Oh Boy Records

Last updated
Oh Boy Records
Oh Boy Logo.jpg
Founded1981 (1981)
Founder John Prine, Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein
Distributor(s) Secretly Group [1]
Genre American folk, Americana, country
Country of originU.S.
Location Nashville, Tennessee
Official website www.ohboy.com

Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1981 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta, and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Daniel "Slick" Ballinger, Shawn Camp, Dan Reeder, and Todd Snider, along with a dozen reissues of classic country music artists. Oh Boy Records also manages two subsidiary labels: Steve Goodman's Red Pajamas Records and the Mountain Stage label Blue Plate Music. Oh Boy is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is managed by Fiona Whelan Prine. [2]

Contents

From 2016 to 2024, the label was distributed by Thirty Tigers. [3] Since August 2024, Oh Boy Records has been distributed by Secretly Distribution.

History

Al Bunetta was a talent manager with Paul Anka's management company CMA, working with artists such as Bette Midler, Al Green, and The Manhattan Transfer. When Anka signed John Prine and Steve Goodman to management contracts in 1971, Bunetta became the manager for both of them. [4] In 1980, Prine finished his recording contract with Asylum and moved to Nashville. Rather than sign with another major label, he decided to start one of his own, and was joined by Bunetta and associate Dan Einstein. [5] The new Oh Boy label's first release was a red vinyl Christmas single with Prine singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" on the A-side and "Silver Bells" on the B-side. [6] The first full-length release, completely funded in advance by fans, was Prine's Aimless Love in 1984. [7] Around 1989, Sony offered to buy Oh Boy Records, but Prine decided to keep the label independent and turned down the offer. [8] In 1996, Oh Boy established a chat page for Prine fans that evolved into one of the first Internet music communities.

Recent projects

In 2000, the label began reissuing a series of classic country music artists titled Oh Boy Classics Presents... These are remastered versions of the original recordings. The first three artists in this series were Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard. In 2007, Oh Boy released Standard Songs for Average People, an album of classic country duets by Prine and bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman. In February 2010, singer-songwriter Dan Reeder released his album This New Century, using instruments he made himself. [9]

The release of a new Prine live album in 2010, In Person & On Stage, was followed by Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, a tribute album of Prine songs performed by artists such as Sara Watkins and Old Crow Medicine Show. [10] Both of these 2010 releases debuted at number one on the Billboard Folk Album charts.

In April 2018, John Prine released Tree of Forgiveness produced by Dave Cobb. This was Prine's first album of original works in 13 years. Guest artists on the album include Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and Dan Auerbach. [11]

In 2019, the label signed singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon. The female outlaw country singer is Oh Boy's first artist signing in 15 years. [12]

In December 2019, Oh Boy Records signed Sacramento, California-based indie folk-singer Tre Burt. Burt was introduced to the label by Jody Whelan, who had discovered the folk singer's album Caught It from the Rye. [13]

In June 2020, Oh Boy Records signed Ohio-based country singer Arlo McKinley, marking him as the last signee by John Prine. [14]

