2017 Blog

Cherry Red Records Celebrates 40th Anniversary

Cherry Red Records is officially 40 years young!

To celebrate our MD Karen Emanuel along with a few members of our team surprised the Cherry Red Records' team with their personalised neon sign to commemorate their 40th year anniversary. 

Over the years, our collaboration has birthed some great releases that we are all proud of, check out below a few highlights! 

We would like to wish Cherry Red Records a prosperous future and we look forward to our continued partnership with one of the most prestigious record labels in the UK.

Nitin Sawhney - One to Zero (box collection featuring vinyl from live cut lacquers [first time in thirty years] and artbook)

An astonishing 35 years after the last live, direct to vinyl mainstream recording, Nitin Sawhney rises to the challenge with his brand new past, present and future unplugged album OneZero. This retrospective was cut live to vinyl with his phenomenal band and special guest Joss Stone, featuring four brand new tracks. Uncompromised by the safety net of post-production editing, multi-tracking or modern sound correction techniques, Sawhney – boldly daring to go where no major artist has gone since 1978 – recorded seventeen songs from his back catalogue and forthcoming album, as old school as it gets, direct to disc before a live audience at Metropolis Studios on April 6th 2013. Entitled OneZero to commemorate nine studio albums previous, this extremely limited edition of 1000 deluxe vinyl boxsets was released by Metropolis Recordings on Monday 24th June 2015. OneZero features the entire performance across five 180 gram Vinyl LPs (cut live simultaneously with Nitin’s performance), and the deluxe boxset also features a CD version of the recordings, exclusive bonus session material across a further CD and on vinyl, a deluxe 24-page booklet featuring stunning artwork from renowned artist Paul Benney and a short film on DVD about the making of OneZero, along with three full-length performances from the session.

Sarah Cracknell - Red Kite

Red Kite is the second solo album from British singer-songwriter and Saint Etienne lead singer Sarah Cracknell. 

The album was recorded with co-producers Carwyn Ellis (Colorama) and Seb Lewsley (Edwyn Collins/The Cribs) in a makeshift studio in the heart of Oxfordshire during the winter of 2014/2015. It includes vocal contributions from Nicky Wire and The Rails (James Walbourne, Kami Thompson). Red Kite marks Sarah’s first solo release since 1997’s Lipslide and is accompanied by a new single, ‘Nothing Left To Talk About’, which is a duet with Nicky Wire from the Manic Street Preachers. This album is also available as a Limited Edition 12″ LP

Reissued Dead or Alive debut album “Sophisticated Boom Boom”

Sophisticated Boom Boom was the debut album from UK synth pop/new wave act Dead Or Alive, released in 1984. Fronted by the imposing figure of Pete Burns, it gave the band its first UK Top 40 single, with a re-make of KC & The Sunshine Band’s ‘That’s The Way I Like It’. That single, as well as ‘Misty Circles’, were also hits on the US Hot Dance and Club Play charts – when the latter was reissued as the b-side to ‘You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)’. ‘Misty Circles’ and further single ‘What I Want’ were co-written by later Sisters Of Mercy and Mission guitarist Wayne Hussey, but it was Burns’ confrontational press image that generated column inches. Dead Or Alive were embraced by the New Romantics as well as clubbers and Burns engaged in a series of entertaining press spats with Boy George about who minted that image of extravagant gay front-man/outrageous dresser first. This re-release, on CD for the first time in the UK.

The Fall ~ Singles 1978 to 2016, first time released as a full set 7 CD lift-off lid box with 62pg book.

The Fall is an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. The band has existed in some form ever since and is essentially built around its founder and only constant member Mark E. Smith. Initially associated with the punk movement of the late 1970s, the group’s music has gone through several stylistic changes over the years, characterised by an abrasive guitar-driven sound and frequent use of repetition and is always underpinned by Smith’s distinctive vocals and often cryptic lyrics. The band is noted for its prolific output: as of February 2016 they have released over 31 studio albums and more than triple that counting live albums and other releases. This is the first collection of all the Fall singles recorded across a multitude of labels: Step Forward, Rough Trade, Kamera, Beggars Banquet, Cog Sinister, Permanent, Artful, Action and Cherry Red. Compiled in a 7-CD box set with a fully illustrated discography by renowned Fall expert Conway Paton. The discs have been re-mastered by Fall engineer Andy Pearce and come with a newly designed book in a box. Also available as an edited 3-CD set which features all of the A-Sides and is released on the same day.

