Imaginary Records was an

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

based in Heywood,

Greater Manchester Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county and combined authority, combined authority area in North West England, with a population of 2.8 million; comprising ten metropolitan boroughs: City of Manchester, Manchester, City of Salford, Salford ...

, England, which specialised mainly in

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

and

post-punk Post-punk (originally called new musick) is a broad genre of punk music that emerged in the late 1970s as musicians departed from punk's traditional elements and raw simplicity, instead adopting a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and non-roc ...

. It was started in 1985 by Alan Duffy, known for his lyrical contributions to

Porcupine Tree Porcupine Tree are an English rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. During an initial career spanning more than twenty years, they earned critical acclaim from critics and fellow musicians, developed a cult following, and became ...

's first two albums, ''

On the Sunday of Life ''On the Sunday of Life...'' is the debut album of English progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on May 12, 1992. It compiles tracks that Steven Wilson produced and recorded for two cassette-only releases, '' Tarquin's Seaweed Fa ...

'' and ''

Up the Downstair ''Up the Downstair'' is the second studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released in June 1993. It was originally intended to be a double album set including the song " Voyage 34", which was instead released as a ...

'', and Andy Hopkins.Palmer, Robert (1989)
RECORDINGS; Rock's Icons: Hero Today, Homage Tomorrow
, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', 15 October 1989. Retrieved 6 August 2015 The label released many albums by

the Chameleons The Chameleons are an English rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1981. The band's classic line-up consisted of lead vocalist and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever. Th ...

and related bands, including the Reegs, and Mark Burgess' Zima Junction. The label also released a number of artist

tribute albums An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...

, on which contemporary acts recorded cover versions of influential artists such as

Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet (; born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as Th ...

the Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1964. The original line-up consisted of singer/guitarist Lou Reed, multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise. MacLise w ...

the Byrds The Byrds () were an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) remaining the sole cons ...

Syd Barrett Roger Keith "Syd" Barrett (6 January 1946 – 7 July 2006) was an English singer, songwriter, and musician who co-founded the rock band Pink Floyd in 1965. Barrett was their original frontman and primary songwriter, becoming known for his ...

the Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm ...

, and

Nick Drake Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. He did not find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work gradually achieved wider notice and recognit ...

, leading to Duffy being described as a "tribute entrepreneur".Lola
, cudband.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015 Contributors to this series of albums included

Sonic Youth Sonic Youth was an American rock band based in New York City, formed in 1981. Founding members Thurston Moore (guitar, vocals), Kim Gordon (bass, vocals, guitar) and Lee Ranaldo (guitar, vocals) remained together for the entire history of the b ...

the Membranes The Membranes are an English post-punk band formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977, the initial line-up being John Robb (bass guitar), Mark Tilton (guitar), Martyn Critchley (vocals) and Martin Kelly (drums).Larkin, Colin: ''The Guinness Who ...

Nirvana ( , , ; sa, निर्वाण} ''nirvāṇa'' ; Pali: ''nibbāna''; Prakrit: ''ṇivvāṇa''; literally, "blown out", as in an oil lampRichard Gombrich, ''Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benāres to Modern Colombo.' ...

, Echo & the Bunnymen,

XTC XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Fronted by songwriters Andy Partridge (guitars, vocals) and Colin Moulding (bass, vocals), the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in ...

Dinosaur Jr. Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984, originally simply called Dinosaur until legal issues forced a change in name. The band was founded by J Mascis (guitar, vocals, primary songwriter), Lou Barlo ...

Ride Ride may refer to: People * MC Ride, a member of Death Grips * Sally Ride (1951–2012), American astronaut * William Ride (19262011), Australian zoologist Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Ride'' (1998 film), a 1998 comedy by Millicen ...

Screaming Trees Screaming Trees was an American rock band formed in Ellensburg, Washington, in 1984 by vocalist Mark Lanegan, guitarist Gary Lee Conner, bass player Van Conner, and drummer Mark Pickerel. Pickerel had been replaced by Barrett Martin by the tim ...

and

Buffalo Tom Buffalo Tom is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. The band's name is derived from the band Buffalo Spr ...

. The albums were released in the US by Communion Records.

Discography

Albums

* Tiny Lights - ''Hot Chocolate Massage'' (ILLCD 011) *

The Mock Turtles The Mock Turtles are an English indie rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester, in 1985, who enjoyed some success in the early 1990s. Their most famous song " Can You Dig It?", which was released in the UK in 1991, charted at numb ...

- ''

Turtle Soup Turtle soup, also known as Terrapin soup, is a soup or stew made from the meat of turtles. Differing versions of the soup exist in some cultures and are viewed as a delicacy. Versions China In China, and in several countries in Southeast Asi ...

'' (ILLCD 012) *

Cud Cud is a portion of food that returns from a ruminant's stomach to the mouth to be chewed for the second time. More precisely, it is a bolus of semi-degraded food regurgitated from the reticulorumen of a ruminant. Cud is produced during the phy ...

