Great Record Labels: Rounder Records

[Ojai Sam]

Year founded: 1970
Founders: Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy
Still Active: Yes
Website: www.rounder.com
Genres: folk, country, bluegrass, rock, blues
Format: LP, CD, download
Artists: Alison Krauss, George Thorogood, Bela Fleck, Nanci, Griffith, J.D. Crowe and dozens more

Spotify Playlist:

From the Rounder Records website:

Rounder began in 1970 as a collective enterprise by three college friends, passionate music lovers all, to record, preserve, and pioneer the development of roots music and its contemporary offshoots. It was not originally intended to become a business — all three Rounder Founders had other careers in mind — but the reception their first releases earned drove the trio to do more. As one often said, “It was like a hobby that got out of control.” In their third year alone, they released 19 albums.

The three sought out the best musicians in various fields – they had already expanded into blues and other genres – and also pursued quirky projects, such as documenting the Old Time Hollherin’ Contest in Spiveys Corner, North Carolina. Rounder made the first albums of numerous artists – Alison Krauss, George Thorogood, Mark O’Connor, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, and many more. The three founders hired talented staff and built a company that was good at publicity, promotion, and sales, and over the years, many artists have made Rounder their label home, some never seeing any reason to leave.

Acquired by the Concord Music Group in 2010, Rounder continues to work with many of the artists who have found a home with the now-venerable label while adding new relationships with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, J.D. McPherson, and many more. In 2014, the company moved its headquarters to Nashville.

Rounder albums have won more than 40 Grammy Awards, the most recent being Best Bluegrass Album of 2014 (The Earls of Leicester), and in 2008 the Alison Krauss/Robert plant album Raising Sand won both Best Album of the Year and Best Record of the Year, something only accomplished once before by an independent label.

The vast Rounder Records catalogue includes much of the finest bluegrass, acoustic music, blues from New Orleans and Memphis, singer/songwriters, and alternative music that has stood the test of time.

 

[Nickyboy]

Oh, I have some LPs from Rounder Records from back in the day. They were a prominent label on WXPN, Penn University's radio station back in the 80s.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Laurie Lewis - True Stories (1995)

This delightful Laurie Lewis album typifies the eclectic yet faithful approach Rounder Records has always taken toward roots music. Raised in San Francisco during the 60's, Lewis took up the violin but soon became enthralled by bluegrass fiddling. After founding The Good Ol' Persons with Kathy Kallick, Laurie went solo and turned out a series of fine records in the acoustic New Traditionalist vein. This one covers a lot of territory, with elements of Irish, Cajun, folk, bluegrass and country woven together seamlessly. Musicians include Rob Ickes (dobro), Mike Marshall (mandolin) and Norton Buffalo (harmonica). But Laurie's fiddle and heartfelt vocals are the real stars here.

on the Sam-O-Meter. Knocking On Your Door Again.

Added to the MG Rounder Records Spotify playlist.

 

[Mattafett]

I have a bunch of music from this label!
The best being Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues

 

[Ojai Sam]

^
New to me!

Added to our Spotify playlist where I'll check it out.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Blue Highway - Original Traditional (2016)

Outstanding contemporary bluegrass from a 23 year old band that shows no signs of slowing down. OT went #1 on all the bluegrass charts and has been nominated for a 2017 Grammy. If you haven't listened to this genre in a while, give Original Traditional a spin. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised. It's on our Spotify Rounder playlist.

 

[captwhiffle]

Here's one that I enjoyed listening to a few years back.

Adam Green & Binki Shapiro - Adam Green & Binki Shapiro (2013)




This sunny folk-pop set evokes Lee Greenwood and Nancy Sinatra, and while it breaks no new ground, it's a pleasant collection that makes for a nice listen while drinking lime-garnished cocktails on a back porch during dusk in the summer.

 

[Mattafett]

Cross posted

 

[BHT]

So important in bluegrass circles, it is simply known as 0044.

