Alternative Records
{{Short description|American independent record label}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = Alternative Records
| founded = {{start date|1989}}
| founder = Randy Layton
| status = Active
| distributor =
| country = U.S.
| location = Eugene, Oregon
}}
Alternative Records is an independent record label based in Eugene, Oregon. The label started in 1989.
Formed from its previous incarnation as a mail order record company starting in 1979, Randy Layton started the label as an outlet for former Exit Records artists Steve Scott and The 77s to release back catalogue and unreleased works. The label took on other artists over time, and after distribution deals with BMG and Word Canada ended, the company would begin to focus more on fan club releases and reissues.
Since 1998, Alternative Records has been known for its many collector's versions of its albums. More Miserable Than You'll Ever Be by The 77s was issued as a box set with a 7" single, a 3-track CD single, and a 4-track cassette as a numbered, signed edition of 1,000 before being reconfigured for CD with a different track listing.
A successful fundraising campaign allowed Layton to reissue the 1977 Pantano-Salsbury Hit The Switch album on CD in the early 2020s.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-26 |title=Help Re-Issues Pantano-Salsbury’s “Hit the Switch” on CD |url=https://downthelinezine.com/blog/2023/07/26/help-re-issues-pantano-salsburys-hit-the-switch-on-cd/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Down The Line Magazine |language=en}} Despite poor health issues, Randy would also continue record sales through online sales forums. His speaking engagements would include TrueTunes podcasts{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=John |date=2023-03-30 |title=More ”Alternative” Than You’ll Ever Be (Randy Layton’s Long Strange Trip) |url=https://truetunes.com/laytonalternative/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.truetunes.com |language=en-US}} and others.{{Cite web |title=A Rock So Big I Cain't, by Josh Rude |url=https://joshrude.bandcamp.com/album/a-rock-so-big-i-caint-2 |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Josh Rude |language=en}}
Along with continued fundraising campaigns for reissue projects, Randy Layton announced in 2024 via social media that his son Matthias would be taking over direction of the label in the future.{{Cite web |title=Facebook Update: RV Riverhouse Campaign |url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Fmd3KGovjn9j2FYw/?mibextid=oFDknk |website=Facebook}} Plans would include a future release of the previously unavailable Steve Scott LP Emotional Tourist (not the artist's retrospective by the same name.) Randy Layton died of multiple myeloma on June 28, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-04 |title=Here is something to look forward from Alternative Records in the near future! Per Randy Layton, "This was a classic thread on Steve Scott's classic, legendary (insert any effusive praise) Emotional Tourist. Unreleased at the time, it maintains legendary status. Hopefully comments and pics turn up on this thread. Matthias Layton will, along with Buttons, will be the face of Alternative Records, but quite happy to share you'll have the chance to experience the exact replica on limited edition vinyl, perhaps with a side of rice, this year. While many of the songs would find homes on other projects myself and my late, lamented poodle oversaw, these will be the original mixes with the original artwork as submitted to A&M." Stay tuned for more developments on a revisit of Emotional Tourist (the album- not to be confused with Emotional Tourist the retrospective!) |url=https://www.facebook.com/stevescottart/posts/pfbid02PhLdWAHVbDQ3kowGUwbynFEALjUmgFdGtU2xmJocVhzfgZqC9QaXzyZtTCFvx8dpl |website=Facebook}}
Artists
- 7&7iS (side-project for members of The 77s)
- The 77s
- Au Go-Gos{{Cite web |date= |title=Au Go-Go's – All Over Town-Rare and Unreleased (2005 version) (2005, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/16382466-Au-Go-Gos-All-Over-Town-Rare-and-Unreleased-2005-version |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200023/https://www.discogs.com/release/16382466-Au-Go-Gos-All-Over-Town-Rare-and-Unreleased-2005-version |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- The Commodores (1950s){{Cite web |date= |title=The Commodores – Unfinished Dream: The Complete Commodores, Cutups, & Harper Valley P.T.A. Sessions (2018, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/30660619-The-Commodores-Unfinished-Dream-The-Complete-Commodores-Cutups-Harper-Valley-PTA-Sessions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520023042/https://www.discogs.com/release/30660619-The-Commodores-Unfinished-Dream-The-Complete-Commodores-Cutups-Harper-Valley-PTA-Sessions |archive-date=2024-05-20 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Roy Cordell{{Cite web |date= |title=Roy Cordell – The Melody Lingers On-The Roy Cordell Archive Project (2014, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/24887162-Roy-Cordell-The-Melody-Lingers-On-The-Roy-Cordell-Archive-Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517010931/https://www.discogs.com/release/24887162-Roy-Cordell-The-Melody-Lingers-On-The-Roy-Cordell-Archive-Project |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Daniel Amos
