Oh Boy Records | |
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Founded | 1981 |
Founder | John Prine, Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein |
Distributor(s) | Thirty Tigers |
Genre | American folk, Americana, country |
Country of origin | U.S. |
Location | Nashville, Tennessee |
Official website | www |
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. [1] The label is distributed worldwide by Thirty Tigers. [2]
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. [3] 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. [4] 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. [5] The first full-length release, completely funded in advance by fans, was Prine's Aimless Love in 1984. [6] Around 1989, Sony offered to buy Oh Boy Records, but Prine decided to keep the label independent and turned down the offer. [7] In 1996, Oh Boy established a chat page for Prine fans that evolved into one of the first Internet music communities.
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. [8]
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. [9] 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. [10]
In 2019, the label signed singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon. The female outlaw country singer is Oh Boy's first artist signing in 15 years. [11]
In December 2019, Oh Boy Records signed Sacramento, California-based indie folk-singer Tré Burt. Burt was introduced to the label by Jody Whelan, who had discovered the folk singer's album Caught It from the Rye. [12]
In June 2020, Oh Boy Records signed Ohio-based country singer Arlo McKinley, marking him as the last signee by John Prine. [13]
Year | Artist | Title | Number | Comments |
1981 | John Prine | Red Vinyl Christmas 45 | OBR-001 | "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"/"Silver Bells" |
1984 | John Prine | Aimless Love | OBR-002 | |
1986 | John Prine | German Afternoons | OBR-003 | |
1987 | John Prine | Green Vinyl 45 | OBR-004 | "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian"/"Kokomo" |
1988 | John Prine | John Prine Live | OBR-005 | |
1989 | John Prine | Bruised Orange | OBR-006 | Originally released in 1978 as Asylum 139 |
1990? | John Prine | Pink Cadillac | OBR-007 | Originally released in 1979 as Asylum 222 |
1990? | John Prine | Storm Windows | OBR-008 | Originally released in 1980 as Asylum 286 |
1991 | John Prine | The Missing Years | OBR-009 | |
1993 | John Prine | A John Prine Christmas | OBR-011 | |
The Bis-Quits | The Bis-Quits | OBR-012 | ||
John Prine | Great Days: The John Prine Anthology | OBR-ANT | Originally released as Rhino R2 71400 | |
1995 | John Prine | Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings | OBR-013 | |
Heather Eatman | Mascara Falls | OBR-014 | ||
1997 | John Prine | Live on Tour | OBR-015 | |
RB Morris | Take That Ride | OBR-016 | ||
Donnie Fritts | Everybody's Got a Song | OBR-017 | ||
1998 | Various Artists | Lucky 13 | OBR-018 | |
1999 | John Prine | In Spite of Ourselves | OBR-019 | |
2000 | Todd Snider | Happy To Be Here | OBR-020 | |
John Prine | Souvenirs | OBR-021 | Number may be OBR-010, sources disagree | |
Roger Miller | Oh Boy Records Classics Presents Roger Miller | OBR-400 | ||
Willie Nelson | Oh Boy Records Classics Presents Willie Nelson | OBR-401 | ||
Merle Haggard | Oh Boy Classics Presents Merle Haggard | OBR-402 | ||
2001 | Joe Tex | Oh Boy Classics Presents Joe Tex | OBR-403 | |
Conway Twitty | Oh Boy Classics Presents Conway Twitty | OBR-404 | ||
Bill Anderson | Oh Boy Classics Presents Bill Anderson | OBR-405 | ||
The Kendalls | Oh Boy Classics Presents The Kendalls | OBR-406 | ||
Merle Haggard | Oh Boy Classics Presents Merle Haggard...Again | OBR-407 | ||
John Prine | Sessions at West 54th | OBR-500DVD | DVD | |
2002 | Riders in the Sky | A Pair of Kings | OBR-022 | |
Todd Snider | New Connection | OBR-023 | ||
Don Gibson | Oh Boy Classics Presents Don Gibson | OBR-408 | ||
Roy Acuff | Oh Boy Classics Presents Roy Acuff | OBR-409 | ||
Rusty & Doug Kershaw | Oh Boy Classics Presents Rusty & Doug Kershaw | OBR-410 | ||
Lorrie Morgan | Oh Boy Classics Presents Lorrie Morgan | OBR-411 | ||
