Crypt Records is an independent
record label
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produ ...
founded by American-born Tim Warren in 1983. The label has been headquartered variously in
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
and in several locations in the United States. Crypt is perhaps best known for issuing the ten-volume ''
Back From The Grave Series'' of 1960s
garage punk
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include:
*Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicle ...
compilations, although its other reissues and releases include
surf,
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western music ...
,
punk rock,
exotica
Exotica is a musical genre, named after the 1957 Martin Denny album of the same name that was popular during the 1950s to mid-1960s with Americans who came of age during World War II. The term was coined by Simon "Si" Waronker, Liberty Records ...
,
garage punk
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include:
*Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicle ...
, original
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...
, and
soul music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...
.
History
Establishment
Crypt Records was launched in August 1983 by the New York-born Tim Warren (b. 1960), who had spent his boyhood with his family in the
Philippines
The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no),
* bik, Republika kan Filipinas
* ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas
* cbk, República de Filipinas
* hil, Republ ...
and
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
.
[Matti Bildt]
"Crypt Records: Rock n Roll Isn't Dead, It's Just a Little Sleepy,"
''Ox Fanzine,'' whole no. 103 (Aug.-Sept. 2013) n German
N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''.
History
...
The family moved back to the United States in 1974, when Warren was 14.
Warren spent his first four years as a young adult working in a record store in
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst () is a New England town, town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2020 census, the population was 39,263, making it the highest populated municipality in Hampshire County (althoug ...
before moving to
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...
to work in a gas station — a job which allowed him to save a modest amount of money.
In October 1980 Warren returned to his New York City birthplace to take a job in another record store.
It was at this time that Warren first became interested in
garage punk
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Specific applications include:
*Garage (residential), a building or part of a building for storing one or more vehicle ...
and other underground music of the 1960s.
The label's first release was a compilation LP dedicated to raw 1960s garage rock.
[Tim Warren, "Letter to the Editor," ''Punk Planet'' hicago whole no. 6 (March–April 1995), pg. 10.] Over the next three years there would be a total of 17 releases, focusing on rare 1960s garage and 1950s
rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western music ...
music.
In the fall of 1986 the label moved towards the reissue of contemporary
punk rock with a reissue of 1970s band
DMZ
A demilitarized zone (DMZ or DZ) is an area in which treaties or agreements between nations, military powers or contending groups forbid military installations, activities, or personnel. A DZ often lies along an established frontier or bounda ...
.
A mix of releases followed including pioneering bands from the 1950s and 1960s as well as modern punk groups.
Move to Germany
Warren moved to
Hamburg
(male), (female) en, Hamburger(s),
Hamburgian(s)
, timezone1 = Central (CET)
, utc_offset1 = +1
, timezone1_DST = Central (CEST)
, utc_offset1_DST = +2
, postal ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
in January 1990, where he immediately began booking European tours for various bands on the Crypt label.
The label rented a seven-room space in the spring of 1991, in which it opened up a retail record store in addition to continuing its manufacturing operations.
Although home to the commercially successful
New Bomb Turks
The New Bomb Turks are an American punk rock band formed at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, United States, in 1990. The founding members are Jim Weber, Eric Davidson, Bill Randt, and Matt Reber. Sam Brown replaced Bill Randt on drums ...
, the label found itself in financial difficulties owing to slow payments from dishonest distributors.
With punk exploding in popularity in the United States, plans were made for a resumption of manufacturing operations there.
Still hampered by cash flow problems resulting from distributor non-payment, a manufacturing and distribution deal was signed with
major label
A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the produc ...
-affiliated
Matador Records
Matador Records is an independent record label, with a roster of mainly indie rock, but also punk rock, experimental rock, alternative rock, and electronic acts.
History
Matador was created in 1989 by Chris Lombardi in his New York City apart ...
in August 1994.
In 1997 the building housing Crypt Records was sold to a new owner, leading to an escalation in rent which forced the shop's closure.
21st century
In January 1999 Warren decided to return to the United States, briefly settling in the small town of
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 16,180, reflecting an increase of 2,316 from the 13,864 counted in the 2000 Census and having the 316th highe ...
.
He moved across country in June 2000 to
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Frenchtown is a borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. Frenchtown is located along the banks of the Delaware River on the Hunterdon Plateau thirty two miles northwest of the state capital Trenton. As of the 2010 United States Ce ...
, bringing his label in tow.
A Crypt presence was maintained in Germany, with a new shop opened at an alternate location in Hamburg in September 2005.
The label remained in financial difficulties, hindered in particular by the bankruptcy of Crypt's European distributor.
Warren was unhappy in the United States and found himself spending an inordinate amount on the repair and maintenance of a New Jersey home he had purchased.
He managed to sell the house in 2007 and returned to New York, briefly opening a record store in
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
called "Cool and Crazy."
This New York chapter also proved to be a short one and a return was made to Germany, this time to Berlin.
The label continues in existence in 2015 and is best known for its series of ''Back from the Grave'' compilation albums.
