Hello CD of the Month Club
Founded1993
FounderJohn Flansburgh
Marjorie Galen
Defunct1996
StatusInactive
GenreAlternative rock, alternative country, experimental rock
Country of originUnited States
LocationPalisades, New York

The Hello CD of the Month Club, also known as the Hello Recording Club or simply Hello, was a subscription-only record company that operated from 1993 to 1996. Hello was organised by John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants and Marjorie Galen.[1] Members of Hello received monthly issues of CD extended plays, each containing four or five songs by a particular artist. These EPs were exclusive to Hello.[2]

Company history

John Flansburgh founded the Hello CD of the Month Club with Marjorie Galen in 1993 as a way to provide an outlet for his solo material — Hello issued four Mono Puff releases, as well as two EPs by Flansburgh's bandmate John Linnell — while also providing a platform for both established musicians signed to other labels and new artists. Galen and Flansburgh originally intended Hello to be a standard independent label. However, this was not financially plausible, so Hello adopted a subscription model instead.[3] Although Flansburgh and Galen had to seek out artists for Hello's first year of operation, by 1994, musicians were contacting the label themselves.[1] In its first year, the label faced difficulties with understaffing.[4]

Flansburgh has stated that the purpose of Hello was to produce and distribute music projects cheaply for the artist and the consumer. Hello only produced as many discs as the number of subscribers. It did not achieve outstanding financial success; however, Flansburgh reported that the label was in the black.[1][3] Proceeds from They Might Be Giants' 1985 Demo Tape, an optional addition to 1994 subscriptions, were donated to the People With AIDS Coalition.[5]

The label dissolved after its 1996 subscription year due to a level of demand that the small label could no longer service. Some members did not receive the final 1996 releases till May 1997. For a brief time afterward, the Hello back catalogue was still available for purchase.[6] Over the span of Hello's existence, it issued releases from thirty-four different artists.

Release history

Hello produced thirty-nine EPs over four years, as well as two promotional samplers, a promotional copy of a full-length Mono Puff album, and one compilation of original material by various artists. Hello also issued a live sampler from They Might Be Giants, and reissued their 1985 Demo Tape on cassette.

1993

ArtistTitleFormatTypeMonthNotes
Brian DewanBrian DewanCDEPMarchFirst release
NeloriesThe NeloriesCDEPApril
Flat Old WorldFlat Old WorldCDEPMayIncluded bonus cassette
They Might Be Giants1985 Demo TapeCassetteDemoMayBonus reissue cassette sent with the May EP for an additional $5
Kurt Hoffman's Band of WeedsKurt Hoffman's Band of WeedsCDEPJune
Eugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneCDEPJuly
The ResidentsPrelude to "The Teds"CDEPAugustLater released as part of "Our Poor, Our Tired, Our Huddled Masses"
Hello The BandHello The BandCDEPSeptember
Duplex Halloween PlanetDuplex Halloween PlanetCDEPOctober
Frank BlackFrank BlackCDEPNovember
The Minus 5Hello EPCDEPDecember

1994

ArtistTitleFormatTypeMonthNotes
Various ArtistsHello 1993 SamplerCDPromoN/AIncluded selections from 1993 catalogues
Various ArtistsA Hello CD of the Month Club SamplerCDPromoN/AIncluded selections from 1993, 1994, and 1995 catalogues
PortastaticPortastaticCDEPFebruary
Drink MeFive SongsCDEPMarch
The JicketsThe JicketsCDEPApril
Peter StampfelPeter StampfelCDEPMay
John LinnellState SongsCDEPJuneLater expanded to a full album
Brian DewanBrian DewanCDEPSeptember
Spanish FlyInsert Tongue HereCDEPOctober
Andy PartridgeAndy PartridgeCDEPNovember
Chaz and the MotorbikesChaz and the MotorbikesCDEPDecemberIncluded bonus CD
They Might Be GiantsLive!! New York City 10/14/94CDLiveDecemberElektra Records promotional CD sent with December EP

1995

ArtistTitleFormatTypeMonthNotes
John Flansburgh's Mono PuffJohn Flansburgh's Mono PuffCDEPMarch
My Dad is DeadMy Dad is DeadCDEPApril
AlaskaAlaskaCDEPMay
SpondeeSpondeeCDEPJune
Freedy JohnstonFreedy JohnstonCDEPJuly
The CoctailsThe CoctailsCDEPAugust
Philco BendyxPhilco BendyxCDEPSeptember
Amy Allison and The MaudlinsAmy Allison and The MaudlinsCDEPOctober
Dave SchrammDave SchrammCDEPNovember
Various ArtistsHello Family Santa SpecialCDCompilationDecemberChristmas-themed compilation

1996

ArtistTitleFormatTypeMonthNotes
The Gothic ArchiesLooming in the GloomCDEPMarch
Will RigbyWill RigbyCDEPApril
Mono PuffUnsupervisedCDAlbumMaySpecial advance promo; not commercially available
Soul CoughingSoul CoughingCDEPJune
Laura CantrellLaura CantrellCDEPJulyLater reissued independently
John LinnellHouse of MayorsCDEPAugust
Hal SirowitzHal SirowitzCDEPSeptember
You Were SpiralingYou Were SpiralingCDEPOctober
Mono PuffThe Hal Cragin YearsCDEPNovember
Mono PuffThe Steve Calhoon YearsCDEPDecemberFinal release

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Miller Rosenblum, Trudy. "Shoestring Label Provides an Outlet for Side Projects". Billboard, April 1994. Archived by Google. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  2. ↑ The subscription model is explained in a Hello ad, which is archived here. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
  3. 1 2 "Brain Child of a Giant". Creative Loafing. 6 January 1994.
  4. ↑ Flansburgh, John. "Partytime in the Summertime 1993". Summer, 1993 Hello Newsletter. Archived here. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  5. ↑ 1985 Demo Tape. They Might Be Giants. Hello Recordings. 1994.
  6. ↑ "Mono Puff FAQ", including Hello information. MonoPuff.org Retrieved 2012-11-25.
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