- ''

Elvis Belt ''Elvis Belt'' is an album of selected early singles, EPs and Peel Sessions released by the Leeds-based indie rock band Cud in 1990 through Imaginary Records Imaginary Records was an independent record label based in Heywood, Greater Mancheste ...

'' (ILLCD 013) *Various - ''Outlaw Blues - A Tribute to Bob Dylan'' (ILLCD 014) *The Beat Poets - ''Totally Radio'' (ILLCD 015) *Various - '' Heaven & Hell - A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (Volume One)'' (ILLCD 016) *Various - '' Heaven & Hell - A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (Volume Two)'' (ILLCD 017) *Spiral Jetty - ''Dog star'' (ILLCD 018) *

- ''87-90'' (ILLCD 019) *The Infant God - ''Puberty'' (ILLCD 020) *

- '' Leggy Mambo'' (ILLCD 021) *Various - '' Heaven & Hell - A Tribute To The Velvet Underground (Volume Three)'' (ILLCD 022) *Various - ''Through the Looking Glass - 1966'' (ILLCD 023) *

Bill Nelson Clarence William Nelson II (born September 29, 1942) is an American politician and attorney serving as the administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Nelson previously served as a United States Senator from Flo ...

- ''Luminous'' (ILLCD 024) *Various - '' 1965 - Through the Looking Glass'' (ILLCD 025) *Various - ''Brittle Days - A Tribute to Nick Drake'' (ILLCD 026) * The Rhythm Sisters - ''Willerby'' (ILLCD 027) *The Cherryblades - ''In Dependence'' (ILLCD 028) *The Reegs - ''Return of the Sea Monkeys'' (ILLCD 029) *The Prudes - ''Designer Karma'' (ILLCD 030) *Various - ''Out of Time - The Very Best of the Imaginary Tribute Series'' (ILLCD 031) *Various - ''Through the Looking Glass - 1968'' (ILLCD 032) *Various - ''You Done My Brain In - A Tribute to the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band'' (ILLCD 033) *Various - '' Seconds Out Round One - Live Hit The North Sessions'' (ILLCD 034) *

The Chameleons The Chameleons are an English rock band, formed in Middleton, Greater Manchester in 1981. The band's classic line-up consisted of lead vocalist and bassist Mark Burgess, guitarists Reg Smithies and Dave Fielding, and drummer John Lever. Th ...

- ''Here Today ... Gone Tomorrow'' (ILLCD 035) *

- ''Live in Toronto'' (ILLCD 036) *

- ''Here Today ... Gone Tomorrow/Live In Toronto'' (ILLCD 037) *

- ''Free Trade Hall Rehearsal'' (ILLCD 039) *Various - ''Outlaw Blues - A Tribute to Bob Dylan (Volume Two)'' (ILLCD 040) *

- ''Dali's Picture'' (ILLCD 041) *

- ''Auffuhrung In Berlin'' (ILLCD 042) *

- ''Dali's Picture / Live In Berlin'' (ILLCD 043) * Mark Burgess and the Sons of God - ''Zima Junction'' (ILLCD 044) *The Reegs - ''Rock the Magic Rock'' (ILLCD 045) *Who By Fire - ''Road Movie'' (ILLCD 046) *Various - ''Fifteen Minutes - A Tribute to The Velvet Underground'' (ILLCD 047P) *Various - '' Beyond the Wildwood - A Tribute To Syd Barrett'' (ILLCD 100) *Various - ''

Fast 'n' Bulbous - A Tribute to Captain Beefheart Fast or FAST may refer to: * Fast (noun), high speed or velocity * Fast (noun, verb), to practice fasting, abstaining from food and/or water for a certain period of time Acronyms and coded Computing and software * ''Faceted Application of Subje ...

'' (ILLCD 200) *Various - ''Shangri-La - A Tribute to the Kinks'' (ILLCD 300) *Various - ''

Time Between - A Tribute to The Byrds Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, to ...

'' (ILLCD 400) *

- '' When In Rome, Kill Me'' (ILLCD 500) *Various - '' Stoned Again - A Tribute to the Rolling Stones'' (ILLCD 600) * Benny Profane – ''Dumb Luck Charm/Trapdoor Swing'' (ILLCD 700) *Various - ''If 6 Was 9 - A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix'' (ILLCD 800) *The Bachelor Pad - ''Tales of Hofmann'' (ILLCD 900) *Various - ''Through the Looking Glass - 1967'' (ILLCD 1000)

EPs

The Stairs The Stairs are an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1990 by vocalist and bassist Edgar "Summertyme" Jones, guitarist Ged Lynn and drummer Paul Maguire. The band released one album and a handful of singles, prior to Lynn's departure i ...

- ''Last Time Around Stairs'' (MIRACD 040) * The Chemistry Set - ''(Don't) Turn Away EP'' (MIRACD 026) * The Chemistry Set - ''The Candleburns EP'' (MIRACD 030)

References

External links

* {{Authority control British independent record labels Indie rock record labels

Discography

Albums

EPs

See also

References

External links