Transistor Sound & Lighting Co.

Last updated
Transistor Sound & Lighting Co.
Also known asTransister Flux; The Transister Family; Transister Sound & Lights Co,… [1] , Transister Deli [2] Transister, Transister Sound & Lighting Co. [3]
Origin Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Genres Indie rock, pop
Years active1995–2000
Labels ViK. Recordings
Members Jason Churko
Marty Kinack
Dino D'Ottavio
Past membersMarcia Fifer, Mark Sawatzky, Michael Marshall, [4] [5] [6]

Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. was an indie rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The group was active from 1995 to 2000. [7] Throughout the band's lifespan, they went under different names, such as: Transister Flux, The Transister Family, Transister Deli, Transister, & Transister Sound & Lighting Co. [8]

Contents

History

The band formed in 1995, [9] and self-released a 3-song cassette recording that year, The Transister Flux [10] and performed local shows. The band distributed a 5-song cassette EP in 1996, called Transistor Sounds. [11] They were signed to the Canadian arm of Sony Records, ViK. Recordings, and released a 5-song CD EP, called Transister Sound & Lighting Co., of early mixes in November 1996, [12] [13] a 7" vinyl single called Transister Sound & Lighting Co., featuring a different 4-track version of "Prince Vince", and two non-LP tracks, in 1996. [14] Their debut, eponymous LP, was due to be released in 1997, [15] but wasn't released until April 1998 [16] The band released two music videos for the album, "Anyways/Mayonnaise", [17] and "Prince Vince". [18] "Anyways/Mayonnaise" was also released as a promotional-only CD single. [19]

The band toured throughout Canada performing at festivals such as NXNE, [20] SXSW [21] and Halifax On Music in 1996 [22] Canadian Music Week both in 1997, [23] and 1998 [24] & and opening for many different bands and artists, such as Hayden, [25] Beth Orten, [26] By Divine Right, [27] [28] The Weakerthans, [29] Duotang [30] Treble Charger, [31] Cracker [32] Swervedriver, [33] and Sianspheric. [34]

The band received a 1998 Juno Nomination for Best Alternative album. [35] The band and their single, “Anyways/Mayonnaise” were nominated for Best New Group in the 1999 Canadian Radio Music Awards. [36]

During live performances in 1998, the band performed two songs that weren’t released on their self-titled record, but were recorded during the album sessions; “Gone Mind”, [37] and “Evil Song” [38] They were hired by Emm Gryner in October 1997, [39] to record a single version of her songs "Summerlong"/“Phonecall 45" from her major label debut Public , for a special 7” promotional-only release. [40] “Summerlong” was later released on Gryner’s 2000 release, Dead Relatives. [41] In July 1999, Churko began working at Winnipeg’s local record store, Music Trader / Into The Music. [42] At Canadian Music Week 2000, members of the band backed Emm Gryner for her performance at The Horseshoe Tavern, in Toronto. [43] [44] [45] In the course of record label reorganization, they left the label.

In December 2023, Innerservice Records in Winnipeg, released a tribute album to Transistor Sound & Lighting Co.’s eponymous sole LP, featuring many local Winnipeg bands’ takes on the songs, called A Tribute to Transistor Sound & Lighting Co., for the albums twenty-fifth anniversary. [46]

Alternate & Unreleased Songs & Recording of Second LP

During a July 2024 appearance on the Meowing Into the Abyss Podcast, Jay & Dino discussed that there are many different outtakes of songs to what was eventually released on the Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. album. [47] They stated that there are about 21 different alternate versions of “Prince Vince" that the band recorded. [48] An unreleased acoustic version of “Sasparilla”, with tambourine, also exists and is circulating amongst fans. [49] “Three Chords” had a couple different versions recorded, notably one as a full band which featured drums. [50] A version of “Crayola” exists without keyboards, and there may be alternate, different mixes of the song. [51]

During the podcast, Jay & Dino also discussed that there were about nine or ten unreleased songs, recorded for a potential second album, that were 90% completed, including mixing. [52] One of those tracks slated for the 2nd LP, was "Gone Mind". "Gone Mind" was recorded, in 1995, in two different versions. A fast version of the song was released on The Transister Flux cassette, in 1995. [53] The song was performed live by the band in August 1998, [54] A slow, bass & guitar-only version of "Gone Mind" is circulating amongst collectors. [55] Another song slated for a second LP was "Freedom Park". A studio recording exists for this song. This song was also performed live in October 1998, by the band. [56] Another unreleased song, "Evil Song" was also performed live in August 1998. [57] It is unknown if a studio version of this song exists or was recorded.

