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A review by slippy_underfoot
Labelled with Love: A History of the World in Your Record Collection by Andy Bollen
4.0
Labelled With Love, by Andy Bollen is a fascinating and colourful trip through the world’s most influential record labels.
Running alphabetically from 2 Tone to XL Recordings, and covering the entire history of commercial recorded music, Bollen talks us through the history and lasting influence of more than 50 record labels, giving playlist suggestions for each. These suggestions are very personal, and really add extra flavour to his meticulously researched book.
Bollen as a DJ, journalist, and professional musician in the 90s, brings his experience of working with some of the musicians and label heads from that period, illustrating the excitement, faith, and graft required to launch bands - something which has changed little since the days of Mario Lanza.
Bollen’s personal experience may have been at the indie-label end of the pool, but he has equal praise for the best music released by the huge conglomerates. Good music will out, whether that’s on 500 7” singles sold from inner city record stores, or multimillion sellers stacked his in every high street.
Very enjoyable and informative - aptly named, The Move seemed to have been on every British record label at some point in the sixties, for example - and a real treat for music (particularly vinyl) lovers.
Possibly best experienced as a “dipping-in” book, as many record label stories are essentially the same “shape” and reading too many one after another may dilute the unique vitality of each.
Running alphabetically from 2 Tone to XL Recordings, and covering the entire history of commercial recorded music, Bollen talks us through the history and lasting influence of more than 50 record labels, giving playlist suggestions for each. These suggestions are very personal, and really add extra flavour to his meticulously researched book.
Bollen as a DJ, journalist, and professional musician in the 90s, brings his experience of working with some of the musicians and label heads from that period, illustrating the excitement, faith, and graft required to launch bands - something which has changed little since the days of Mario Lanza.
Bollen’s personal experience may have been at the indie-label end of the pool, but he has equal praise for the best music released by the huge conglomerates. Good music will out, whether that’s on 500 7” singles sold from inner city record stores, or multimillion sellers stacked his in every high street.
Very enjoyable and informative - aptly named, The Move seemed to have been on every British record label at some point in the sixties, for example - and a real treat for music (particularly vinyl) lovers.
Possibly best experienced as a “dipping-in” book, as many record label stories are essentially the same “shape” and reading too many one after another may dilute the unique vitality of each.