Lost Labels Podcast

Any Trouble's debut album on Stiff Records is as catchy and well-constructed as anything released by Joe Jackson and Elvis Costello. Led by Clive Gregson, the band would join the 1980 "Son of Stiff Tour" alongside labelmates Joe "King" Carrasco And The Crowns, the Equators, Dirty Looks, and Tenpole Tudor. Any Trouble's second album, Wheels in Motion, followed in 1981. In this episode, Clive Gregson discusses the band's singing to Stiff, the Son of Stiff Tour, their breakup with the label, and his ongoing project to release an album every month of 2020.

Andy Murray joined the Stiff Records team in 1978 in order to oversee the "Be Stiff Tour" with Rachel Sweet, Mickey Jupp, Wreckless Eric, Lene Lovich, and Jona Lewie. Following the tour, Murray remained Stiff Records' press officer for 1979, earning accolades for his work with the label. Today Andy Murray runs 4 Tunes, a music business marketing consultancy and management company. Andy Murray was also a member of the Stiff All-Stars alongside the famed music video director Nigel Dick.

In 1978, then-16-year-old Akron native Rachel Sweet embarked on a tour of England alongside Wreckless Eric, Lene Lovich, and others. As she was merely a solo artist, a newly-formed group called the Records served as her de facto backing band.  After supporting Sweet, the Records (including guitarist Huw Gower) went on to release their debut album for Virgin Records in 1979.

On this episode of the Lost Labels Podcast, we speak to Huw Gower about the early years of the Records, including their time as Rachel Sweet's band, as well as his later career (including a stint with David Johansen of the New York Dolls). Today, Huw Gower is a member of Icecream Skyscraper, whose most recent album was released in 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/IcecreamSkyscraper/

Although the Adverts only issued one single on Stiff Records, that release ("One Chord Wonders"/"Quick Step") is now considered to be a seminal moment in punk history. Produced by Larry Wallis and following in the footsteps of their tourmates the Damned, "One Chord Wonders" was the first of a series of singles released by the Adverts leading up to their first full length, "Crossing the Red Sea with the Adverts."

Gaye Black aka Gaye Advert, bassist for the band, is now a visual artist whose work often reflects on those early days of British punk. In this episode we discuss how the band came together,  working with Wallis on the first single, touring with the Damned, and much more.

Gaye Black's art can be found at:
https://www.gayeblack.co.uk

Hailing from Liverpool, Yachts released their first single on Stiff Records in 1977. From there, they went on to release two full-lengths and a number of singles on Radar Records before splitting up in 1981. Known for their catchy melodies and wry lyricism, Yachts toured with everyone from Joe Jackson to the Who.

This episode is the first part of our look at Stiff Records, the infamously subversive and anarchic record label founded by Jake Riviera and Dave Robinson in 1976. Future episodes will feature other artists and employees of the label, helping to dig into the Stiff mythology and separate fact from fiction.

Although the Waitresses are best known for their 1982 single "I Know What Boys Like," the history of the band can be traced back to the late-1970s Akron musical scene. Chris Butler cut his teeth in bands such as the Numbers Band (15-60-75) and Tin Huey before transforming the Waitresses from a side-project into a fully-fledged band. The Waitresses released their debut full-length, "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?," on ZE Records/Polydor in 1982.

In this second part of a two-part interview, we discuss the latter part of Butler's career, as well as Akron bands that should have been bigger, the Waitresses' recent inclusion in the New York Times, and what it was like to be the opening act for Television's final concerts.

Although the Waitresses are best known for their 1982 single "I Know What Boys Like," the history of the band can be traced back to the late-1970s Akron musical scene. Chris Butler cut his teeth in bands such as the Numbers Band (15-60-75) and Tin Huey before transforming the Waitresses from a side-project into a fully-fledged band. The Waitresses released their debut full-length, "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?," on ZE Records/Polydor in 1982.

In this first part of a two-part interview, we discuss Butler's early life and career in Ohio, his time with the Numbers Band and Tin Huey, and the genesis of the Waitresses. 

As a college student in Akron, Jane Ashley created the persona of "Jane Aire" to begin her musical career. After releasing the well-received "Yankee Wheels" single on Stiff Records in 1978, she signed with Virgin Records to record her debut full-length. In this episode of the Lost Labels Podcast, we explore the origins of Jane's career, her time with Stiff, and her more recent musical endeavors.

In this episode, we will begin our in-depth look at the influential "Akron Sound" by speaking to Nick Nicholis, founder of the Bizarros and Clone Records. The Bizarros are one of the seminal bands to arise from the Akron Sound, while Clone Records was there to document such artists as Tin Huey, The Human Switchboard, and The Waitresses.

The New York City quartet Marbles are perhaps best remembered for having released the third single on the seminal Ork Records (following Television and Richard Hell). Although their recorded output was limited to two singles, Marbles were regular headliners at CBGBs alongside the Ramones, Blondie, and the Talking Heads. 

In this interview, guitarist and vocalist Howard Bowler not only discusses the band's history but also shares the news of a television series he is creating about the legendary New York venue where Marbles got their start.