A Historical Debt
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Whilst browsing Rough Trade Shops I noticed the company are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.For those who don't know the orgins of Rough Trade it all began with a single independent record shop in Kensington Park Road, West London.This shop changed the rules of engagement between musicians and the marketplace. In much the same way that John Peel gave any number of young, untried acts access to the radio waves. Any band with a batch of records pressed up and ready to sell could take them to Rough Trade. If their music caught the attention of the companies founder 'Geoff Travis' it would be stocked for sale. The label's early releases included recordings from the likes of Scritti Politti, Robert Wyatt, The Fall, Pere Ubu, Stiff Little Fingers and last but not least 'The Smiths'.Quite an impressive business model indeed but alas not without it's complications. In 1989 Rough Trade Distribution went bankrupt. A mix of bad management, overdue tax and uncollected debts cited as the main contributing factors to the companies downfall. Two years later the whole Rough Trade group had ceased trading.Which brings me to the this album.
'A Historical Debt' is unique for a compilation album. All tracks involved were donated royalty free and money raised by the project was used to pay back some of the the huge historical debt still owed to independent labels and artists from the collapse of Rough Trade Distribution. Thus providing the difference for many smaller labels connected to the group between survival and collapse.I purchased the album on release in 1991 but had lost it a few years ago during a house move, or so I'd thought. Yesterday whilst sorting through a box of old copies of VOX, Select and NME's it turned up. So glad I found it as it's re-introduced me to a forgotten favourite.The full track listing here at MOG.http://mog.com/music/Various_Artists/A_Historical_DebtThere's a few tracks that look a little misplaced on this compilation but the majority are gems. Stand out tracks for me are 'Jeane' a Sandie Shaw effort unlike any of her others. Listen out for the backing vocals on this track, they should sound familiar. 'All My Dreams Are Dead by The Television Personalities and Birthday by The Sugarcubes. You can pick this album up for less than £2 at Amazon UKAnd the forgotten favourite...
'A Historical Debt' is unique for a compilation album. All tracks involved were donated royalty free and money raised by the project was used to pay back some of the the huge historical debt still owed to independent labels and artists from the collapse of Rough Trade Distribution. Thus providing the difference for many smaller labels connected to the group between survival and collapse.I purchased the album on release in 1991 but had lost it a few years ago during a house move, or so I'd thought. Yesterday whilst sorting through a box of old copies of VOX, Select and NME's it turned up. So glad I found it as it's re-introduced me to a forgotten favourite.The full track listing here at MOG.http://mog.com/music/Various_Artists/A_Historical_DebtThere's a few tracks that look a little misplaced on this compilation but the majority are gems. Stand out tracks for me are 'Jeane' a Sandie Shaw effort unlike any of her others. Listen out for the backing vocals on this track, they should sound familiar. 'All My Dreams Are Dead by The Television Personalities and Birthday by The Sugarcubes. You can pick this album up for less than £2 at Amazon UKAnd the forgotten favourite...
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