Don Everly | Oh Boy Classics Presents Don Everly | OBR-412 | ||
2003 | Todd Snider | Near Truths and Hotel Rooms | OBR-024 | |
Kris Kristofferson | Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco | OBR-025 | ||
Janis Ian | Live: Working Without a Net | OBR-026 | Double CD | |
2004 | Dan Reeder | Dan Reeder | OBR-027 | |
Kris Kristofferson | Repossessed/Third World Warrior | OBR-028 | Double reissue of 1986/1990 Mercury albums | |
Janis Ian | Billie's Bones | OBR-029 | Also released as Rude Girl Records RGR0019 | |
Slick Ballinger | Mississippi Soul | OBR-030 | EP | |
Todd Snider | East Nashville Skyline | OBR-031 | ||
Shawn Camp | Live at the Station Inn | OBR-032 | ||
Kris Kristofferson | Breakthrough | OBR-501 | DVD | |
2005 | John Prine | Fair & Square | OBR-034 | |
John Prine | Fair & Square | OBR-034-1 | Vinyl with 4 Bonus Tracks | |
John Prine | Fair & Square | OBR-034-EP | EP on CD with 4 Bonus Tracks | |
2006 | Slick Ballinger | Mississippi Soul | OBR-035 | Full Length |
Dan Reeder | Sweetheart | OBR-036 | ||
2007 | Todd Snider | Peace, Love and Anarchy | OBR-037 | Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol.1 |
John Prine & Mac Wiseman | Standard Songs for Average People | OBR-038 | ||
2010 | John Prine | In Person & On Stage | OBR-039 | Live. Includes duets with Iris DeMent, Sara Watkins, Emmylou Harris, Josh Ritter, Kane Welch Kaplin |
Dan Reeder | This New Century | OBR-041 | ||
Various Artists | Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine | OBR-042 | Tribute CD. Also vinyl as OBR-042-1 | |
2011 | John Prine | The Singing Mailman Delivers | OBR-040 | Double CD, live + studio, recorded in 1970 |
2015 | John Prine | September '78 | OBR-043 | Live at Park West in Chicago. Limited edition with 2000 units produced for Record Store day, re-released in 2017 |
John Prine | Live on Soundstage 1980 | OBR-501 | DVD | |
2016 | John Prine | For Better, or Worse | OBR-044 | Also vinyl as OBR-044-1 |
2017 | Dan Reeder | Nobody Wants to Be You. | OBR-045 | |
2018 | John Prine | The Tree of Forgiveness | OBR-046 | Also vinyl |
2019 | Kelsey Waldon | White Noise/White Lines | OBR-050 | Also vinyl as OBR-050LP |
John Prine & Kelsey Waldon | The Kentucky Sessions | OBR-051 | 7-inch vinyl | |
2020 | Tré Burt | Caught It From the Rye | OBR-052 | Also vinyl as OBR-052LP |
Dan Reeder | every which way | OBR-053 | ||
Arlo McKinley | Die Midwestern | OBR-055 | Also vinyl as OBR-055LP | |
2021 | Tré Burt | You, Yeah, You | OBR-066 | |
Emily Scott Robinson | American Siren | OBR-067 | ||
2022 | Various Artists | Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2 | OBR-063 | Tribute |
Kelsey Waldon | No Regular Dog | OBR-071 | ||
Arlo McKinley | This Mess We're In | OBR-072 | ||
Emily Scott Robinson | Built on Bones | |||
2023 | Mick Flannery | Goodtime Charlie | RRV006 | Also vinyl as RRV005 |
Tré Burt | Traffic Fiction | OBR-078 | ||
2024 | Various Artists | Live on Mountain Stage: 40 Year Anniversary - Outlaws and Outliers | OBR-079 | Blue Plate Music 2-disc set |
Various Artists | My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall | OBR-082 | Also vinyl | |
Swamp Dogg | BLACKGRASS: From West Virginia to 125th Street | OBR-083 | Also vinyl | |
John Edward Prine was an American singer-songwriter of country-folk music. Widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, Prine was known for his signature blend of humorous lyrics about love, life, and current events, as well as serious songs about melancholy tales from his life. His songs would often have elements of social commentary and satire. He was active as a composer, recording artist, live performer, and occasional actor from the early 1970s until his death.
Nanci Caroline Griffith was an American singer, guitarist, and songwriter. She appeared many times on the PBS music program Austin City Limits starting in 1985. In 1994 she won a Grammy Award for the album Other Voices, Other Rooms.
Iris Luella DeMent is an American singer-songwriter and musician. DeMent's musical style includes elements of folk, country and gospel. She has been nominated for a Grammy Award twice.
