# Light in the Attic Records

Light in the Attic Records is an independent record label that was established in 2002 in Seattle, Washington by Matt Sullivan. The label is known for its roster of reissue projects and for its distribution catalog. Light in the Attic has re-released work by The Shaggs, Betty Davis, Serge Gainsbourg, Jim Sullivan, Jane Birkin, Monks and The Free Design. The label has also released albums by contemporary bands The Black Angels and Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators.

## History

When Sullivan was in high school, he was already interested in starting his own label. "I always wanted my own label," Sullivan told The Stranger in 2006, "but it was always the wrong time."
After high school and college at the University of Arizona, Sullivan interned for Seattle, Washington-based record labels like Sub Pop and the now-defunct Loosegroove Records. Susie Tennant, Sub Pop’s then radio-promotions director, offered Sullivan a chance to intern with Madrid, Spain-based record label, Munster Records. Munster Records focused primarily on reissues of bands like The Stooges and Spacemen 3, inspiring Sullivan to begin rethinking his own concept behind the still active idea of starting a record label.
Upon Sullivan’s return to the states he began producing live shows in the Seattle area including performances by performers like Saul Williams, Clinic, and Kid Koala under the name Light In The Attic. With a stronger interest in the production of records, Sullivan returned to his original idea of a reissue label.
Major projects were, among others:
* a reissue of The Last Poets first two releases - The Last Poets and This Is Madness.
* the reissue of the soundtrack to 1974 blackploitation film Lialeh composed by Bernard Purdie.
* the reissue of several works from The Free Design.
* Wheedle's Groove, a collection of songs from forgotten soul and funk groups from Seattle, including, amongst others, Patrinell Wright, The Black & White Affair, Kenny G, Ron Buford, Overton Berry
* in 2006, Light in the Attic released the album "Passover" from the psych-rock group The Black Angels. This was their first contemporary release.
* the reissue of Betty Davis' albums Betty Davis and They Say I'm Different. Davis agreed with the project, but did not co-operate.
* In 2009, the label acquired the rights to distribute deceased Serge Gainsbourg's classic album Histoire de Melody Nelson. This was their first project with an already established artist.
* In 2010, they launched their 50th album. This album was a release of old demos by folk-country singer Kris Kristofferson and was named Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: Publishing Demos 1968 - 1972.
* In 2011, the reissue of U.F.O. by singer-songwriter Jim Sullivan.
* In 2014, the label released the compilation album Native North America, Vol. 1.
* In 2017, for the occasion of Record Store Day, they released the official soundtrack of the cult film Ciao! Manhattan in vinyl and CD formats on their Cinewax imprint. This marks the first time that the soundtrack has been commercially released in any form.

## Imprints
### cinewax

In 2010, Light in the Attic announced their first imprint, cinewax, for vintage and contemporary film. The imprint has released the Winter's Bone Original Soundtrack, Winter's Bone Original Score by Dickon Hinchcliffe, the Project Nim Original Soundtrack also by Dickon Hinchcliffe, and Jennifer Maas' Wheedle's Groove film.

### Modern Classic Recordings

Light in the Attic's second imprint, Modern Classic Recordings started in 2011. The imprints first release, Mercury Revs' Deserter's Songs was released in November 2011. Their second release, Morphine's Cure For Pain, will follow in 2012.

### Retail and distribution

As well as their own products, Light in the Attic distributes a large portfolio of smaller American and hard-to-find international labels. Light in the Attic currently distributes: Cultures of Soul, Deanwell Global Music, Delmore Recordings, Favorite Recordings, Flat Field Records, Heavenly Sweetness, Heavy Light, Hot Casa, Kindred Spirits, Lion Productions, Masstropicas, Materia Collective, Medical Records, Now-Again, Paradise of Bachelors, Regenerator Records, Rhino Handmade, Secret Seven, Secret Stash, Strawberry Rain, Timmion, Trikont, Vadim Music, Votary Disk/Roundtable, Voyag3r and Golden Pavilion.

