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22 Dec 04 - 03:47 PM (#1363472) Subject: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST Can anyone please help me learn something of the early history of Vermont's Philo Records? I know that Rounder acquired it in the 1980s following Philo's bankruptcy. I'd like to know who started it and when, along with as much of the circumstances as I can. Additionally, I'd love to find a label discography from the pre-Rounder days--to get a sense of what the catalog looked like in the '70s and early '80s. I've googled using various search approaches, so far without any luck. Links to any web sites with info would be ideal. Thanks all, Michael Scully Austin, TX |
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22 Dec 04 - 05:26 PM (#1363545) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Guy Wolff It was a great barn to record in .. We went in to record Lui Collin's first record "Made in New England" in late 1978 and early 1979 .Horace Williums , Bill Lauft and myself . I remeber the mikes were so good they had to turn off the fish tank while we recorded ..I think i need a pillow under my foot cause of the stamping coming through !!! Parts of the cd are dated but I like it still. Im dated too at any rate !! Utah Phillip had a caboose on the property just above the barn to come home to . I remember the owner ( Steve something I think) went to Suffield Acadamy around the same time as my brother. There was a great picture of him on a sportster I remember in the office. ( funny the things one remebers) Pricilla Heardman and Paul Winter were both recording around the same time... Jim Ringer and Mary Mcalister as well . They were in North Ferrisberg VT . Oh yes the record started as a " Fretless lable( The artist helps with costs) but since the record was a success it was moved over to the phillo lable on the second printing ( I think I have this right ) All the best to all here . Yours Guy |
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22 Dec 04 - 08:01 PM (#1363653) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: open mike mary's name is McCaslin....and she is still performing in santa cruz calif. area (Jim passed away a decade or more ago) I thought Philo was in Philo Californai, and had some connection to Kicking Mule...or was it Flying Fish? here is a taste of what they had on their sampler http://www.librarymedia.net/musiccdcollection/4e05df07.html |
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22 Dec 04 - 08:48 PM (#1363673) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Mike Regenstreif The original Philo Records was started in 1972 by Bill Schubart and his half-brother Michael Couture. Bill and Michael had a 16-track recording studio called Earth Audio Techniques in a converted barn in North Ferrisburg, VT, kind of behind Mount Philo. It was almost like a second home for a lot of us in the '70s. If I recall correctly, Craig Morton, who sang sea shanteys, was the first Philo artist. Utah Phillips came on board very early on as did some traditional French Canadian musicians including Jean Carignan and Phillipe Bruneau. Within a couple of years, Philo had a very impressive roster of artists including Jim Ringer, Mary McCaslin, Jim Brewer, Priscilla Herdman, Tom Mitchell, Martin Grosswendt, Jean Redpath, Lew London, Dave Van Ronk, Jay Ungar & Lyn Hardy (I remember when Lyn was pregnant with Ruthy Ungar, now of the Mammals), Rosalie Sorrels and many others. All of this was happening about 100 miles from where I live and I spent a lot of time hanging out at Philo. I was there for a lot of great recording sessions, parties, etc. and made a lot of great friends, many that I still keep in touch with. Things collapsed financially for Philo around 1980 and the catalogue and name was sold to Rounder. In the early-1970s, Rounder, Flying Fish and Philo were all new folk labels and they quickly established themselves as the three leading folk labels. As I mentioned, Rounder took over Philo when they collapsed financially. They also bought out Flying Fish after the untimely death of Fish's founder Bruce Kaplan. Bruce Kaplan was a very close friend of mine that I first met around 1974 or so when he used the Earth Audio studio to record Luke Baldwin's album on Flying Fish. I have a lot of great memories of those days. Mike Regenstreif |
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22 Dec 04 - 09:53 PM (#1363690) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Guy Wolff Mike, Thanks for the great discription and spelling everyones name properly !It was a wonderful envirnment to work in . Post production was almost as much fun as the recording days.. Thats not always true so it says a lot for the whole crew up there. All the best , Guy |
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23 Dec 04 - 08:30 AM (#1364009) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Midchuck We went in to record Lui Collin's first record "Made in New England" in late 1978 and early 1979 .Horace Williums , Bill Lauft and myself . Cool. Guy, us Woodchucks recorded our second (1999) CD at Horace's studio in Starksboro, in the stone castle he built. He did all the engineering, mixing, and general production help, and put a piano part on the title cut ("Fill One Room"). Peter. |
