Aquarius Records
Encyclopedia
Aquarius Records is an independent record label
founded in Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
in 1969. The first president was Terry Flood and the other founding owners were Donald Tarlton, Bob Lemm, Dan Lazare and Jack Lazare. Originally the label was distributed by London Records of Canada.
Among the first acts signed to the label was a Halifax
band called April Wine
. April Wine would go one to make 12 studio albums and 3 live albums for Aquarius between 1970 and 1985. Other Aquarius artists developed by Aquarius during the first decade included Montreal’s Walter Rossi and a rock band from Windsor Ontario called Teaze. While still with London, Aquarius released records by Mashmakhan, Freedom North, Ross Holloway, Roger Doucet, The Rabble and others.
In 1978 Aquarius Records changed distribution to Capitol-EMI and it was early in this association that April Wine began achieving international success. In the 1980s Aquarius signings included Corey Hart, Sass Jordan
, Mindstorm, Sword and Myles Goodwyn
and the label also released albums by The Stampeders
and The Guess Who
. In its first twenty years Aquarius sold over 5 million records in Canada and Aquarius artists sold a similar amount in the rest of the world.
In the 1990s some of Aquarius’ efforts were diverted by the launching of a French-language label called Tacca Musique which had enormous success almost immediately with artists like Kevin Parent
and France D’Amour. On the English side, Aquarius would release new artists Bif Naked
and Serial Joe
and also it licensed records by Men Without Hats
and Deep Purple
. By the end of the 90s the ownership of Aquarius Records was entirely acquired by Donald Tarlton (Donald K. Donald).
Starting in 2000 Aquarius began expansion through the development of new imprints such as DKD Disques (La Chicane, Danni Bedard) and through joint ventures like Last Gang Records
(Metric
, Crystal Castles
, Mother Mother
, Chromeo
), Arts & Crafts
International (Stars, Amy Millan
), Indica Records
(Les Trois Accords
, Dobacaracol, Priestess
), Mensa Music (Adam Gregory
), Moving Units (Bless
, Platinumberg). The biggest selling new artist on Aquarius was Sum 41
, and other artists like Danko Jones
, Jeremy Fisher
, Gob
and Mark Berube came to the label. Also during this period, it began a distribution deal with Unidisc Music.
For more, see the category for Aquarius Records albums
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
founded in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1969. The first president was Terry Flood and the other founding owners were Donald Tarlton, Bob Lemm, Dan Lazare and Jack Lazare. Originally the label was distributed by London Records of Canada.
Among the first acts signed to the label was a Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
band called April Wine
April Wine
April Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
. April Wine would go one to make 12 studio albums and 3 live albums for Aquarius between 1970 and 1985. Other Aquarius artists developed by Aquarius during the first decade included Montreal’s Walter Rossi and a rock band from Windsor Ontario called Teaze. While still with London, Aquarius released records by Mashmakhan, Freedom North, Ross Holloway, Roger Doucet, The Rabble and others.
In 1978 Aquarius Records changed distribution to Capitol-EMI and it was early in this association that April Wine began achieving international success. In the 1980s Aquarius signings included Corey Hart, Sass Jordan
Sass Jordan
Sarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
, Mindstorm, Sword and Myles Goodwyn
Myles Goodwyn
Myles Goodwyn is a record producer, guitarist, lead vocalist, main songwriter, founding member of the veteran Canadian hard rock band April Wine and father of the electronic artist Aaron Goodwyn...
and the label also released albums by The Stampeders
The Stampeders
The Stampeders are a Canadian rock trio, consisting of Rich Dodson, Ronnie King, and Kim Berly.-Career:The band formed in Calgary, Alberta in 1964 as The Rebounds....
and The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
. In its first twenty years Aquarius sold over 5 million records in Canada and Aquarius artists sold a similar amount in the rest of the world.
