Richard Russell (record producer)
{{Short description|British record producer and music executive}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Richard Russell
| image =
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| background = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name =
| alias = {{hlist|Everything Is Recorded|rLr}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Dollis Hill, London, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| origin =
| instrument = {{flatlist|
}}
| genre = {{flatlist|
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| occupation = {{flatlist|
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| years_active =
| label = XL
| current_member_of = {{flatlist|
- Everything Is Recorded
- Kicks Like a Mule
- Sam Morton
}}
| past_member_of =
| website = [http://xlrecordings.com XL Recordings]
}}
Richard Russell (born 18 March 1971) is an English record producer and the owner of British record label XL Recordings.
Career
XL Recordings was founded in 1989 by Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes to release dance music.{{cite web |date=21 January 2012 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/vampire-weekend/49347l |title=Vampire Weekend top US albums chart |publisher=NME |last=Stokes |first=Paul |accessdate=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602071816/http://www.nme.com/news/vampire-weekend/49347l |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead }} Richard Russell joined XL as an A & R scout in 1991.
In 1992, Russell released a single titled "The Bouncer" as part of a duo named Kicks Like a Mule. The Guardian described the song as rave music that was "knocked into shape in about five hours" which "crossed over from pirate radio to reach number seven in the charts."{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/jul/13/musicnews.pop | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=David | last=Teather | title=The Friday interview: Richard Russell | date=13 July 2007|accessdate=14 June 2017}} Russell appeared on Top of the Pops and was initially signed to London Records for an album but was dropped from London before its completion.
By 2007, Russell was a chairman and half owner of the record label XL Recordings, which had released albums by groups such as the White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, Thom Yorke and MIA.
Between 2007 and 2009, Russell worked with the American musician and lyricist Gil Scott-Heron to produce the album I'm New Here, released in 2010. He also conceived the reworking of the original album, We're New Here, remixed by Jamie xx and released in 2011.Richter, Mischa (January 28, 2011). [https://pitchfork.com/news/41387-jamie-smith-of-the-xx-on-remixing-gil-scott-heron-working-with-drake-new-music-from-the-xx/ Jamie Smith of the xx on Remixing Gil Scott-Heron, Working With Drake, New Music From the xx]. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved on 2011-02-24.
In 2011, Russell joined Damon Albarn and several other producers on a trip to Congo where they recorded the album Kinshasa One Two as the newly established DRC Music (Democratic Republic of the Congo Music) group.[https://web.archive.org/web/20111120032047/http://drcmusic.org/ DRC Music] The album features various producers including Russell, Dan the Automator, Jneiro Jarel, T-E-E-D, Rodaidh McDonald and Kwes alongside various local musicians from Congo. It was released on 7 November 2011 on CD and LP, following a digital release the previous month.{{cite web|url=http://www.vblurpage.com/news/2011/0801.htm |title=Blur News - Damon launches DRC Music (updated) - Aug 1, 2011 |website=Vblurpage.com |date= |accessdate=2017-06-14}}
In 2012, Russell and Damon Albarn co-produced The Bravest Man in the Universe, the new studio album from Bobby Womack.{{cite web|url=http://bobbywomack.com/ |title=Bobby Womack |publisher=Bobby Womack |date=2012-06-11 |accessdate=2017-06-14}} In April 2012, Russell became the youngest ever recipient of the prestigious Strat Award, named after music manager Tony Stratton Smith, at the Music Week Awards in London. Russell's label, XL Recordings was named Label of the Year at the ceremony.{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainment-us-xl-awards-idUSBRE83Q0E720120427 | work=Reuters | first=Mike | last=Collett-White | title=Adele's label XL is big winner at Music Week Awards | date=27 April 2012}}
In April 2020, Russell released his autobiography Liberation Through Hearing through publishing house White Rabbit.{{cite web|author=Lazlo Rugoff |url=https://thevinylfactory.com/news/xl-recordings-new-book-richard-russell-liberation-through-hearing/ |title=XL Recordings' legacy explored in new Richard Russell book |website=Thevinylfactory.com |date=2020-01-17 |accessdate=2020-05-26}}
He has spearheaded the music project Everything Is Recorded.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/25/arts/music/richard-russell-everything-is-recorded-temporary.html |title=Want to Talk About Loss? For This Label Head's Album, Many Stars Did. |website=The New York Times |first=Jon |last=Pareles |date=25 February 2025 |access-date=8 March 2025}} It has released three studio albums: Everything Is Recorded by Richard Russell (2018), Friday Forever (2020), and Temporary (2025).{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/everything-is-recorded-mn0003633405 |title=Everything Is Recorded |website=AllMusic |first=Paul |last=Simpson |access-date=8 March 2025}} Everything Is Recorded released a song called "Never Felt Better" in 2025, featuring Florence Welch (of the indie rock/pop band Florence and the Machine) and Sampha.{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Robin |date=2025-02-24 |title=Everything Is Recorded Links With Sampha, Florence Welch On ‘Never Felt Better’ |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/everything-is-recorded-links-with-sampha-florence-welch-on-never-felt-better/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Clash}}
He is also a member of the duo Sam Morton, along with Samantha Morton.{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/29/samantha-morton-and-richard-russell-on-their-new-album-were-in-the-business-of-wellbeing |title=Samantha Morton and Richard Russell on their new album: 'We're in the business of wellbeing' |website=The Guardian |first=Sylvia |last=Patterson |date=29 March 2024 |access-date=8 March 2025}} The duo's debut studio album, Daffodils & Dirt, was released in 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sam-morton-mn0004646132 |title=SAM MORTON |website=AllMusic |first=Marcy |last=Donelson |access-date=8 March 2025}}
Discography
{{See also|Kicks Like a Mule#Discography|Kicks Like a Mule discography}}
=Studio albums=
- Everything Is Recorded by Richard Russell (as Everything Is Recorded, 2018){{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/everything-is-recorded-by-richard-russell/everything-is-recorded |title=Everything Is Recorded by Richard Russell by Everything Is Recorded |website=Metacritic |access-date=8 March 2025}}
- Friday Forever (as Everything Is Recorded, 2020){{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/friday-forever/everything-is-recorded |title=Friday Forever by Everything Is Recorded |website=Metacritic |access-date=8 March 2025}}
- Daffodils & Dirt (as Sam Morton, 2024){{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/daffodils-dirt/sam-morton |title=Daffodils & Dirt by Sam Morton |website=Metacritic |access-date=8 March 2025}}
- Temporary (as Everything Is Recorded, 2025){{Cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/temporary/everything-is-recorded |title=Temporary by Everything Is Recorded |website=Metacritic |access-date=8 March 2025}}
=EPs=
=Production=
- Gil Scott-Heron – I'm New Here (2010)
- Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx – We're New Here (2011)
- DRC Music – Kinshasa One Two (2011)
- Bobby Womack – The Bravest Man in the Universe (2012)
- Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots (2014)
- Ibeyi – Ibeyi (2015)
- Ibeyi – Ash (2017)
- Ibeyi – Spell 31 (2022)
- Peter Gabriel – I/O (2023){{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-russell-mn0001646396#credits |title=Richard Russell (Credits) |website=AllMusic |access-date=8 March 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist|Richard Russell}}
- [http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_Richard_Russell_Interview.html Interview, HitQuarters September 2008]
- [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/7918644/Richard-Russell-of-XL-Recordings-interview.html Interview, Daily Telegraph July 2010]
{{Richard Russell (record producer)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Richard}}
Category:British music industry executives
Category:English electronic musicians
Category:English record producers
Category:Breakbeat hardcore musicians