Recommended Records (RēR) is a British independent record label and distribution network founded by Chris Cutler with Nick Hobbs in March 1978. RēR features largely "Rock in Opposition" and related music, but it also distributes selected music released on other independent labels.

In 1982 Cutler established November Books, the publishing wing of Recommended Records, and between 1985 and 1997, Recommended Records and November Books published RēR Quarterly, a "quarterly" sound-magazine edited by Cutler.

In 1989 Recommended Records became known as RēR Megacorp with a turnover of £180,000 in 1994.

History

thumb|130px|left|RēR founder, [[Chris Cutler, November 2007.]]

When English avant-rock group Henry Cow toured Europe between 1975 and 1977 they encountered many bands in a similar situation to their own: they were forced to operate outside the music industry that refused to recognise their music. In 1978 these groups got together and formed Rock in Opposition (RIO). and "part of the continuing legacy of RIO".

Recommended Records grew from "Ré", a private record label in 1978 to "RēR Megacorp" in 1989, an internationally recognised independent record company with distributors worldwide.

Just as Recommended Records's name evolved over the years, so did its logo.

Imprints

Recommended Records has the following imprints:

  • Points East – established to release experimental music from Central Europe
  • Freedonia – established to release records by Půlnoc, formerly The Plastic People of the Universe
  • Political Underground – established to release records by Unrest Work and Play
  • Fred Records – dedicated to re-releasing the back catalogue of Fred Frith recordings plus previously unreleased material
  • This is! – set up by Charles Hayward and Charles Bullen to re-release This Heat's back catalogue

Affiliated labels

A distribution network of affiliated labels exists throughout the world to promote experimental, unusual and innovative music. While many of these labels are distinct operations, they share a common musical ethic. Some of these affiliated labels are:

  • Ad Hoc Records – RēR USA label
  • Locus Solus – Recommended Records Japan
  • These Records – independent UK label and mail-order shop
  • RecRec Music – RēR Switzerland, an independent Swiss label (no longer active)
  • Review Records – ReRe Germany, an independent German label
  • No Man's Land – an imprint of Review (ReRe) Records
  • AYAA – Recommended France, an independent French label (no longer active)
  • Cuneiform Records – US distributor of RēR, an independent US label

Artists

These are some of the artists that have had music released or re-released on the Recommended Records label.

  • 5uu's
  • After Dinner
  • AMM
  • Paolo Angeli
  • Arcane Device
  • Art Bears
  • Biota/Mnemonists
  • Peter Blegvad
  • Brainville 3
  • Cassiber
  • Lindsay Cooper
  • Chris Cutler
  • Peter Cusack
  • Tod Dockstader
  • Bob Drake
  • Faust
  • Janet Feder
  • Fred Frith
  • Lutz Glandien
  • Light Coorporation
  • Ground Zero
  • Haco
  • Hail
  • Alfred Harth
  • Henry Cow
  • Tim Hodgkinson
  • The Homosexuals
  • Robert Iolini
  • Kalahari Surfers
  • Keep the Dog
  • Boris Kovač
  • Les 4 Guitaristes de l'Apocalypso-Bar
  • Albert Marcoeur
  • Elio Martusciello
  • Massacre
  • R. Stevie Moore
  • The Necks
  • News from Babel
  • John Oswald
  • P53
  • Zeena Parkins
  • Lesego Rampolokeng
  • Jon Rose
  • The Science Group
  • Skeleton Crew
  • Slapp Happy
  • Sun Ra
  • Richard Aaker Trythall
  • Thinking Plague
  • This Heat
  • Jack Vees
  • Charles Vrtacek
  • When

RēR compilations

  • Various artists: Recommended Records Sampler (1982, 2xLP, Recommended Records)
  • Various artists: Recommended Records Sampler (1982, EP, Recommended Records)
  • Various artists: RēR Quarterly (1985–1997, LP/CD + magazine, Recommended Records)

See also

  • List of independent UK record labels

References

  • Chris Cutler homepage.
  • RēR Megacorp. Recommended Records UK.
  • Recommended Records at SquidCo.