Mushroom Records (Canada)
Encyclopedia
Mushroom Records was a recording label
company founded in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
, by brothers Wink and Dick Vogel in 1974. Shelly Siegel was the label's Vice-president and creative director. Mushroom released approximately 15 LPs and 50 singles between 1974 and 1980.
The Mushroom label released recordings in Canada through a distribution arrangement with A&M Records
. It was distributed in the United States through a network of independent distributors, which included Fourth Street East in Chatsworth, California
. The company was also incorporated in the U.S. and maintained a second office on Sunset Boulevard
in Los Angeles, California
. Some Mushroom recordings were also released in Europe through Arista Records
.
During the 1970s, Mushroom released several successful albums from artists such as Doucette
, Heart
, and Chilliwack
, but Siegel's sudden death due to aneurysm
on 17 January 1979 led to the demise of the label in 1980. Heart's two Mushroom albums were later purchased and re-issued by Capitol Records
when the band moved to that label in 1985.
Mushroom Studios
, a Vancouver recording studio
, is a separate operation from the record label. The studio was built by Aragon Records in 1966, 8 years before the formation of the Mushroom label. The studio was also known Can Base Studios (the name derived from a company that was its principal investor) during the early 1970s when the Mushroom record label began. The studio and label formed a partnership during the label's existence, and many of its albums were recorded there. In the mid 1970s the studio employed producer Mike Flicker
and musician Howard Leese
, known for their work with Heart. The studio was purchased by Hipposonic Studios
in January 2006 and renamed Hippowest Music Ltd., and is still in operation as of 2008.
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,...
company founded in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, by brothers Wink and Dick Vogel in 1974. Shelly Siegel was the label's Vice-president and creative director. Mushroom released approximately 15 LPs and 50 singles between 1974 and 1980.
The Mushroom label released recordings in Canada through a distribution arrangement with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. It was distributed in the United States through a network of independent distributors, which included Fourth Street East in Chatsworth, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The company was also incorporated in the U.S. and maintained a second office on Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Some Mushroom recordings were also released in Europe through Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
.
During the 1970s, Mushroom released several successful albums from artists such as Doucette
Jerry Doucette
Jerry Doucette is a Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter.Doucette joined numerous bands prior to his solo career, starting with The Reefers during his childhood. He eventually moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and subsequently signed a solo recording deal with Mushroom Records...
, Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
, and Chilliwack
Chilliwack (band)
Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
, but Siegel's sudden death due to aneurysm
Aneurysm
An aneurysm or aneurism is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can commonly occur in arteries at the base of the brain and an aortic aneurysm occurs in the main artery carrying blood from the left ventricle of the heart...
on 17 January 1979 led to the demise of the label in 1980. Heart's two Mushroom albums were later purchased and re-issued by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
when the band moved to that label in 1985.
Mushroom Studios
Mushroom Studios
Mushroom Studios was a music recording facility located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada with a long history in Canadian music. It has now been relocated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, a Vancouver recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
, is a separate operation from the record label. The studio was built by Aragon Records in 1966, 8 years before the formation of the Mushroom label. The studio was also known Can Base Studios (the name derived from a company that was its principal investor) during the early 1970s when the Mushroom record label began. The studio and label formed a partnership during the label's existence, and many of its albums were recorded there. In the mid 1970s the studio employed producer Mike Flicker
Mike Flicker
Mike Flicker is an American producer in Los Angeles who has numerous credits on music and film projects. He is critically acclaimed for his work with Heart.- Early career :...
and musician Howard Leese
Howard Leese
Howard M. Leese is an American guitarist, record producer and musical director who played with Heart for 22 years...
, known for their work with Heart. The studio was purchased by Hipposonic Studios
Hipposonic Studios
Hipposonic Studios is a music recording studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Originally founded in 1994 by Robert Darch, the studio moved its location in January 2004 from their Kitsilano neighbourhood to 16 East 3rd Ave, Vancouver and the new location was built by the staff under the...
in January 2006 and renamed Hippowest Music Ltd., and is still in operation as of 2008.
Partial list of Mushroom Records (Canada) Artists 1974-1980
- Alexis (Alexis Rose Radlin)
- ChilliwackChilliwack (band)Chilliwack are a Canadian rock band that had their heyday during the 1970s and 1980s. Although they are a Canadian band, the members were all born in, as well as reside in, the United States of America. They are perhaps best remembered for their five biggest songs "My Girl ", "I Believe", "Whatcha...
- Rick DeesRick DeesRigdon Osmond "Rick" Dees III is an American comedic performer, entertainer, and radio personality, best known for his internationally syndicated radio show The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown and for the novelty song "Disco Duck." He is a People's Choice Award recipient, a Grammy-nominated...
- DoucetteJerry DoucetteJerry Doucette is a Canadian guitarist and singer-songwriter.Doucette joined numerous bands prior to his solo career, starting with The Reefers during his childhood. He eventually moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, and subsequently signed a solo recording deal with Mushroom Records...
- HeartHeart (band)Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
- Jayson Hoover
- Paul Horn
- Ian MatthewsIain MatthewsIain Matthews is an English musician and songwriter. He was born Iain Matthew McDonald, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. He was known in the 1960s first as Ian McDonald, then as the 1960s progressed, as Ian Matthews...
- New World Electronic Chamber Ensemble
- Songbird
- Spring
- Richard Stepp
External links
- Jam!/The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia: Doucette Mushroom artists, mentioning the label.
- Mushroom Records Discography (incomplete)
- Victoria Jazz Society: Dixon House Band Includes references to Mushroom, Siegel.
- A history of Aragon, Mushroom, and Hippowest