International Artists

Last updated

International Artists (IA) was an American independent record label based in Houston, Texas, United States, that originally existed from 1965 to 1970. It is not to be confused with International Artists Records, a classical music record label founded in New York City in 1956.

Contents

During its existence IA, owned by a group of businessmen in Houston, released 12 albums and 39 singles. [1] Among its staff was producer Lelan Rogers, brother of country singer Kenny Rogers. The label is famous for its roster of well-known Texas psychedelic rock bands, including The 13th Floor Elevators, The Red Crayola, and Bubble Puppy, as well as lesser known bands such as The Golden Dawn, Lost And Found, and Endle St. Cloud. International Artists also released an album by blues guitarist Lightnin' Hopkins, Free Form Patterns , that featured session work by the 13th Floor Elevators' rhythm section. International Artist was based out of Goldstar Studios which is now known as SugarHill Studios in Houston,TX. SugarHills Studios is still in operation.

The label originally folded in 1971 but was revived by Lelan Rogers in 1978. Rogers released a box-set of all 12 reissued albums. In 1980 the double-LP Epitaph for a Legend (IA #13) reissued rare International Artists tracks from Roky Erickson's first band, The Spades; early demos by the Red Crayola; and forgotten relics from other Texas blues and psychedelic artists. A six-CD box set, The Best of International Artists, was released in 2003 and included the entire Epitaph compilation, along with reissues of the debut albums by the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, Red Krayola, Lost & Found, and Bubble Puppy.

In 2008, now under the control of Charly Records, the label began to re-issue all of its past albums, together with some rarities and previously unheard recordings, including a 10-CD box set dedicated solely to the 13th Floor Elevators.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 13th Floor Elevators</span> American rock band

The 13th Floor Elevators was an American rock band from Austin, Texas, United States, formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland. The band was together from 1965 to 1969, and during that period released four albums and seven singles for the International Artists record label.

<i>Easter Everywhere</i> 1967 album by the 13th Floor Elevators

Easter Everywhere is the second studio album by the American psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators. It was released on 25 October 1967, through record label International Artists. It is regarded by many critics to be one of the finest psychedelic albums ever released.

The Moving Sidewalks were an American four-person psychedelic blues rock band formed in 1966 from Houston, Texas. They released several singles and an album, before bassist Don Summers and keyboardist Tom Moore were drafted into the army, bringing the band to an end. Guitarist Billy Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell then formed band ZZ Top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roky Erickson</span> American musician (1947–2019)

Roger Kynard "Roky" Erickson was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member and the leader of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Music of Texas</span> Overview of music traditions in the U.S. state of Texas

The U.S. state of Texas has long been a center for musical innovation and is the birthplace of many notable musicians. Texans have pioneered developments in Tejano and Conjunto music, Rock 'n Roll, Western swing, jazz, punk rock, country, hip-hop, electronic music, gothic industrial music, religious music, mariachi, psychedelic rock, zydeco and the blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Star Records</span> American independent record label

Gold Star Records is an American independent record label, which was founded in 1941.

Radar Records was a UK-based record label formed in late 1977 by Martin Davis who had previously worked at United Artists Records, and Andrew Lauder, who had previously been head of A&R at the UK divisions of Liberty Records and United Artists. The label's first records were released in early 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charalambides</span> American musical group

Charalambides is an avant garde musical group originally from Houston, Texas, United States and lately of Austin, Texas. Formed in 1991 by Tom Carter, Christina Carter and Kyle Silfer, they have followed in the footsteps of other Texas psychedelic music artists such as the 13th Floor Elevators, and Red Crayola. Later members include Jason Bill and Heather Leigh Murray, but the band has long considered itself primarily a duo between Tom and Christina Carter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Krayola</span> American band

The Red Krayola is an American avant rock band from Houston, Texas formed in 1966 by the trio of singer/guitarist Mayo Thompson, drummer Frederick Barthelme, and bassist Steve Cunningham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayo Thompson</span> American musician and visual artist (born 1944)

Mayo Thompson is an American musician and visual artist best known as the leader of the experimental rock band Red Krayola.