Within the interview, the band noted that they own 50% of their song publishing. The band sold their masters to the record label. [58]

Discography

LP

EPs

Singles

Compilation Appearances

Band Members

Previous Members

Additional live support

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/share/PLVXGtz1u71RQ3Pz/?mibextid=WC7FNe
  2. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  3. ↑ "The UnOffical Transistor Sound and Lighting Co. Page". Archived from the original on 2000-06-16.
  4. ↑ "Ography". Archived from the original on 1999-11-14.
  5. ↑ "The Lovedaddys (Old Winnipeg indie band) live, 2000 in Toronto". 13 November 2023.
  6. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/14847133-Michael-Marshall-14
  7. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Setlist at the Royal Albert, Winnipeg". setlist.fm.
  8. ↑ "The UnOffical Transistor Sound and Lighting Co. Page". Archived from the original on 2000-06-16.
  9. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Setlist at the Royal Albert, Winnipeg". setlist.fm.
  10. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/31401326-The-Transister-Flux-The-Transister-Flux
  11. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/25273168-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sounds
  12. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/3308676-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co
  13. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-10-19.pdf (page 57).
  14. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/3498887-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co
  15. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1996/BB-1996-10-19.pdf (page 57).
  16. ↑ "Retrospective Reviews: Transistor Sound & Lighting Co.'s Self-Titled Album". Vice, Matt Williams, Jan 6 2015,
  17. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. - Anyways / Mayonnaise". YouTube . 28 November 2017.
  18. ↑ ""Prince Vince" Music Video - Transistor Sound & Lighting Co". YouTube . February 2023.
  19. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/22630487-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co-AnywaysMayonnaise
  20. ↑ https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/RPM/90s/1996/RPM-1996-06-17.pdf
  21. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  22. ↑ "Halifax on Music Info (VERY LONG)". Archived from the original on 2007-10-21.
  23. ↑ "The Varsity, May 1, 1996 - April 15, 1997". 1996.
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  25. ↑ "Hayden - Live". Archived from the original on 1999-10-11.
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  28. ↑ "Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos". Archived from the original on 1999-09-07.
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  38. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Setlist at Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto". setlist.fm.
  39. ↑ The Winnipeg Sun (February 11, 1999, p.21)
  40. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/2093378-Emm-Gryner-With-Transistor-Sound-And-Lighting-Co-SummerlongPhonecall45
  41. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/3374611-Emm-Gryner-Dead-Relatives
  42. ↑ "Nov 2013: Spinner and a movie". 10 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "Bob's emm gryner pages, march 2000".
  44. ↑ "Emm Gryner @ the Horseshoe". Archived from the original on 2000-05-06.
  45. ↑ "Emm Gryner Setlist at Canadian Music Week 2000". setlist.fm.
  46. ↑ "A Tribute to Transistor Sound & Lighting Co., by Inservice Records".
  47. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  48. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  49. ↑ "Transistor Sound and Lighting co. "Gone mind" LP". YouTube . 20 March 2021.
  50. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  51. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  52. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  53. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/31401326-The-Transister-Flux-The-Transister-Flux
  54. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Setlist at Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto". setlist.fm.
  55. ↑ "Transistor Sound and Lighting co. "Gone mind" LP". YouTube . 20 March 2021.
  56. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010602164437/http://webhome.idirect.com/~treble/transistor.htm
  57. ↑ "Transistor Sound & Lighting Co. Setlist at Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto". setlist.fm.
  58. ↑ "Meowing into the Abyss - Episode 13 - Transistor Sound and Lighting Co". YouTube . 11 July 2024.
  59. ↑ http://transistor.pollutionlake.com/news.htm
  60. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/2256502-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co
  61. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/31401326-The-Transister-Flux-The-Transister-Flux
  62. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/3308676-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co
  63. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/25273168-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sounds
  64. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/22630487-Transistor-Sound-Lighting-Co-AnywaysMayonnaise
  65. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/3498887-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co-Transister-Sound-Lighting-Co
  66. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/15432167-Various-Tune-In-Turn-On-Bug-Out
  67. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/master/901616-Various-Tune-In-Turn-On-Bug-Out-Fall-97
  68. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/9316576-Various-Life-Dont-Get-Any-Better-Than-This-1997-National-Campus-Community-Radio-Conference-Sampler
  69. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/31189075-Various-Im-with-ViK
  70. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/11624129-Various-BMG-Pop-Promo-CD-Comp-34-February-1998
  71. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/11630344-Various-BMG-Pop-Promo-CD-Comp-39-April-1998
  72. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/release/11246189-Various-Radioactive-Top-40-Alternative-Series-06-September-1998
  73. ↑ The Winnipeg Sun 1998-04-03
  74. ↑ Kendle, John, The Winnipeg Sun, 1996-02-09
  75. ↑ "New S". Archived from the original on 1999-11-14.
  76. ↑ from information section of track
  77. ↑ https://www.angelfire.com/mb/christinacanadamusic/transistor.html
  78. ↑ The Winnipeg Sun, 1998-04-03
  79. ↑ "Ography". Archived from the original on 1999-11-14.
  80. ↑ "The Lovedaddys (Old Winnipeg indie band) live, 2000 in Toronto". 13 November 2023.
  81. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/artist/14847133-Michael-Marshall-14
  82. ↑ "Ography". Archived from the original on 1999-11-14.
  83. ↑ https://www.angelfire.com/mb/christinacanadamusic/transistor.html
  84. ↑ Meowing into the Abyss Podcast - Ep. 13 TS&LCo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6RmP6qLuww) - Mark was in a band called The Harlots, and The Ballroom Zombies (afterwards, and previously to Transistor)
  85. ↑ https://www.angelfire.com/mb/christinacanadamusic/harlots.html
  86. ↑ from information section of track
  87. ↑ "New S". Archived from the original on 1999-11-14.
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