klein was a writer and entertainment promoter; Knab owned the eclectic San Francisco record store ], and Bridges was a music collector and retailer. ], long an employee of ], purchased Butch Bridges' share in 1979.<ref name=Levitin/> | |||
| 415 was the first North American record label to focus on punk and new wave music and they featured mostly musicians from the San Francisco region, though the label eventually also included artists from other areas. The British label ] had done similarly two years earlier; marketing England's emergent 1970's ] scene as punk and new wave and releasing their first record in August of 1976.<ref name=INDPStiff>{{cite web|title=The spirit of Stiff Records lives on|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/stiff-records-if-it-aint-stiff-it-aint-worth-a-debt-415988.html|newspaper=The Independent on Sunday|publisher=The Independent|date=2006-09-15 |accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> | |||
| <!--original wikipedia article contained mostly copy pasted text from http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/levitin/415.html, which was uncited, and which follows; kept temporarily for convenience as crib notes for rewriting the article: '''415 Records''' was the first North American ] devoted to ] (] in ] was the first new wave label in the world). 415 was founded in ] in 1978 by writer and promoter ], ] (San Francisco) store owner ], and music retailer/collector ]. In 1979, Butch Bridges sold his interest in the label to ], a long time employee of the management and promotion agency, ]. The label primarily featured punk and new wave music from San Francisco bands although as the label grew they signed bands from other cities as well. The label name 415 is a reference both to the telephone area code for the San Francisco area and to the police code for "disturbing the peace." | |||
| X | |||
| From its inception, 415 benefited from the support of ], and manager/producer ], who owned one of the top recording studios in the world, ]. Rubinson was a great believer in 415's future, and allowed 415 bands to record in his studios at a greatly reduced rate and sometimes on "spec" ("speculation," meaning that the studio would share in the profits of the sales). Graham helped 415 artists to gain wider exposure by booking them as opening acts for major headlining bands such as ], ] and ]. | |||
| The label enjoyed early and sustained support from ] and from ], owner of ] recording studio on Folsom Street. Rubinson discounted fees for 415 label bands to record at The Automatt studios; sometimes recording them on speculation, such that the studio would share in the profits from those record sales.<ref name=Levitin/> ], operating out of a closet-sized office upstairs at The Automatt,<ref name=SFGATESelvin/> worked as 415's in-house producer and engineer until 1982, when he left Automatt and went to work in Los Angeles as Vice President of A & R for ].<ref name=Levitin/> Even so, he continued to produce records for artists on the 415 label.<ref name=Levitin/> | |||
| The first records released by the label included an EPs by ] and ], a single by ] ("] ") and albums by ], ], and ]. Following the success of Romeo Void's first LP '']'' in 1981, 415 Records affiliated with ] and signed a contract to work with the major label that would be the prototype for dozens of similar independent label/major label associations over the next two decades. The deal gave Columbia the "right of first refusal" to co-brand, manufacture, promote and produce 415 artists, while allowing 415 to retain (nearly) full artistic control over signings, artwork, recording and song selection. Under this partnership, Columbia/415 released albums by ], ], ], ] and the ]. Albums by ], ], and the ] were released on 415 independently of Columbia. | |||
| Bill Graham managed many top-name acts through his management and promotion agency, ], and from the start of the label he booked 415 artists as opening acts for major headlining bands to help them gain broader exposure.<ref name=Levitin/> ], long an employee of Bill Graham Presents, purchased Butch Bridges' share of 415 Records in 1979.<ref name=Levitin/> | |||
| bio of Kahne | |||
| Operating out of a closet-sized office upstairs at The Automatt,<ref name=SFGATESelvin/>(This cited edit can be kept in rewrite, as it is original and not from the copy-pasted text) ] served...as the label's in-house ] and engineer until 1982 when he took a job as ] of ] for Columbia Records in ]; ////he continued to produce records for 415 artists,\\\\((WHICH ONES) as well as records by ], ] and ], and became one of the industry's most respected producers. In 1997, Kahne moved from Columbia to become Vice President of A&R for Warner Bros. Records. | |||
