I Need Record Labels In My Life (posted by Gilles)
So do you. Thats why I have re emerged from the dark world of night clubs and subterranean radio studios to put my money where my mouth is once again! I started with Hardback back in the early eighties. This was with Andros Georgio and became a 3 release enterprise backed by the one named Morgan Khan. He of Streetsounds for whom I'd released a series called JazzJuice. If I remember correctly we put out a Duke Booty version of Broadway, Pressure Drop's 'Mellow Moods' and a pretty crap attempt at 'Champ' by the Mohawks because we couldn't licence the original! Anyway all 3 releases did ok, but when the crunch came to investing 10 grand in the next 'George Michael' produced release I bailed out - my first commercial mistake as it turned - the track went top 10 worldwide! it was a version of 'Jive Talkin' by the BeeGees and I went back to the pirates! Next up more comps for the likes of Blue Note and a couple of Brazilian ones for the Japanese market and then label 2, BGP or Beat goes Public or Baz and GP, Baz being Baz Fe Jazz. This was fun but strictly reissues - what a catalogue though, Prestige/Riverside/Fantasy! Ace UK had the contract and I got my first trip to California where I spent a few weeks delving through the dusty tapes in Berkley. Releases included comps like 'Do it Fluid', 'Focus on Fusion' and the Best of Funk Inc. A pure exercise in historical digging. I wanted to release some new stuff then - I remember a band called Team 10 that we nearly cut but it was decided to keep it 'strictly' comps and maybe I should look out for a business partner and wait for Acid Jazz to grow out of the clubs and Dingwalls.This was the turning point - around 86/87- suddenly we had the history books read and now it was our time to book the studios - that was Acid Jazz - a small room off Earls Court, Rob Gallagher, Booey, Marco Nelson and Paul Bradshaw - 'Frederic Lies Still' and better still 'Ooo baby jack jack jack your body' on the flip - Galliano were born, and so was Acid Jazz! suddenly I was in the A+R game - this was different to listening and chosing from Bernard Perdie albums - this was planning, booking, counselling! 2 intense years with that maverick Eddie Pillar - a bit like Dave Robinson (Stiff records) and Orin Keepnews (Milestone) setting up - mods and casuals unite! mad times from Bucky Leo and the Voices of East London through to the Brand New Heavies and the Totally Wired series (named by the way as a counterplot against the Wire magazine!).Good times but time to move on , they were beginning to take it all a bit too serious. Now was Talkin Loud - a deal cut with Phonogram that would allow me to actually pay the bands - maybe I should have stayed independent but believe me, if I had, there would have been no scene like there was - this was my responsibility to step up the pressure in the press / radio/ international departments. over 10 years driving to Hammersmith everyday - discussions about Wet Wet Wet's new single and Tears for Fears new video almost killed me - yes I was just another member of the Universal Pension Scheme! Thankfully I kept playing out and had the best support team sucking at the budgets for me, Paul Martin, Norman Jay, Fiona Grimshaw, Anne Marie Bigby and Kate Theophilus who actually went from there to Ozone in New York and now back home again at Brownswood! Proud of the releases we made - YDs, Incognito, Galliano, Urban Species, The Roots (their first lp pre Geffen) Nicolette, KCreative, NuYorican Soul (come on guys lets do another!) Innerzone Orchestra, Courtney Pine, MC Solaar, Steve Williamson, 4 Hero, Krust, Roni's Reprazent! some good stuff there and I'm more proud of those years than any other in my music life. Needed a break badly - I thought maybe 1 year - its been at least 5! well, its far less stress being the Artist! Why now though - why bother? To be honest I've missed it and I need the fix. Too many great artists not getting the heat. Maybe I can help - I've got the team thats for sure. Simon 'Secret Rendezvous' Goffe stearing, Emily 'still love drum n bass' Moxon in the engine room, Katy 'have you spoken to Eska lately' T and our outernationalists Kuni Kun in N4, Toshio Matsuura in Tokyo and Wadada in the Canadian outback. In case you were wondering, Brownswood existed as a sub label run by UFO in Japan - they'd asked me to name it then and since the label closed 7 years ago I thought it would be perfect to relocate back home in London in 2006! Welcome along!!
- Posted by Gilles Peterson
- Aug 28, 03:39 AM
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- Welcome
great history and respect as ever gilles. so good today (osunlade remix) is still one of the tunes of the year – here’s to all brownswood recordings releases being as strong…
Good stuff Gilles. Nice to see the site up and running. Been supporting the first batch of releases over these past few months in the bars/clubs and on my humble lil’ my radioshow – and looking forward to hearing whats to come in the future. Keep on keepin’ on!
Superb stuff Gilles. Really enjoying the Brownswood Bubblers LP you dropped me on Thurs, and it will sell like hot cakes.
Good luck with the label!
Nice one GP! Another great blog, always love listening to stories from the past!
I remember a couple of years ago you told me that you were planning (or thinking about) doing an album of your own, with various UK jazz musicians…whatever happened to that?
Great to see the Brownswood Rec. homepage finally up & running, looking ff to the future releases, especially Jose James (his killer version of “Equinox” on wax please!)
Keep it movin’...
Gilles P, you deserve an award in recognition of your dedicated service to the ‘scene’ – FULL RESPECT!
: )
D
Happy new label
to all of us
Legend – Simple…..
Respect to you GP….
loving the label. do a brownswood night up here in Glasgow. you know it makes sense!
the freedom principle lives on!
Great to see you getting back in the game! – Full respect, and fab set at Canvas – Especially loving the Marvin Gaye Trombones!
Can’t explain the relief I felt when I heard about Gilles setting up this label. The music industry finally has something to look up to!
Top stuff!
Gr8 to have ya back. How about you get Incognito back on the books.
Great to see the Brownswood label and website up and running. Been fully supportive so far and will continue to do so and im with Milic here, ‘Equinox’ – Yes Please !!!
BROWNSWOOD on Discogs—for more info on the labels releases, click through.
I’m trying to maintain it bang upto date!! ..honest guv.
* BW006 – Bubblers sampler – is already up now, check it !!*
x, Jim
Brownswood was the highlight of Lovebox this Summer,Ben Westbeech heading for big things too he was superb live!!....a label to watch now and in the future – thanks for the beats Mr GP!!!
out of the wilderness at last, home is brownswood ;-) more please…
We love vinyl so much that we open our own shop and will in future open a label.for the love of the music
Loving the work – loving the label. Labels do matter, at least in music….