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Light in the Attic Records

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Light in the Attic Records
Founded2002 (2002)
FounderMatt Sullivan
Josh Wright
GenreVarious
Country of originU.S.
LocationSeattle, Washington
Official websitewww.lightintheattic.net

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.[1] Light in the Attic has re-released work by The Shaggs, 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 & The Soul Investigators.

History

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When Sullivan was in high school, he was already 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."[2]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[citation needed]

Major projects were, among others:

Imprints

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cinewax

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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.[14]

Modern Classic Recordings

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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.[15][needs update]

Retail and distribution

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As well as their own products, Light in the Attic distributes a large portfolio of smaller American and hard-to-find international labels. Light in the Attic currently distributes: Cultures of Soul, Deanwell Global Music, Delmore Recordings, Favorite Recordings, Flat Field Records, Heavenly Sweetness, Heavy Light, Hot Casa, Kindred Spirits, Lion Productions, Masstropicas, Materia Collective, 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

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Year
Artist Album Details
2002
The Last Poets/This Is Madness
  • Originally Released: 1970/1971
2003
Sharpshooters
Twice As Nice
2003
Lialeh
  • Originally Released: 1974
Kites Are Fun
  • Originally Released: 1967
Heaven/Earth
  • Originally Released: 1969
You Could Be Born Again
  • Originally Released: 1968
Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love
  • Originally Released: 1970
S/T
  • Originally Released: 1970
  • Original Label: Birchmont
  • Jamaica To Toronto Release #1
V/A
Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul
V/A
Deep Throat Anthology I & II
  • Originally Released: 1972/1974
V/A
Deep Throat OST Pt. 1
  • Originally Released: 1972
V/A
Deep Throat OST Pt. 2
Sing for Very Important People
  • Originally Released: 1970
One By One
There Is A Song
  • Originally Released: 1972
  • Original Label: Ambrotype
V/A
The Free Design: The Now Sound Redesigned
S/T
2006
Passover
V/A
Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967 - 1974
  • Jamaica To Toronto Release #2
S/T
Wishbone
  • Originally Released: 1971
  • Original Label: Summer Records
  • Jamaica To Toronto Release #4
In My Own Time
The Saturday Knights
S/T
V/A
Light In The Attic Sampler 2007
S/T
  • Originally Released: 1973
  • Original Label: Just Sunshine
They Say I'm Different
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
Keep Reachin' Up
V/A
Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988
  • Jamaica To Toronto Release #5
The Blakes
Streets
The Blakes
S/T
Earth, Roots & Water
Innocent Youths
  • Originally Released: 1977
  • Original Label: Summer Records
  • Jamaica To Toronto Release #6
2008
The Black Angels
Directions To See A Ghost
Songs For The New Industrial State
The Saturday Knights
Mingle
Cold Fact
  • Originally Released: 1970
  • Original Label: Sussex
2008
The Black Exit CD
Coming from Reality
  • Originally Released: 1971
  • Original Label: Sussex
Histoire De Melody Nelson
  • Originally Released: 1971
  • Original Label: Philips
The Early Years 1964-1965
Black Monk Time
  • Originally Released: 1966
  • Original Label: Polydor
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
  • Originally Released: 1969
  • Original Label: Capitol
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
2006
The First Vietnamese War b/w Nine Years 45
2007
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
2008
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
  • Originally Released: 1975
  • Original Label: Island
Is It Love Or Desire?
Je t'aime... moi non plus
S/T
  • Originally Released: 1974
  • Original Label: We Produce
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
U.F.O.
Di, doo dah
Like A Ship... (Without a Sail)
  • Originally Released: 1971
The Overton Berry Ensemble
T.O.B.E./At Seattle's Doubletree Inn
  • Originally Released: 1970/1972
The Vagrants
I Can't Make A Friend 1965 1968
Fully Qualified Survivor
  • Originally Released: 1970
  • Original Label: Harvest
Have Moicy!
  • Originally Released: 1976
  • Original Label: Rounder
Long Journey
  • Originally Released: 1977
Snockgrass
  • Originally Released: 1979
  • Original Label: Rounder
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
2011
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
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
  • Originally Released: 1970
  • Original Label: Harvest
After Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Singles + Rarities 1964-1965
V/A
Winter's Bone Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • cinewax release
Winter's Bone - Original Score
  • cinewax release
Wheedle's Groove
Wheedle's Groove
  • Director: Jennifer Maas
  • cinewax release
Deserter's Songs
  • Originally Released: 1998
  • Original Release: V2 Records
  • Modern Classics Recordings release
Various
Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976–1986
  • Originally Released: 1993
  • Original Label: Rykodisc
  • Modern Classics Recordings release
Various artists
Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976–1986[16]
2015
Eric Caboor and David Kauffman
Songs from Suicide Bridge
2021
various
May the Circle Remain Unbroken: A Tribute to Roky Erickson

References

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  1. ^ Levin, Hannah. "Counting Backward: Reissuing Obscure Gems, Local Indie Label Turns Up The Past". The Stranger. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  2. ^ a b Levin, Hannah. "Counting Backward: Obscuring Reissuing Obscure Gems, Local Indie Label Turns Up The Past". The Stranger. Retrieved September 26, 2006.
  3. ^ Sullivan, Matt. "About Light In The Attic". Light In The Attic. Retrieved January 1, 2003.
  4. ^ a b Mudede, Charles. "The Collector's Soul". The Stranger. Retrieved March 19, 2003.
  5. ^ Segal, Dave. "Wheedle's Groove". The Stranger. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  6. ^ Matos, Michelangelo. "Thrift Store Finds". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved August 18, 2004.
  7. ^ Howe, Brian. "The Black Angels". Pitchfork.
  8. ^ Barr, Brian J. "Betty Davis Is Back, Thanks To Light In The Attic". The Seattle Weekly.
  9. ^ Barr, Brian J. (31 March 2009). "Serge Gainsbourg: The King of French Pop". Seattle Weekly.
  10. ^ Barr, Brian J. (4 May 2010). "Seducing Kris Kristofferson". Seattle Weekly.
  11. ^ "The Strange Tale of Jim Sullivan’s U.F.O.", AquariumDrunkard, November 10, 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2015
  12. ^ "Light in the Attic Unearths the Forgotten History of First Nations Music with 'Native North America' Compilation". Exclaim!, October 8, 2014.
  13. ^ "V/A - Ciao! Manhattan - Ciao! Manhattan Original Motion Picture Soundtrack".
  14. ^ "Light In The Attic goes to the movies with our new film imprint -- cinewax". Light In The Attic.
  15. ^ "Light In The Attic enters the "Modern" era ..." Light In The Attic.
  16. ^ "V/A - Pacific Breeze Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1976-1986". Light in the Attic Records. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
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