Light in the Attic Records
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Light in the Attic Records is an independent record label that was established in 2002 in Seattle, Washington by Matt Sullivan. The label is known for its roster of reissue projects and for its distribution catalog. Light in the Attic has re-released work Betty Davis, Serge Gainsbourg, Jim Sullivan, Jane Birkin, Monks and The Free Design. The label has also released albums by contemporary bands The Black Angels and Nicole Willis and The Soul Investigators.
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History
Already in highschool, Sullivan was interested in starting his own label. "I always wanted my own label," Sullivan told The Stranger in 2006, "but it was always the wrong time."
After high school and college at the University of Arizona, Sullivan interned for Seattle, Washington-based record labels like Sub Pop and the now-defunct Loosegroove Records. Susie Tennant, Sub Pop’s then radio-promotions director, offered Sullivan a chance to intern with Madrid, Spain-based record label, Munster Records. Munster Records focused primarily on reissues of bands like The Stooges and Spacemen 3, inspiring Sullivan to begin rethinking his own concept behind the still active idea of starting a record label.
Upon Sullivan’s return to the states he began producing live shows in the Seattle area including performances by performers like Saul Williams, Clinic, and Kid Koala under the name Light In The Attic. With a stronger interest in the production of records, Sullivan returned to his original idea of a reissue label.Template:Citation needed
Major projects were, among others:
- a reissue of The Last Poet's first two releases - The Last Poets and This Is Madness.
- the reissue of the soundtrack to 1974 blackploitation film Lialeh composed by Bernard Purdie.Template:Citation needed
- the reissue of several works from The Free Design.
- Wheedle's Groove, a collection of songs from forgotten soul and funk groups from Seattle, including, amongst others, Patrinell Wright, The Black & White Affair, Kenny G, Ron Buford, Overton Berry
- in 2006, Light in the Attic released the album "Passover" from the psych-rock group The Black Angels. This was their first contemporary release.
- the reissue of Betty Davis' albums Betty Davis and They Say I'm Different. Davis agreed with the project, but did no co-operate.
- In 2009, the label acquired the rights to distribute deceased Serge Gainsbourg's classic album Histoire de Melody Nelson. This was their first project with an already established artist.
- In 2010, they launched their 50th album. This album was a release of old demos by folk-country singer Kris Kristofferson and was named Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: Publishing Demos 1968 - 1972.
- In 2011, the reissue of U.F.O. by singer-songwriter Jim Sullivan.
- In 2014, the label released the compilation album Native North America, Vol. 1.
- In 2017, for the occasion of Record Store Day, they released the official soundtrack of the cult film Ciao! Manhattan in vinyl and CD formats on their Cinewax imprint. This marks the first time that the soundtrack has been commercially-released in any form.
Imprints
cinewax
In 2010, Light In The Attic announced their first imprint, cinewax, for vintage and contemporary film. The imprint has released the "Winter's Bone Original Soundtrack, "Winter's Bone Original Score by Dickon Hinchcliffe, the Project Nim Original Soundtrack also by Dickon Hinchcliffe, and Jennifer Maas' Wheedle's Groove film.
Modern Classic Recordings
Light In The Attic's second imprint, Modern Classic Recordings started in 2011. The imprints first release, Mercury Revs' Deserter's Songs was released in November 2011. Their second release, Morphine's Cure For Pain will follow in 2012.
