Prawn Song Records

Last updated • 5 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Prawn Song Records
Prawnsong.jpg
Founded1989 (1989)
Founder Les Claypool
Distributor(s) RED Distribution
GenrePop, rock
Country of originU.S.
LocationSan Francisco, California
Official website www.prawnsong.com

Prawn Song Records is an independent record label owned by Les Claypool of Primus. The name and logo are a parody of Led Zeppelin's label Swan Song Records. [1]

Contents

Prawn Song is based in San Francisco, California, and distribution is handled by RED Distribution in the United States [2] [3] and Essential Music & Marketing in Europe. [4]

History

The label was created in 1989 for the initial limited release of the Primus live album Suck On This . The band borrowed three thousand dollars from Claypool's father to fund the release and pressed one thousand vinyl copies of the record. [5] [6] They then used the profits from those sales to keep pressing the album, one thousand copies at a time, and signed a distribution deal with Rough Trade Records. [7] The album was later licensed to be reissued by independent record label Caroline Records in 1990, the same label that released the Frizzle Fry album the same year. [6] Primus then signed to Interscope Records, who released the band's third album Sailing the Seas of Cheese in 1991 and all of their subsequent records for the next twenty years. [6]

Prawn Song was resurrected in 1993 as a subsidiary of Interscope (at the time 50% owned by Atlantic Records, the parent company of the original Swan Song label) for the use of Claypool's side projects: Sausage and The Holy Mackerel. [8] [9] At this point, Prawn Song was also made a sister label to the Atlantic imprint Mammoth Records, working together with them to launch the musical projects of many of Claypool's friends and former bandmates, including M.I.R.V. (featuring Mark "Mirv" Haggard), [10] the Charlie Hunter Trio (featuring Jay Lane), [11] Alphabet Soup (also featuring Lane), [12] Porch (featuring Todd Huth), [13] and Laundry (featuring Tim Alexander). [14] During this time, Primus' albums were released in CD and tape formats by Interscope, with double-LP pressings of the albums issued on Prawn Song.[ citation needed ]

In 1998 and '99, Primus started utilising the Prawn Song imprint to release the EP Rhinoplasty and the album Antipop , respectively. [15] [16] By 2001, Prawn Song had dropped its association with Mammoth and branched out from Interscope to become a fully independent label, [2] while also co-operating with Interscope for the release of the Primus EP/DVD Animals Should Not Try to Act like People in 2003. [17] The 2006 compilation album They Can't All Be Zingers was released only by Interscope, separate from Prawn Song. [18] Claypool alleged in 2018 that Mammoth severed ties with Prawn Song as a result of their refusal to release an album by his side project Beanpole, which he worked on with Larry LaLonde, Adam Gates and Mark Greenberg among others. [19] The album was later released by Prawn Song and Sean Lennon's imprint, Chimera Music in 2018.[ citation needed ]

As an independent label, Prawn Song reissued the early, out-of-print, pre-Interscope Primus albums, [6] as well as DVDs of some of their recent live tours. The label also released material from Claypool's more recent side projects Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, [2] [4] [20] his solo albums, [21] [22] and Gabby La La's debut Be Careful What You Wish For... , on which Claypool produces and provides the rhythm section. [23] The Oysterhead album The Grand Pecking Order , however, was released by Elektra Records. [24]

In 2011 Prawn Song partnered with ATO Records for a joint release of the Primus album Green Naugahyde , [3] and together they subsequently released the band's 2014 album Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble , [25] and the Duo de Twang album Four Foot Shack . [26]

Catalog

Inception

As a subsidiary of Interscope Records

As an associate of Mammoth Records

  • MR0065-2 – M.I.R.V.Cosmodrome (1994)
  • MR0066-2 – Charlie Hunter Trio Charlie Hunter Trio (1993)
  • MR0082-2 – Alphabet Soup – Layin' Low in the Cut (1995)
  • MR0094-2 – Porch – Porch (1994)
  • MR0098-2 – Laundry – Blacktongue (1994)
  • MR0102-2 – Eskimo – The Further Adventures of Der Shrimpkin (1995)

