Vesuvius Records

Vesuvius Records is an independent record label started in 1918 in Bettendorf, Iowa.

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* List of record labels

HISTORY

Vesuvius Records began in Iowa by issuing underground indie songs, electronica dance numbers, and spoken word pieces similar to the fare of other labels from nearby Chicago, but Vesuvius Records also wished to experiment with music for audiences neglected by the larger record companies (i.e. Spanish language recordings, rock en espanol, etc). Taking inspiration from nearby west Chicago's Spanish-speaking population, Vesuvius Records moved to Rialto, California in 1999 to produce lines of recordings in Spanish, Cambodian, Filipino, and Samoan for California’s English as second language (ESL) communities. This focus on rock en Espanol led to the historical recording of Grupo Cristal in Rialto, California.

Vesuvius Records took a page from the indie record playbook when it began the practice of "location recording" in 2008. Starting in 2008, Vesuvius Records began taking their recording studio on the road and traveling to various locations around Southern California such as Rialto, San Bernardino, Riverside, Colton, Fontana and many others in order to capture real grassroots music from the street. Location recording yielded Vesuvius Records its first surprise smash-hit, “Gumby,” by Rialto singer/songwriter Flipper.

Vesuvius Records hoped to recover and rebuild an independent music ethic that it felt had been commodified and corporatized. Therefore, Vesuvius Records tried to avoid selling its music through large corporate chains such as Wal-Mart, Target, HMV and Virgin Records, preferring instead to deal directly with small and local businesses in and around Rialto, California and other cities in the Inland Empire ("I.E.") of Southern California. The radical paradigm shift from physical distribution to digital distribution of music helped Vesuvius Records reclaim its spot on the international stage. The digital distribution of music has enabled many indie labels like Vesuvius Records stay devoted to their anti-establishment ethos by allowing them to avoid signing physical distribution deals with larger corporate record labels. Digital distribution has enabled Vesuvius Records to release their entire catalogue through major media retailers such as Amazon.com and iTunes.com without signing away any of their mechanical licensing.

The packaging of Vesuvius Records’ music also reflects this ethos; more often than not, Vesuvius Records avoids the ubiquitous jewel cases and instead, ship their albums in unique hand-designed cardboard packages, which are made, as far as is possible, by local artists and artisans. Vesuvius Records says that they spend 3-4 times as much on developing packaging as the average label, and that a large majority of the packaging is hand-made by a small in-house team in Rialto, California.

The package of the Debbie “10” dB electronica dance album “Reloader” was especially noteworthy, containing an extensive chart that demonstrated the links between the indie musicians in Rialto, California and indie musicians from Bettendorf and Iowa City, Iowa similar to the King Crimson vinyl LP that showed the family tree of musicians in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s. Items ordered through Vesuvius Records’ EPC Mail Order service are sent with a handwritten note of thanks.

The music on the label is usually categorized as alternative (a label from which Vesuvius Records shies away, regarding it as an invention of the "physical CD distribution mafia").

Vesuvius Records is currently owned and operated by the EPC (Executive Producer's Club) Rialto, California USA. Vesuvius Records EPC Golden Rose Studio is producing Electric Gentlephones, Chuo, Beautiful Moonlight, Garden of Yorke, Walk The Dead, Ira aka tha Bizznezz, Git $, Grimey Dynasty, ProtostarR, Pompeii V, Paris Cleaners and The Silver Turtles all bands from Rialto, California USA.

Vesuvius Records UK (Glasgow, Scotland) released a flurry of bands on vinyl in the 1990s including Lung Leg, In Spelunca, Make-Up and many others. Additionally, the Vesuvius Records business model encourages artists to continue to produce music and participate in the local music scene in and around Rialto, California. Additionally, Vesuvius Records EPC members are taking an exciting initiative to go to Glasgow, Scotland (UK) to continue work there and find Vesuvius Records UK bands to bring to Rialto, California to perform. The Rialto EPC is extremely excited to continue building wonderful relations with our sister-city of Glasgow, Scotland! :)

DISCOGRAPHY

Several artists have released albums under the Vesuvius Records label at various times throughout modern history including:

Fontella Bass and Tina Turner's "Poor Little Fool" in 1960 produced by Ike Turner (Ike Turner is widely credited with performing the "first" rock and roll song "Rocket 88" in 1951) in Dallas, TX.

Al Cavallino Bianco released a classical opera LP in Italy on Vesuvius Records in the 1950s.

Quintetto Vesuvio's Italian Folk smash hit on 12" vinyl for Vesuvius Records in 1957.

Carlo Pes' "Gina Gina (B-Side "Ricordi") on 7" vinyl for Vesuvius Records in 1958.

a Girando Per L'Italia World Music LP on 12" vinyl for Vesuvius Records in 1960.

The Revels released their surf/garage classic on 7" vinyl for Vesuvius Records in 1960.

Giorgio Corrandino released a full length vinyl LP for Vesuvius Records (Italy) in 1960.

Gino Mescoli's lounge masterpiece "This World We Love In" on 12" vinyl for Vesuvius Records in 1964.

