Future Legend Records (independent label)
Encyclopedia
Future Legend Records
Future Legend Records is a UK indie record label founded in 1992 by former D.J., record producerRecord producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Russell C. Brennan (aka Russell C. Writer). It was intended as a creative outlet for Brennan, to allow release of previously recorded material, to promote his band Box Office Poison and to break new up and coming bands and artists into the music scene in the UK and worldwide. Future Legend Records was partly named after Future Legend
Future Legend
"Future Legend" is the opening track of David Bowie's 1974 album Diamond Dogs. Its spoken narrative introduces the album's setting in a "glitter apoocalyse".-Music and lyrics:...
, the opening track of David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's 1974 album Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dogs
Diamond Dogs is a concept album by David Bowie, originally released by RCA Records in 1974. Thematically it was a marriage of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and Bowie's own glam-tinged vision of a post-apocalyptic world...
and partly to promote the company’s mission to find and introduce artistic 'legends of the future'. Russell C. Brennan is a published author of a reference work for musicians and artists.,
The label distributed various releases through Sony, Target BMG, SRD (Southern Records Distribution), Greyhound (now fMinor), 1Stop Distribution, Caroline Exports, Windsong/Pinnacle, Universal, IODA (Independent Online Distribution Alliance) and Code 7 Music/Storm Warning Entertainment (See Release Discography. Releases have distributors named on sleeve notes). Some limited edition releases were manufactured and distributed by the label. The label gained a number one hit in Italy but did not gain a chart hit in the UK. From 1993-1996 and again from 2001-2003 Future Legend Records had distribution problems. The most successful partnership was with the independent music distributor Windsong/Pinnacle (a part of the Zomba Group of Companies) from 1996–2000, which resulted in a productive period for the label.
Future Legend Records is owned by A Bygrave. Day to day management by Russell C. Brennan.
Background
The first releaseRelease (music)
In the music industry, a release is usually a term referring to the creative output from an artist available for sale or distribution; a broad term covering the many different formats music can be released in, and different forms of pieces .The word can also refer to the event at which an album or...
on Future Legend Records had been recorded some years previously. Under the previous Waterloo Sunset Records label, Russell C Brennan had recorded a TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
themes
Theme music
Theme music is a piece that is often written specifically for a radio program, television program, video game or movie, and usually played during the title sequence and/or end credits...
covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
Themes from the 60s Vol.1 to showcase many new up and coming artists by re-recording well known TV and film themes. Two tracks from main Waterloo Sunset Records act Eleanor Rigby were included: You Only Live Twice and Up The Junction. Waterloo Sunset Records folded due lack of funds before the album could be released on that label.
Future Legend Records released the Themes From the 60’s Vol 1 album and a further three singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
(see Release Discography) through a distribution deal
Distribution deal
A distribution deal is a legal agreement between one party and another, to handle distribution of a product....
with Sony from 1993-1994. The Eleanor Rigby single You Only Live Twice was released in 1993, reaching Number One
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
in Italy. Airplay
Airplay
* Airplay is the amount of time a song is played on the radio.It may also refer to:* AirPlay, an audio & video streaming technology from Apple Inc.* Airplay , Foster & Graydon music project from 1980* Citroën C1, Citroën C1 Airplay...
in the UK was good but slow distribution hit sales and the single did not chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
there. The label parted company with Sony in 1994 after conflicts over poor distribution, missing stock and escalating charges.
Several distributor changes occurred between 1994-1996. Five albums and one single were released during this time (see Release Discography). The label signed a 4 year distribution contract with Windsong/Pinnacle in 1996. In Windsong/Pinnacle, at that time the largest independent music distributor in the UK with a 10% market share, the label found the best match for their music and made nine releases under contract to the company between 1996-1999. This included two further themes compilation albums (see Release Discography). Shortly after signing with Windsong/Pinnacle 75% of the distributor was purchased by the Zomba Group of Companies.. Future Legend’s distribution contract with WindSong/Pinnacle was upheld after the partial Zomba Group buy out. (Zomba has had several splits and name changes since )
In 1997 Brennan (as R C Writer) was commissioned by Dr Martens Records (Dr Martens: R. Griggs Group) to compile and produce the multi-artist Generation to Generation album This was on a similar format to the Themes cover albums. The album promoted both old and new acts that were an influence on British music, including The Lambrettas
The Lambrettas
The Lambrettas were an English mod revival band, active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Named after the iconic Italian Lambretta scooter brand popular among Mods, the band was formed in Lewes...