As an independent label

As an associate of ATO Records

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Les Claypool</span> American musician

Leslie Edward Claypool is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and author. He is best known as the founder, lead singer, bassist, and primary songwriter of the band Primus since its formation in 1984. Frequently considered to be one of the greatest bassists of all time, his playing style is well known for mixing tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends, and slapping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Primus (band)</span> American rock band

Primus is an American rock band formed in El Sobrante, California in 1984. The band is currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde, and drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by drummer Jay Lane, though the latter two departed the band at the beginning of 1989, and were replaced by LaLonde and Alexander respectively.

<i>Sailing the Seas of Cheese</i> 1991 studio album by Primus

Sailing the Seas of Cheese is the second studio album and major-label debut by the American rock band Primus, released on May 14, 1991. It spawned three singles: "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver", "Tommy the Cat", and "Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers". "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" appeared in the video games ATV Offroad Fury, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Rock Band 3, The Bigs, and as downloadable content for Rocksmith 2014, while "American Life" appears in Tony Hawk's Project 8.

<i>Suck on This</i> 1989 live album by Primus

Suck on This is a live album by the American rock band Primus, released in 1989. At the time of recording, the featured lineup of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander had only been playing together for "about two months". This release, along with Jane's Addiction's self-titled live album, are seen as popularizing the then-underground alternative metal genre.

<i>Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People</i> 2003 video and EP by Primus

Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People is a career-spanning retrospective DVD plus bonus EP by American band Primus, released on October 7, 2003. The title was inspired by a crayon-made story book written by guitarist Larry LaLonde's son, and the cover depicts a sculpture made by long-time Primus collaborator Lance "Link" Montoya. The DVD features all of the band's music videos to date, plus short films and live footage from as far back as 1986, whereas the bonus EP features five new songs written and recorded specifically for this release. When promoting the release, bassist Les Claypool remarked that "It seems of late that bands are adding supplemental DVD material to their album releases to promote record sales. We've done the opposite. We've added a supplemental audio recording of brand new music to an extremely comprehensive DVD of classic visuals."

<i>Antipop</i> 1999 studio album by Primus

Antipop is the sixth studio album by American rock band Primus. It was released on October 19, 1999, through Prawn Song Records and Interscope Records. Produced by the band, Tom Morello, Stewart Copeland, Tom Waits, Matt Stone, and Fred Durst, it was the final release by the band before their hiatus from 2000 to 2003. It was also the last album with drummer Brain. The album received mostly positive reviews from critics.

<i>Brown Album</i> 1997 studio album by Primus

Brown Album is the fifth studio album by American rock band Primus. It was released on July 8, 1997, by Prawn Song and Interscope Records. It was the band's first album with new drummer Brain, who replaced former drummer Tim Alexander. The album has received a mixed reception from critics and fans.

<i>Frizzle Fry</i> 1990 studio album by Primus

Frizzle Fry is the debut studio album by American rock band Primus. It was released on February 7, 1990, by Caroline Records. Produced by the band and Matt Winegar, the album was recorded at Different Fur Studios in San Francisco in December 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade</span> Musical artist

Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade is a musical project with rotating personnel, led by American singer/bassist Les Claypool. The Frog Brigade was formed during a hiatus from Claypool's main group Primus.

Todd Richard Huth is an American guitarist, best known as an original member of the band Primus, along with bassist/lyricist Les Claypool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sausage (band)</span> Alternative/funk rock band

Sausage was a short-lived alternative/funk rock band featuring a reunion of the 1988 lineup of the San Francisco Bay Area band Primus. They released the album Riddles Are Abound Tonight in April 1994 through the Interscope Records imprint Prawn Song Records.

<i>Rhinoplasty</i> (EP) 1998 EP by Primus

Rhinoplasty is an extended play record by Primus. It was released August 11, 1998, by Interscope Records and features covers of songs by artists such as Stanley Clarke, Metallica, and Jerry Reed. The CD also features an interactive CD-ROM which includes the claymation video for "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". The 2018 vinyl reissue includes "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" as the eighth track.

