Cher Doll Records
Encyclopedia
Cher Doll Records is a small independent record label founded in Seattle, Washington by Nancy Ostrander in 1993. The label released records for several indie-pop bands including Neutral Milk Hotel
's first single on a two sided seven-inch record.
and twee
movements in the UK. Cher Doll started out as a seven-inch singles-only label associated with Ostrander's Hip Clown Rag fanzine
.
In 1992 Cher Doll released Crayon
's "The Dream is Gone" and Veronica Lake's "Sleepyhouse" on a split 7-inch record, as well as Crayon's 1994 Phantom Third Channel split 7-inch EP. The label also recorded for Blanket, a Seattle band inspired by Spacemen 3
and the Velvet Underground whose members went on to play in Sno*Boy and Tullycraft
.
In 1994, at that time living in Seattle, Jeff Mangum
of Neutral Milk Hotel
sent a tape of material recorded on a four-track to Ostrander, who found the music and Mangum intriguing: "It was fuzzy and happy and catchier than heck. I like music that is actual songs—the shorter the better—and he got bonus points for Snow Song sounding like the Jesus and Mary Chain." She selected two songs and released the group's first single "Everything Is"/"Snow Song Pt. 1". Mangum said, "The single was a Godsend because [sic] I was pretty much at the end of my rope with just about everything in my life at that point. I'd moved away from my home and all my friends for the first time and I was very much alone and sad ... she saved me merely by saying she wanted to do a single."
In 1994, Cher Doll also released Neutral Milk Hotel's "Up and Over" on the compilation 7" EP The Amazing Phantom Third Channel; Mangum wrote it to resolve his fear and confusion. The band's "Invent Yourself a Shortcake", released by Cher Doll on the compilation EP, Champagne Dancing Party, in 1995, included Will Cullen
and Bill Doss
. The band released several more seven-inch singles with Cher Doll while Mangum lived in Seattle. Mangum said he was not pleased with a 7" record, "Bucket", on Cher Doll, because the recording made in a studio "doesn't sound like me."
Cher Doll Records cooperated on projects with "like-minded" Darla Records
, founded in 1994 and producing "bright, sugary pop albums". Cher Doll issued two full-length albums, distributed by Darla Records
.
Alistair Fitchett, reviewed the Something Cool compilation released by Cher Doll in 1997 as "a winner for sure", having heard from "indeipopsters that matter in the USA, it's a hit hit HIT". He said:
In 1998, Cher Doll Records released Tullycraft
's second full length album, City of Subarus, recorded by Chris Munford, who had joined the group from Incredible Force of Junior.
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
's first single on a two sided seven-inch record.
History
Founder Nancy Ostrander was inspired to start Cher Doll by the fanzine and record label Four Letter Words, one of the earliest of the American indiepop labels started up in response to the C86C86 (music)
C86 is a cassette compilation released by the British music magazine NME in 1986, featuring new bands licensed from independent labels of the time. As a phrase, C86 quickly evolved into shorthand for a guitar-based musical genre characterised by "jangly" guitars and fey melodies, although other...
and twee
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
movements in the UK. Cher Doll started out as a seven-inch singles-only label associated with Ostrander's Hip Clown Rag fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
.
In 1992 Cher Doll released Crayon
Crayon (band)
Crayon was an indiepop band from Washington State featuring Brad Roberts , Sean Tollefson and Jeff Fell .-History:...
's "The Dream is Gone" and Veronica Lake's "Sleepyhouse" on a split 7-inch record, as well as Crayon's 1994 Phantom Third Channel split 7-inch EP. The label also recorded for Blanket, a Seattle band inspired by Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3
Spacemen 3 were an English alternative rock band, formed in 1982 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Peter Kember and Jason Pierce. Their music was "colorfully mind-altering, but not in the sense of the acid rock of the '60s; instead, the band developed its own minimalistic psychedelia"...
and the Velvet Underground whose members went on to play in Sno*Boy and Tullycraft
Tullycraft
Tullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
.
In 1994, at that time living in Seattle, Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum
Jeff Mangum is a musician best known for being the lyricist, vocalist and guitarist of the band Neutral Milk Hotel, as well as being one of the cofounders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Mangum, along with the other founding members of the Elephant 6, attended Ruston High School in the late...
of Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
sent a tape of material recorded on a four-track to Ostrander, who found the music and Mangum intriguing: "It was fuzzy and happy and catchier than heck. I like music that is actual songs—the shorter the better—and he got bonus points for Snow Song sounding like the Jesus and Mary Chain." She selected two songs and released the group's first single "Everything Is"/"Snow Song Pt. 1". Mangum said, "The single was a Godsend because [sic] I was pretty much at the end of my rope with just about everything in my life at that point. I'd moved away from my home and all my friends for the first time and I was very much alone and sad ... she saved me merely by saying she wanted to do a single."
