Pravda Records is an American

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

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, United States, representing a diverse roster of indie rock, soul, pop, and experimental artists.

History

Pravda Records was founded by Kenn Goodman in 1984. Pravda's first release was a five song cassette by The Service entitled ''Foma.'' In 1986, Pravda Records opened a retail store at 3730 N. Clark Street in the storefront of

Metro Chicago Metro (formerly the Stages Music Hall and Cabaret Metro) is a concert hall in Chicago, Illinois, United States, that plays host to a variety of local, regional and national emerging bands and musicians. The Metro was first opened in 1982. The ...

. Until 1992, the retail store focused on imports and other independent music. Goodman closed the retail store to shift emphasis back to the label and its artists. To date, Pravda Records has over 100 releases in a variety of genres from artists such as Grammy Award-nominated

Susan Voelz Susan Voelz (born Susana Maria Voelz) is an American musician. A Grammy Award-nominated vocalist, violinist, and composer. She is a member of the alternative rock band, Poi Dog Pondering. She has also worked with a long list of famous musician ...

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, and late

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legend

Andre Williams Andre Williams may refer to: * Andre Williams (musician) * Andre Williams (American football) * Andre Williams, British DJ better known as Shy FX {{hndis, Williams, Andre ...

. In 1993, Goodman started a subsidiary label Bughouse Records focusing on outsider artists performing live in Chicago. Artists on Bughouse include, Tiny Tim,

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, and

Hasil Adkins Hasil Adkins (April 29, 1937 – April 26, 2005) was an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His genres include rock and roll, country, blues and more commonly rockabilly, and because of his unusual playing and singing style, ...

. In 2010, Pravda celebrated 25 years of indie rock with a special performance at the Abbey Pub on January 22, 2010. The Service, who penned Pravda's first release, headlined supported by

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and Boom Hank. In 2022, Pravda celebrated 38 years at Sketchbook Brewery in Skokie, Illinois.

Artist roster

Andre Williams Andre Williams may refer to: * Andre Williams (musician) * Andre Williams (American football) * Andre Williams, British DJ better known as Shy FX {{hndis, Williams, Andre ...

*Black Smokers *Boom Hank *

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*The Civil Tones *Claude Pate * The Diplomats of Solid Sound *

*The Goldstars *

Green Green is the color between cyan and yellow on the visible spectrum. It is evoked by light which has a dominant wavelength of roughly 495570 Nanometre, nm. In subtractive color systems, used in painting and color printing, it is created by ...

*The Imperial Sound * Javelin Boot *

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*Lost Cause *The Melismatics *New Duncan Imperials *Precious Wax Drippings *The Ruiners *Ryan and Pony *The Service *

*Wake Ooloo *

Young Fresh Fellows Young may refer to: * Offspring, the product of reproduction of a new organism produced by one or more parents * Youth, the time of life when one is young, often meaning the time between childhood and adulthood Music * The Young, an American roc ...

(The band is shown performing on the sidewalk in front of the Pravda Records storefront on the cover of their “Refreshments” EP. They also later released the “Two Guitars, Bass and Drums” 7-inch on Pravda)

References

External links

Official websiteSrticles.chicagotribune.comChicagobusiness.com
{{Authority control Record labels established in 1984 1984 establishments in Illinois American record labels