| Their first release was a 1978 single by the ], entitled ''Everyone's a Bigot'', with ''0°'' on the B-side (cat#911-39, 1978).<ref name=discogs415>{{cite web|title=Discogs 415 Records (sorted by date) |url=http://www.discogs.com/label/415+Records?sort=date%2Casc|accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref><ref name=discogsOffs>{{cite web|title=Discogs The Offs|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Offs%2C+The?anv=Offs|accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> Subsequent early releases included included 7" EPs by ] (cat#S0005, 1979), ] (cat#SUB01, 1979),<ref name=discogs415/> and ] '']'' (uncatalogued, 1979).<ref name=discogsPH&EDrivin>{{cite web|title=Discogs Drivin'|url=http://www.discogs.com/Pearl-Harbor-And-The-Explosions-Drivin/release/1752617|accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref><ref name=AMGPH&EBio>{{cite web|title=Pearl Harbour and the Explosions Biography|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/pearl-harbour-the-explosions-p5117/biography|accessdate=2011-06-26}}</ref> Later records included a 7" by ] (cat#34859, 1980), a mini-album by ] (cat#A0003, 1980), a 12" 33⅓ RPM album by ] (cat# 415A-0007, 1981), a mini-album by ] (cat#A0008, 1981), and various other releases for many other bands.<ref name=discogs415/> | |||
| bio of Levitin | |||
| ], a well-known Bay Area musician and producer, became the label's Director of A&R in 1984, serving as a staff engineer and in-house producer responsible for developing new artists. Three new bands under Levitin's supervision, The Stir-Ups, The Big Race, and The Scene were in the studio and ready to record albums when 415 and Columbia ended their relationship in 1989. Three additional Levitin-produced bands, ], ] and ] (the latter named one of the Top 10 recordings for the year 1985 in ]), were given to another San Francisco independent label, ], and all three releases received very high critical marks. | |||
| In 1981, 415 released Romeo Void's successful first LP, '']'' and then they built on that success by signing a co-branding contract with ] that gave Columbia first rights of refusal to produce, manufacture, and promote their artists' recordings. Many other independent labels would form similar alliances with major labels over the coming decades. 415 retained (nearly) full artistic control over which artists to sign, all recording, and the selection of songs and artwork. Columbia co-branded albums for ], ], ], ] and the ] under this arrangement; while outside the Columbia deal, ], the ], and ] all recorded albums that were released and promoted independently by 415 Records. Like many other independent labels, 415 had struggled to reach a national market, but by partnering with Columbia's knowledge and its established connections with radio, television, and retailers, they were able to bring their records to a much broader audience.<ref name=Levitin/> | |||
| Bio of Klein | |||
| In 1989, Howie Klein was named General Manager and in 1995 ] of ] and Executive Vice President of ], a position he held until his retirement 2001. During that time, Klein oversaw the careers of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and many other top artists. | |||
| In 1984, 415 hired ] as its Director of A&R, to serve as staff engineer, handle in-house production, and develop new artists.<ref name=Levitin/> In the early 1980s, Queenie Taylor had begun managing Wolfgangs nightclub in San Francisco, and later, in the early 1990's, Slims nightclub, owned by ]. Christopher Knab sold his share of the label in 1985 and he moved to ], ] to manage the ]'s alternative radio station KCMU, now ]. Klein joined ] in 1987 and he was named General Manager of ] in 1989. | |||
| In the beginning, 415 was hindered by the same factors that affect most independent labels - difficulty reaching a national audience. The 1982 Columbia affiliation changed the situation dramatically. Columbia used their marketing knowledge and established relationships with radio, television, and retailers, to bring 415 records to a much wider audience. Romeo Void has been singled out by critics and musicians as one of the seminal groups of the New Wave movement. Klein has quipped, referring to some of the less successful ventures, "Before the Columbia deal, we made records that cost $5,000 and sold 50,000 copies. After the Columbia deal, we made records that cost $50,000 and sold 5,000 copies." | |||
| When 415 and Columbia severed their co-branding contract in 1989, Levitin was supervising three new artists, The Stir-Ups, The Big Race, and The Scene, and three other artists that Levitin had produced for the Columbia partnership, ], ], and ], were given to a different independent label, San Francisco's ]. Klein became President of Reprise and Executive Vice President of ] in 1995 which he remained until retiring in 2001. In 1989, Howie Klein was named General Manager and in 1995 ] of ] and Executive Vice President of ], a position he held until his retirement 2001.<ref name=Levitin/> | |||
| Romeo Void's lead singer ] released a solo record on Columbia and is currently recording a new project. Wire Train were signed to ] where they released three CDs. | |||
| Levitin stayed to help run the label after Klein left. Three months later, ] bought 415 records and named ] head of its A&R department. Pearlman changed the record label's name to ] and formed an alliance with ]. ] had been president of Columbia Records when the 415 partnership began and by 1989, he was president of MCA. ] released one record in association with MCA Records, a 1991 self-titled release by the band ].<ref name=Levitin/><ref name=AMGWEWcr>{{cite web|title=All Music Guide: World Entertainment War credits|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/world-entertainment-war-r22268}}</ref> | |||
| Levitin Bio | |||