In 1994, Cher Doll also released Neutral Milk Hotel's "Up and Over" on the compilation 7" EP The Amazing Phantom Third Channel; Mangum wrote it to resolve his fear and confusion. The band's "Invent Yourself a Shortcake", released by Cher Doll on the compilation EP, Champagne Dancing Party, in 1995, included Will Cullen
Will Cullen Hart
William "Will" Cullen Hart is one of the co-founders of the Elephant Six Collective, as well as the rock band The Olivia Tremor Control...
and Bill Doss
Bill Doss
Bill Doss is among the co-founders of The Elephant 6 Recording Company, based in Athens, Georgia, and one of the key creative forces behind The Olivia Tremor Control, one of the leaders of the collective, and later, following the band's break-up, The Sunshine Fix...
. The band released several more seven-inch singles with Cher Doll while Mangum lived in Seattle. Mangum said he was not pleased with a 7" record, "Bucket", on Cher Doll, because the recording made in a studio "doesn't sound like me."
Cher Doll Records cooperated on projects with "like-minded" Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...
, founded in 1994 and producing "bright, sugary pop albums". Cher Doll issued two full-length albums, distributed by Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...
.
Alistair Fitchett, reviewed the Something Cool compilation released by Cher Doll in 1997 as "a winner for sure", having heard from "indeipopsters that matter in the USA, it's a hit hit HIT". He said:
In 1998, Cher Doll Records released Tullycraft
Tullycraft
Tullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
's second full length album, City of Subarus, recorded by Chris Munford, who had joined the group from Incredible Force of Junior.
Discography
- CHER 01 Veronica Lake "Sleepyhouse" b/w Crayon "This Dream Is Gone", split 7" (1/93)
- CHER 02 Neutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
"Everything Is" b/w "Snow Song Pt. 1" 7" (8/93) - CHER 03 Blanket "Ocean" b/w "Picked Apart" 7" (2/94)
- CHER 04 Various The Amazing Phantom Third Channel compilation 7": Crayon "Too Much Sugar"; Watercolor Sunset "Hollywood Decay"; Neutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
"Up And Over We Go"; Paste "Nickels" (4/94) - CHER 05 Various Champagne Dancing Party compilation 7": Beanpole "You're Flying"; Sno*boy "Something Special" (fuzzy mix); Names For Pebbles "Imaginary Friend"; Orange Cake Mix "2CU"; New Bad ThingsNew Bad ThingsNew Bad Things were a Portland, Oregon indie rock band active during the 1990s. They recorded for Candy Ass Records,Rainforest Records, Lissy's Records, Pop Secret, Punk in my Vitamins Records, Kill Rock Stars, and Freewheel Records....
"Rasputin"; Stuffd Bear "I'm Just A Stuffed Toy With No Self-Esteem"; Neutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk HotelNeutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
"Invent Yourself A Shortcake" (4/95) - CHER 06 Incredible Force Of Junior "Stronger" b/w "Walter Johnson" 7" (3/95)
- CHER 07 TullycraftTullycraftTullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
"Bailey Park" b/w "Sweet" and "Pedal" 7" (7/95) - CHER 08 The Lovelies "Love-Lack" b/w "Troublehead (Pt. 2)" and "The Tuff Of The Tracks" 7" (12/95)
- CHER 09 Various Something Cool compilation CD: Sno*boy "Parris Song"; RizzoRizzo (band)Rizzo was a punk / riot grrrl band from Los Angeles, California.-History:Sarah Dale and Jen Abercrombie formed the band in 1995...
"Allie"; girlboy girl "Feeder"; beanpole "Destination"; The Hand-me-downs "Love You"; The Autocollants "Apple Vines"; Tag "Don't Let Them Down"; Sukpatch "Loaded Stinking Femo"; schrasj "American Standard"; TullycraftTullycraftTullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
"Falling Out Of Love (With You) (Magnetic FieldsThe Magnetic FieldsThe Magnetic Fields is the principal creative outlet of singer-songwriter Stephin Merritt...
cover); gaze "Peeking Shows His Ignorance"; Names For Pebbles "Heh Someone"; Suretoss "Notice"; Incredible Force of Junior "Decay 'em"; Poundsign "Michigan"; The Lovelies "Weekenderman"; Diplomat Haircuts "Outside"; The Sour Mix "99°"; Orange Cake Mix "When The Sky Was Falling Down On You"; Ret & Stare "Boyfriend" (Ret & Stare Mix) (2/97) - CHER 10 RizzoRizzo (band)Rizzo was a punk / riot grrrl band from Los Angeles, California.-History:Sarah Dale and Jen Abercrombie formed the band in 1995...
"Shymaster" b/w "Road Song" and "Cathy's Song" 7" (3/98) - CHER 11 TullycraftTullycraftTullycraft is an indie pop band from Seattle, Washington who formed in 1995. They have been associated with the genre of twee, in fact, they are considered to be one of the forefathers of the American twee pop movement alongside Black Tambourine, Tiger Trap, Lois, Honeybunch, and Beat Happening...
City Of Subarus LP and CD: "8 Great Ways", "Belinda", "Ticket Tonight", "Crush This Town", "Godspeed", "Miss Douglas County", "Actives and Pledges", "The Lives of Cleopatra", "Bee Sting Stings", "Vacation In Christine, ND" (1/98)