Adam Gates is a graphic designer and musician from Orinda, California.

"John the Fisherman" is the debut single by American rock band Primus. It was first released on December 30, 1989 on the live album Suck on This, then re-released a year later on May 17, 1990, this time on their debut studio album Frizzle Fry as the lead single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Many Puppies</span> 1990 single by Primus

"Too Many Puppies" is a song by the American rock band Primus, released as the second single from their debut studio album Frizzle Fry (1990). It was the first Primus song bassist and lead singer Les Claypool ever composed. A reworked version featuring drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia can be found on their Rhinoplasty EP (1998).

M.I.R.V. was a band based in the San Francisco, California, Bay Area. The band was founded in 1993. Its musical style includes elements of hard rock, heavy metal, funk, country, opera, experimental, electronica, and polka.

<i>Green Naugahyde</i> 2011 studio album by Primus

Green Naugahyde is the seventh studio album by rock group Primus, released by ATO Records and Prawn Song on September 12, 2011, in Europe, and on September 13, 2011, in the United States. It is the band's first album since 1999's Antipop, and features their first new material since 2003's Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People EP. It is the only Primus album to feature Jay Lane on drums, as he left the band in September 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry LaLonde</span> American guitarist

Reid Laurence "Larry" LaLonde, also known as Ler LaLonde, is an American musician. He has been the guitarist for the rock band Primus since 1989, where he is known for his experimental accompaniment to the bass playing of bandmate Les Claypool. Previously, he played guitar for several groups including Possessed and Blind Illusion. He also has collaborated more recently with artists such as Serj Tankian and Tom Waits.

<i>Four Foot Shack</i> 2014 studio album by Duo de Twang

Four Foot Shack is the debut album of Duo de Twang, a country music duo formed by Primus bassist and vocalist Les Claypool and M.I.R.V. guitarist Bryan Kehoe. This album contains one original song and fourteen cover songs. It was released on February 4, 2014 by ATO Records.

Zoltron is an American rock music poster designer, street artist, and creative director. His posters are included in the collections of Victoria Albert Museum, London, de Young fine arts museum, San Francisco, Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art, Boston Museum of Fine Art, the US Library of Congress, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

References

  1. Greg (16 September 2014). Primus, Over the Electric Grapevine: Insight into Primus and the World of Les Claypool. Akashic Books. pp. 178–. ISBN   978-1-61775-322-0 . Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 Overview, Green Naugahyde, Discogs.
  3. 1 2 Copyright information, Purple Onion (European issue), 2002.
  4. Liner notes, Suck On This (reissue), 2002.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Illustrated Discography, Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People DVD, 2003.
  6. Michael Goldberg. "Primus Through the Years: Les Claypool Reflects on His Past". Addicted to Noise . Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2011.
  7. Copyright information, Riddles Are Abound Tonight , 1994.
  8. Copyright information, Highball with the Devil , 1996.
  9. Overview, Cosmodrome, allmusic.
  10. Overview, Charlie Hunter Trio, allmusic.
  11. Overview, Layin' Low in the Cut, allmusic.
  12. Overview, Porch, Discogs.
  13. Overview, Blacktongue, Discogs.
  14. Copyright information, Rhinoplasty , 1998.
  15. Copyright information, Antipop , 1999.
  16. Copyright information, Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People, 2003.
  17. Copyright information, They Can't All Be Zingers , 2006.
  18. How Sean Lennon Rescued Primus Side Project Beanpole from Oblivion Bandcamp Daily. August 29, 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  19. Overview, The Big Eyeball in the Sky, Discogs.
  20. Overview, Of Whales and Woe, Discogs.
  21. Overview, Of Fungi and Foe, Discogs.
  22. Copyright information, Be Careful What You Wish For... , 2005.
  23. Copyright information, The Grand Pecking Order , 2001.
  24. Overview, Primus & the Chocolate Factory, Discogs.
  25. Overview, Four Foot Shack, Discogs.