Hawkwind - Levitation

Released on the 28/09/09. ATOMHENGE, the home of HAWKWIND’s catalogue from 1976-1997, continue their series of definitive reissued editions of these classic albums with the LIMITED 3CD DELUXE EDITION release of LEVITATION. Recorded in 1980 and featuring GINGER BAKER, the album was a classic work and spawned an equally legendary tour. Although Baker’s tenure with Hawkwind was brief, a concert at Lewisham Odeon in December 1980 was recorded by a mobile unit. Now remixed from the original multitrack masters this deluxe edition includes the entire concert (during which Sci-Fi author Michael Moorcock guested). This edition of LEVITATION is limited to 3000 units and will then be reduced to just a single CD release. This is the ultimate release of this classic album.

Pop Will Eat Itself - Box Frenzy

In 1987, Pop Will Eat Itself surprised the independent music world by morphing overnight from two minute, three chord indie pop wonders into hip-hop rock crossover pioneers. Years ahead of their time, PWEI produced Box Frenzy, a furiousmix of beatboxes, metal riffs, MC ing and pop songs. Featuring the notorious Beaver Patrol single, and the hugely successful There Is No Love Between Us Anymore, the album brought the band a whole new audience and opened them up to as much praise as it did ridicule amongst a perplexed music press Produced with the band’s assistance and approval, and featuring three never before heard home demos and three rare, never before on CD tracks, as well as an extensive sleeve essay, sleevenotes from keyboardist/guitarist Adam Mole and a wealth of unseen photographs, press clippings and so on, this release is a treasure trove for fans and collectors alike. This package is the second in a series of Cherry Red Pop Will Eat Itself reissues, which will take in the band’s entire catalogue, tell their story and see the release of dozens of unreleased, rare and never before on CD tracks. This unique band, whose influence touched the careers of acts such as The Prodigy and Nine Inch Nails, still has a large, strong following worldwide, and there is an active online community who have shown great interest in these titles thus far. A new PWEI album will be released this year, and the current incarnation of the group will be touring in support of this release, no doubt including plenty of these back catalogue tracks in their set. Three previously unheard home demos, Three rare, never before on CD tracks, Sleeve-notes from keyboardist/guitarist Adam Mole.

The Move - Shazam

Esoteric Recordings are proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded edition of the classic 1970 album by THE MOVE, “Shazam”. Of all of the groups to emerge in Britain in the latter half of the 1960s, THE MOVE was arguably one of the finest. A powerful act on stage, the group were blessed with one of the most imaginative songwriters of his generation in Roy Wood. “Shazam” is regarded by many as the finest MOVE album, despite being recorded in a time of flux for the band. In the Spring of 1968 bassist Ace Kefford departed the fold, with Trevor Burton assuming bass guitar duties. The band continued to enjoy success as a singles act, earning a number one hit with ‘Blackberry Way’ in November 1968. In February 1969 Burton also left the band to be replaced by Rick Price. It was this line-up that was to record “Shazam”. The album was very well received and is regarded as a classic of the era. Newly re-mastered, this 2 CD Deluxe edition of “Shazam” has also been expanded to include 37 bonus tracks encompassing the singles ‘Wild Tiger Woman’, ‘Blackberry Way’ and ‘Curly’ and alternate mixes. Significantly, 23 tracks recorded for the BBC between May 1968 and November 1969 are also included; 12 of which appear on CD for the first time. This expanded deluxe edition also includes a lavishly illustrated booklet that fully restores the original album artwork and features a new essay by Mark Paytress and also includes a poster.

Various ‎– Manchester North Of England - A Story Of Independent Music Greater Manchester 1977 - 1993

From Buzzcocks to Britpop, Manchester North of England is the ultimate tribute to the independent output of that most important and iconic of musical cities, with 146 tracks across seven CDs in a deluxe box set. Compiled by the team behind other Cherry Red box sets (Scared To Get Happy, Still In A Dream, Millions Like Us, Action Time Vision, etc.), this tells the story of how indie music exploded in Manchester after the rush of Punk and the seminal release of the Buzzcocks’ Spiral Scratch EP. With exhaustive sleeve-notes by the city’s leading music journalist of the era, Mick Middles, and a foreword by Mark Radcliffe, Manchester North Of England includes many of the key bands from the late 70s to the early 90s – Joy Division, The Fall, New Order, James, Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, Morrissey, John Cooper Clarke, 808 State, A Certain Ratio, Durutti Column, The Charlatans and last but not least, Oasis. Although the scene was dominated by blokes with guitars, which is reflected here, Manchester North Of England also doffs its cap to reggae, soul, singer-songwriters, hip-hop, avant-garde, techno/industrial and dance music. Inspired by Bop Cassettes’ 1988 compilation (name + cover image), the box set is being presented in conjunction with MDMA (Manchester District Music Archive). Many of the tracks appear on CD for the first time, from the Punk explosion through Factory Records, post-punk, the jangly C86 period, Madchester, Indie-Dance and the early 90s transition into what would become Britpop.