## Discography

| Year | Artist | Album Details |
| 2002 | The Last Poets | The Last Poets/This Is Madness Originally Released: 1970/1971 |
| 2003 | Sharpshooters | Twice As Nice |
| 2003 | Bernard Purdie | Lialeh Originally Released: 1974 |
| | The Free Design | Kites Are Fun Originally Released: 1967 |
| | The Free Design | Heaven/Earth Originally Released: 1969 |
| | The Free Design | You Could Be Born Again Originally Released: 1968 |
| | The Free Design | Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love Originally Released: 1970 |
| | Wayne McGhie and the Sounds of Joy | S/T Originally Released: 1970 Original Label: Birchmont Jamaica To Toronto Release #1 |
| | V/A | Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul |
| | V/A | Deep Throat Anthology I & II Originally Released: 1972/1974 |
| | V/A | Deep Throat OST Pt. 1 Originally Released: 1972 |
| | V/A | Deep Throat OST Pt. 2 |
| | The Free Design | Sing for Very Important People Originally Released: 1970 |
| | The Free Design | One By One |
| | The Free Design | There Is A Song Originally Released: 1972 Original Label: Ambrotype |
| | V/A | The Free Design: The Now Sound Redesigned |
| | The Black Angels | S/T |
| 2006 | The Black Angels | Passover |
| | V/A | Jamaica to Toronto: Soul Funk & Reggae 1967 - 1974 Jamaica To Toronto Release #2 |
| | Noel Ellis | S/T Original Label: Summer Records Jamaica To Toronto Release #3 |
| | Jackie Mittoo | Wishbone Originally Released: 1971 Original Label: Summer Records Jamaica To Toronto Release #4 |
| | Karen Dalton | In My Own Time Originally Released: 1971 Original Label: Just Sunshine |
| | The Saturday Knights | S/T |
| | V/A | Light In The Attic Sampler 2007 |
| | Betty Davis | S/T Originally Released: 1973 Original Label: Just Sunshine |
| | Betty Davis | They Say I'm Different Originally Released: 1974 Original Label: Just Sunshine |
| | Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators | Keep Reachin' Up |
| | V/A | Summer Records Anthology 1974-1988 Jamaica To Toronto Release #5 |
| | The Blakes | Streets |
| | The Blakes | S/T |
| | Earth, Roots & Water | Innocent Youths Originally Released: 1977 Original Label: Summer Records Jamaica To Toronto Release #6 |
| 2008 | The Black Angels | Directions To See A Ghost |
| | Doug Randle | Songs For The New Industrial State Originally Released: 1970 Original Label: Kanata Records |
| | The Saturday Knights | Mingle |
| | Rodriguez | Cold Fact Originally Released: 1970 Original Label: Sussex |
| 2008 | The Black Angels | The Black Exit CD |
| | Rodriguez | Coming from Reality Originally Released: 1971 Original Label: Sussex |
| | Serge Gainsbourg | Histoire De Melody Nelson Originally Released: 1971 Original Label: Philips |
| | The Monks | The Early Years 1964-1965 |
| | The Monks | Black Monk Time Originally Released: 1966 Original Label: Polydor |
| | Wheedle's Groove | Kearney Barton |
| 2009 | V/A | Light In The Attic Sampler Spring 2009 |
| | Karen Dalton | It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best Originally Released: 1969 Original Label: Capitol |
| | Eddie Spencer | If This Is Love (I'd Rather Be Lonely) b/w You're So Good 45 |
| | The Cougars | I Wish It Would Rain b/w Right On 45 |
| | Lloyd Delpratt | Together b/w Warm Love 45 |
| | RAM | Love is the Answer b/w Love is the Answer Pt. 2 45 |
| | Karen Dalton | Something On Your Mind b/w Katie Cruel (Alternate) 45 |
| 2006 | The Black Angels | The First Vietnamese War b/w Nine Years 45 |
| 2007 | The Black Angels | Better Off Alone b/w Tomorrow Always Knows 45 |
| | Betty Davis | Come Take Me b/w You Won't See Me In The Morning 45 |
| | Betty Davis | He Was A Big Freak b/w Don't Call Her No Tramp (Rough Mixes) 45 |
