Anybody know what happened to Document Records?

Subject: ANybody know what happened to Document?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:47 AM

Hi-
I've been trying to reach Document Records for several months now; I've E-mailed, phoned and faxed with no sucess. I (CAMSCO Music) have been a regular customer of theirs for several years, but I can't seem to reach them. Anybody know anything about what's up?

Subject: RE: ANybody know what happened to Document?
From: open mike
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 12:06 PM

thier web site says they are re-structuring right
now and have no answering machine.
www.document-records.com/
they also say there is a delay in orders.
Anybody wishing to leave a message please email:
[e-mail]
good luck (to you and to them)

Subject: RE: ANybody know what happened to Document?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 12:28 PM

Red Lick closed down a year or so again, when the owners, Ken and Ann Smith decided to retire. It was then taken over by Tony and Julie Chilcott, who had I gather previously worked for RL.

T & J C issued a catalogue in July of this year. They had planned to issue a second catalogue in September, but this does not appear to have materialised.

The most recent entry on their newspage is dated 10.09.08 and says that the new (September) catalogue is currently being delivered. Also, that search and order facilities will shortly be restored to the website. Up to now, they haven't been.

It looks to me as though RL have run into a bit of bother in getting off the ground. Hopefully it will only be temporary.

Subject: RE: ANybody know what happened to Document?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 09:07 AM

Sorry folks, I've just noticed. I repled to a query about Document Records with a reply about Red Lick. Two different outfits. Getting addled I am. Getting addled.

Subject: RE: Anybody know what happened to Document?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 02:51 PM

Document Records posted updated information October 27 - http://www.document-records.com/

Apparently, they're still not out of the woods.

I have always thought Document was a US firm, since they specialize in reissues of early American "roots" recordings. Turns out, they're in the UK. There's a bit of information about them in Wikipedia.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Anybody know what happened to Document?
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 07:25 PM

Joe, Document was founded by Johnny Parth, an Austrian, who sold it in 2000 to Gary Atkinson in the UK. See link below for details:

Document.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Anybody know what happened to Document?
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 10:49 PM

Well, I've re-established contact with them, and they're processing my (July) order. CAMSCO carries the Document catalog--an awesome collection. Document claims to have every blues and gospel recording made prior to WWII.

It's a tremendous relief to know that they're functioning again.

Subject: RE: Anybody know what happened to Document?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 18 Jun 16 - 06:12 PM

the following news about DOCUMENT RECORDS extracted from their
recent e-mail.

"Document Goes Totally Digital (well almost)
We are writing to let you know that events have conspired to make it no longer viable for Document Records to continue to press and sell CDs for the time being. We are not ruling it out for the future but for now we are transitioning towards a 100 per cent digital catalogue
Many of you know that CDs sales have long since been dropping across the industry. Document had managed to weather the storm with a combination of our website sales and   USA distribution via Allegro Music. For the last year or so Allegro had been struggling financially causing us to face many late or missed payments. Now they have capsized completely and our hopes of recovering what we owed by them have been dashed.   We were half expecting and had begun to prepare for the worst.
The Future of Document Records
Our catalogue will be still available in digital format   . Our web developers are putting the finishing touches to our own Document Download store where you will be able to purchase full albums, individual tracks and individual booklet notes as required.
We are busy working on new digital titles, and we are looking to expand our digital repertoire. We have Dance Band, Jazz, Hawaiian, Scottish Folk and African   albums in the pipe line so watch this space. I think you already know that we love Christmas here at Document and there is a 5th Blues, Blues Christmas digital album being complied even as we write.
We might also expand into a bit of merchandise.-not really our thing but we have to move with the times. We have lots of new articles and info waiting to be uploaded and this will be made available by our forthcoming new Blog pages. We will also continue to keep our Facebook page as active as ever.
The current CD Stock
We have decided to offer the remaining stock at a massively reduced price to our best customers—YOU. We know you have loved our promotions and this is a final chance to get those CDs on your bucket list at only £1.99 a piece (including any taxes ) that is about $3 or less or about Euros 2.70.
If you recently purchased CDs at £4,17, well thank you as you allowed us to continue trading.
We are offering ALL the remaining stock except for Mississippi Fiddle Tunes and Songs from the 1930s for £1.99. Our remaining catalogues are also priced at £1.99 (including any taxes) that is about $ 3 or less or about   Euros 2.70.
They are now out of date in terms of releases but they are work of art to anyone with an interest in pre-war blues.
I think we say this in every mailing but we mean it. We think we have the best fans of all and we can't thank you enough for your support over the last 16 years. Every time you bought a CD direct from us you allowed us to continue to produce CDs.
It has been our pleasure to keep this historic archive alive in the physical format and we will continue to do our best to preserve and expand it in the digital world.   
We also regret to tell you that Daniel and Alex, whom regular customers know so well, will be finishing at the end of June. We worked together as small family run company and to lose them in this way has been very upsetting. If we can find a way back in terms of CD production they will re-join us "


I'm sorry to see this - but at least the recordings remain available
though not as physical media.

Thomas.