| After having a song featured in the soundtrack of the film "]," The Big Race changed their name to ] and contributed soundtrack music to the film "]." Former guitarist for Pearl Harbor, Peter Bilt, pursued a solo career, and fronted the band "Free Will" for the award-winning Levitin-produced soundtrack to the film "Architects of Victory", awarded Best Production for a short film at the ], ] film festival. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Artists released on 415==<!--This seems to be the M-Z catalog...Levitin's? Where are the A-L list artists, and which partner represented them? =)--> | ||
| After Klein left 415, Levitin helped Klein run the label for 3 months until ] (producer and manager of ] and ]) bought the label, bringing in Tom Schedler to be head of the A&R department. Pearlman changed the name to ], and released one record by the group ] in association with ]. (], who had been president of Columbia Records when the 415/Columbia alignment was forged, was president of MCA in 1989 making MCA a logical choice for a new alliance). | |||
| ⚫ | Although closely associated with new wave and light punk rock, 415 Records hosted a diverse group of artists, including:<ref name=discogs415/> | ||
| (post-Bios of owners) | |||
| In 1985 Christopher Knab sold out his interest in the label and moved to ], ] to manage the ] alternative radiostation ], now ], while also teaching music business classes for the Audio and Music Business programs at the Art Institute of Seattle. Today, Knab is a music business consultant with his company ]. Queenie Taylor moved into managing SF nightclub Wolfgangs in the early 80s, and Slims (owned by ]) in the early 90s. David Kahne is currently Vice President of A&R at Warner Bros. Records. Levitin worked as an A&R representative for Columbia, ], ], ] and other companies before returning to college, and he is currently a professor of ], ], ], and ] at ] in ]. Klein is active in politics, writes a blog downwithtyranny.com, and is working on a novel. | |||
| 415 Records that are currently in print or readily available include:<br/> | |||
| ]: ]/Schizophrenic Circus<br/> | |||
| ]: ]<br/> | |||
| ]: Everywhere That We Were: The Best of Translator<br/> | |||
| ]: ]<br/> | |||
| Wire Train: Last Perfect Thing: A Retrospective<br/> | |||
| ]--><!--entire preceding section is a copy paste from http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/levitin/415.html, one of the citations noted. It is kept here temporarily as a convenience for crib notes in rewriting this article.--> | |||
| ⚫ | ==Artists released on 415==<!--This seems to be the M-Z catalog... |
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| ⚫ | Although closely associated with new wave and light punk rock, 415 Records hosted a diverse group of artists, including: | ||
| <!--Please add further names alphabetically, by band name, or by artists' surname. | <!--Please add further names alphabetically, by band name, or by artists' surname. | ||
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Latest revision as of 21:29, 17 February 2018
 | This is a temporary page created because the article at 415 Records is suspected to be a copyright violation. Please work on a substitute article below. Admins: Please don't delete this page unless you are sure it is no longer needed. |
| Founded | 1978 (1978) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Howie Klein Chris Knab Butch Bridges |
| Status | Inactive |
| Distributor(s) | Columbia MCA |
| Genre | New Wave Post-punk Alternative |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
Untitled
415 Records, later renamed Popular Metaphysics, was a San Francisco record label created in 1978. The label focused its efforts on local punk rock and new wave music acts of the late 1970s through the early 1990s, including The Nuns, Romeo Void, and Wire Train. Its name, pronounced four-one-five (not four-fifteen), was a play on both the telephone area code for the San Francisco area and the law enforcement scanner code for a disturbance. The label was active until 1991, the year it released its first recording as Popular Metaphysics, a self titled album by World Entertainment War, which turned out to be 415's final release. A reunion concert was held at Slim's in San Francisco in September 2009, celebrating 415 Records and featuring several of its recording artists.
History
415 Records was founded in San Francisco in 1978 by entrepreneurs Howie Klein, Chris Knab, and Butch Bridges. Klein was a writer and entertainment promoter, Knab owned the eclectic San Francisco record store Aquarius Records, and Bridges was a music collector and retailer. Klein and Knab had become friends when Klein did some photography for his friend Harvey Milk, whose camera store was next door to Knab's Aquarius Records on Castro Street. They went on to work together on various radio shows around the Bay Area, including an alternative radio show on KSAN, and they started recording and promoting local musicians out of Knab's record store.
415 was the first North American record label to focus on punk and new wave music and they featured mostly musicians from the San Francisco region, though the label eventually also included artists from other areas. The British label Stiff Records had done similarly two years earlier; marketing England's emergent 1970's pub rock scene as punk and new wave and releasing their first record in August of 1976.
