Raw Energy Records
Encyclopedia
Raw Energy Records was a Canadian independent record label
, based in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The music label was established in the late 1980s by founder entrepreneur and music journalist Graeme Boyce, initially to distribute the debut EP
by King Apparatus
, Loud Party. Prior to launching Raw Energy, Boyce was a staff writer for RPM
.
The label subsequently released King Apparatus' full-length debut album in 1990; after selling over 5,000 copies of the album in just a handful of record stores in downtown Toronto, the label secured a national distribution deal with A&M Records
. The company expanded over the years, and launched new divisions to manage growth, such as Raw Energy Promotions and Raw Energy Radio.
In total, the label released many albums from various artists, including five "On the Road" compilations: On the Road, Dead on the Road, On the Road to NYC, On the Road with a Snowboard, and Twentybandcomp. The latter was co-released with Shock Records in Australia.
Canadian artists who released Raw Energy albums included King Apparatus, King Cobb Steelie
, Dinner Is Ruined, Random Killing
, Trunk
, Marilyn's Vitamins
and Sectorseven. Raw Energy also released product from two U.S. acts, The Toasters and Rosie O'Shea. Grouped into the alternative genre, augmenting its roster of punk and ska, the label released a rap album from Top Secret and a noise album from Space City USA.
which was used as the album's cover art, was a compilation album
released in 1993 on Raw Energy Records. The album featured many emerging Canadian alternative rock
bands of the era, primarily but not exclusively those signed directly to the Raw Energy label.
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:...
, based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
. The music label was established in the late 1980s by founder entrepreneur and music journalist Graeme Boyce, initially to distribute the debut EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by King Apparatus
King Apparatus
King Apparatus was a Canadian third wave ska band, active in the early 1990s. Formed in 1987 in London, Ontario and later based in Toronto, the band's lineup varied over its lifetime, including vocalist Chris Murray, guitarists Sam Tallo, Paul Ruston, J. C...
, Loud Party. Prior to launching Raw Energy, Boyce was a staff writer for RPM
RPM (magazine)
RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,...
.
The label subsequently released King Apparatus' full-length debut album in 1990; after selling over 5,000 copies of the album in just a handful of record stores in downtown Toronto, the label secured a national distribution deal with A&M Records
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
. The company expanded over the years, and launched new divisions to manage growth, such as Raw Energy Promotions and Raw Energy Radio.
In total, the label released many albums from various artists, including five "On the Road" compilations: On the Road, Dead on the Road, On the Road to NYC, On the Road with a Snowboard, and Twentybandcomp. The latter was co-released with Shock Records in Australia.
Canadian artists who released Raw Energy albums included King Apparatus, King Cobb Steelie
King Cobb Steelie
King Cobb Steelie is a Canadian Indie rock band formed in 1991 from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The band's most successful single was 1997's "Rational", from the album Junior Relaxer. Their music fuses elements of punk, funk, jazz and dance.-History:...
, Dinner Is Ruined, Random Killing
Random Killing
Random Killing is a punk rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who were assembled initially as a joke in 1984. Their original name was Roy's Comrades, which was a nod to Roy McMurtry, Attorney General of Ontario at the time. After writing a few decent songs, the band decided to record and stay...
, Trunk
Trunk
Trunk may refer to:In biology:*Trunk, an elephant's proboscis or nose*Trunk, torso*Trunk , a tree's central superstructureIn containers:*Trunk , a large storage compartment*Trunk...
, Marilyn's Vitamins
Marilyn's Vitamins
Marilyn's Vitamins were a punk rock band formed in 1995 from Orangeville, Ontario, Canada, playing their last show December 28, 1999 in Toronto, Ontario. In those near-five years they released two albums on Raw Energy and 7"s on Ductape, and Ugly Pop Vinyl. A posthumous collection was released on...
and Sectorseven. Raw Energy also released product from two U.S. acts, The Toasters and Rosie O'Shea. Grouped into the alternative genre, augmenting its roster of punk and ska, the label released a rap album from Top Secret and a noise album from Space City USA.
Compilation album
Raw Energy, also sometimes known as On the Road after the title of the cartoonCartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
which was used as the album's cover art, was a compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
released in 1993 on Raw Energy Records. The album featured many emerging Canadian alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
bands of the era, primarily but not exclusively those signed directly to the Raw Energy label.
Track listing
- The Dinner Is RuinedThe dinner is ruinedThe Dinner Is Ruined is a Canadian indie rock band. Formed in 1991 by Dale Morningstar, the band plays an experimental and improvisational brand of blues rock.The band members are Dale Morningstar, Dave Clark and Dr. Johnny Pee...
, "Stuck Pig" - Groovy Religion, "Wanda"
- hHeadHHeadhHead were a Canadian alternative rock band in the 1990s. The band consisted of Noah Mintz, Brendan Canning and a succession of drummers. They were originally known as Head, but added the second h after discovering that another band was already recording as Head.The band's first album, Fireman, was...
, "Collide" - King Cobb SteelieKing Cobb SteelieKing Cobb Steelie is a Canadian Indie rock band formed in 1991 from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The band's most successful single was 1997's "Rational", from the album Junior Relaxer. Their music fuses elements of punk, funk, jazz and dance.-History:...
, "One's a Heifer" - The Imagineers, "This is Nevada Calling"
- JaleJaleJale was an indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. Contemporaries of Sloan and The Super Friendz, they were formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1996...
, "I Lied" - Cottage Industry, "Theme from Superstar"
- Yeti, "The Crossing"
- Wooden StarsWooden StarsWooden Stars are a Canadian indie rock band formed in the 1990s. The band, from Ottawa, consists of vocalist and guitarist Julien Beillard, guitarist Mike Feuerstack, bassists Josh Latour and Mathieu Beillard, and drummer Andrew McCormack.-Style:...
, "Hate Everyone" - Wining Dining and DrillingIan Stephens (poet)Ian Stephens was a Canadian poet, journalist and musician from Montreal, best known as one of the major Canadian voices in the spoken word movement of the 1990s...
, "Captain's a Wreck" - Deadbeat Backbone, "Til I'm Gone"
- Eric's TripEric's TripEric's Trip is a Canadian indie rock band from Moncton, New Brunswick. Eric's Trip achieved prominence as the first Canadian band to be signed to Seattle's flagship grunge label Sub Pop in the early 1990s...
, "Understanding" - Change of HeartChange of Heart (band)Change of Heart was a Canadian alternative rock band. They had one Top 40 hit, "There You Go" in 1992, as well as several hits on Canada's modern rock charts, including "Trigger" and "Little Kingdoms".-History:...
, "Stress Monkey"