Bubble Puppy is an American psychedelic rock band originally active from 1967 to 1972. They are best remembered for their Top 20 hit, "Hot Smoke & Sasafrass".

<i>The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators</i> 1966 album by the 13th Floor Elevators

The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators is the debut studio album by the 13th Floor Elevators. The album's sound, featuring elements of psychedelia, hard rock, garage rock, folk, and blues, is notable for its use of the electric jug, as featured on the band's only hit, "You're Gonna Miss Me", which reached number 55 on the Billboard Charts with "Tried to Hide" as a B-side. Another single from the album, "Reverberation (Doubt)", reached number 129 on the Billboard's Bubbling Under Chart.

SugarHill Recording Studios is a recording studio in Houston, Texas. The studio was important in launching the careers of such artists as Lightnin' Hopkins, The Big Bopper, George Jones, the Sir Douglas Quintet, Roy Head, and Freddy Fender. It is renowned for its collection of vintage recording equipment, reverb chamber rooms, EMT plates and a long history of music. A landmark in the Houston music community, SugarHill celebrated its 69th year of operation in October 2011.

<i>The Parable of Arable Land</i> 1967 studio album by Red Krayola (with the Familiar Ugly)

The Parable of Arable Land is the first studio album by the Red Crayola. The album was considered psychedelic music when it was introduced, but later assessments describe it as a forerunner to avant/noise rock. With this album as introduction, Ritchie Unterberger assessed the band as a precursor to industrial rock. The album features free improvised pieces involving industrial power tools and a revving motorcycle dubbed "Free Form Freak-Out" played by a group of over 50 people known as "the Familiar Ugly" as well as notable instrumental cameos by label mate and 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're Gonna Miss Me (song)</span> 1966 song by the 13th Floor Elevators

"You're Gonna Miss Me" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators, written by Roky Erickson, and released as the group's debut single on Contact Records in 1966. It was reissued nationally on International Artists, in May 1966. Musically inspired by traditional jug band and R&B music, combined with the group's own experimentation, "You're Gonna Miss Me" with its Stacy Sutherland and Tommy Hall-penned B-side "Tried to Hide" was influential in developing psychedelic rock and garage rock, and was one of the earlier rock compositions to use the electric jug. Accordingly, critics often cite "You're Gonna Miss Me" as a bona fide garage rock song and a classic of the counterculture era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockin' Dave Allen</span> American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter

David Allen Stich, also known as Rockin' Dave Allen and Dave Allen, was an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. Allen performed live throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast area from the late 1950s through the early 1980s. He recorded for the Jin, Eric, International Artists, Rock-a-Billy and Big Orange record labels for a total of sixteen 45 sides and two vinyl LPs. Some of this material has also appeared on compact disc anthologies by Ace Records. Approximately eighty minutes of Allen’s recordings remain unreleased.

<i>God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It</i> Album by Red Krayola

God Bless the Red Krayola and All Who Sail With It is the second commercially released studio album by the American avant-rock band Red Krayola. It was released in May 1968 by the independent record label known as International Artists.

Lelan Edward Rogers was an American record producer and record company executive.

The Bad Seeds were an American garage rock band formed in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1964. Musically influenced by traditional blues and the raw recordings by the Rolling Stones, the group's sound was marked by primal proto-punk instrumental arrangements and vocals. The band released three singles, mostly originals penned by guitarist Mike Taylor, that have since become classics of garage rock, and have the Bad Seeds considered forerunners in popularizing the subgenre in Texas.

<i>Free Form Patterns</i> 1968 studio album by Lightnin Hopkins

Free Form Patterns is an album by the blues musician Lightnin' Hopkins backed by the rhythm section of the 13th Floor Elevators, recorded in Texas in 1968 and released on the International Artists label.

References

  1. The International Artists label, Story and Discography by Patrick Lundborg, 2008