In the 1990s some of Aquarius’ efforts were diverted by the launching of a French-language label called Tacca Musique which had enormous success almost immediately with artists like Kevin Parent
Kevin Parent
Kevin Parent Kevin Parent Kevin Parent (born 12 December 1972 in Greenfield Park, Quebec (now Longueuil) is a bilingual Québécois singer-songwriter. Although his mother language is English, he was raised and educated in the French speaking area of Bay of Chaleur (Gaspé Peninsula) in the...
and France D’Amour. On the English side, Aquarius would release new artists Bif Naked
Bif Naked
Bif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
and Serial Joe
Serial Joe
Serial Joe was a Canadian band from Newmarket, Ontario which consisted of high school students Ryan Dennis , Ryan Stever , John Davidson and Dan Stadnicki . The group released four full-length albums...
and also it licensed records by Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats is a Canadian New Wave group from Montreal, Quebec. Their music was characterized by the distinctive baritone voice of their lead singer Ivan Doroschuk as well as their elaborate use of synthesizers and electronic processing...
and Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
. By the end of the 90s the ownership of Aquarius Records was entirely acquired by Donald Tarlton (Donald K. Donald).
Starting in 2000 Aquarius began expansion through the development of new imprints such as DKD Disques (La Chicane, Danni Bedard) and through joint ventures like Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records
Last Gang Records is a record label that was formed by Canadian music industry lawyer Chris Taylor and concert promoter Donald Tarlton in the Fall of 2003 at the Pop Montreal Music Festival....
(Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
, Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles (band)
Crystal Castles are an experimental electronic band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and lyricist and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi home productions. The duo released many limited EPs between 2006 and...
, Mother Mother
Mother Mother
Mother Mother is a five-piece Canadian indie rock band originally from Quadra Island, now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mother Mother consists of Ryan Guldemond on guitar and vocals, Molly Guldemond on vocals and keyboard, Jasmin Parkin on keyboard and vocals, Ali Siadat on drums, and...
, Chromeo
Chromeo
Chromeo is an electrofunk duo formed in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 2004.-History:Chromeo is composed of P-Thugg on keyboards, synthesizers, and talk box, and Dave 1 on guitar and lead vocals...
), Arts & Crafts
Arts & Crafts (record label)
Arts & Crafts Productions is a Toronto-based independent artist services company, offering expertise as an independent record label, management firm, merchandiser and music publisher both in Canada and internationally...
International (Stars, Amy Millan
Amy Millan
Amy Millan is a Canadian indie rock singer and guitarist. She records and performs with the bands Stars and Broken Social Scene as well as having a successful solo career. Her second solo album, Masters of the Burial, was released by Arts & Crafts Records in September 2009.- Early life :Amy Millan...
), Indica Records
Indica Records
Indica Records is a Canadian record label based in Montreal, Quebec, founded by rock band Grim Skunk in 1997. The label was put together by the band, manager Simon Gallipeault, label manager Kyria Kilakos and head of promo Mariana Gianelli. Indica is considered to be the biggest "alternative"...
(Les Trois Accords
Les Trois Accords
Les Trois Accords is a rock band from Drummondville, Quebec. The band launched its first album Gros mammouth album in 2003. Some of the notable songs, taken from that album, include "Hawaïenne", "Saskatchewan" and "Lucille". Along with their videos, these songs received heavy exposure in Quebec...
, Dobacaracol, Priestess
Priestess (band)
Priestess is a Canadian stoner rock band formed in 2003 by Mikey Heppner , Mike Dyball , Vince Nudo , and Dan Watchorn .-Biography:...
), Mensa Music (Adam Gregory
Adam Gregory
Adam Gregory is a country music singer and actor. Active since 2000, he has recorded three studio albums, including 2000's The Way I'm Made and 2002's Workin' On It, both on Epic Records, as well as a self-titled album in 2006 on Mensa Records...
), Moving Units (Bless
Bless (rapper)
Bless is a hip-hop artist from Montreal, Canada.-Early career:Bless was a B-boy at the young age of eight showing his dope hip hop roots. He quickly started trying to write rhymes and by the age of 12 he was demoing tracks in studios...
, Platinumberg). The biggest selling new artist on Aquarius was Sum 41
Sum 41
Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
, and other artists like Danko Jones
Danko Jones
Danko Jones is a Canadian rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Danko Jones and JC...
, Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher
Jeremy Fisher is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Fisher is based in Montreal, Quebec and was previously based on Vancouver Island, B.C. and in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A....
, Gob
Gob (band)
Gob is a Canadian punk band from Langley, British Columbia formed in 1993, The Band consists of Tom Thacker, Theo Goutzinakis, Gabe Mantle and Steven Fairweather. Gob's most successful album is World According to Gob and their most successful song to date is I Hear You Calling...
and Mark Berube came to the label. Also during this period, it began a distribution deal with Unidisc Music.
All-time list of artists released on Aquarius
- All Systems Go!All Systems Go!All Systems Go! is a Canadian punk rock group, and features members of Big Drill Car, Doughboys, the Asexuals and The Carnations. The band was formed after Frank Daly and Mark Arnold's previous band Big Drill Car broke up in 1995 and John Kastner's and Peter Arsenault's previous band The Doughboys...
- April WineApril WineApril Wine is a Canadian rock band formed in 1969. According to the band, they chose the name 'April Wine' simply because members thought the two words sounded good together...
- (The) Awesome Collective
- Bobby Azoff
- Bif NakedBif NakedBif Naked is a Juno Award-winning, Indian-born American-Canadian multi-platinum record selling, rock singer, writer, poet, motivational speaker and actress.-Personal life:...
- Bronze
- Brown BrigadeBrown BrigadeBrown Brigade is a reggae-influenced heavy metal band created by former Sum 41 guitarist Dave "Brownsound" Baksh, after leaving Sum 41 in May 2006...
- Gordie Brose
- Cheeque
- Corey Hart
- Crescent Street Stompers
- Crowned King
- Deep PurpleDeep PurpleDeep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
- Rich DodsonRich DodsonRich Dodson is a Juno Award winning singer, song-writer and producer. He is the guitarist and a founding member of Canadian Rock trio, The Stampeders. He is most well known for penning the groups' biggest hit, "Sweet City Woman" which hit #1 in Canada, and #8 on Billboard in 1971...
- Roger DoucetRoger DoucetRoger Doucet, CM was a Canadian tenor best known for singing the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada", on televised games of the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Alouettes, and Montreal Expos during the 1970s...
- The Dysfunctions
- Eleven Thirty (11:30)
- Evermore
- Fat Man Waving
- The Flyers
- Freedom North
- FUBAR (soundtrack)FUBAR: The AlbumFUBAR: The Album is the companion record/soundtrack to the 2002 Canadian film FUBAR: The Movie.The protagonists of the film are two head bangers; for the album, several contemporary Canadian rock bands were asked to record cover versions of Canadian heavy metal and hard rock hits from that era to...
- Lewis FureyLewis FureyLewis Furey, born Lewis Greenblatt is a Canadian composer, singer, violinist, pianist, actor and director.-Career:Born in Montreal, Quebec to French and American parents, Furey trained as a classical violinist, and at age 11 performed as a soloist in the Matinées pour la jeunesse concert series...
- Fussy Cussy
- GobGob (band)Gob is a Canadian punk band from Langley, British Columbia formed in 1993, The Band consists of Tom Thacker, Theo Goutzinakis, Gabe Mantle and Steven Fairweather. Gob's most successful album is World According to Gob and their most successful song to date is I Hear You Calling...
- GoldenhorseGoldenhorse-Studio albums:-Singles:-Charity singles:-External links:*...
- Good Shirt
- Myles GoodwynMyles GoodwynMyles Goodwyn is a record producer, guitarist, lead vocalist, main songwriter, founding member of the veteran Canadian hard rock band April Wine and father of the electronic artist Aaron Goodwyn...
- Adam Gregory (Mensa)
- The Guess WhoThe Guess WhoThe Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
- Francois Guy
- HelixHelix (band)Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
- Ross Holloway
- Hot SpringsHot Springs (band)Hot Springs were an indie-rock band formed in 2004 based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They were unique in the Montreal music scene, in that they had an equal fan-base within both the francophone and anglophone communities.-History:...
