Sub Pop

Sub Pop (short for "Subterranean Pop") is an American record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt. In 1988, Sub Pop Records LLC was formed by Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle alternative rock scene. They are often credited with taking the first steps toward popularizing grunge music, and have continued to achieve critical and commercial success in the new millennium, with bands such as Fleet Foxes, Foals, Beach House, The Postal Service, Flight of the Conchords, Sleater-Kinney, Blitzen Trapper, No Age, Wolf Parade and The Shins on their roster. In 1995 the owners of Sub Pop sold a 49% stake of the label to the Warner Music Group.
== Links To Peel ==
In January 1989, Peel wrote a piece for The Observer (later republished in the Olivetti Chronicles) on the phenomenon of the Seattle sound coming from the Sub Pop label:
"In the past eighteen months the name of Seattle has popped up whenever two or three have gathered together to speak of non-chart pop - and as often as these folk have said 'Seattle' they have said 'Sub Pop'. "
In a 2014 interview, Sub Pop founder Bruce Pavitt recalled the importance of the Peel article, following the DJ's support for the 'Sub Pop 200' compilation:
"The real payoff for that was John Peel writing a review in the London Observer in February of ’89According to Olivetti Chronicles, the date of publication was 1989-01-29., in which he states that Sub Pop ‘had the most distinctive regional sounds since Tamla Motown’. That is a statement. That is a huge endorsement by possibly the most influential person in alternative music on the planet."
According to Pavitt, the success of Sub Pop in the UK was vital in winning wider recognition for the label and its bands, with Peel viewed as a key element:
"We had support from John Peel, so England was everything.Sub Pop's UK-centered strategy also included a focus on the British music press. In March 1989, Melody Maker writer Everett True flew out to Seattle for a landmark article on the label that mentioned Peel's support for the "Sub Pop 200" compilation. It allowed us to get out of the indie-rock ghetto in America and actually get some somewhat mainstream attention in England. And of course that reverberated around Europe and the US and so forth."
After Nirvana moved to Geffen Records in 1991, Sub Pop benefited financially from the huge success of 'Nevermind',Jelbert, Steve (2008) "Labelled With Love", The Times, August 2, 2008. The label's website notes that exploitation of its association with "something called the grunge scene" has "frequently proven financially fruitful". In February 1992, Sub Pop put out the knowingly titled compilation "Smells Like Smoked Sausages", featuring current bands on the label. despite losing other top bands to the majors. In 1997, Peel selected the record as one of his Top 20 Albums in a list for The Guardian newspaper.
In March 1994, Sub Pop allowed Peel and his son William to choose session tracks by artists on the label for a compilation album called 'The John Peel Sub-Pop Sessions'. A short clip of Peel speaking on the phone kicks off the collection.
Peel continued supporting artists from Sub Pop even after the end of the Seattle alternative rock scene that the label created, following the suicide of Kurt Cobain of Nirvana in April 1994.
== Sessions ==
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Sub Pop Records artists who did Peel sessions. The following session artists have either been signed to the Sub Pop record label or had material released through them.
* Afghan Whigs: (1 session, 1994)
* Babes In Toyland: (5 sessions, 1990-1995)
* Big Chief: (1 session, 1994)
* Boss Hog (1 session, 1991)
* Catheters: (1 session, 2002)
* Codeine: (2 sessions, 1992-1994)
* Dinosaur Jr.: (3 sessions, 1988-1992)
* Eric's Trip: (1 session, 1993)
* Flaming Lips: (2 sessions, 1992-1998)
* Fugazi: (1 session, 1988)
* Gene (6 sessions, (1996-2000)
* Godflesh: (1 session, 1989)
* Grifters: (2 sessions, 1994-96)
* Hellacopters: (2 sessions, 1999-2003)
* Hole: (2 sessions, 1991-1993)
* J Mascis: (2 sessions, 2000-2002)
* Jale: (1 session, 1994)
* Jesus And Mary Chain: (6 sessions, 1984-1989)
* L7: (1 session, 1990)
* Les Thugs: (1 session, 1987)
* Low: (4 sessions, 1999-2003)
* Lune: (1 session, 1992)
* Mogwai: (5 sessions, 1996-2003)
* Mudhoney: (2 sessions, 1989-2002)
* Nirvana: (3 sessions, 1989-1991)
* Pond: (2 sessions, 1992-1995)
* Pussy Galore: (1 session, 1990)
* Royal Trux: (2 sessions, 1993)
* Seaweed: (1 session, 1992)
* Sebadoh: (3 sessions, 1992-1994)
* Shonen Knife: (2 sessions, 1991-1992)
* Smashing Pumpkins: (1 session, 1991)
* Sonic Youth: (3 sessions, 1986-1989)
* Soundgarden: (1 session, 1989)
* Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: (1 session, 1993)In December 1992, Spencer and guitarist Judah Bauer from the three-piece Blues Explosion both appeared on the Sub Pop Singles Club release 'Big Yule Log Boogie", put out under the name Jon Spencer. Spencer also played with Sub Pop Peel session bands Boss Hog and Pussy Galore.
