CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF SQUAWKS!
LOUNGE
Before his mysterious disappearance, Rufus Lightfoot was a rising star on the Deep Lounge scene. Rumours spread that he had started a relationship with background vocalist Mantis during their “Low Tide 1978” Tour. Those rumours were quickly overshadowed by news of his disappearance, leaving only his two albums: the revolutionary “Guiding Light” debut record, which defined Deep Lounge origins, and his eerily-submissive collection of romantic ballads “Calling on You.”
Originally the bassist for Rufus Lightfoot, Frankie Flats coninued his career as a bassist/vocalist/songwriter after Lightfoot’s disappearance. Despite the success of this Deep Lounge album featuring his smooth, rich vocal style, he was always known as a “bottom-feeder” and never booked a highly-visible tour or reached heights of stardom.
Mantis started her singing career as a background vocalist to Rufus Lightfoot. After Lightfoot’s disappearance, she went on to sing with King Bee (before his disappearance),The Wasps (before their disappearance), and was the last original member of Entymologie before cultivating an exclusively solo career. Although she never found a long-term following, her music is strong and decisive and has been used frequently as a model for new directions in Deep Lounge.
The audacious prodigy and one-time acting celebrity Harry Rasqal created this touching tribute album after his visit to the American South. Having obtained his fame in southern France, Rasqal found his way to Hollywood, before discovering Delta Blues. Combining the West Coast Lounge and southern blues scene, this album serves as his hommage the country which welcomed him after leaving his home.
A rising star and winner of the 1978 Let’s Make a Lizard Talent Showcase, Larry Lagarta’s soothing renditions of Frank Sinatra and Irving Berlin charts helped revitalize the genre. Sadly, addictions to small insects and workplace scandals related to his cold-blooded rehearsal style saw him leave the public eye and the recording scene. Once out-of-print, this album is due to be remastered and digitally re-released in the coming harvest.
We signed Ursa Blanchard to our label only in enough time for her final album. After her decades of taking the hearts of the coldest audiences, we were happy to be a small part of her lounge legacy.
Phyl Cestoda was a celebrity who seemed to come out of nowhere. A rapidly growing mega-star, numerous labels and studios began dedicating as many resources as possible to her sustainability. This album peaked at No.1 for five weeks on the Parasitic Charts before the lounge scene was reduced, flushing numerous singers out of the industry.
A brief hit as the result of even-shorter movie fame, this album and artist were propelled with the hit song “My Grandest Kiss” from the original motion picture soundtrack. This is the only album she released before retiring from acting and singing, pursuing a soon-fruitful career in production.
CLASSICAL
Our only Early Music album, you’ll want to sit back, put your feet up, and sip a Sultanate Rum while letting the voices flow over you. Classic hits include Mustelidae Lutinae; Divan Diva; Oraya, Araya, Kawai; I Would Paint 500 Tiles; Love Spraints a Picture; The Lap of Li Ban; and Makam Me Usul. In 1982, The Otterman Empire planned a joint album with The Wolves, but The Wolves completed the album without them. After numerous Otterman choirs became attached to chairs of Early Music Departments in Universities, need for independent Ottermans lessened. Dwindling membership led to the choir merging with OtterChor, but both groups were disbanded soon after.
Touted as the “Classical Beach Boys”, the Palm Sunday Tree Choir brings their unique beach-classical repertoire to the sands of the Best Coast. Born from the ashes of choirs who relocated there many generations ago, the new ensemble has sprung up rapidly with captivating verility. With hits such as Wood Vibrations, I Wish You Were Pine, and California Firs, you will wearout your rewind button!
With unparallelled virtuosity, Stalker Katakania brings us through both the unforgettable and lesser-known treasures of Grass Flute. Some works ebb with an organic intimacy, while others are disconcertingly over-bearing. The intensity and conflicts of love are addressed through Stalker’s interpretations. Once you play this album, it will never leave your presence.
HIP HOP
Started by the revolutionary rapper IceFLOE, The Coop rattled the music scene with their subversive and controversial topics. Growing in size to peak at a full flock in the early 90s, The Coop brought untouched subject matter into the music scene like squid, nesting, arctic temperatures, and not being able to fly. The Coop still marches on, finding full support in familiar venues and only submerging from public eye to create more tracks. They are the oldest band retaining its original members.
New Orleans Bounce band 2 LIVE ZOO broke out of the barn in the mid 90’s.……
The best-selling debut album of Birds N the Wood was made famous by their music video and song Squawk This Way (also the album title) which was a collaboration with the avian rockband Aeromyth.
Notorious BOG’s debut album under the watchful production eye of Chops Mutton reshaped the yet uncultivated grounds of Wool Hop. Despite its success, Notorious BOG would sign with Farmhouse Records. Later albums were criticized for their muddy lyrics (alledgedly due to too much grass in the recording sessions) causing his popularity to slowly sink. This original album has its ups and downs, but remains the entrenched footing of Wool Hop.
HARD ROCK
The Pythonesses’ fame crept slowly to the top of the charts. The experimental rock quintet (we don’t know who the other person is) struck quickly with a revitalization of Mystic Wave vocals, reaching No. 25 on the Metaphysical Charts. It would be several months before their continually hovering popularity would place them No.1 for an entire Mercury in Retrograde. After allegations of damage to hotel rooms (specifically drywall), the Pythonesses reduced touring to inside armoirs, forest clearings, and JC Penny. They came back to life in the 80s as Mystic Wave was reignited, but slipped back to obscurity after the success of Dolby’s “She Blinded Me with Science.”
Minimalist DaDa rock sensation Anita Colby released this time-bending musical experience in mid 1979. Using cutting-edge synthesizer looping technology, the original theme is placed in the midst of the variations, leaving the listeners to wonder where it really started.