| 2008 | The Black Angels | Doves b/w Drone in G# 45 |
| | Rodriguez | I'll Slip Away b/w You'd Like To Admit 45 |
| | Rodriguez | Can't Get Away b/w Street Boy 45 |
| | Patrinell Staten | I Let A Good Man Go b/w Little Love Affair 45 |
| | Clarence Mack/Mister Holmes & The Brotherhood | Runaway Train b/w Thrift Store Score 45 |
| | Betty Davis | Nasty Gal Originally Released: 1975 Original Label: Island |
| | Betty Davis | Is It Love Or Desire? |
| | Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg | Je t'aime... moi non plus Originally Released: 1971 Original Label: Fontana Records |
| | Lou Bond | S/T Originally Released: 1974 Original Label: We Produce |
| | Kris Kristofferson | Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 |
| | V/A | Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 1 |
| | V/A | Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 2 |
| | Gabor Szabo | Jazz Raga Originally Released: 1967 Original Label: Impulse! Records |
| | Jim Sullivan | U.F.O. Originally Released: 1969 Original Label: Monnie Records |
| | Jane Birkin | Di, doo dah Originally Released: 1973 Original Label: Fontana Records |
| | Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth For Christ Choir | Like A Ship... (Without a Sail) Originally Released: 1971 |
| | The Overton Berry Ensemble | T.O.B.E./At Seattle's Doubletree Inn Originally Released: 1970/1972 |
| | The Vagrants | I Can't Make A Friend 1965 1968 |
| | Michael Chapman | Fully Qualified Survivor Originally Released: 1970 Original Label: Harvest |
| | Michael Hurley, The Unholy Modal Rollers, Jeffrey Frederick & The Clamtones | Have Moicy! Originally Released: 1976 Original Label: Rounder |
| | Michael Hurley | Long Journey Originally Released: 1977 |
| | Michael Hurley | Snockgrass Originally Released: 1979 Original Label: Rounder |
| | V/A | Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love: Motown's Mowest Story 1971-1973 |
| | V/A | Beautiful Rivers And Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of South Korea's Shin Joong Hyun 1958-1974 |
| 2011 | The Black Angels | Another Nice Pair |
| | Charles 'Packy' Axton | Late Late Party 1965-67 |
| | Jim Ford | Harlan County Originally Released: 1969 Original Label: Sundown Records |
| | Shin Joong Hyun | From Where To Where: Digital EP 1970-79 |
| | The Louvin Brothers | Tragic Songs of Life Originally Released: 1956 Original Label: Capitol Records |
| | The Louvin Brothers | Satan Is Real Originally Released: 1959 Original Label: Capitol Records |
| | The Louvin Brothers | Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 |
| | The Louvin Brothers | Satan Is Real/Handpicked Songs 1955-1962 |
| | V/A | Thai Funk Volume 1 |
| | V/A | Wheedles Groove: Seattle's Finest In Funk & Soul 1965-1979 Limited Edition 45s Box Set |
| | V/A | Thai Funk Volume 2 |
| | Michael Chapman | Rainmaker Originally Released: 1970 Original Label: Harvest |
| | Wendy Rene | After Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Singles + Rarities 1964-1965 |
| | V/A | Winter's Bone Original Motion Picture Soundtrack cinewax release |
| | Dickon Hinchcliffe | Winter's Bone - Original Score cinewax release |
| | Wheedle's Groove | Wheedle's Groove Director: Jennifer Maas cinewax release |
| | Mercury Rev | Deserter's Songs Originally Released: 1998 Original Release: V2 Records Modern Classics Recordings release |
| | Various | Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976–1986 Originally Released: 1993 Original Label: Rykodisc Modern Classics Recordings release |
| | Various artists | Pacific Breeze: Japanese City Pop, AOR and Boogie 1976–1986 |
| 2015 | Eric Caboor and David Kauffman | Songs from Suicide Bridge |
| 2021 | various | May the Circle Remain Unbroken: A Tribute to Roky Erickson |