Benchmark Recordings
Encyclopedia
Benchmark Recordings is a record label
that was founded in 2002 by music industry veterans Bill Coben and Denny Bruce
.
The initial catalog included the first four albums by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
, which were originally released in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the Takoma Records
label and distributed by Chrysalis Records
. The early albums featured Kim Wilson
on vocals and harmonica and Jimmy Vaughan on guitar.
A compilation of live recordings and new material titled Tacos Deluxe was released in 2004.
In 2008 Jon Monday
, who had worked with Denny and Bill at Takoma Records in the 1970s and 1980s, joined the company as its President.
A CD title by Mike Bloomfield
, a live recording from 1978, was released in late 2008. The songs on the album are a catalog of blues history, spanning acoustic, Chicago, and blues-rock styles.
In 2011 Benchmark released a "Best of" collection documenting live and studio recordings from their fist decade, titled, The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
. The album features a collection of songs from the original tracks from their first four albums, live versions, and the hits from their later albums: Tuff Enuff and Powerful Stuff.
Catalog:
8002-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Girls Go Wild
2003-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, What's the Word
?
2004-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Butt Rockin'
2005-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, T-Bird Rhythm
2006-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tacos Deluxe
2007-2 CD Mike Bloomfield, I'm With You Always
2008-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that was founded in 2002 by music industry veterans Bill Coben and Denny Bruce
Denny Bruce
Denny Bruce is an American record producer and artist manager. He was born in Lancaster, PA on October 4, 1944.In the early 60s, he was a drummer for Frank Zappa but suffered a six-month illness with mononucleosis which cost him his job prior to the recording of Zappa's first album with The Mothers...
.
The initial catalog included the first four albums by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
, which were originally released in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the Takoma Records
Takoma Records
Takoma Records was a small but influential record label founded by John Fahey in the late 1950s.. It was named after Fahey's hometown, the Washington, D.C. suburb of Takoma Park, Maryland.-History:...
label and distributed by Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records
Chrysalis Records was a British record label that was created in 1969. The name was both a reference to the pupal stage of a butterfly and a combination of its founders names, Chris Wright and Terry Ellis...
. The early albums featured Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson
Kim Wilson is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for The Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s; "Tuff Enuff", and "Wrap It Up."-Career:...
on vocals and harmonica and Jimmy Vaughan on guitar.
A compilation of live recordings and new material titled Tacos Deluxe was released in 2004.
In 2008 Jon Monday
Jon Monday
Jon Monday is an American producer and distributor of CDs and DVDs across an eclectic range of material such as Swami Prabhavananda, Aldous Huxley, Christopher Isherwood, Huston Smith, Chalmers Johnson, and Charles Bukowski...
, who had worked with Denny and Bill at Takoma Records in the 1970s and 1980s, joined the company as its President.
A CD title by Mike Bloomfield
Mike Bloomfield
Michael Bernard "Mike" Bloomfield was an American musician, guitarist, and composer, born in Chicago, Illinois, who became one of the first popular music superstars of the 1960s to earn his reputation almost entirely on his instrumental prowess, since he rarely sang before 1969–70...
, a live recording from 1978, was released in late 2008. The songs on the album are a catalog of blues history, spanning acoustic, Chicago, and blues-rock styles.
In 2011 Benchmark released a "Best of" collection documenting live and studio recordings from their fist decade, titled, The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special is a 2011 compilation album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released on Benchmark Recordings...
. The album features a collection of songs from the original tracks from their first four albums, live versions, and the hits from their later albums: Tuff Enuff and Powerful Stuff.
Catalog:
8002-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Girls Go Wild
Girls Go Wild
Girls Go Wild is the debut studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released in 1979. The album initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a successful white blues recording...
2003-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, What's the Word
What's the Word
What's the Word is the second studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released in 1980. The album, like its predecessor initially sold poorly, but is now regarded as a successful white blues recording...
?
2004-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Butt Rockin'
Butt Rockin'
Butt Rockin' is the third studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds. The recording took the band closer to old rhythm and blues and added additional musicians playing piano and brass...
2005-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, T-Bird Rhythm
T-Bird Rhythm
T-Bird Rhythm is the fourth studio album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released in 1982. The recording features a mixture of covers and originals.- Track listing :All tracks composed by Kim Wilson; except where indicated...
2006-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tacos Deluxe
2007-2 CD Mike Bloomfield, I'm With You Always
I'm with You Always
I'm With You Always is a live album in recorded in 1977 at McCabes Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. It was originally released as a CD on Demon Records in Europe and finally released in the US in 2008 on the Benchmark Recordings label...
2008-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special
The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special is a 2011 compilation album by Texas based Blues Rock band The Fabulous Thunderbirds released on Benchmark Recordings...