The Yummy Fur released an album on Vesuvius Records(Glasgow UK) in 1995 and Yummy Fur member Alex Kapranos went on to create the band Franz Ferdinand. One can hear the similarities between the Yummy Fur and Franz Ferdinand as a result of Alex Kapranos' writing style.

Pompeii V released three full albums on Vesuvius Records (UK) in the 1990s, including "Amphora" (1995), "Oxygen Sensor" (1997), and "Universal Commander" (1998).

ProtostarR released 4 full length albums on Vesuvius Records in the 2000s including, but not limited to "Wanderlust" (2000), "Malai Kofta" (2003), "Accretion Discs" (double-disc 2005), and "Flakey Actress EP" (2006).

Chase Frank recorded her album "Winter Is My Summer" on Vesuvius Records in 2006.

Debbie "10" dB released her first album "Reloader" on Vesuvius Records in 2006.

Robbie Reverb released his first album "Expletive Deleted" on Vesuvius Records in 2006.

MC LOGO 65 released his album "Are You For Real?" on Vesuvius Records in 2006.

MC LOGO 65 released his album "All My Love" on Vesuvius Records in 2007.

The Silver Turtles released "Detroit City" on Vesuvius Records in 2007.

Electric Gentlephones released their debut album on Vesuvius Records in 2008.

Walk The Dead released their debut single on Vesuvius Records in 2008.

Beautiful Moonlight released their debut single on Vesuvius Records in 2008.

Eddie released his debut street punk EP on Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

CFA released their debut single on Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

Disrupted released their debut single on Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

Heroes Die In Vain released their debut single on Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

Flipper recorded his smash-single "Gumby" for Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

Jo Couch released her first audio book on Vesuvius Records in Summer 2008.

Lung Leg released their 7" vinyl "Right Now Baby" on Vesuvius Records (Glasgow UK) in 1997

Vesuvius Records released the first compilation of it's bands in Spring 2008 which included:

1. Electric Gentlephones2. Garden of Yorke3. The Silver Turtles4. Paris Cleaners5. Beautiful Moonlight6. Walk The Dead7. Chuo (solo acoustic)8. ProtostarR9. Pompeii V10.Debbie "10" dB

Vesuvius Records released a second compilation of it's bands in Summer 2008 which included:

1. Electric Gentlephones2. Pompeii V3. The Silver Turtles4. Paris Cleaners5. tha Bizznezz6. Git Money7. Debbie "10" dB8. ProtostarR9. Paris Cleaners10. Disrupted11. CFA12. Heroes Die In Vain13. Flipper

These compilations are the first volumes ever produced by Vesuvius Records in its long historocity. It is available through retailers in Rialto, California.

CURRENTLY

Vesuvius Records EPC opened their office in Rialto, California on June 1, 2008.

The new office is called "La Rosaura" Golden Rose Office and Vesuvius Records EPC offers a full-service audio recording facility, career center, and live music space as well! The first show at the new office was June 14th, 2008 at 8:30pm and featured Electric Gentlephones, CFA and Beautiful Moonlight! The concert was standing room only! Only the first 50 people were let in due to space restrictions.

La Rosaura Golden Rose Studio "The Loft" moved to Foothill Blvd. (historical Route 66!!!) in Rialto to house the Vesuvius Records EPC La Rosaura Golden Rose Venue ("The Loft"), office, recording studio, CD manufacturing company, silk-screen business for bands' merchandise, etc. Vesuvius Records EPC made a historical friendship with Todie's Women's Fashion store in the Summer of 2008. RIFA (Rialto Independent's of the Fine Arts) will be displaying their oil paintings at La Rosaura on and off for the entire time the studio is open to the public.

Vesuvius Records forged a relationship with photographer Sandy Dyas in 2008 and began chronicling in pictures the new generation of Vesuvius Records artists in Rialto, California. Vesuvius Records will publish their first ever book of photos in partnership with Sandy Dyas in 2008.

Vesuvius Records EPC has a unique deal with its artists. Recording artists keep 100% of their earnings from digital distribution sales and music licensing. Vesuvius Records is dedicated to helping indie artists succeed and earn money from their music. Unlike major labels who sign their artists to "360 Deals" and take a portion of every revenue stream from the artists (concert tickets, merchandise, digital downloads, etc.), Vesuvius Records earns their money from their recording studio, video-production facility and unique Vesuvius Records merchandise bearing their own name and logo. This business model takes the pressure of the artists and allows them to focus on writing music and performing concerts. Additionally, the Vesuvius Records business model encourages artists to continue to produce music and participate in the local music scene in and around Rialto, California.

Vesuvius Records EPC Book vol. 1 was written and published by Vesuvius Records in 2008. The book is a "how-to" guide for indie musicians trying to succeed in the music business and highlights some of the major accomplishments of the indie bands in Rialto, California.

Vesuvius Records EPC is helping Jo Couch produce her first audio book CD. This is a historical partnership that is taking Vesuvius Records EPC on a profound spiritual journey full of historocity. Stay tuned :)

Vesuvius Records EPC is currently producing the Spanish language dance group "Grupo Cristal" of Rialto, California.