Rough Trade
May 4, 2010 11:54 AM Subscribe
Do It Yourself: The Story of Rough Trade (goog vid, BBC, 1:28) The history of the legendary indie label/shop, home to such bands as Scritti Politti, The Smiths, The Fall, Cabaret Voltaire, The Feelies, Robert Wyatt, The Slits, and many more.
This is a really entertaining doc—watched it last month. There's something I really love about that alchemical mix of punk, Jamaican music and... I dunno... London-ness.
Nice to see bands like Desperate Bicycles and other lesser-known groups getting their due too!
posted by saltykmurks at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2010
Nice to see bands like Desperate Bicycles and other lesser-known groups getting their due too!
posted by saltykmurks at 12:19 PM on May 4, 2010
I can't watch this until I'm at home but I am stoked. Rough Trade was always a staff favorite when I worked in record stores. Robert Wyatt, Shelleyan Orphan, Float Up C.P. (featuring Neneh Cherry in 1986) and the Sundays were favorites.
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posted by adamd1 at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010
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posted by adamd1 at 12:32 PM on May 4, 2010
Mayo Thompson looking sharp as hell.
posted by activitystory at 12:50 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by activitystory at 12:50 PM on May 4, 2010
Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thanks for posting this, puny human. I was a huge Scritti Politti fan in my youth (queued up at HMV Oxford St. to get my copy of Songs to Remember autographed -- Green was gracious and very, very tall).
I was too young to go to shows by most of this era's bands, but I still cherish a great love for all those shambolic postpunk Peel-approved sorts referenced here. I think I feel a vinyl flashback evening coming on.
posted by vickyverky at 3:39 PM on May 4, 2010
I was too young to go to shows by most of this era's bands, but I still cherish a great love for all those shambolic postpunk Peel-approved sorts referenced here. I think I feel a vinyl flashback evening coming on.
posted by vickyverky at 3:39 PM on May 4, 2010
There's a nice preview of Rob Young's 190-page book here.
"Travis has variously said that the name Rough Trade was taken from a pulp S&M novel, or a moderately successful Canadian group featuring Carol Pope ..." Whatever, dear.
posted by Twang at 4:16 PM on May 4, 2010
"Travis has variously said that the name Rough Trade was taken from a pulp S&M novel, or a moderately successful Canadian group featuring Carol Pope ..." Whatever, dear.
posted by Twang at 4:16 PM on May 4, 2010
I just had a Johnny Marrgasm.
posted by humboldt32 at 5:15 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by humboldt32 at 5:15 PM on May 4, 2010
So that's what they're calling rough trade now, huh?
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:13 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by Pope Guilty at 6:13 PM on May 4, 2010
That Duffy song at the top sounds a lot like UB-40's version of "Ooh Baby I Love Your Way" with vocals provided by a sick goat. Really, Rough Trade?
posted by Sys Rq at 6:21 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by Sys Rq at 6:21 PM on May 4, 2010
Okay now that I've seen it at last: I'm struck by how many artists I was completely unaware were ever on Rough Trade to begin with, and that includes the Smiths. I lived my whole life in North America, and the Smiths were always a Sire band to me. Interesting. Same goes for Stiff Little Fingers, who I was unaware got their start on that label.
A great documentary, especially for anyone today who feels that bigger and bigger labels are the only way to get your music to a wide international audience. Great find.
Nice Bonus: you can "download for iPod", which means you can also watch it on a PS3. Sound was surprisingly decent quality.
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posted by adamd1 at 6:35 PM on May 4, 2010
A great documentary, especially for anyone today who feels that bigger and bigger labels are the only way to get your music to a wide international audience. Great find.
Nice Bonus: you can "download for iPod", which means you can also watch it on a PS3. Sound was surprisingly decent quality.
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posted by adamd1 at 6:35 PM on May 4, 2010
Having both The Smiths and The Strokes on your label is a huge achievement. I loved the first Libertines disc as well, though of course the band itself and all the nonsense outside of the music ensured their time was brief.
Back in high school I always thought the Carol Pope thing was just a coincidence and I still believe it but it's nice to have it mentioned.
Having seen the Factory/Tony Wilson doc this was a nice one to see as well. Didn't realize they distributed so many other labels including Mute and Beggars Banquet.
posted by juiceCake at 8:18 PM on May 4, 2010
Back in high school I always thought the Carol Pope thing was just a coincidence and I still believe it but it's nice to have it mentioned.
Having seen the Factory/Tony Wilson doc this was a nice one to see as well. Didn't realize they distributed so many other labels including Mute and Beggars Banquet.
posted by juiceCake at 8:18 PM on May 4, 2010
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(also Yaaay, I had/have like half of RT's entire output)
posted by The Whelk at 12:13 PM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]