Go! Discs Records
Encyclopedia
Go! Discs was a Hammersmith, London based record label
, launched in 1983
by Andy MacDonald and Lesley Symons. With artists like Billy Bragg
, The Housemartins
and later The Beautiful South
, it became a prominent label. Go! Beat Records
was launched as a subsidiary for dance artists like Beats International
, Gabrielle
and Portishead. In 1992 Paul Weller signed for the label.
In 1996
MacDonald resigned when PolyGram
acquired a majority stake in the label, and the label folded not too long afterwards. However, Go! Discs' dance offshoot Go! Beat Records
, continued and became a unit in the Universal Records
group.
Go! Discs had the dubious honour of sponsoring the Fulchester United team, club of Billy the Fish
in Viz comic. Various blatant plugs for Go! artists were often spoken by characters in the strip and Fulchester's home ground carried adverts for Go! and various releases from them. Equally dubiously in the late 80s the label employed Essex comedian Phill Jupitus
as head of publicity.
However, the label was revived.
, and continued his involvement with the recording career of Paul Weller. Independiente is also famous for being the home of Travis
, Embrace, Aaliyah, So Solid Crew, Howling Bells and Malian desert blues band Tinariwen.
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,...
, launched in 1983
1983 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1983.-January-April:*January – ZTT Records is founded.*January 8 – The UK singles chart is tabulated from this week forward by The Gallup Organization...
by Andy MacDonald and Lesley Symons. With artists like Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
, The Housemartins
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
and later The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South
The Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
, it became a prominent label. Go! Beat Records
Go! Beat Records
Go! Beat Records was a record label launched as a subsidiary of Go! Discs Records for dance artists like David Holmes and Portishead. When Go! Discs folded, Go Beat continued as a label within the Universal Music Group....
was launched as a subsidiary for dance artists like Beats International
Beats International
Beats International was a British electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook , after his departure from The Housemartins.-Career:...
, Gabrielle
Gabrielle (singer)
Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
and Portishead. In 1992 Paul Weller signed for the label.
In 1996
1996 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact...
MacDonald resigned when PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
acquired a majority stake in the label, and the label folded not too long afterwards. However, Go! Discs' dance offshoot Go! Beat Records
Go! Beat Records
Go! Beat Records was a record label launched as a subsidiary of Go! Discs Records for dance artists like David Holmes and Portishead. When Go! Discs folded, Go Beat continued as a label within the Universal Music Group....
, continued and became a unit in the Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
group.
Go! Discs had the dubious honour of sponsoring the Fulchester United team, club of Billy the Fish
Billy the Fish
Billy the Fish is a long-running cartoon strip in the British comic Viz that first appeared in 1983.Created by artist Chris Donald and writer Simon Thorp Billy the Fish is, like many Viz strips, a lampoon of British comics – In Billy the Fishs case, that of football-themed strips such as Roy of...
in Viz comic. Various blatant plugs for Go! artists were often spoken by characters in the strip and Fulchester's home ground carried adverts for Go! and various releases from them. Equally dubiously in the late 80s the label employed Essex comedian Phill Jupitus
Phill Jupitus
Phillip Christopher Jupitus is an English stand-up and improvised comedian, actor, performance poet, musician and podcaster....
as head of publicity.
However, the label was revived.
Andy MacDonald & Independiente
After leaving Go! Discs, Andy MacDonald started Independiente RecordsIndependiente Records
Independiente is a record label formed in 1997 after Andy MacDonald sold Go! Discs Records to PolyGram in 1996 for a reported £30 million. In the UK, the label is distributed Vital PIAS....
, and continued his involvement with the recording career of Paul Weller. Independiente is also famous for being the home of Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
, Embrace, Aaliyah, So Solid Crew, Howling Bells and Malian desert blues band Tinariwen.
Artists
- AnnaANNA (band)ANNA is a nu metal/hardcore band from Lviv, Ukraine.Since its inception, ANNA has two times toured in Ukraine supporting both of its albums. Also the band has took a part in many Ukrainian festivals ANNA is a nu metal/hardcore band from Lviv, Ukraine.Since its inception, ANNA has two times toured...
- Billy BraggBilly BraggStephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
- The Bic
- The HousemartinsThe HousemartinsThe Housemartins were an English indie pop band that was active in the 1980s. Many of the Housemartins' lyrics were a mixture of Marxist politics and Christianity, reflecting singer Paul Heaton's beliefs at the time .-Formation:The band was formed in late 1983 by Paul Heaton and...
- The Beautiful SouthThe Beautiful SouthThe Beautiful South were an English alternative rock group formed at the end of the 1980s by two former members of Hull group The Housemartins, Paul Heaton and Dave Hemingway. The duo were initially joined by Sean Welch , Dave Stead and Dave Rotheray , all of whom stayed with the group throughout...
- The BathersThe Bathers (band)The Bathers are a Scottish Chamber pop band.Formed in Glasgow in 1985 after the band Friends Again split up, they are essentially the vehicle for singer-songwriter, Chris Thomson. They have released seven albums....
- The Butterfield 8
- The Boothill Foot-Tappers
- Paul Weller
- The Blue Ox BabesThe Blue Ox BabesThe Blue Ox Babes were an English pop group, formed in early 1981 by the former Dexys Midnight Runners guitarist Kevin 'Al' Archer, together with his girlfriend Yasmin Saleh, and former Dexys keyboard player Andy Leek. Archer was keen to mix the soul sounds of his previous group with folk styles...
- Father Father
- The Southernaires
- DrugstoreDrugstore (band)Drugstore are a London-based alternative and dream pop band led by Brazilian singer-songwriter and bassist Isabel Monteiro , who relocated to England in 1990s, with Dave Hunter on guitar and Mike Chylinski on drums...
- Trash Can Sinatras
- The La'sThe La'sThe La's were an English rock band from Liverpool, originally active from the mid-1980s to early 1990s. Fronted by singer, songwriter and guitarist Lee Mavers, the group is most famous for their hit single "There She Goes". The band was formed by Mike Badger in 1984 and Mavers joined soon after...
- The Frank and WaltersThe Frank and WaltersThe Frank and Walters are an alternative rock band from Cork city in Ireland. The band was founded in 1990 by Paul Linehan , his brother Niall Linehan , who was replaced by Kevin Pedreschi in 2004, and Ashley Keating . They took the band name in honour of two eccentric Cork characters...
- The StairsThe StairsThe Stairs were an English rock band formed in Liverpool around 1990 by vocalist and bassist Edgar Summertyme, guitarist Ged Lynn and drummer Paul Maguire...
- MadnessMadness (band)In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
- Portishead
- The B-52'sThe B-52'sThe B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...