Todd Daniel Snider is an American singer-songwriter whose music incorporates elements of folk, rock, blues, alt country, and funk.
Holly Audrey Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She is the granddaughter of Hank Williams, the niece of Jett Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr., half-sister of Hank Williams III, and aunt of Coleman Williams. Williams has released three studio albums: The Ones We Never Knew in 2004, Here with Me in 2009 and The Highway in 2013. The Highway was released on Williams' own label, Georgiana Records, and reached No. 146 on the Billboard 200
Melba Joyce Montgomery is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for a series of duet recordings made with George Jones, Gene Pitney and Charlie Louvin. She is also a solo artist, having reached the top of the country charts in 1974 with the song, "No Charge". Born in Tennessee but raised in Alabama, Montgomery had a musical upbringing. Along with her two brothers, she placed in a talent contest which brought her to the attention of Roy Acuff. For several years she toured the country as part of his band until she signed with United Artists Records in 1963.
Aimless Love is the eighth album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1984. It is his first release on his independent record label, Oh Boy Records.
Storm Windows is the seventh album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1980. It was his last release on a major label; he joined Al Bunetta and Dan Einstein to form Oh Boy Records, on which all his subsequent recordings were released.
The Missing Years is the 10th studio album by American folk musician John Prine, released in 1991 on Oh Boy Records. It won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. In July 2003 the label released a deluxe vinyl reissue of the album with a bonus track called "The Third of July" from Prine's appearance on the PBS concert series Sessions at West 54th in 2001.
Red Pajamas Records was an independent American record label founded in 1982 by Chicago singer-songwriter Steve Goodman and his manager Al Bunetta. Between 1983 and his death in 1984, Goodman released two albums on Red Pajamas: Artistic Hair and Affordable Art. Two more, Santa Ana Winds and the Grammy Award-winning Unfinished Business, were released posthumously in 1984 and 1987. Red Pajamas Records operated under the management of Oh Boy Records, which was owned by Goodman's friend John Prine. Red Pajamas released archival live performances by Goodman, compilations, and reissues of his earlier material. The label also released three recordings of tribute performances by Goodman's friends.
German Afternoons is the ninth album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1986.
John Prine Live is a live album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1988. It was originally released as a double-LP.
Donald Ray Fritts was an American session musician and songwriter. A recording artist in his own right, he was Kris Kristofferson's keyboardist for over forty years. In 2008, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
"You Never Even Called Me by My Name" is a song written by Steve Goodman and John Prine. Prine requested to be uncredited on the song, as he thought it was a "goofy, novelty song" and did not want to "offend the country music community". Goodman released the song on his eponymous 1971 debut album Steve Goodman to little acclaim. It was more famously recorded by country music singer David Allan Coe on his 1975 album Once Upon a Rhyme. It was the third single release of Coe's career and his first Top Ten hit, reaching a peak of number eight on the Billboard country singles charts. The song, over five minutes long, is known for its humorous self-description as "the perfect country and western song."
"'Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" is a song originally recorded by American country music artist Leon Everette. It was released in 1985 from his album Where's the Fire. His version of the song peaked at number 44 on Hot Country Songs.
Keith Sykes is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. More than 100 of Sykes' songs have been recorded by John Prine, Rosanne Cash, The Judds, Jerry Jeff Walker, and George Thorogood, though he may be best known for co-writing "Volcano", the title track of Jimmy Buffett's 1979 album.
Kelsey Waldon is an American country singer and songwriter. She has released four EPs and six full albums, the most recent being "No Regular Dog" released on August 12, 2022.
Arlo McKinley is an American country singer and singer/songwriter. He has released three albums, the most recent release being This Mess We're In on John Prine’s record label Oh Boy Records, released July 15, 2022.
Daniel LeVine Einstein was an American independent record producer. He founded Oh Boy Records with John Prine and Al Bunetta. In 1987, Einstein and co-producers Bunetta and Hank Neuberger won a Grammy for the Red Pajamas anthology A Tribute to Steve Goodman. In 1988, he won a second Grammy for producing the posthumous Steve Goodman album Unfinished Business. He died on January 15, 2022, at the age of 61.
Blue Plate Music is an independent American record label that specializes in live recordings from the Mountain Stage radio show. Blue Plate has operated since 1991 and is a subsidiary label of Oh Boy Records. Blue Plate producers have included Larry Groce, Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein and Billy Prine. The label is distributed worldwide by Thirty Tigers.