- Hollowick (Formerly Rides Again)
- Hurricane JaneHurricane Jane"Hurricane Jane" is a song by American indie rock band Black Kids. It was released as the second single from their debut album Partie Traumatic in the UK by Almost Gold Recordings on June 23, 2008. A demo version of the song appeared on the band's 2007 EP Wizard of Ahhhs...
- Jade (Good Fences)
- James, John & Francois
- Jeremy FisherJeremy FisherJeremy Fisher is a Canadian singer-songwriter. Fisher is based in Montreal, Quebec and was previously based on Vancouver Island, B.C. and in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A....
- Jerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm OrchestraJerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm OrchestraJerry Jerry and the Sons of Rhythm Orchestra is a Canadian alternative rock band whose musical style blends elements of surf music, gospel music, rockabilly, garage, and punk. The band also experimented with jazz on their third album Don't Mind If I Do....
- Debbie JohnsonDebbie JohnsonDebbie J. Johnson is a Minnesota, United States, politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate who represented District 49, which includes portions of Anoka County in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area. A Republican, she was first elected to the Senate in 2000, and was re-elected...
- Danko JonesDanko JonesDanko Jones is a Canadian rock band from Toronto, Ontario. The band consists of Danko Jones and JC...
- JoraneJoraneJorane is a French-Canadian singer/cellist, who is notable for her alternative music style on a typically classical instrument as well as her ability to sing while playing cello at the same time....
- Sass JordanSass JordanSarah "Sass" Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal.- Biography :...
- Keepin’ ‘em off the Street
- Paul Leroux
- Lindy
- LiquidLiquidLiquid is one of the three classical states of matter . Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow and take the shape of a container. Some liquids resist compression, while others can be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a container, and maintains a fairly...
- Marble HallMarble HallMarble Hall is a small town in the south of the Limpopo province, in South Africa. It was formerley in Mpumalanga provinse.-History:While on a hunting expedition from Pretoria, Christoffel Visagie and his family discovered a hole containing marble in 1920...
- MashmakhanMashmakhanMashmakhan was a Canadian rock fusion band that was most active in the early 1970s, and is best known for their hit single "As the Years Go By."-History:...
- McAuley
- John McDonaldJohn McDonaldJohn McDonald may refer to:*John McDonald , businessman and political figure in Upper Canada and Canada West*John McDonald , member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1911–1914...
- Memphis (Good Fences)
- Micro Maureen
- Amy Millan (ACI)
- Modern Man
- Monkey House
- Moonquake
- Morse CodeMorse codeMorse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
- Allan Nicholls
- The Operation M.D.The Operation M.D.The Operation M.D. is a Canadian rock band created by Dr. Dynamite and Dr. Rocco as a side project to their other bands. The band's debut album We Have an Emergency was released in February 2007 by Aquarius Records...
- Michel PagliaroMichel PagliaroMichel Pagliaro is a prolific Canadian rock singer, songwriter and guitarist. Born in Montreal, Quebec, he is also based there. He is often referred to simply as Pagliaro or Pag. Although he writes and records predominantly in French, Pagliaro has released material in English...
- Pepper TreePepper treePepper tree may refer to:* Trees in the Schinus genus*Macropiper excelsum, Kawakawa a small tree endemic to New Zealand*Two species of the Pseudowintera genus, also known by the Māori name of Horopito...
- Pigeon-HolePigeon Hole (band)Pigeon Hole is a Canadian hip hop duo, consisting of Colin "Dusty Melo" McCue and Lee "Marmalade" Napthine of the band Sweatshop Union. Already an established act on the local hip hop scene in their hometown of Vancouver prior to joining Sweatshop Union, they released their first album as a duo,...
- Pops Merrily
- Peter Pringle
- Jodie RestherJodie RestherJodie Lynn Resther is a Canadian actress.Resther is possibly best known for being the voice of Francine Alice Frensky is the PBS children's animated program Arthur since 1996. Resther had the role of Kiki in Are You Afraid of the Dark?...