Discography

YearArtistTitleNumberComments
1981 John Prine Red Vinyl Christmas 45OBR-001"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"/"Silver Bells"
1984John Prine Aimless Love OBR-002
1986John Prine German Afternoons OBR-003
1987John PrineGreen Vinyl 45OBR-004"Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian"/"Kokomo"
1988John Prine John Prine Live OBR-005
1989John Prine Bruised Orange OBR-006Originally released in 1978 as Asylum 139
1990?John Prine Pink Cadillac OBR-007Originally released in 1979 as Asylum 222
1990?John Prine Storm Windows OBR-008Originally released in 1980 as Asylum 286
1991John Prine The Missing Years OBR-009
1993John Prine A John Prine Christmas OBR-011
The Bis-Quits The Bis-QuitsOBR-012
John PrineGreat Days: The John Prine AnthologyOBR-ANTOriginally released as Rhino R2 71400
1995John Prine Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings OBR-013
Heather Eatman Mascara FallsOBR-014
1997John PrineLive on TourOBR-015
RB MorrisTake That RideOBR-016
Donnie FrittsEverybody's Got a SongOBR-017
1998Various ArtistsLucky 13OBR-018
1999John Prine In Spite of Ourselves OBR-019
2000 Todd Snider Happy To Be HereOBR-020
John Prine Souvenirs OBR-021Number may be OBR-010, sources disagree
Roger Miller Oh Boy Records Classics Presents Roger MillerOBR-400
Willie Nelson Oh Boy Records Classics Presents Willie NelsonOBR-401
Merle Haggard Oh Boy Classics Presents Merle HaggardOBR-402
2001 Joe Tex Oh Boy Classics Presents Joe TexOBR-403
Conway Twitty Oh Boy Classics Presents Conway TwittyOBR-404
Bill Anderson Oh Boy Classics Presents Bill AndersonOBR-405
The Kendalls Oh Boy Classics Presents The KendallsOBR-406
Merle HaggardOh Boy Classics Presents Merle Haggard...AgainOBR-407
John Prine Sessions at West 54th OBR-500DVDDVD
2002 Riders in the Sky A Pair of Kings OBR-022
Todd SniderNew ConnectionOBR-023
Don Gibson Oh Boy Classics Presents Don GibsonOBR-408
Roy Acuff Oh Boy Classics Presents Roy AcuffOBR-409
Rusty & Doug Kershaw Oh Boy Classics Presents Rusty & Doug KershawOBR-410
Lorrie Morgan Oh Boy Classics Presents Lorrie MorganOBR-411
Don Everly Oh Boy Classics Presents Don EverlyOBR-412
2003Todd SniderNear Truths and Hotel RoomsOBR-024
Kris Kristofferson Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco OBR-025
Janis Ian Live: Working Without a NetOBR-026Double CD
2004[Dan Reeder]dan reederOBR-027
Kris Kristofferson Repossessed/Third World Warrior OBR-028Double reissue of 1986/1990 Mercury albums
Janis IanBillie's BonesOBR-029Also released as Rude Girl Records RGR0019
Slick BallingerMississippi SoulOBR-030EP
Todd SniderEast Nashville SkylineOBR-031
Shawn CampLive at the Station InnOBR-032
Kris KristoffersonBreakthroughOBR-501DVD
2005John Prine Fair & Square OBR-034
John Prine Fair & Square OBR-034-1Vinyl with 4 Bonus Tracks
John Prine Fair & Square OBR-034-EPEP on CD with 4 Bonus Tracks
2006Slick BallingerMississippi SoulOBR-035Full Length
Dan ReederSweetheartOBR-036
2007Todd SniderPeace, Love and AnarchyOBR-037Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol.1
John Prine & Mac Wiseman Standard Songs for Average People OBR-038
2010John PrineIn Person & On StageOBR-039Live. Includes duets with Iris DeMent, Sara Watkins, Emmylou Harris, Josh Ritter, Kane Welch Kaplin
Dan ReederThis New CenturyOBR-041
Various Artists Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine OBR-042Tribute CD. Also vinyl as OBR-042-1
2011John PrineThe Singing Mailman DeliversOBR-040Double CD, live + studio, recorded in 1970
2015John PrineSeptember '78OBR-043Live at Park West in Chicago. Limited edition with 2000 units produced for Record Store day, re-released in 2017
John PrineLive on Soundstage 1980OBR-501DVD
2016John Prine For Better, or Worse OBR-044Also vinyl as OBR-044-1
2017Dan ReederNobody Wants to Be You.OBR-045
2018John Prine The Tree of Forgiveness OBR-046Also vinyl
2019 Kelsey Waldon White Noise/White LinesOBR-050Also vinyl as OBR-050LP
John Prine & Kelsey WaldonThe Kentucky SessionsOBR-0517-inch vinyl
2020Tré BurtCaught It From the RyeOBR-052Also vinyl as OBR-052LP
Dan Reederevery which wayOBR-053
Arlo McKinleyDie MidwesternOBR-055Also vinyl as OBR-055LP
2021Tré BurtYou, Yeah, YouOBR-066
Emily Scott RobinsonAmerican SirenOBR-067
2022Various ArtistsBroken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2OBR-063Tribute
Kelsey WaldonNo Regular DogOBR-071
Arlo McKinleyThis Mess We're InOBR-072
Emily Scott RobinsonBuilt on Bones
2023Mick FlanneryGoodtime CharlieRRV006Also vinyl as RRV005
Tré BurtTraffic FictionOBR-078
2024Various ArtistsLive on Mountain Stage: 40 Year Anniversary - Outlaws and OutliersOBR-079Blue Plate Music 2-disc set
Various ArtistsMy Black Country: The Songs of Alice RandallOBR-082Also vinyl
Swamp DoggBLACKGRASS: From West Virginia to 125th StreetOBR-083Also vinyl
Kelsey WaldonThere's Always a SongOBR-084Also vinyl
Dan ReedersmithereensOBR-085Also vinyl

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/pro/sony-music-masterworks-buys-black-sky-stake-music-deals
  2. ↑ Gleason, Holly (March 21, 2023). "Fiona Whelan Prine: Love & Live Define Manager/Activist's Mission". Pollstar.com. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  3. ↑ Hanks, Matt (May 12, 2016). "John Prine's Oh Boy Records Announces Exclusive Distribution Partnership With Thirty Tigers". Shorefire.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  4. ↑ Bunetta, Al (2006-08-02). "Episode #9". Music Business Radio (Interview). Interviewed by David Hooper. Nashville, Tennessee: WRLP. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  5. ↑ "Question & Answer with John Prine". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  6. ↑ Bunetta, Al; Einstein, Dan. "A John Prine Christmas Liner Notes". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  7. ↑ Barry, Dan (April 6, 2016). "John Prine Endures, With a Half-Smile and a Song". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 30, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  8. ↑ Baker, Brian (June 2005). "John Prine does it "Fair & Square"". Country Standard Time. Archived from the original on 2006-09-10. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  9. ↑ Andrew Dansby (25 February 2010). "CD reviews: Dan Reeder, Los Campesinos, Midlake". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ Keith Caulfield. "Jason Aldean Scores Fourth No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'Rearview Town". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  12. ↑ Annie Reuter. "John Prine Signs Kelsey Waldon to Oh Boy Records". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  13. ↑ Cooper, Daniel (2019-12-03). "John Prine's Oh Boy Records signs Tré Burt". The Grateful Web. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  14. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (2020-07-22). "Arlo McKinley releasing 'Die Midwestern' on John Prine's label (watch video for new song)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
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