Rollercoaster Records is an independent record label based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It specialises in reissues of archival material ranging from 1950s rock and roll to country, folk, skiffle, jazz and blues tracks from the 1960s onwards.
History
The company was formed in 1977 by John Beecher who, with Bob Dunham, ran an oldies record shop and cafe called Smokey Joe’s in South London. The catalogue reflects Beecher's eclectic interests such as variety singing duo Bob and Alf Pearson who began in the1930’s and Roger Bunn’s progressive ‘lost' album from 1968.
The label’s first release was the ‘Million Dollar Movie’ EP by The Crickets and Sonny Curtis. This reflects John’s long commitment to the music of the group’s former lead singer, Buddy Holly. Beecher ran the British Buddy Holly Appreciation Society from 1960 and organised the first definitive box set of Holly’s recordings for MCA in 1979. He was adviser to the BBC and MPL during the production of ‘The Real Buddy Holly Story’, the first comprehensive documentary film about the singer in 1985. John also assisted John Goldrosen in the publication of an updated account of the singer’s life and influence, ‘Remembering Buddy’ (Pavilion Books, 1987 and Omnibus Books, 1996). In 1978 Crickets drummer J.I. Allison became a director of Rollercoaster.
Rare Holly releases in restored and enhanced sound quality have been a feature of the Rollercoaster catalogue; these include the first CD of Holly interviews, newly discovered tracks on ‘Ohh Annie’ (2007), the first release of Holly performing live on BBC TV (2010) and the last songs that Holly recorded in his own home fully remastered using current technology, “That Makes IT Sound So Much Better” (2011).
The name Rollercoaster was chosen because it reflected the vitality and excitement of rock and roll; coincidentally the word appears in the lyrics of Holly’s song ‘Everyday’.
Artists
Rare and unreleased tracks by other artists were a major part of the label’s catalogue from the start. In 1979 Bill Haley’s ‘Rock the Joint’ from 1952 was a big seller. The atmosphere of live shows in the fifties was conveyed by Charlie Gracie’s ‘Live at the Stockton Globe’ in 1957 and Roy Orbison’s Teen Kings collection of live TV performances in 1956.
Other major collections on the label are by Jack Scott, Link Wray, Gene Vincent, Gene Summers, Roy Buchanan, Johnny Dollar, Johnny Powers, Davey Graham, Groovey Joe Poovey, Bobby Graham, David Box, Big Al Downing, Terry Wayne, Terry Dene, Sid King & The Five Strings, Hardrock Gunter, Mickey Lee Lane, Jet Harris, Heinz, The Crickets, Willie Mitchell, Danny & The Juniors, Mike Berry, Bill Haley, Tommy Allsup, Bobby Vee, Johnny Duncan, Sonny West, Vince Eager, Jimmy Kirkland, The Bruvvers, The Troggs, The Vipers, Chas McDevitt, Cliff Richard, Willie Logan, Ray Bush, the Avon Cities Jazz Band, Pete Stanley & Wizz Jones.
Various Artists
The company has released many compilations of both reissued and new recordings. These include ‘Hep Cats from Big Spring’, ‘Stars of the Clovis Music Festival’, ‘Live at the Big D Jamboree’, ‘Just for Kicks’ and ‘Rollercoaster Rockers’. Vinyl records and a few cassettes remain in the catalogue alongside numerous CDs.
Rollercoaster Records is an independent record label based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It specialises in reissues of archival material ranging from 1950s rock and roll to...
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Rollercoaster Records
Rollercoaster Records is an independent record label based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. It specialises in reissues of archival material ranging from 1950s rock and roll to country, folk, skiffle, jazz and blues tracks from the 1960s onwards.
History
The company was formed in 1977 by John Beecher who, with Bob Dunham, ran an oldies record shop and cafe called Smokey Joe’s in South London. The catalogue reflects Beecher's eclectic interests such as variety singing duo Bob and Alf Pearson who began in the1930’s and Roger Bunn’s progressive ‘lost' album from 1968.
The label’s first release was the ‘Million Dollar Movie’ EP by The Crickets and Sonny Curtis. This reflects John’s long commitment to the music of the group’s former lead singer, Buddy Holly. Beecher ran the British Buddy Holly Appreciation Society from 1960 and organised the first definitive box set of Holly’s recordings for MCA in 1979. He was adviser to the BBC and MPL during the production of ‘The Real Buddy Holly Story’, the first comprehensive documentary film about the singer in 1985. John also assisted John Goldrosen in the publication of an updated account of the singer’s life and influence, ‘Remembering Buddy’ (Pavilion Books, 1987 and Omnibus Books, 1996). In 1978 Crickets drummer J.I. Allison became a director of Rollercoaster.
Rare Holly releases in restored and enhanced sound quality have been a feature of the Rollercoaster catalogue; these include the first CD of Holly interviews, newly discovered tracks on ‘Ohh Annie’ (2007), the first release of Holly performing live on BBC TV (2010) and the last songs that Holly recorded in his own home fully remastered using current technology, “That Makes IT Sound So Much Better” (2011).
The name Rollercoaster was chosen because it reflected the vitality and excitement of rock and roll; coincidentally the word appears in the lyrics of Holly’s song ‘Everyday’.
Artists
Rare and unreleased tracks by other artists were a major part of the label’s catalogue from the start. In 1979 Bill Haley’s ‘Rock the Joint’ from 1952 was a big seller. The atmosphere of live shows in the fifties was conveyed by Charlie Gracie’s ‘Live at the Stockton Globe’ in 1957 and Roy Orbison’s Teen Kings collection of live TV performances in 1956.
Other major collections on the label are by Jack Scott, Link Wray, Gene Vincent, Gene Summers, Roy Buchanan, Johnny Dollar, Johnny Powers, Davey Graham, Groovey Joe Poovey, Bobby Graham, David Box, Big Al Downing, Terry Wayne, Terry Dene, Sid King & The Five Strings, Hardrock Gunter, Mickey Lee Lane, Jet Harris, Heinz, The Crickets, Willie Mitchell, Danny & The Juniors, Mike Berry, Bill Haley, Tommy Allsup, Bobby Vee, Johnny Duncan, Sonny West, Vince Eager, Jimmy Kirkland, The Bruvvers, The Troggs, The Vipers, Chas McDevitt, Cliff Richard, Willie Logan, Ray Bush, the Avon Cities Jazz Band, Pete Stanley & Wizz Jones.
Various Artists
The company has released many compilations of both reissued and new recordings. These include ‘Hep Cats from Big Spring’, ‘Stars of the Clovis Music Festival’, ‘Live at the Big D Jamboree’, ‘Just for Kicks’ and ‘Rollercoaster Rockers’. Vinyl records and a few cassettes remain in the catalogue alongside numerous CDs.