and The Untouchables. A final total of 20,000 copies of the album were distributed in the UK by Dr Martens through their retail outlets. Artists Box Office Poison, Mouse, Misty Woods, Eleanor Rigby and Ministry of Ska also contributed tracks to the album. A promised funded promotion and signing of Box Office Poison to Dr Martens Records did not occur (Brennan: personal communication). A promotion of Maroon Town, a band also featured on the Dr Martens CD did occur . After the release of two albums and six singles and contributions to compilation albums during 1993-1998, main label act Box Office Poison was disbanded without having broken the UK record charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
.
Future Legend Records’ contract with Zomba Group expired in early 2000 and by mutual agreement a new contract was not signed. (Zomba were not on the same wavelength as an independent label, then having internationally acclaimed acts such as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and N’Synch
In 2000 the label secured an multi-outlet internet download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
distribution contract with the Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA) and began releasing some of the back catalogue on download.
Future Legend Records secured a distribution contract in 2001 for their sixth themes album Cult Themes from the 80’s on CD format with Universal. Distribution was poor. The album did not sell well. Future Legend’s producer Russell C Brennan was nominated for Music Week's UK Record Producer of the Year in 2002 for contributions to music, particularly the production on Cult Themes from the 80’s.
Release Discography
- Themes from the 60s Vol.1 album by Various Artists (1993) distributed by Sony
- You Only Live Twice single by Eleanor Rigby (1993) distributed by Sony.
- 1995/Checkmate single by Box Office Poison (1993) distributed by Sony
- Bad Bad Girl single by Moonchild (1993) distributed by Sony
- Themes from the Sixties Vol.2 album (1994) distributed by Target/BMG
- Best of Eleanor Rigby Vol.1 album (1994) distributed by Target/BMG
- Mysteries by Box Office Poison single (1995) distributed by Southern Records Distribution
- Themes from the 60s Vol 3 album (1995), distributed by Greyhound
- Rarin’ To Go album by Ministry of Ska (1995) distributed by One Stop Records
- Best of Eleanor Rigby Vol.2 album by Eleanor Rigby (1996) distributed by One Stop Records
- Beyond the Twilight Zone album by Box Office Poison (1996) on export via Caroline Exports
- Beyond the Twilight Zone album by Box Office Poison (1996) UK distribution by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Love on the Phone/Play with Fire vinyl single (1997) by Eleanor Rigby distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Love on the Phone/Play with Fire/Wallpaper Man/Mod Boy CD EP by Eleanor Rigby & Misty Woods (1997) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Cult Themes from the 70’s Vol 1 album by Various Artists (1997) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- The Waterloo Sunset Story album by Various Artists (1997) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Teenage Sex/Alien single by Box Office Poison (1997) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Think For Yourself/Lady Grinning Soul single by Box Office Poison (1997) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Heavy Breathing Decade album by Box Office Poison (1998) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Cult Themes from the Seventies Vol.2 by Various Artists (1999) distributed by Windsong/Pinnacle (Zomba Group)
- Mirror Image album by Mouse (1999) distributed by FLR and IODA
- Stirred not Shaken album by Various Artists (1999) distributed by FLR
- The Future Legend Story album by Various Artists (2000) distributed by FLR
- Cult Themes from the 80’s album by Various Artists (2001) distributed by Universal Music Group
- The Themes Bond… James Bond (The Alternative Bond Themes) album by Various Artists (2008) distributed by IODA
- Eleanor Rigby Live album by Eleanor Rigby (2008) distributed by IODA
- Popcorn single by Box Office Poison (2009) distributed by IODA
- The Legend of Xanadu single by Box Office Poison (2009) distributed by IODA
- Sex on the Internet single by Pop Noir/Psykick Holiday (2009) distributed by IODA
- Mod tunes: Three Button Legacy album by Various Artists (2010) distributed by IODA
- My Two Minds Are Eight Miles High album by The Babysitars (2010) distributed by IODA
- Another Number album by Carmel Morris (2010) distributed by IODA
- That Instrumental Vibe album by Various Artists (2010) distributed by IODA
- Forever Pop Noir CD album by Psykick Holiday (2010) distributed by Code 7 Music/Storm Warning Entertainment
- Forever Pop Noir album by Psykick Holiday (2010) distributed by IODA