* Spiritualized: (2 sessions, 1993-1995)
* Stereolab: (6 sessions, 1991-2001)
* Supergrass: (2 sessions, 1995-1999)
* Tad: (2 sessions, 1989-1990)
* Thermals: (1 session, 2003)
* Trembling Blue Stars: (1 session, 2000)
* Unrest: (1 session, 1992)
* Unsane: (3 sessions, 1991-1994)
* Velocity Girl: (1 session, 1993)
* Ween: (2 session, 1992-1993)
* White Stripes: (2 sessions, 2001)
== Festive Fifty ==
Sub Pop Records artists who had Festive Fifty entries on the Peel show.The following Festive Fifty artists have either been signed to the Sub Pop record label or had material released through them.
* Babes In Toyland: House #38 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Handsome & Gretel #18 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Catatonic #30 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Laugh My Head Off #31 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Primus #39 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Ripe #42 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Bruse Violet #09 (1992 Festive Fifty) / Handsome & Gretel #22 (1992 Festive Fifty)
* Dinosaur Jr.: Freak Scene #05 (1988 Festive Fifty) / Just Like Heaven #12 (1989 Festive Fifty) / The Wagon #29 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Get Me #42 (1993 Festive Fifty)
* Flaming Lips: Waiting For A Superman #12 (1999 Festive Fifty) / Race For The Prize #08 (1999 Festive Fifty)
* Gene: As Good As It Gets #33 (1999 Festive Fifty)
* Hole: Teenage Whore #10 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Burn Black #7 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Beautiful Son #47 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Olympia #25 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Doll Parts #45 (1994 Festive Fifty) / Miss World #17 (1994 Festive Fifty) / Violet #28 (1995 Festive Fifty)
* Low: Immune #10 (1999 Festive Fifty) / Dinosaur Act #11 (2000 Festive Fifty) / (That's How You Sing) Amazing Grace #36 (2002 Festive Fifty) / Canada #18 (2002 Festive Fifty) / In The Drugs #16 (2002 Festive Fifty)
* Mogwai: New Paths To Helicon #2 (1997 Festive Fifty) / Xmas Steps #2 (1998 Festive Fifty) / Cody #14 (1999 Festive Fifty) / Stanley Kubrick #25 (1999 Festive Fifty) / My Father My King #10 (2001 Festive Fifty) / 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong #22 (2001 Festive Fifty) / Hunted By A Freak #3 (2003 Festive Fifty) / Ratts Of The Capital #6 (2003 Festive Fifty)
* Nirvana: Sliver #23 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Breed #48 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Lithium #25 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Drain You #16 (1991 Festive Fifty) / Smells Like Teen Spirit #01 (1991 Festive Fifty) #08 (All Time 2000 Festive Fifty) / Rape Me #45 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Scentless Apprentice #40 (1993 Festive Fifty) / About A Girl #44 (1994 Festive Fifty) / Where Did You Sleep Last Night? #40 (1994 Festive Fifty) / The Man Who Sold The World #27 (1994 Festive Fifty)
* Pond: Young Splendour #27 (1992 Festive Fifty)
* Sebadoh: Soul & Fire #07 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Rebound #16 (1994 Festive Fifty)
* Shins: New Slang #43 (2001 Festive Fifty)
* Smashing Pumpkins: Siva #27 (1991 Festive Fifty)
* Sonic Youth: (I Got A) Catholic Block #37 (1987 Festive Fifty) / Schizophrenia #13 (1987 Festive Fifty) / Silver Rocket #29 (1988 Festive Fifty) / Teenage Riot #19 (1988 Festive Fifty) / Kool Thing #40 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Tunic (Song For Karen) #5 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Theresa's Sound World #26 (1992 Festive Fifty) / 100% #23 (1992 Festive Fifty) / Sugar Kane #17 (1992 Festive Fifty) / Youth Against Fascism #07 (1992 Festive Fifty) / Superstar #47 (1994 Festive Fifty)
* Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: 2 Kindsa Love #22 (1996 Festive Fifty)
