Twin/Tone Records
Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the Twin Cities music scene achieve national attention in the 1980s. Along with other independent American labels such as SST Records, Touch and Go Records, and Dischord, Twin/Tone helped to spearhead the nationwide network of underground bands that formed the pre-Nirvana indie-rock scene.
Also recorded as Twin/Tone
Twin/Tone Records
Distributed by Twin/Tone Records. Photographer uncredited and unknown. · Sources: Original source: Originally published and distributed by Twin/Tone Records circa 1982. Instant source: Reproduced at pp. 84–85 in: Walsh, Jim (2009) The Replacements: All Over But the Shout · Public domain
- Name
- Twin/Tone Records
- Founded
- 1977
- Headquarters
- United States
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Twin/Tone Records was an independent record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which operated from 1977 until 1994. It was the original home of influential Minnesota bands the Replacements and Soul Asylum and was instrumental in helping the Twin Cities music scene achieve national attention in the 1980s. Along with other independent American labels such as SST Records, Touch and Go Records, and Dischord, Twin/Tone helped to spearhead the nationwide network of underground bands that formed the pre-Nirvana indie-rock scene.
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Overview
Overview
These labels presided over the shift from the hardcore punk that then dominated the American underground scene to the more diverse styles of alternative rock that were emerging. Twin/Tone originated in the Minneapolis punk rock scene. The label was begun by Peter Jesperson, music and sports writer Charley Hallman, and Paul Stark. Releases by the pop/rock group The Suburbs were both Twin/Tone's first release (The Suburbs EP in 1978) and its last (Viva! Suburbs! In 1994). The label's logo was designed by Suburbs guitarist Bruce Allen. Jesperson signed the Replacements to the label immediately after the band's debut at the Longhorn Bar in Minneapolis. Other groups that signed with Twin/Tone include the Magnolias, Babes in Toyland, Information Society, Agitpop, the Jayhawks, Semisonic predecessor Trip Shakespeare, Poster Children, Soul Asylum, the Wallets, Curtiss A, and Pennsylvania-based Ween. British alternative-rock musician Robyn Hitchcock also released his 1990 solo album Eye through the label. The label was headquartered at 2541 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, which had previously been home to Kay Bank Studios, where garage-rock hits such as the Castaways' "Liar, Liar" and the Trashmen's "Surfin' Bird" had been recorded in the 1960s. For a time, Hüsker Dü had an office space next door to Twin/Tone at 2539. Hüsker Dü's Grant Hart would later name his first solo work, 2541, after the location. In 1998, Stark decided to stop releasing physical product in favor of digital media. The company is currently described as being "in mothballs", releasing only limited amounts of out-of-print material on custom-burned CDs, though some of the more significant material was licensed to Restless Records, part of Rykodisc. Hallman died in 2015. In 2017, the label was revived by Stark and Jesperson to release the Suicide Commandos comeback album Time Bomb.
American rock band The Replacements in a publicity photo, dated circa 1982, performing at the bar/venue Duffy's in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Left to right: Paul Westerberg (vocals guitar), Bob Stinson (lead guitar), Tommy Stinson (bass guitar), and Chris Mars (drums). Note that some of the space in the middle of the photograph has been lost, presumably because it was too deep within the inner margin
Distributed by Twin/Tone Records. Photographer uncredited and unknown. · Sources: Original source: Originally published and distributed by Twin/Tone Records circa 1982. Instant source: Reproduced at pp. 84–85 in: Walsh, Jim (2009) The Replacements: All Over But the Shout
American rock band The Replacements in a publicity photo, dated circa 1983, issued to promote their second album, Hootenanny. Left to right: Chris Mars (drums), Tommy Stinson (bass guitar), Bob Stinson (lead guitar), and Paul Westerberg (vocals guitar).
Distributed by Twin/Tone Records. Photographer uncredited and unknown. · Sources: Original source: Originally published and distributed by Twin/Tone Records circa 1983 as part of the press kit accompanying Hootenanny (see MusicPriceGuide.com
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Twin/Tone Records • Founded — 1977 • Founder — * Peter Jesperson • Charley Hallman • Paul Stark • Defunct — 1994 • Genre — * Alternative rock • punk • Country — U.S. • Location — Minneapolis, Minnesota • Website — twintone.com
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These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Clark, Rick. Give Them One Good Region: Local Labels Congregate In Cities Where Talent Gathers. Billboard. 114. 25 February 1995.
- 2.Dolan, Jon. The Revival of Indie Rock. Spin. 53. January 2005.
- 3.Reynolds, Simon. Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 1978-1984. Penguin Books. 2006. 978-1-1012-0105-3.
- 4.Cost, J., Earles, A., Fritch, M., Hickey, M., Klinge, S., Miller, E., Olson, D., Rowland, H., Ryan, M., and Valania, J.: A Tale of Twin Cities: Hüsker Dü, the Replacements and the Rise and Fall of the ’80s Minneapolis Scene, Magnet, June 12, 2005.
- 5.Bream, Jon. Bruce Allen, 54, guitarist for the Suburbs. Star Tribune. 2009-12-10.
- 6.Walsh, Jim. The Replacements: All Over but the Shouting: An Oral History. Voyageur Press. 65. 2009. 9781616739782.
- 7.McCormick, Moira. Twin Cities' Twin Tone looks for esoteric talent. Billboard. 1984-11-03.
- 8.Sturdevant, Andy. A Rock 'n' Roll Walking Tour of South Minneapolis. Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. October 17, 2019.
- 9.Backbeat Books. All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. 510–. 2002. 978-0-87930-653-3.
- 10.Artists. Twin/Tone Records.
- 11.Eisenbeis, Hans. I'm With the Bandwidth: Minneapolis label's proprietor, Paul Stark, is making a play for the future. City Pages. 1998-05-20.
- 12.Strouth, Chris. RIP Charley Hallman, co-founder of Twin/Tone Records. City Pages. 2015-06-16.
- 13.Riemenschneider, Chris. Minneapolis' legendary Twin/Tone Records comes back to life for Suicide Commandos. Star Tribune. 2017-04-27.
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