True sufferers of “Sophmore Syndrome”, The Anglers reached peak popularity with their raw, hard rock expressionism on their debut album, Open Up & Say Cod. After securing such a loyal following, their next album of soft rock ballads “Anything for Love” sunk to the bottom of the charts, leaving their fans in the dark. Many felt baited into a raw deal. The debut album still hangs out there, attracting more unsuspecting fans to this day.
Angus Topside’s solo album represents the prime cut of Beef Metal. Originally from Kansas, he cut his teeth on the New York Strip as a sideliner for Chuck Round. After six years as lead-guitarist for The Herd (becoming reknowned for his grinding solos), he went out on his own with songs of his socialist poetry manifesto, “Redder the Better.” The fresh lyrics, filled with spicy overtones cut deep into the meaty tastes of hungry listeners.
A true one-of-a-kind release from this authoritive and disassociated ensemble, Vacuum Time shows the frailty and vulnerablility of these independent rockers. Aggressive, forthright, and unpredictable, this album corners you in its voluminous sonority.
The most controversial rockband in the catalogue, The Wall Ballerz found initial popularity in the 1980s. However, it quickly became apparent that their songs had been stolen from lesser-known songwriters without permission, credit, or renumeration. Although there was extensive public outcry and copious law suits, The Wall Ballerz were defended by higher-ups in the music industry and saw no consequences for their actions (nor did the wronged songwriters ever receive their proper due). RPM dropped The Wall Ballerz immediately after their debut album, but we are required by law to continue carrying the release. After calculating the required and mis-directed royalties to the band, RPM donates the remaining purchase amount to the original, uncredited songwriters.
This short-lived mosh-band toured the cliffs and gazebos of the world’s finest tourist destinations. The unusually high ticket prices for concerts capped their success, despite many shoveling-in large amounts of cash. As the indie-scene flourished and the DIY revolution unfolded, their demand quickly fell and their performances became a mere symbol of affluence among the wealthy.
FOLK
The Gruffs signed with RPM after a moderately successful debut album Hot to Trot (now also in the RPM catalogue). Their success was sealed with their second album, Family Ties, which gave them their first Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Regrettably, each member was pursued by separate record labels for solo albums. They each signed independently of each other for solo debuts at different studios. Only one member stayed on RPM’s roster, but none would ever release a full solo album. A reunion tour is planned in the future, but no dates are set.
This album was truly a happy accident. The group was singing in the forest, and a record producer heard them.
Known for soaring melodies, precocial harmonies, and colonial lyrics, this duo dove deep into unknown waters. After the success of their hot song “Mrs. Razorbill” from the motion picture, The Incubator. After numerous successes, Alca began to grow restless with his life-long music partner. An acrimonious split ensued which had never been expected in the Avian Folk community. Neither attained the success they had acheived together, though Alca continues to release solo albums for other labels.
This duo’s notoriety came and went during the revival of Alternative Andean Folk Pop. Frequently in extensive costume, there was controversy of whether they were even alpacas until later in their touring career. Known for their positive attitude and spitting, the duo brought together many fringe audiences whom felt as though they did not belong in the general pop scene. Although the vivid genre faded into dreamlike memories, the resulting social impact cannot be ignored.
Lonesome traveller Buffalo Soldier was known for criss-crossing the continent performing in mostly-empty rural dive bars. Leaving behind a songbook at each location, his songs would spread in popularity long after he left. The songs were frequently tailored to fit each location, though the original tune and aesthetic remained same in each rendition. Most songs dealt with honoring those who built and maintained small-town America. There were also many odes and calls to local showgirls despite the locations not having any known nightlife scene. Never returning to a previous venue, once his trek was complete, Buffalo retired from the music industry. Yet, as his songbooks are scattered and sung nationwide, his songs are still growing in popularity to this day.
SWING
The only swing band ever signed to RPM was The Commuters. The band members lived across the central Mississippi River valleys, meeting to rehearse and perform in Chicago, St. Louis, and Tuscola. They were known for frequently being thrown off their trains for “ruckussy behavior” and engaging in “balley-hoo.” After meeting the ire of booking managers across the midwest and heartland, the group began to “own their style” and held concerts on the trains themselves. The band would buy out entire railcars and provide the tickets to fans in return for payment.
POP
Pop duo Yin Yang melted our hearts with their love songs. The songs of their first album, “Kiss Me Twice” were covered so many times, it was joked that anyone who heard them had their own versions of the songs. Scandal hit when it was discovered that their were four members of Yin Yang. The famed stars were merely hired by the actual Yin and Yang to sing songs the original couple had composed. The thought of all four (both couples) creating such intimate romantic songs led to rumours of swinging which reduced their fanbase. The original Yin and Yang attempted a second album showing their authenticity, where they themselves sang their songs, titled Cross My Heart. Despite the equal level of song quality, many fans missed the colourful voices of the hired singers on the debut album.
We were the proud discoverers of the Backsheep Boys, and darted them into immediate stardom. As there is no loyalty in this cess-pool we call a music industry, they quickly signed with Farmhouse Records and proceeded to lose their entire musical vision: releasing mediocre, generic, and meaningless tunes into their own public oblivion. Know who your friends are, peeps.
PUNK
Funk/Punk (PFUNK) crossover band IA were let loose to record anything they wanted at the RPM studios. A mix of western/caribbean/slavic folk/English punk, and funk, IA was given no rules or guidelines, only to “Jam.” The result was their cult hit, Double Parked. Although they spend their time on extended tours around the world, no concerts are ever publically announced or streamed. Their shows are generally attended by accident and no evidence lingers afterward. If you hear a faint whistling on a backwoods road or a Loading Zone at night, roll down your windows and look for a dim green light. You may just be lucky enough to hear them in person.
HEAVY METAL