Felt ‎– Crumbling The Antiseptic Beauty

This Limited Edition initial run of these box sets are stickered and hand-signed by Lawrence.

During the ‘80s Felt made ten albums and ten singles for the Cherry Red and Creation labels. This beautifully produced series examines the work of one of the greatest underground groups of modern times.

The CD version of "The Antiseptic Beauty" comes in a bespoke 7” box, complete with various ephemera consisting of; the original album in a special gatefold sleeve – long deleted 7” vinyl single pertaining to the relevant year of release – reproduction gig flyers – double-sided wall poster – and four button lapel badges for wearing with pride!

Crumbling the Antiseptic Beauty is the debut album by English alternative rock band Felt, released in 1982. Band leader Lawrence features on the cover. Track 1 is instrumental. "Fortune" was later re-recorded and released on the band's 1984 single Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow. Similarly, a re-recording of "Cathedral" appears on the Primitive Painters single. During the ‘80s Felt made ten albums and ten singles for the Cherry Red and Creation labels. This beautifully produced series examines the work of one of the greatest underground groups of modern times. The first five albums will be released on 23rd February 2018. These vinyl records, unavailable for many years, have been remastered and revisited by Lawrence, and he has fashioned the ultimate definitive collections. They are available in a deluxe gatefold sleeve. Lawrence’s ambition was to release the best debut English album ever! Adrian Borland offered his services, then commitments with his band The Sound prevented this from happening. So Felt began a relationship with Swell Maps producer John A. Rivers. Recorded and mixed in six days the band got a taste of how bitter reality fares compared to the “mellow fruitfulness” of blind ambition.

Who are Cherry Red Records?

Cherry Red Records is a British independent record label founded by Iain McNay in 1978. The label has released recordings by Dead Kennedys, Everything But the Girl, The Monochrome Set and Felt, among others, as well as the compilation album Pillows & Prayers. In addition to releasing new music, Cherry Red also acts as an umbrella for individual imprints and catalogue specialists. Cherry Red was listed by Music Week as one of the UK’s top ten record companies in Q1 2015 for sales of artist albums.

 Key moments in Cherry Red's history:

• Founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens
• In 2007, the company launched a streaming television service, cherry red TV. It also publishes an in-house magazine and an 'in-house' publishing division, 'Cherry Red Songs'.
• In early 2015, Cherry Red Records and PWL reissued the first four Kylie Minogue albums, Kylie, Enjoy Yourself, Rhythm Of Love and Let's Get To It, as deluxe CD/DVD and LP boxsets.
• In 2016 Cherry Red had their highest Top 40 chart position, with the new studio album from Hawkwind 'The Machine Stops' reaching No.29 in the Official UK Charts in April 2016. 
• In 2017 Cherry Red confirmed they will be representing several label catalogues and artist discographies, including Procol Harum, The Residents, Arthur Brown, Captain Oi, Glenn Hughes and Tim Blake. 
• The 2017 BPI yearbook 'All About The Music' included Cherry Red in the 20 Market Share By Corporate Group at number 15, which explains the chart-eligible album sales of all record labels.
• In 2018 Cherry Red acquired the extensive catalogue of Witchwood Media, home to the music of the Strawbs and a roster of other related artists.

• In June 2008 the Pillows & Prayers box set won the 'Best Catalogue Release category at that year's Mojo Honours.

• At the 2013 Association of Independent Music Awards, Cherry Red won the Special Catalogue Release award for Scared To Get Happy - a box set that explored indie pop from 1980-1989.

• In 2014, Cherry Red artist Dave Brock of Hawkwind won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Prog (magazine) Progressive Music Awards 2014. They also picked up nominations for Matt Stevens (Breakthrough Artist) and Panic Room (Best Anthem).

• The 2015 Progressive Music Awards saw Genesis founder Tony Banks receive the Prog God award after his solo material catalogue reissue campaign with Cherry Red that year. The label also picked up nominations[13] for John Lodge and Tin Spirits in the Best Anthem category, and Bill Nelson and Anthony Phillips in the Storm Thorgerson Grand Design Award category.

• 2016 has seen Cherry Red's biggest release of the first quarter of the year, the new studio album from Hawkwind 'The Machine Stops', receive a nomination for Album Of The Year in the Progressive Music Awards 2016,[14] after it enjoyed Cherry Red's highest ever Top 40 chart position at No.29 in the Official UK Charts in April 2016.

• Cherry Red has had two albums in the UK Album Charts Top 40 in 2017. Hawkwind's studio album Into The Woods charted at No. 34 in May and the Fall's New Facts Emerge charted at No. 35 in July.