- Pantano-Salsbury{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-26 |title=Help Re-Issues Pantano-Salsbury’s “Hit the Switch” on CD |url=https://downthelinezine.com/blog/2023/07/26/help-re-issues-pantano-salsburys-hit-the-switch-on-cd/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Down The Line Magazine |language=en}}
- Sonny Richter{{Cite web |date= |title=Sonny Richter – Sonny Sings! Standards & Practices (2018, CD) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15672099-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Sings-Standards-Practices |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200021/https://www.discogs.com/release/15672099-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Sings-Standards-Practices |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Steve Scott
- The Scratch Band
- Two Pound Planet{{Cite web |title=Two Pound Planet {{!}} Christian Music Archive |url=https://www.christianmusicarchive.com/artist/two-pound-planet |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.christianmusicarchive.com}}
- Robert Vaughn & The Shadows{{Cite web |title=Love & War-The Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Deluxe by Robert Vaughn & The Shadows, by Robert Vaughn & The Shadows |url=https://alternativerecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-war-the-thirty-fifth-anniversary-deluxe-by-robert-vaughn-the-shadows |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Alternative Records |language=en}}
- The Western Gentlemen{{Cite web |date= |title=The Western Gentlemen – Live At The Cowboy Bar, 1958 (2020, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15657871-The-Western-Gentlemen-Live-At-The-Cowboy-Bar-1958 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200053/https://www.discogs.com/release/15657871-The-Western-Gentlemen-Live-At-The-Cowboy-Bar-1958 |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Sam White{{Cite web |date= |title=Sam White – Sweet Dreams: The Sam White Anthology (2018, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15643378-Sam-White-Sweet-Dreams-The-Sam-White-Anthology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200049/https://www.discogs.com/release/15643378-Sam-White-Sweet-Dreams-The-Sam-White-Anthology |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
Discography
- Steve Scott - Lost Horizon (ES 4001) (1989){{Cite web |title=Steve Scott Music 1 |url=http://alivingdog.com/SteveScottDiscography.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=alivingdog.com}}
- 7&7iS; The 77s - More Miserable Than You'll Ever Be (ES 4002) (1989 box set, 1990, 1992, 2014 reissues){{Cite web |title=77s.com - Summer 1996: Michael Recycles |url=http://www.77s.com/newsletter/mike.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.77s.com}}
- Various Artists - The Summer Sampler (ES PR-4006) (1990) {{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}
- Steve Scott - Magnificent Obsession (ES 4007) (1991){{Cite web |url=https://phileasphogg.net/ |title=Phileas Phogg: Review - Steve Scott, Magnificent Obsession |access-date=2008-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223001810/http://www.phileasphogg.net/ }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.christianmusicarchive.com/album_credits.php?id=3903 |title=Phileas Phogg: Review - Steve Scott, Magnificent Obsession |access-date=2008-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617002858/http://christianmusicarchive.com/album_credits.php?id=3903 |archive-date=2006-06-17 |url-status=dead }}
- Robert Vaughn & The Shadows - Songs From The Riverhouse (ES 4009) (1991){{Cite web |date= |title=CMT.com : Robert Vaughn & The Shadows : Songs from the Riverhouse |url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/vaughn_robert/378872/album.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606151328/http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/vaughn_robert/378872/album.jhtml |archive-date=2011-06-06 |access-date= |website=www.cmt.com}}{{Cite web |date= |title=Songs from the Riverhouse by Robert Vaughan on MSN Music |url=http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10021919 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715065330/http://music.msn.com/album/?album=10021919 |archive-date=2012-07-15 |access-date= |website=music.msn.com}}
- Two Pound Planet - Songs From The Hydrogen Jukebox (ES 4010) (1992){{Cite web |date= |title=Two Pound Planet on MSN Music |url=http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16190112 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714031301/http://music.msn.com/artist/?artist=16190112 |archive-date=2012-07-14 |access-date= |website=music.msn.com}}
