Shrapnel Records
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 | It has been suggested that Tone Center Records and Blues Bureau International be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2023. |
| Shrapnel Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent company | Sony Music Entertainment |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Mike Varney |
| Distributor(s) | The Orchard |
| Genre | |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Location | Novato, California |
| Official website | shrapnelrecords |
Shrapnel Records is an American record label founded in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney.
History[edit]
Guitarist Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth and Cacophony), one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii and release the album One Nation Underground for Shrapnel. In 1981, a friend gave Mike Varney a tape featuring a 17-year-old Swedish guitarist named Yngwie Malmsteen. A year later, Malmsteen wrote to the label stating that he wanted to export his music to America. Varney, who started writing a column called "Spotlight" for Guitar Player magazine in 1982, featured Malmsteen in his February 1983 column. The record executive flew Yngwie to California and set him up with vocalist Ron Keel's new band called Steeler. Steeler's self-titled album became a best selling release for Shrapnel Records.
The label was acquired by The Orchard, subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, in November 2015.[1]
Related labels[edit]
In 1989, Mike Varney co-founded progressive rock/metal label Magna Carta Records. In the 1990s, he also started the Tone Center Records and Blues Bureau International sublabels to promote fusion and blues.
Notable releases[edit]
| # | Artist | Title | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SH-1001 | Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.) | U.S. Metal Vol. 1 | 1982 | |
| SH-1002 | Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.) | U.S. Metal Vol. 2 | 1982 | feat. Michael Angelo Batio and Marty Friedman |
| SH-1003 | Wild Dogs | Wild Dogs | 1983 | feat. Deen Castronovo |
| SH-1004 | Exciter | Heavy Metal Maniac | 1983 | |
| SH-1007 | Steeler | Steeler | 1983 | feat. Yngwie Malmsteen |
| SH-1008 | Culprit | Guilty as Charged | 1983 | |
| SH-1009 | Hawaii | One Nation Underground | 1983 | |
| SH-1013 | Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.) | U.S. Metal Vol. 4 | 1984 | feat. Shawn Lane |
| SH-1014 | Keel | Lay Down the Law | 1984 | |
| SH-1018 | Chastain | Mystery of Illusion | 1985 | |
| SH-1019 | London | Non-Stop Rock | 1985 | |
| SH-1020 | Vicious Rumors | Soldiers of the Night | 1985 | |
| SH-1021 | Tony MacAlpine | Edge of Insanity | 1986 | |
| SH-1022 | Fifth Angel | Fifth Angel | 1986 | |
| SH-1023 | Racer X | Street Lethal | 1986 | |
| SH-1024 | Chastain | Ruler of the Wasteland | 1986 | |
| SH-1027 | Vinnie Moore | Mind's Eye | 1986 | |
| SH-1028 | MacAlpine, Aldridge, Rock, Sarzo | Project: Driver | 1986 | |
| SH-1030 | Joey Tafolla | Out of the Sun | 1987 | |
| SH-1031 | Cacophony | Speed Metal Symphony | 1987 | |
| SH-1032 | Racer X | Second Heat | 1987 | |
| SH-1033 | Vicious Rumors | Digital Dictator | 1988 | |
| SH-1035 | Marty Friedman | Dragon's Kiss | 1988 | |
| SH-1036 | Jason Becker | Perpetual Burn | 1988 | |
| SH-1037 | Greg Howe | Greg Howe | 1988 | |
| SH-1038 | Racer X | Extreme Volume Live | 1988 | |
| SH-1040 | Cacophony | Go Off! | 1988 | |
| SH-1042 | Richie Kotzen | Richie Kotzen | 1989 | |
| SH-1043 | Phantom Blue | Phantom Blue | 1989 | |
| SH-1044 | Howe II | High Gear | 1989 | |
| SH-1045 | Michael Lee Firkins | Michael Lee Firkins | 1990 |
References[edit]
- ^ Christman, Ed (November 19, 2015). "The Orchard Acquires Shrapnel Records' Catalog". Billboard Biz. Billboard. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