- Chad Richardson
- HollowickRides Again (band)Hollowick is a Canadian rock band from Oshawa, Ontario, formerly called Rides Again. It is composed of lead singer and guitarist Nathan Peyton, bassist and brother background vocalist Chad Peyton, lead guitarist Luke LeDoux, and drummer Frank Goerz. Their first full-length album, Into Existence,...
(formerly Rides Again) - Lindsay RobinsLindsay RobinsLindsay Robins is a singer-songwriter who wrote and performed the theme song "What Would You Do" for the VJ Search reality series on MuchMusic, which went on to be the 2007 recipient of The North American Promax Award for Best Music Package/Theme Song...
- Johnny RodgersJohnny RodgersJohnny Steven Rodgers is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.-College career:...
- Walter Rossi
- Rubberman
- Saints and SinnersSaints & Sinners (heavy metal band)-Biography:The band was formed in 1991 by ex-Sword members Rick Hughes and Jeff Salem. The other three members were Stephane Dufour, Martin Balduc, and Jesse Bradman . The band released one album, Saints & Sinners in 1992, but the grunge movement in the early 1990s ruined the bands chance of having...
- Stevie SalasStevie SalasStevie Salas is a guitarist known for his work on George Clinton's albums, his collaborations with Koshi Inaba of B'z, and Hardware. He was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, providing the fingerwork for George Carlin's guitar solo....
- Serial JoeSerial JoeSerial Joe was a Canadian band from Newmarket, Ontario which consisted of high school students Ryan Dennis , Ryan Stever , John Davidson and Dan Stadnicki . The group released four full-length albums...
- Sharp Edges
- SilverSilver (band)Silver was an American 1970s country-rock band, best known for their bubblegum 1976 hit "Wham Bam".Members of the group included John Batdorf , lead vocals and guitar; Brent Mydland , keyboards and vocals; Tom Leadon , bass guitar and vocals; Greg Collier, guitar and vocals; and Harry...
- The SlipThe SlipThe Slip is a contemporary avant-rock trio from Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The band consists of brothers Brad Barr and Andrew Barr , and Marc Friedman . The three also play with singer-songwriter Nathan Moore in a side project called Surprise Me Mr...
- SomaSomaSoma , or Haoma , from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance among the early Indo-Iranians, and the subsequent Vedic and greater Persian cultures. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, whose Soma Mandala contains 114 hymns, many praising its energizing qualities...
- SpekSpekHussain Yoosuf, better known by his stage name Spek, is a Canadian hip-hop artist, best known for his singles "Smell the Coffee" and "I'm a Hippie", and as a member of Canadian hip hop group, Dream Warriors.-Early career:...
- The StampedersThe StampedersThe Stampeders are a Canadian rock trio, consisting of Rich Dodson, Ronnie King, and Kim Berly.-Career:The band formed in Calgary, Alberta in 1964 as The Rebounds....
- Stars (ACI)
- Judi St. James
- SwordSword (band)Sword is a Canadian heavy metal band that was active in the 1980s and just announced a reunion for 2011.-History:In the early 80's, south of Montréal in Saint Bruno, Quebec, Rick and Dan Hughes formed a heavy metal band called Sword. They were joined by guitarist Mike Plant and bassist Mike...
- Sum 41Sum 41Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ajax, Ontario. The band was formed in 1996 and currently consists of members Deryck Whibley , Tom Thacker , Jason McCaslin and Steve Jocz .In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records...
- The Tanuki Project
- Tchukon
- Teaze
- VannVannSalvadora oleiodes is a small bushy evergreen tree found in India and Pakistan and southern Iran. In Iran it is called Tuch . Common names in Indian subcontinent include Vann, ون/ਵਣ जाल/पीलू , and jar , in Saraiki language in Saraiki Wasib called jall, جال Pakistan.-Description:It is a small tree...
- Whindig
- WinstonWinston (band)Winston is a Canadian indie pop band from Vancouver founded by singer-songwriter Ryan Hauschild. Although it is now essentially his solo project, the band previously comprised Hauschild on vocals, guitars and piano; guitarist Lanny Hussey; drummer Robbie Watkins; and bass guitarist Tony Kerr. The...
For more, see the category for Aquarius Records albums