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23 Dec 04 - 11:40 AM (#1364171) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Phil Cooper I don't know much of the Philo history. I do remember back when the label was new, that I would pay more attention to Philo releases than some other labels, because the quality of the artists was so high. Mary McCaslin's Way out West is a classic, as was Utah Phillips' Good Though. There was not a bad cut on Priscilla Herman's Water Lily. If I was looking for something unfamiliar that I might be interested in checking out the fact that Philo put it out put it towards the top of the list. |
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23 Dec 04 - 07:45 PM (#1364537) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Bill Hahn//\\ Would you all say that might be a reason that Paul Winter named his record label--Earth Beat---having to do with the above thoughts? Bill Hahn |
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23 Dec 04 - 08:17 PM (#1364552) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive) Bill, Paul Winter has an album called Earthbeat, but the name of his record label is Living Music. |
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23 Dec 04 - 09:16 PM (#1364571) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Guy Wolff Mid Chuck great to hear anything about Horace .. a wonderful wonderful old friend.. Its his Welsh haratige that got him moving all those stone around to make a dwelling !! He has always had inpecable musical taste.. He and Lui Collins had a duo that was just smashing in the early 70's . Later he and Bill Lauft toured together .. Horace has been a favorite for years ... Sorry for the slite thread slide.. Being a Philo recording artist it wasnt far a field !! Bill and Alonzo I had the fun of playing an Irish session in town with Paul W.earlier this year. He is a very funny guy and an easy musician to follow .. Chello , Claranett , and pounding piano with wonderful kids step danceing ... Heaven ! All the best , Guy |
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24 Dec 04 - 12:49 AM (#1364670) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Fifteen Iguana In the late seventies my inlaws moved to Vermont and my wife and I made a point of making a pilgrimage to the label that had put out great records by Utah Phillips, Rosalie Sorrels, etc. WHat I remember best is that Mt. Philo looked EXACTLY like the drawing on the albums. I recognized it immediately. We drove past the barn twicen ot believing that the barn could really be what we were looking for. The owner was very nice, sat down and chatted with us, showed us the studio, etc. I was very sorry when they went down. Fifteen Iguana |
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01 Jul 11 - 09:10 AM (#3179676) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,jl check this out. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200302/ai_n9218417/ |
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01 Jul 11 - 03:34 PM (#3179892) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Thomas Stern Below is a list of the FRETLESS releases. Missing many numbers - PLEASE send updates additions and corrections. Thanks. Best wishes, Thomas. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 101 1971 Champion Fiddlers The Campbell Family 103 1974 Northwest Regional Oldtime Fiddle Champion Clem Myers 106 1974 Homemade Goodies Debby McClatchy 107 1974 Volume 2 Joe Robertson 108 1974 Blue Sky and Scraped Knuckles Charles Brauer 111 From Old Leaves Bill Russell 113 1975 Harvest Calliope's Children 114 1975 Beans Taste Fine Papa John Kolstad and Wildman Mike Turk 116 1975 Love Can't Be Bitter All the Time Bob Franke 117 1975 HOMECOMING Danny and Judy Rose-Redwood 118 1976 the reconciliation Mary Rhines 119 1975 Castles In The Air Jigs Reels & Airs Rodney Miller, vln; Randy Miller, p. 120 parakeet morning Gilby Hager 121 1976 Dirt Pusher's Blues Joan Crane BYE BYE BABY BLUES DEEP RIVER BLUES WHEN FIRST UNTO THIS COUNTRY MY EGGS DON'T TASTE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU JAMES ALLEY BLUES JUNE APPLE STATEBORO BLUES I'M SATISFIED SHUFFLE RAG DRUNKARD'S LAMENT EAST VIRGINIA BLUES DIRT PUSHER'S BLUES xxx 1975 BLOWN AWAY IN THE COUNTRY The John Cassel Band 123 1977 Carolina 12-String John Stanfield 124 1977 Live Inside Pine Island 125 1977 Sidewalk Shoes Ed Snodderly 126 1977 Living Just the Same Burt Porter 127 1977 Thief In The Night John Perrault 128 1978 LIKE A BIRD Susan Joy 130 borderline material Rep. Danny Gore 131 1978 Pigeons On My Brain Dave Griffiths 134 1978 Made In New England Lui Collins 135 1978 Espana! Juan De La Sierra 136 Stay On The Farm Arm and Hammer String Band 138 1978 Angels Hovering 'Round Jean Redpath and Linda Neustadt 139 1979 Captain Jack and the Mermaid Meg Davis 140 1979 Gee Ain't It Grand When You Hear That Band North Fork Rounders 141 1979 Sowin on the Mountain Bluestein Family 142 1980 Honor The Earth Molly Scott/Sumitra 143 1980 gonna die with a smile if it kills me Jon Gailmor 144 1980 Giddyap Napoleon Double Decker String Band 145 1980 Greatest Hits Volume XI Alan Kelly 146 1975 Fly By Night String Band Fly By Night String Band 147 1980 Many Blessings On Wings of Song 148 trust in love Robbie Gass 149 Listen To My SOng Dick Staber 151 with friends like these Lindner Brothers 153 COUNTY DOWN County Down 154 1981 Anywhere Is Home Jean Redpath and Lisa Neustadt 155 1982 Scratchin' the Surface Gordon Stone 156 1981 Let The Dove Come In Bluestein Family 157 1981 background music Glenn Jenks 158 1981 The Dance In Your Eye Wall Matthews 159 Feast or Famine Brecon Beacon 160 1981 Sentimental Songs Old Time Melodies Double Decker Stringband 161 Clazz Guitar Jim Thompson 162 Cathexis Cathexis 163 1982 Wizzard's Dance Tim Moran, Tony Vacca 164 1983 Thundering Silence Oxymora Michael Delalla 165 1983 Living In The Country County Down 170 Tonal Vision Cathexis 171 One Size Feets All Different Shoes 172 1986 Tranquility Grange Anne Dodson Alcazar Dance Series: 200 1977 Kitchen Junket Yankee Ingenuity 201 1978 Maritime Dance Party Jerry Robichaud 202 Potluck and Dance Tonite! Sandy Bradley |