* Spiritualized: Any Way that You Want Me #37 (1990 Festive Fifty) / Ladies & Gentlemen You Are Floating In Space #18 (1997 Festive Fifty) / Oh Happy Day #22 (1998 Festive Fifty)
*Stereolab: French Disko #5 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Jenny Ondioline #39 (1993 Festive Fifty) / Ping Pong #9 (1994 Festive Fifty) / Pop Quiz #33 (1995 Festive Fifty) / Cybele's Reverie #11 (1996 Festive Fifty) / Fluorescences #20 (1996 Festive Fifty) / Les Yper Yper Sound #50 (1996 Festive Fifty) / Simple Headphone Mind #14 (1997 Festive Fifty) / Fluorescences #20 (1997 Festive Fifty) / Miss Modular #26 (1997 Festive Fifty) / The Free Design #46 (1999 Festive Fifty) / French Disko ATFF#36 (All Time 2000 Festive Fifty) / Captain Easychord #45 (2001 Festive Fifty)
* Supergrass: Caught By The Fuzz #05 (1994 Festive Fifty) / Alright #13 (1995 Festive Fifty)
* Trembling Blue Stars: Abba On The Jukebox #19 (1996 Festive Fifty)
* White Stripes: Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground #25 (2001 Festive Fifty) / Fell In Love With A Girl (session) #6 (2001 Festive Fifty) / Hotel Yorba #2 (2001 Festive Fifty) / Fell In Love With A Girl #27 (2002 Festive Fifty) / Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground #15 (2002 Festive Fifty) / Black Math #17 (2003 Festive Fifty) / 7 Nation Army #10 (2003 Festive Fifty)
== Sub Pop Records Compilations ==
(The Sub Pop Singles Club, a monthly subscription service run by Sub Pop Records, ran between November 1988 and December 1993 and issued one single per month to its subscribers. A total of 61 singles were released, always in limited editions. No full compilation album of them has been issued so far.)A list of the singles is available at Discogs.
(LP - Sub Pop 100)
* 07 January 1987: Steve Fisk: Go At Full Throttle
* 26 January 1987: Shonen Knife: One Day Of The Factory
* 26 January 1987: Scratch Acid: Greatest Gift
* 28 January 1987: Scratch Acid: Greatest Gift
* 05 January 1988: Shonen Knife: One Day Of The Factory
* 30 January 1989: Shonen Knife: One Day Of The Factory
(3xLP - Sub Pop 200)
* 30 January 1989: Nirvana: Spank Thru
* 30 January 1989: Green River: Hangin' Tree
* 30 January 1989: Mudhoney: The Rose
* 31 January 1989: Catt Butt: Big Cigar
* 01 February 1989: Steve Fisk: Untitled
* 13 February 1989: Tad: Sex God Missy
* 13 February 1989: Blood Circus: The Outback
* 15 February 1989: Nights And Days: Split
* 21 February 1989: Mudhoney: The Rose
* 24 February 1989 (BFBS): Mudhoney: The Rose
*07 March 1989 (Ö3): Mudhoney: The Rose
* 06 July 1991: Mudhoney: The Rose
* 13 November 1992: Nirvana: Spank Thru
* 29 November 1992 (BFBS): Nirvana: Spank Thru
(2x7" - Alice Cooper Tribute) Sub Pop
*06 October 1991: Sonic Youth: Is It My Body
*18 October 1991 (BFBS): Sonic Youth: Is It My Body
*19 October 1991: Sonic Youth: Is It My Body
*Peel 002 (Radio Bremen): Sonic Youth: Is It My Body
(2x7"- Smells Like Smoked Sausages)
* 21 March 1992: Boss Hog: Fire Of Love
* 21 March 1992: Tar: Deep Throw
* 21 March 1992: Helmet: Oven
* 21 March 1992: Vertigo: Dynamite Cigar
* 04 April 1992: Boss Hog: Fire Of Love
* 12 April 1992 (BFBS): Boss Hog: Fire Of Love
(CD - The John Peel Sub-Pop Sessions 1989-1993)
* 08 April 1994: Mudhoney: By Her Own Hand
* 16 April 1994 (BFBS): Mudhoney: Here Comes Sickness
* 23 April 1994: Mudhoney: Here Comes Sickness
* 23 April 1994 (BFBS): Mudhoney: Here Comes Sickness
* 03 June 1994: Tad: Helot
(CD - The Eagle Is The Most Popular Bird)
* 28 February 2002: Love As Laughter: Temptation Island
* 20 March 2002 (BBC World Service): Love As Laughter: Temptation Island
* 21 March 2002 (Radio Eins): Love As Laughter: Temptation Island
== External Links ==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
*Official Website
== References ==
Category:Record Labels
Category:Discography
Category:Featured Articles
Category:Compilations