Document records

Document Records is an independent British music label founded in 1985 . The label specializes in the release of restored blues , bluegrass , gospel , spiritual and jazz recordings from the period from 1890 to the middle of the 20th century . It has been operated from Bladnoch since 2000 by the Scottish couple Gary and Gillian Atkinson .

Document Records should not be confused with Documents , a German sub-label of the Membran Entertainment Group GmbH , some of which also specializes in the publication of historical recordings.

history

Since the 1970s , various music labels have made it their business to make old recordings , such as B. with Country Blues , to be released again. The Austrian Johnny Parth was one of the producers of these projects . During his time as DJ and President of the Hot Club de Vienne , he was already issuing occasional long-playing records about jazz musicians of the 1920s for members of the club. With his label Roots , founded in the late 1960s , he released around sixty long-playing records until he ceased operations due to financial reasons. Thanks to projects by labels such as Wolf , RST or Matchbox , he was soon able to put together a large record collection, whereupon he founded Document Records in 1985 .

Initially, recordings by the respective artists were published on long-playing records in chronological order, from 1990 on CD and later also as a download. The aim of Document Records was initially to publish all recordings of American blues and gospel music from 1890 to 1943. Here the company was based on the music guide Blues and Gospel Records 1890-1943 by Robert MW Dixon, John Godrich and Howard W. Rye. An important trading partner of Document Records after the changeover to CD production was the Arhoolie label in San Francisco , which always bought 250 newly released CDs. In the early days around 100 CDs were released each year. For the complete, chronological publication of the recordings of a respective artist or music group, collectors for loans of their records as well as photos have been considered over and over again.

The couple Gary and Gillian Atkinson, who were responsible for many liner notes for the CD booklets, were also involved. For example, Gary Atkinson wrote the booklet for four CD sets for the mother of the blues , Ma Rainey . After all blues and gospel recordings from 1890 to 1943 had appeared in 1997, Parth Document Records sold in 2000 to Gary and Gilian Atkinson. The musical direction has meanwhile been expanded to include bluegrass, spirituals, country music and old-time music , but also church sermons that have been released on records. The company is located in a former dairy near Bladnoch, Scotland. In 2013, Document Records released a number of recordings in chronological order, including with Blind Willie McTell , in collaboration with Jack White's label Third Man Records . The online shop was launched in 2017.

Others

The publication of American recordings from the pre-war period through Document Records is repeatedly in demand from universities and academics for studies in the context of, for example, Afro-American music , but also social studies. In addition, restored recordings are or have been used by other companies such as Sony Music or Warner Bros and in television series such as The Simpsons .

Artist (selection)

Albert Ammons Cleo Patra Brown Butterbeans and Susie Gene Campbell Doctor Clayton Lillie Delk Christian Bernice Edwards "Big Boy" Teddy Edwards Sleepy John Estes Jimmie Gordon Leothus "Lee" Green Fletcher Henderson Winston Holmes Alberta Hunter

Skip James Cripple Clarence Lofton Charlie McFadden Blind Willie McTell Al Miller Memphis Minnie Paul Oliver Kid Ory Ma Rainey Washboard Sam Ollie Shepard JT Smith Mamie Smith Sister Ernestine Washington Jimmy Yancey

Awards

In 2018 Document Records received the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for its work .

Web links

• Homepage Document Records
• Online sales of document records
• Document Records at Discogs
• Keeping the Blues Alive Organization

See also

• Classics

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Document Records - Vintage Blues and Jazz. Retrieved April 14, 2020 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Document Records: An unlikely treasure trove of vintage gospel music. Retrieved April 14, 2020 . 
3. ^ Documents. In: Discogs. Retrieved April 15, 2020 . 
4. ^ ^{A b c d} Tommy Tatzber: Johnny Parth Document Records The archivist of the pre-war blues. Retrieved April 14, 2020 . 
5. ^ ^{A b c} Gary Atkinson of Document Records - Keeping the Blues Alive. In: downatthecrossroads. May 7, 2013, accessed April 14, 2020 . 
6. ^ Blues and Gospel Records 1890-1943. In: AbeBooks.co.uk. Retrieved April 15, 2020 . 
7. ^ Interview with Gary Atkinson of Document Records. Retrieved April 14, 2020 . 
8. ^ Evan Minsker, Jack White's Third Man Launches Document Records Reissue Series of Archival Blues Recordings. Retrieved April 14, 2020 (English). 
9. ^ Document Records - Affiliate Programs. Retrieved April 14, 2020 .