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01 Jul 11 - 08:32 PM (#3180014) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: pdq Below is a list of the FRETLESS releases... "Blown Away In The Country" ~ The John Cassel Band "Carolina 12-String" ~ John Stanfield "County Down" ~ County Down "Clazz Guitar" ~ Jim Thompson "Living In The Country" ~ County Down I should still have multiple copies of the there five vinyl LPs. All are sealed and stored in climate-controlled room. Please PM me is interested in one or more. |
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07 Jul 11 - 01:27 PM (#3183196) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Thomas Stern I need information for the following FRETLESS catalog numbers - Album title/Performer; any additional info if you can provide it (date, personnel, track lists...) Thanks! Best wishes, Thomas. any catalog number below 101 102 104 105 133 150 152 166 167 168 169 173 and above up to 199 any 200 series catalog number above 202 any 300 series catalog number above 301 any 400 series any 500 series catalog number above 501 any other series ??? Anyone know what these additional series were for, or how they were designated? |
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05 Nov 11 - 04:08 PM (#3250966) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,Jesse Pelton From the back of Fretless 200 ("Kitchen Junket," as mentioned above): "The Fretless Dance Series (200) is a joint venture of Alcazar Productions, Inc. and Philo Records, Inc. Alcazar is a corporation composed of working dance musicians and callers. The intent of the corporation is to research, record and publish traditional dance music and through Philo Records make it available to interested individuals everywhere. We believe that good dance music of all types can also be good listening music, and that making good dance records available will foster the tradition of using live music for dancing." The dancing in question was primarily contra and square dancing, both forms derived from the traditional dances of the British Isles. Alcazar was owned by Joan Pelton, an accomplished dance pianist who can be heard on "The Hammered Dulcimer" by Fennig's All Stars (Front Hall Records). She's also my mom. Consistent with the intent to encourage both dancing and listening, FR 200A had just the music, and FR 200B included dance calls. Two other notable Dance Series titles (the best selling, I think), were FR 203 and FR 204, "New England Chestnuts" and New England Chestnuts 2" by Rodney and Randy Miller. FR 204 was released in 1981; I'm not sure about FR 203. I probably could have recited the entire Fretless catalog from memory 25 years ago. Not any more, sadly. |
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22 Feb 12 - 12:00 AM (#3311728) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_Records_(folk) |
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07 Mar 12 - 09:16 PM (#3318993) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,John Ferguson I'm looking for Fretless 159 -- Brecon Beacon by Feast or Famine -- do you think that album exists anywhere? |
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07 Mar 12 - 09:37 PM (#3319001) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: Thomas Stern http://www.ebay.com/itm/Feast-or-Famine-Brecon-Beacon-Fretless-LP-159-/360320175326?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item53e4c18cde and from other similar sources.... Best wishes, Thomas. |
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08 Jul 12 - 05:41 AM (#3373533) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,Jeff Pidgeon What happened to the barn studio? Was it gutted? Razed? Is it still being used? I remember when it was a studio (rode past it as a kid on family drives), but never went inside. |
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09 Jul 12 - 02:36 AM (#3373835) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,guest Fred Holstein from Chicago recorded an album at the behest of Utah Phillips w/Jim Tulio on upright bass in '79. Didn't quite capture Fred's charm as an artist. Later live recordings of Fred nailed him to a T. He was GREAT live. Believe Jim Tulio was on Lui Collin's relaese as well. Priscilla Herdman graciously recorded one of my songs on her 'Forgotten Dreams' release. Rounder owns the Flying Fish and Philo back catalogs and were kind enough to send me a royalty check after some 30 odd years. I bought a real nice commuter bicycle with the money. :-) |
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24 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM (#3604436) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST I have the Philo LP by Tom Mitchell. Greats songs and singing. Anybody know what ever happened to Mr. Mitchell? |
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25 Feb 14 - 09:16 PM (#3604914) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST How about Doris Abrahams? |
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08 Jun 15 - 05:35 PM (#3715308) Subject: RE: History of Philo Records? From: GUEST,JPL What About Road Apple with Dan Gillmor and the infamous Doug Mcclaran |