- Robert Vaughn & the Shadows - White Trash Supper Club (ES 4011) (1992, 2024 reissue as bonus CD with Riverhouse album package){{Cite web |title= Robert Vaughn & the Shadows - White Trash Supper Club CD |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/32013071-Robert-Vaughn-The-Shadows-White-Trash-Supper-Club |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Various Artists - No Sense of History/Shirley, Goodness, & Misery (ES 4013 A/B) (1992, released with Stunt Records){{Cite web |title=MichaelRoe.com - Michael Roe Discography |url=http://www.michaelroe.com/disco/77s.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.michaelroe.com}}
- Various Artists - Bootlevel (ES 4014) (LP version, 1992){{Cite web |title=Daniel Amos : TimeLine 1993 |url=http://www.danielamos.com/timeline93.html |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=www.danielamos.com}}
- Two Pound Planet - Whispering Delicious (ES 4015) (1993)[http://www.mmguide.musicmatch.com/album/album.cgi?ALBUMID=1409801 MusicMatch: Whispering Delicious]
- Various Artists - Bootlevel (ES 4017) (1994, cd version; aka "Bootlevel 2")
- Robert Vaughn - Decayed (ES 4018) (1994){{Cite web |title=Decayed Volume One, by Robert Vaughn |url=https://robertvaughn.bandcamp.com/album/decayed-volume-one |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Robert Vaughn |language=en}}
- Skeleton Closet - Skeleton Closet (ES 4019;SW 9501) (1996){{Cite web |date= |title=Skeleton Closet – Skeleton Closet (1995, CD) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15873062-Skeleton-Closet-Skeleton-Closet |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121202535/https://www.discogs.com/release/15873062-Skeleton-Closet-Skeleton-Closet |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Lightweight - Lightweight (ES 4020) (1996){{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}
- Eagle Park Slim - Northwest Blues (ES 4029) (1998) {{Cite web |date= |title=Eagle Park Slim – Northwest Blues (1998, CD) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14539297-Eagle-Park-Slim-Northwest-Blues |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231113002055/https://www.discogs.com/release/14539297-Eagle-Park-Slim-Northwest-Blues |archive-date=2023-11-13 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Robert Vaughn & The Shadows - Love And War (ES-4023) (2000 reissue, Special Edition){{Cite web |date= |title=Robert Vaughn And The Shadows – Love And War: Special Edition (2000, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14657634-Robert-Vaughn-And-The-Shadows-Love-And-War-Special-Edition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121202532/https://www.discogs.com/release/14657634-Robert-Vaughn-And-The-Shadows-Love-And-War-Special-Edition |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Au Go-Go's - All Over Town - Rare & Unreleased (AR PRO AU-66) (2005 compilation reissue){{Cite web |date= |title=Au Go-Go's – All Over Town-Rare and Unreleased (2005 version) (2005, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/16382466-Au-Go-Gos-All-Over-Town-Rare-and-Unreleased-2005-version |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200019/https://www.discogs.com/release/16382466-Au-Go-Gos-All-Over-Town-Rare-and-Unreleased-2005-version |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Roy Cordell - The Melody Lingers On: The Roy Cordell Archive Project (RC 001) (2014 archival compilation){{Cite web |date= |title=Roy Cordell – The Melody Lingers On-The Roy Cordell Archive Project (2014, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/24887162-Roy-Cordell-The-Melody-Lingers-On-The-Roy-Cordell-Archive-Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517010932/https://www.discogs.com/release/24887162-Roy-Cordell-The-Melody-Lingers-On-The-Roy-Cordell-Archive-Project |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Robert Vaughn - Decayed: 1979-1992 (AR RV4001-4003) (2014 archival compilation)[https://www.discogs.com/release/14666272-Robert-Vaughn-Decayed-1979-1992 Decayed: 1979-1992]
- Sonny Richter - Sonny Sings! Standards & Practices (AltNote 84152) (2018 reissue){{Cite web |date= |title=Sonny Richter – Sonny Sings! Standards & Practices (2018, CD) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15672099-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Sings-Standards-Practices |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200026/https://www.discogs.com/release/15672099-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Sings-Standards-Practices |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- The Commodores (1950s) - Unfinished Dream: The Complete Commodores, Cutups, & Harper Valley P.T.A. Sessions (AR ES-01) (2018 compilation){{Cite web |date= |title=The Commodores – Unfinished Dream: The Complete Commodores, Cutups, & Harper Valley P.T.A. Sessions (2018, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/30660619-The-Commodores-Unfinished-Dream-The-Complete-Commodores-Cutups-Harper-Valley-PTA-Sessions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520023042/https://www.discogs.com/release/30660619-The-Commodores-Unfinished-Dream-The-Complete-Commodores-Cutups-Harper-Valley-PTA-Sessions |archive-date=2024-05-20 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Sam White - Sweet Dreams: The Sam White