New Currents in the Art of the State
Deep in the musical heart of Texas, Austin Records boasts being one of the oldest record labels in "The Live Music Capitol of the World" and continues its lone star legacy with new releases for Fall 2006.
Look for the CD releases of Hard Times in the Land of Plenty and Wall of Pride by Omar and the Howlers and The Shake Russell Band's Time Spent.
Austin Records draws on the spirit of the past to inspire our present artistic direction and set the tone for future development. We are dedicated to bringing you the best from the full spectrum of Texas music.
The company started humbly enough with a truck rigged for mobile recording by co-founders Herschel Cunningham and Bill Johnson. After the two finished customizing the truck, they walked outside in time to see a perfect double rainbow. Twin Rainbow Productions was born and began live recording in a musical boomtown.
Twin Rainbow Productions evolved into Austin Riverside Sound Studio with ace recording engineer Richard Mullen joining Johnson and Cunningham. Finally, Austin musicians didn't have to go elsewhere to record and new meaning was infused into the term "Third Coast."
One of Riverside Sound's first projects was recording tracks for Stevie Ray Vaughan's Texas Flood, for which the studio won gold records. Stevie then recorded tracks set for his next release, Soul to Soul. Inevitably the studio created its own record label and Austin Records took flight.
An Austin Rhythm and Blues Christmas LP features some of Austin's finest - The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lou Ann Barton, Charlie Sexton (now playing with Bob Dylan), Paul Ray, Angela Strehli, Sarah Brown and the Kazz Jazz Quartet, becoming the company's first release and a classic holiday collection.
Austin Records went on to record Omar and the Howlers' I Told You So. The response inspired soccer stadium crowds in Scandinavia. "Border Girl" was a hit single and was played by hundreds of radio stations across the U.S. The song's music video was shot on location in Austin, visually reintroducing the Third Coast to millions of MTV fans.
Next came Time Spent by The Shake Russell Band, a landmark showcasing of the band's fine blend of rock, folk, and Texas blues. Whether you're listening to the sensual "So Satisfied" or dancing to "Don't Let Him Come Between Us," you'll know you're listening to true Texas music.
Austin Records' next release and Aaron Atchley's first, Edge of Time, was one of producer and engineer Bill Johnson's favorite projects, which says a lot from someone who has worked on countless musical projects. Discover the new era underway at Austin Records. Our independence gives us the freedom to innovate, create and explore new opportunities with Austin artists. Now with Jim Estes joining the team, Austin Records is on the move with the best yet to come.
