Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation
Encyclopedia
Thee Sheffield Phonographic Corporation, or Thee SPC, is an independent record label
based in Sheffield
, UK. It is one of the most influential labels in the Yorkshire
area, having given early breaks and support to many bands in the so-called New Yorkshire
scene. The label was formed by members of the bands Velodrome 2000, The Motherfuckers and Chuck, and has an extensive catalogue. Their trademarks are thick, coloured vinyl
and sleevenotes written in a comical Victorian
style. They used to broadcast a weekly radio show on the internet station Sheffield Live.
Thee SPC has released singles and albums by various Sheffield-based bands and released two compilations CDs
, one of Sheffield guitar bands with the title A Box of Odd, and one of Sheffield electronic music with the title Thee Sheffield Radiophonic Workshop. Their only non-Sheffield-related release to date is an album of songs by American chicken farmer Charles E. Cullen. Another notable release was the novelty single Who The Chuff Are The Mardy Bums?, an affectionate parody
of Arctic Monkeys
.
Their irregular fanzine
Thee Humbug always includes a CD of tracks by the featured artists. The second issue is now a collector's piece, changing hands for relatively large sums on eBay
, as the CD features an early track by the then unknown Arctic Monkeys
and some rare Long Blondes
material.
Some recent single releases have been released on CD as well as vinyl. "Virtual vinyl" is also available from the label's website, in the form of free downloads, often giving a taste of album releases.
The label has featured in Britain's biggest-selling music weekly NME
, in an article about small record labels, as part of a feature highlighting the upcoming Sheffield and Leeds scenes, and as the subject of a short article in a series about record labels.
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 Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, UK. It is one of the most influential labels in the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
area, having given early breaks and support to many bands in the so-called New Yorkshire
New Yorkshire
New Yorkshire is a musical movement identified by UK music magazine NME in 2005, in response to the success of Yorkshire bands such as Arctic Monkeys, The Cribs, and Kaiser Chiefs....
scene. The label was formed by members of the bands Velodrome 2000, The Motherfuckers and Chuck, and has an extensive catalogue. Their trademarks are thick, coloured vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
and sleevenotes written in a comical Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
style. They used to broadcast a weekly radio show on the internet station Sheffield Live.
Thee SPC has released singles and albums by various Sheffield-based bands and released two compilations CDs
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
, one of Sheffield guitar bands with the title A Box of Odd, and one of Sheffield electronic music with the title Thee Sheffield Radiophonic Workshop. Their only non-Sheffield-related release to date is an album of songs by American chicken farmer Charles E. Cullen. Another notable release was the novelty single Who The Chuff Are The Mardy Bums?, an affectionate parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
.
Their irregular fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Thee Humbug always includes a CD of tracks by the featured artists. The second issue is now a collector's piece, changing hands for relatively large sums on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, as the CD features an early track by the then unknown Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
and some rare Long Blondes
The Long Blondes
The Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
material.
Some recent single releases have been released on CD as well as vinyl. "Virtual vinyl" is also available from the label's website, in the form of free downloads, often giving a taste of album releases.
The label has featured in Britain's biggest-selling music weekly NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, in an article about small record labels, as part of a feature highlighting the upcoming Sheffield and Leeds scenes, and as the subject of a short article in a series about record labels.
7-inch singles
- The Motherfuckers, I'm a Fucker. Translucent red vinyl. 2003.
- Chuck, No Not Ah. Translucent blue vinyl. 2003.
- Champion Kickboxer, Like Him + Her + Her + Me. Solid white vinyl. 2004.
- The Long BlondesThe Long BlondesThe Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
. New Idols. Solid pink vinyl. 2004. - Chuck. Umm Na Nagay/We Got Squeezed. Solid blue vinyl. 2005.
- Smokers Die YoungerSmokers Die YoungerSmokers Die Younger are a four-piece rock band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Their debut album opens with hardcore grunge rock and closes with avant-garde art-rock, taking in dub reggae, country music, indie, and rock and roll.-Career:...
. Kermit Song. Solid green vinyl. 2005. - The Scarlet Tuesday/Balor Knights. A Perfect Quarter/Just Cos Keenan Says So. Solid yellow vinyl. 2006.
- The Mardy Bums. Who The Chuff Are The Mardy Bums?. Orange vinyl. 2006.
- Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
. Science. Blue vinyl. 2006. - Slow Down Tallahassee. So Much For Love. Lipstick Red vinyl. 2007.
- Meat for A Dark Day. Vanity Unfair. Clear vinyl. 2007.
- The Bon Bon Club. Love Is Blind / Lullaby / Romantic Rights. Grey vinyl. 2008.
- Smokers Die YoungerSmokers Die YoungerSmokers Die Younger are a four-piece rock band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Their debut album opens with hardcore grunge rock and closes with avant-garde art-rock, taking in dub reggae, country music, indie, and rock and roll.-Career:...
. Sketchpads. Black vinyl. 2008.
CD Singles
- Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
. Science. 2006. - Meat For A Dark Day. Vanity Unfair. 2007
Albums
- Various Artists. A Box Of Odd. 2004.