Artists
*Los Ass-Draggers
*Atomic Suplex
*
Bantam Rooster
Bantam Rooster was an American garage punk band, formed in 1994 in Lansing, Michigan and disbanded in 2003.
History
Bantam Rooster formed in 1994 as the duo of vocalist and guitarist Thomas Jackson Potter (formerly of Kill Devil Hill) and drumme ...
*
The Beguiled
*
Cheater Slicks
Cheater Slicks is a three-man garage punk band formed in Boston in 1987. The members are Tom Shannon (guitar, vocals), Dave Shannon (guitar), and Dana Hatch (drums, vocals). They toured with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in 1995.
Cheater Slicksat ...
*
Country Teasers
Country Teasers were an art punk band formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1993.
Frontman Ben Wallers also performs solo as The Rebel. He plays live shows with a Gameboy backing-track or accompanied by Country Teasers bassist Sophie Politowicz on dru ...
*
The Devil Dogs
The Devil Dogs were an American, New York-based garage punk band, started in 1989 by Andy Gortler (guitars), Steve Baise (bass) and Paul Corio (drums).
Two members of the Devil Dogs (Gortler and Baise) had been members of the Rat Bastards whe ...
*The Dirtys
*
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of Explosive, low explosive Pyrotechnics, pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. They are most commonly used in fireworks displays (also called a fireworks show or pyrotechnics), combining a l ...
*
The Gories
The Gories are an American garage rock trio that formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1986. They were among the first 1980s garage rock bands to incorporate overt blues influences. The band features Mick Collins (of The Dirtbombs), Dan ...
*
The Grave Diggers
The Grave Diggers were an American rockabilly, surf, jazz, punk band. They are notable due to their eclectic musical style, their early foreshadowing of subsequent music revival movements, and the musical careers of their members.
The band was e ...
*
Guitar Wolf
Guitar Wolf ( Japanese: ギ タ ー ウ ル フ) is a Japanese garage rock power trio founded in Tokyo in 1987. They coined the phrase "jet rock 'n' roll", which they use to describe their musical style. The band is signed to Sony Music J ...
*
Thee Headcoats
Thee Headcoats was a band formed in Chatham, Kent, England in 1989, that was well known for its garage rock sound, explicitly sticking to this style on almost all of their albums. The band's signature sound as well as their prolific writing has ...
*
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was an American three-piece rock band from New York City, formed in 1991. The group consisted of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals, Russell Simins on drums and Jon Spenc ...
*The Lazy Cowgirls
*
The Little Killers
The Little Killers were an American rock and roll band who formed in New York City, New York, U.S. in 2001. They played punky garage rock inspired by the likes of Chuck Berry, the New York Dolls, and Johnny Burnette's Rock & Roll Trio.
The band f ...
*
Lyres Yoke lutes, commonly called lyres, are a class of string instruments, subfamily of lutes, indicated with the code 321.2 in the Hornbostel–Sachs classification.
Description
Yoke lutes are defined as instruments with one or more strings, arrange ...
*
Thee Mighty Caesars
Thee Mighty Caesars were a Medway scene garage/punk group, formed by Billy Childish (vocals/guitar) in 1985 after the demise of The Milkshakes, alongside John Agnew (bass) and Graham Day (drums), who initially was still also in fellow Medway ...
*Ralph Nielsen & The Chancellors
*
New Bomb Turks
The New Bomb Turks are an American punk rock band formed at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, United States, in 1990. The founding members are Jim Weber, Eric Davidson, Bill Randt, and Matt Reber. Sam Brown replaced Bill Randt on drums ...
*
Nine Pound Hammer
Nine Pound Hammer is an American cowpunk band formed in 1985 by vocalist Scott Luallen and guitarist Blaine Cartwright in their hometown of Owensboro, Kentucky.
Nine Pound hammer was one of the first rural hardcore punk bands to substantially i ...
*
Oblivians
The Oblivians are an American garage punk trio that has existed since 1993. In the 1990s, their blues-infused brand of bravado, crudely recorded music made them one of the most popular and prominent bands within the underground garage rock scene ...
*
The Pagans
The Pagans were an American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio, United States, that was originally active from 1977 to 1979. They reformed several times, from 1982-1983, from 1986-1989 and again in 2014-2017. Along with fellow Cleveland band ...
*Piece Kor
*The Pleasure Fuckers
*The Raunch Hands
*The Revelators
*
Teengenerate
Teengenerate were a Japanese punk rock band from 1993 to 1996, known for their fun style of playing garage punk
A garage is a covered structure built for the purpose of parking, storing, protecting, maintaining, and/or repairing vehicles. Sp ...
*
Wylde Mammoths
See also
*
List of record labels
File:Alvinoreyguitarboogie.jpg
File:AmMusicBunk78.jpg
File:Bingola1011b.jpg
Lists of record labels cover record labels, brands or trademarks associated with marketing of music recordings and music videos. The lists are organized alphabetically, b ...
Footnotes
External links
Crypt Records official website
{{Authority control
German record labels
Garage rock record labels
Rhythm and blues record labels