Retail/Distribution
As well as their own products, Light In The Attic distribute a large portfolio of smaller American and hard-to-find international labels. Light In The Attic currently distributes: "Cultures of Soul", "Delmore Recordings", "Favorite Recordings", "Flat Field Records", "Heavenly Sweetness", "Heavy Light", "Hot Casa", "Kindred Spirits", "Lion Productions", "Masstropicas", "Medical Records", "Now Again", "Paradise of Bachelors", "Regenerator Records", Rhino Handmade, "Secret Seven", "Secret Stash", "Strawberry Rain", "Timmion", Trikont, "Vadim Music", "Votary Disk/Roundtable", Voyag3r and "Golden Pavilion"
Discography
| Year
| Artist | Album Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2002
| The Last Poets/This Is Madness
| |
| 2003
| Sharpshooters
| Twice As Nice |
| 2003
| Lialeh
| |
Kites Are Fun
| ||
Heaven/Earth
| ||
You Could Be Born Again
| ||
Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love
| ||
| Wayne McGhie & The Sounds of Joy
| S/T
| |
| V/A
| Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul | |
| V/A
| Deep Throat Anthology I & II
| |
| V/A
| Deep Throat OST Pt. 1
| |
| V/A
| Deep Throat OST Pt. 2 | |
Sing for Very Important People
| ||
| One By One | ||
There Is A Song
| ||
| V/A
| The Free Design: The Now Sound Redesigned | |
| S/T | ||
| Passover | ||
| V/A
| Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967 - 1974
| |
S/T
| ||
Wishbone
| ||
In My Own Time
| ||
| The Saturday Knights
| S/T | |
| V/A
| Light In The Attic Sampler 2007 | |
S/T
| ||
They Say I'm Different
| ||
| Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
| Keep Reachin' Up | |
| V/A
| Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988
| |
| The Blakes
| Streets | |
| The Blakes
| S/T | |
| Earth, Roots & Water
| Innocent Youths
| |
| The Black Angels
| Directions To See A Ghost | |
Songs For The New Industrial State
| ||
| The Saturday Knights
| Mingle | |
Cold Fact
| ||
| The Black Exit CD | ||
Coming from Reality
| ||
Histoire De Melody Nelson
| ||
| The Early Years 1964-1965 | ||
Black Monk Time
| ||
| Wheedle's Groove
| Kearney Barton | |
| 2009 | V/A
| Light In The Attic Sampler Spring 2009 |
It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best
| ||
| If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) b/w You're So Good 45 | ||
| I Wish It Would Rain b/w Right On 45 | ||
| Together b/w Warm Love 45 | ||
| Love is the Answer b/w Love is the Answer Pt. 2 45 | ||
| Something On Your Mind b/w Katie Cruel (Alternate) 45 | ||
| The First Vietnamese War b/w Nine Years 45 | ||
| Better Off Alone b/w Tomorrow Always Knows 45 | ||
| Come Take Me b/w You Won't See Me In The Morning 45 | ||
| He Was A Big Freak b/w Don't Call Her No Tramp (Rough Mixes) 45 | ||
| Doves b/w Drone in G# 45 | ||
| I'll Slip Away b/w You'd Like To Admit 45 | ||
| Can't Get Away b/w Street Boy 45 | ||
| I Let A Good Man Go b/w Little Love Affair 45 | ||
| Clarence Mack/Mister Holmes & The Brotherhood
| Runaway Train b/w Thrift Store Score 45 | |
Nasty Gal
| ||
| Is It Love Or Desire? | ||
Je t'aime... moi non plus
| ||
S/T
| ||
| Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 | ||
| V/A
| Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1 | |
| V/A
| Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 2 | |
Jazz Raga
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U.F.O.
| ||
Di, doo dah
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Like A Ship... (Without a Sail)
| ||
| The Overton Berry Ensemble
| T.O.B.E./At Seattle's Doubletree Inn
| |
| The Vagrants
| I Can't Make A Friend 1965 1968 | |
Fully Qualified Survivor
| ||
Have Moicy!
| ||
Long Journey
| ||
Snockgrass
| ||
| V/A
| Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love: Motown's Mowest Story 1971-1973 | |
| V/A
| Beautiful Rivers And Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of South Korea's Shin Joong Hyun 1958-1974 | |
| Another Nice Pair | ||
| Late Late Party 1965-67 | ||
Harlan County
| ||
| From Where To Where: Digital EP 1970-79 | ||
Tragic Songs of Life
| ||
Satan Is Real
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| Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 | ||
| "Satan Is Real/Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 | ||
| V/A
| Thai Funk Volume 1 | |
| V/A
| Wheedles Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul 1965-1979 Limited Edition 45s Box Set | |
| V/A
| Thai Funk Volume 2 | |
Rainmaker
| ||
| After Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Singles + Rarities 1964-1965 | ||
| V/A
| Winter's Bone Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| |
Winter's Bone - Original Score
| ||
| Wheedle's Groove
| Wheedle's Groove
| |
Deserter's Songs
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Cure For Pain
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