 

[Ojai Sam]

So important in bluegrass circles, it is simply known as 0044.

BHT, you've picked arguably the most important album in bluegrass. J. D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs and Bobby Slone were a super group. From the first note of "Old Home Place" you realize this is a very special record.
on the Sam-O-Meter. It would get 10 if the meter went that high.

 

[earcartoons]

Signs & Signifiers ~ JD McPherson (2012)

Homage sound to great R&B/Rockabilly Hepcat style of the late 50's. Loved it from the first snare roll and go back and listen often.

This is a killer label to choose by the way. New George Thorogood 08/04/17. So many others to choose and highlight. Great company Rounder.

 

[Nickyboy]

It would get 10 if the meter went that high.

"These go to 11"

 

[lpfreak1170]

So important in bluegrass circles, it is simply known as 0044.

BHT, you've picked arguably the most important album in bluegrass. J. D. Crowe, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs and Bobby Slone were a super group. From the first note of "Old Home Place" you realize this is a very special record.
on the Sam-O-Meter. It would get 10 if the meter went that high.

Well now I absolutely have to listen to it...and it's on Spotify!

 

[Ojai Sam]

IIIrd Tyme Out - Letter To Home (1995)

This was the first release by IIIrd Tyme Out on Rounder. Mainstream bluegrass doesn't get any better. Guitarist and lead singer Russell Moore founded the group in 1991 as his third band - hence, the name. He has gone through many sidemen and recorded for many labels over the years but maintained consistently high standards throughout.

This album is one of his/their best. The group included Ray Deaton (bass), Mike Hartgrove (fiddle), Wayne Benson (mandolin) and Steve Dilling (banjo). From self-written tunes to a Delmore Brothers cover, it's all here. Unexpected highlight: an a cappella cover of The Platters' "Only You (And You Alone)" that really works.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lynn Morris - You'll Never Be The Sun (1999)

Texan Lynn Morris with her significant other, bassist Marshall Wilborn, delivers another in a series of fine bluegrass albums. It's traditional but her warm vocals give it a contemporary feel.

RIYL Alison Krauss.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard - Hazel & Alice (1973)

Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard - Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard (1976)

Two superb albums that demonstrate why Hazel and Alice are among this year's Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductees, discussed here:

http://musicgourmets.org/index.php?threads/ibma-bluegrass-music-awards-2017-nominees.119/

 

[Ojai Sam]

George Thorogood - Party of One (2017)

Now we know what it would be like to have George invite us over to his house so he could play us a few songs. The first solo album from the ageless singer finds him in good voice on a wisely selected collection of familiar and unfamiliar blues and rock tunes with a couple of country numbers to change things up. George hauls several different electric and acoustic axes out of the closet and blows some mean harp, too. Pleasantest surprise is that Thorogood doesn’t oversing, trading his raucous attack for a more intense style perfectly suited for the unplugged environment.

on the Sam-O-Meter. “Got To Move” “Down The Highway” ‘cause he’s “Born With the Blues”.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand (2007)

Since @Nickyboy just posted Plant's new one, I decided to go back ten years for this inspired duet album. Two really divergent artists came together to produce a masterpiece.

 

[Nickyboy]

^ That is a beautiful album. Plant's new one retains some elements from that issue.

 

[Ojai Sam]

The Whitstein Brothers - Sweet Harmony (1996)

Robert and Charles Whitstein carried the tradition of the great country brother duets forward into the 1990's. This was the last of their five albums, all released on Rounder. There's no mistaking the influence of Ira and Charlie Louvin on the Whitsteins, but they managed to blend older songs like "What For The Light To Shine" seamlessly with (more or less) contemporary material like "The Sounds Of Silence". Support from such superb acoustic pickers as Adam Steffey, "Hoot" Hester, Roy Huskey, Jr. and Jerry Douglas helped to invoke a timeless sound that predated bluegrass. Highly recommended.