History of Philo Records?

Subject: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 03:47 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 05:26 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: open mike
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 08:01 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 08:48 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 22 Dec 04 - 09:53 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Midchuck
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 08:30 AM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 11:40 AM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Bill Hahn//\\
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 07:45 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Alonzo M. Zilch (inactive)
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 08:17 PM

Bill,

Paul Winter has an album called Earthbeat, but the name of his record label is Living Music.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 23 Dec 04 - 09:16 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Fifteen Iguana
Date: 24 Dec 04 - 12:49 AM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,jl
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 09:10 AM

check this out.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200302/ai_n9218417/

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 03:34 PM

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

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: pdq
Date: 01 Jul 11 - 08:32 PM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 01:27 PM

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?

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,Jesse Pelton
Date: 05 Nov 11 - 04:08 PM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 12 - 12:00 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philo_Records_(folk)

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,John Ferguson
Date: 07 Mar 12 - 09:16 PM

I'm looking for Fretless 159 -- Brecon Beacon by Feast or Famine -- do you think that album exists anywhere?

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 07 Mar 12 - 09:37 PM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,Jeff Pidgeon
Date: 08 Jul 12 - 05:41 AM

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.

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 02:36 AM

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. :-)

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 14 - 01:10 PM

I have the Philo LP by Tom Mitchell. Greats songs and singing. Anybody know what ever happened to Mr. Mitchell?

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 14 - 09:16 PM

How about Doris Abrahams?

Subject: RE: History of Philo Records?
From: GUEST,JPL
Date: 08 Jun 15 - 05:35 PM

What About Road Apple with Dan Gillmor and the infamous Doug Mcclaran