The label enjoyed early and sustained support from Bill Graham and from David Rubinson, owner of The Automatt recording studio on Folsom Street. Rubinson discounted fees for 415 label bands to record at The Automatt studios; sometimes recording them on speculation, such that the studio would share in the profits from those record sales. David Kahne, operating out of a closet-sized office upstairs at The Automatt, worked as 415's in-house producer and engineer until 1982, when he left Automatt and went to work in Los Angeles as Vice President of A & R for Columbia Records. Even so, he continued to produce records for artists on the 415 label.
Bill Graham managed many top-name acts through his management and promotion agency, Bill Graham Presents, and from the start of the label he booked 415 artists as opening acts for major headlining bands to help them gain broader exposure. Queenie Taylor, long an employee of Bill Graham Presents, purchased Butch Bridges' share of 415 Records in 1979.
Their first release was a 1978 single by the The Offs, entitled Everyone's a Bigot, with 0° on the B-side (cat#911-39, 1978). Subsequent early releases included included 7" EPs by SVT (cat#S0005, 1979), The Nuns (cat#SUB01, 1979), and Pearl Harbor and the Explosions Drivin' (uncatalogued, 1979). Later records included a 7" by The Mutants (cat#34859, 1980), a mini-album by Units (cat#A0003, 1980), a 12" 33⅓ RPM album by Romeo Void (cat# 415A-0007, 1981), a mini-album by New Math (cat#A0008, 1981), and various other releases for many other bands.
In 1981, 415 released Romeo Void's successful first LP, It's a Condition and then they built on that success by signing a co-branding contract with Columbia Records that gave Columbia first rights of refusal to produce, manufacture, and promote their artists' recordings. Many other independent labels would form similar alliances with major labels over the coming decades. 415 retained (nearly) full artistic control over which artists to sign, all recording, and the selection of songs and artwork. Columbia co-branded albums for Romeo Void, Translator, Wire Train, Until December and the Red Rockers under this arrangement; while outside the Columbia deal, Monkey Rhythm, the Pop-O-Pies, and The Uptones all recorded albums that were released and promoted independently by 415 Records. Like many other independent labels, 415 had struggled to reach a national market, but by partnering with Columbia's knowledge and its established connections with radio, television, and retailers, they were able to bring their records to a much broader audience.
In 1984, 415 hired Daniel Levitin as its Director of A&R, to serve as staff engineer, handle in-house production, and develop new artists. In the early 1980s, Queenie Taylor had begun managing Wolfgangs nightclub in San Francisco, and later, in the early 1990's, Slims nightclub, owned by Boz Scaggs. Christopher Knab sold his share of the label in 1985 and he moved to Seattle, Washington to manage the University of Washington's alternative radio station KCMU, now KEXP 90.3 fm. Klein joined Sire Records in 1987 and he was named General Manager of Reprise Records in 1989.
When 415 and Columbia severed their co-branding contract in 1989, Levitin was supervising three new artists, The Stir-Ups, The Big Race, and The Scene, and three other artists that Levitin had produced for the Columbia partnership, The Afflicted, The Furies, and Rhythm Riot, were given to a different independent label, San Francisco's Infrasonic Records. Klein became President of Reprise and Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. Records in 1995 which he remained until retiring in 2001. In 1989, Howie Klein was named General Manager and in 1995 President of Reprise and Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. Records, a position he held until his retirement 2001.
Levitin stayed to help run the label after Klein left. Three months later, Sandy Pearlman bought 415 records and named Tom Schedler head of its A&R department. Pearlman changed the record label's name to Popular Metaphysics and formed an alliance with MCA Records. Al Teller had been president of Columbia Records when the 415 partnership began and by 1989, he was president of MCA. Popular Metaphysics released one record in association with MCA Records, a 1991 self-titled release by the band World Entertainment War.
Artists released on 415
Although closely associated with new wave and light punk rock, 415 Records hosted a diverse group of artists, including:
|
See also
References
- ^ Levitin, Daniel. "A Brief History of 415 Records". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ^ Selvin, Joel (September 4, 2009). "S.F. concert in honor of 415 Records". San Francisco Chronicle. p. 2. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- "SFBG Radio: Talking to Howie Klein". Retrieved 2011-06-27.
- "The spirit of Stiff Records lives on". The Independent on Sunday. The Independent. 2006-09-15. Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- ^ "Discogs 415 Records (sorted by date)". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- "Discogs The Offs". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- "Discogs Drivin'". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- "Pearl Harbour and the Explosions Biography". Retrieved 2011-06-26.
- "All Music Guide: World Entertainment War credits".
Category:American record labels Category:Record labels established in 1978 Category:Indie rock record labels
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