- Charles E. Cullen. The World of Charles E. Cullen. 2005.
- Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
. The Bright Carvings. 2006. - Smokers Die YoungerSmokers Die YoungerSmokers Die Younger are a four-piece rock band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Their debut album opens with hardcore grunge rock and closes with avant-garde art-rock, taking in dub reggae, country music, indie, and rock and roll.-Career:...
. X Wants The Meat. 2006. - Champion Kickboxer. Perforations. 2006.
- Various Artists. Thee Sheffield Radiophonic Workshop. 2006.
- Heartyeah. Traps. 2007.
- Slow Down Tallahassee. The Beautiful Light. 2008.
Free Download-only Singles
- Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
. Sheffield Shanty/Jimmy Down The Well. 2005. - Charles E Cullen. Fading Into The Light. 2005.
- Smokers Die YoungerSmokers Die YoungerSmokers Die Younger are a four-piece rock band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Their debut album opens with hardcore grunge rock and closes with avant-garde art-rock, taking in dub reggae, country music, indie, and rock and roll.-Career:...
. I Spy Dry Fear. 2006. - Champion Kickboxer. Perforations / Maximum. 2006.
- Heartyeah. Chris Huelsbeck. 2007.
- Horowitz. I Need A Blanket. Virtual box-set. 2008.
- Slow Down Tallahassee. The Beautiful Light. 2008.
Fanzines
- Thee Humbug #1 - CD featuring Champion Kickboxer, The Ape Drape Escape, Balor Knights, Chuck, Ormondroyd, Repomen, Kings Have Long ArmsKings Have Long ArmsKings Have Long Arms are an English "rocktronica" act, formed in Sheffield and masterminded by Salford-born Adrian Flanagan . Kings Have Long Arms have collaborated with Philip Oakey from The Human League on the track "Rock and Roll is Dead", Marion from The Lovers and Mira from Ladytron...
. 2004. - Thee Humbug #2 - CD featuring Arctic MonkeysArctic MonkeysArctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Screaming Mimi, HarrisonsHarrisonsHarrisons were a four-piece guitar band from Hillsborough in Sheffield, England. They were one of the leading bands in the so-called New Yorkshire scene, along with fellow Sheffielders Arctic Monkeys, Milburn, The Long Blondes and Bromheads Jacket...
, Conrad, 1984, Charles E. Cullen, The Scarlet Tuesday, The Long BlondesThe Long BlondesThe Long Blondes were a five-piece English indie rock band formed in Sheffield, United Kingdom in 2003 by Dorian Cox , Reenie Hollis , Emma Chaplin , Kate Jackson and Screech Louder .After several critically...
, Velodrome 2000, The Hipshakes, Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
. 2005. - Thee Humbug #3 - CD featuring Bromheads JacketBromheads JacketBromheads are a two-piece English garage rock band originating from Sheffield, England-History:Bromheads was formed in Sheffield in 2005, from the ashes of a band called Fixated. Although often compared to other Sheffield bands who found fame around the same time, such as Arctic Monkeys and...
, Fury of the Headteachers, Smokers Die YoungerSmokers Die YoungerSmokers Die Younger are a four-piece rock band from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Their debut album opens with hardcore grunge rock and closes with avant-garde art-rock, taking in dub reggae, country music, indie, and rock and roll.-Career:...
, Corleone, The Lodger, Daybreak, [Heart]Yeah!!, O Fracas, Monkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the UniverseMonkey Swallows the Universe was an acoustic/indie band from Sheffield, England. MSTU is centred around its founders, Nat Johnson and Kevin Gori, who formed the band in 2003 after meeting at the University of Sheffield. In the band's first incarnation they both sang and played acoustic guitars...
, MilburnMilburn (band)Milburn was an indie rock band from Sheffield, England that consisted of Joe Carnall, Louis Carnall, Tom Rowley, and Joe Green. They announced they would split on 28 March 2008, with the band playing their final gig at Sheffield's Carling Academy on 24 May 2008.-Formation:Milburn's formation came...
. 2005. - Thee Humbug #4 - CD featuring The Yell, Little Man TateLittle Man Tate (band)Little Man Tate were a four-piece indie rock band from Sheffield, England who formed in 2005. They broke up in 2009. The band quickly began attracting interest from several record labels and in March 2006 signed to V2 Records, later parting ways in November 2007...
, ¡Forward, Russia!¡Forward, Russia!¡Forward, Russia! were an English alternative band from Leeds, formed in early 2004, though are currently on hiatus. Until 2006, the band only named tracks with numbers, in the order that they were written...
, Umlaut, Scaramanga 6, Cannibal Sunset, Wet Dog, The Real Losers, Optimist Club, Navvy, Bear. 2006. - Thee Humbug #5 - CD featuring Slow Down Tallahassee, Hands & Knees, The Chiara Ls, Situationists, Dave Woodcock, Atoness, The Jakpot, Rotary Ten, The Hair, The Friendly Wilson, Poisonous Little Creatures. 2007.