Anthology (SW 4001 PRO) (2018 compilation){{Cite web |date= |title=Sam White – Sweet Dreams: The Sam White Anthology (2018, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15643378-Sam-White-Sweet-Dreams-The-Sam-White-Anthology |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200054/https://www.discogs.com/release/15643378-Sam-White-Sweet-Dreams-The-Sam-White-Anthology |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Sonny Richter - Sonny Richter's Guitar Lounge Volume Two: 1958-1992 (SS-1929) (2020 live compilation){{Cite web |date= |title=Sonny Richter – Sonny Richter's Guitar Lounge Volume Two:1958-1992 (2020, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/28038891-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Richters-Guitar-Lounge-Volume-Two1958-1992 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121202546/https://www.discogs.com/release/28038891-Sonny-Richter-Sonny-Richters-Guitar-Lounge-Volume-Two1958-1992 |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- The Western Gentlemen - Live At The Cowboy Bar, 1958 (AR WG 4002-RM) (2020 live release){{Cite web |date= |title=The Western Gentlemen – Live At The Cowboy Bar, 1958 (2020, CDr) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/15657871-The-Western-Gentlemen-Live-At-The-Cowboy-Bar-1958 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121200053/https://www.discogs.com/release/15657871-The-Western-Gentlemen-Live-At-The-Cowboy-Bar-1958 |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Robert Vaughn & The Shadows - Love And War (ES-4030) (2022 reissue, 35th Anniversary Edition){{Cite web |date= |title=Robert Vaughn And The Shadows – Love And War Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Edition (2022, CD) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/22064974-Robert-Vaughn-And-The-Shadows-Love-And-War-Thirty-Fifth-Anniversary-Edition |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121202531/https://www.discogs.com/release/22064974-Robert-Vaughn-And-The-Shadows-Love-And-War-Thirty-Fifth-Anniversary-Edition |archive-date=2023-11-21 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Josh Rude - A Rock So Big I Cain't (PR 101, not AR) (2023, Randy Layton guest appearances){{Cite web |date= |title=Josh Rude – A Rock So Big I Cain't (2023, File) - Discogs |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/27429444-Josh-Rude-A-Rock-So-Big-I-Caint |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112233109/https://www.discogs.com/release/27429444-Josh-Rude-A-Rock-So-Big-I-Caint |archive-date=2023-11-12 |access-date= |website=www.discogs.com}}
- Pantano-Salsbury - Hit The Switch (ARSRA-2008) (2023, CD reissue of 1977 Solid Rock release){{Cite web |last= |date=2023-07-26 |title=Help Re-Issues Pantano-Salsbury’s “Hit the Switch” on CD |url=https://downthelinezine.com/blog/2023/07/26/help-re-issues-pantano-salsburys-hit-the-switch-on-cd/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Down The Line Magazine |language=en}}
- Josh Rude - Australia EP (2023 EP) (PR-103, not AR) (2023, Randy Layton guest appearance){{Cite web |title=Australia EP, by Josh Rude |url=https://proorecords.bandcamp.com/album/australia-ep |access-date=2024-02-01 |website=P-ROO Records Official |language=en}}
- Josh Rude - Workin' For A Livin' (PRS-04, not AR) (2024 digital single) (2024, Randy Layton guest appearance){{Cite web |title=Workin' For A Livin' (Single), by Josh Rude |url=https://proorecords.bandcamp.com/album/workin-for-a-livin-single |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=P-ROO Records Official |language=en}}
- Josh Rude - Gotta Go To Church! (Josh Rude Vs. The Churchgoers) (PRS-06, not AR) (2024 digital single, remix) (2024, collaborative work and Layton family benefit single){{Cite web |title=Gotta Go To Church! (Josh Rude Vs. The Churchgoers) (Single), by Josh Rude |url=https://proorecords.bandcamp.com/album/gotta-go-to-church-josh-rude-vs-the-churchgoers-single |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=P-ROO Records Official |language=en}}
- Robert Vaughn & The Shadows - Songs From The Riverhouse (ESLP 4010) (2024 vinyl/digital reissue of 1991 AR release){{Cite web |title=Robert Vaughn & The Shadows Love & War Fan Page |url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/859204974987558/ |website=Facebook}}
- Josh Rude - Painted Eyelids (PRS-08, not AR) (2024 digital single) (2024, Randy Layton guest appearance){{Cite web |title=Painted Eyelids (Single), by Josh Rude |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/31998992-Josh-Rude-Painted-Eyelids-Single |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Discogs}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://alternativerecords.bandcamp.com/ Alternative Records on Bandcamp]
- [https://www.discogs.com/label/223326-Alternative-Records-6 Alternative Records on Discogs]
- [https://www.discogs.com/artist/3043847-Randy-Layton Artist: Randy Layton on Discogs]
- [https://www.discogs.com/seller/justsayroe/profile Randy Layton's Discogs Storefront]
- [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnIMqSTkpBS09GFnckV78eQ Randy Layton's YouTube Channel]