I.R.S. Records released music by some of the most influential and popular indie, alternative and new wave/punk artists in the 1980s. This American record label established a presence for many artists from the burgeoning UK punk and new wave music scenes through the US and Canada. They also released music by new US underground artists during this time period. The label had its beginnings in 1977 with a label called Illegal Records. At the time Miles Copeland III was managing The Police. This band also featured Stewart Copeland, Miles brother. The label was formed to release The Police’s first single “Fallout”. It was his connection with the Police and the success of their 1979 single “Roxanne” which helped to jumpstart I.R.S. Records. Copeland optioned this single to A&M Records who would help with distribution, while he would market, promote and arrange tour a tour for the band. The Police signed to A&M shortly after this. Along with the Frontier Booking International (F.B.I.) agency, run by Ian Copeland, the first tour of The Police was launched in the US. This highly publicized tour featured Ian driving the band around in the van while on tour, shared hotel rooms and no roadies. Several of the band’s early touring US adventures were covered in Sting’s 2003 memoir, Broken Music.
Later on in 1979, Copeland along with Jay Boberg and Carl Grasso formed the International Record Syndicate, also known as I.R.S. Records. With offices in Hollywood, New York and London, I.R.S. Records also had several subsidiary labels for different markets. The label specialized in music that was different from the mainstream and often took chances with the music on their roster. Miles Copeland stated in an article in the Los Angeles Times in 1988: "Most labels wouldn't touch this kind of artist. But what these artists have to say may be interesting, different and experimental. They deserve an outlet too. I give the acts all the artistic freedom they want as long as they come through for me--which means balancing their art with financial responsibility."
I.R.S. released influential college rock band R.E.M.’s first five full-length albums, not counting singles, compilation albums and their first EP, Chronic Town. Other music released by this label includes The Go-Go’s first three albums, albums by Oingo Boingo, The English Beat, Fine Young Cannibals, General Public, Concrete Blonde, Black Sabbath and The Alarm. Buzzcocks first US album, Singles Going Steady which compiled the band’s early singles and B-sides, was also put out by the label. I.R.S. Records also put out albums by The Cramps, The Bangles and many others. In addition to all of this from 1983 to 1987, they had a monthly program on MTV, which was still in its early stages at the time. Their program was called I.R.S. Records: The Cutting Edge. It featured artists from the labels roster and performances from bands coupled with interviews sometimes in clubs, recording studios or homes. Hosted primarily by Peter Zaremba of The Fleshtones (another artist associated with I.R.S. Records), the program would later evolve into the MTV program 120 Minutes. Several of these performances from The Cutting Edge can be seen on YouTube or through the now out of print DVD I.R.S. Records Presents The Cutting Edge.
In 1985, I.R.S. Records changed its distribution outlet for arts from A&M Records to MCA and in 1990 to EMI until 1996. In 1996, I.R.S. Records released All Set by Buzzcocks. It would be their last release. The label has been revived a few times. Miles Copeland formed Ark 21 Records shortly after 1996. I.R.S. Records and all its affiliates took chances to release music that was different from the norm. They offered artists on its roster a package that included management, booking, recording and music publishing that may have otherwise not have had an outlet for their music at all.
Videos From The Cutting Edge:
Show 770 Playlist (Originally Aired On April 13th, 2019)(Scott Walker's Untitled Trilogy, The Hives, Pylon:)
1. Trophy Knife - Under Warmer Light
2. Blacktop - Confusion
3. PUP - Kids
4. Snakies - Backpack
5. Pottery - The Craft
6. Walker Brothers - Shut Out
7. Scott Walker - Track Three
8. Scott Walker - Tilt
9. Scott Walker - Cossacks Are
10. Scott Walker - See You Don't Bump His Head
11. Andreas - Loon
12. The Hives - Blood Red Moon
13. Tom Waits - Whistlin' Past the Graveyard
14. Bloodshot Bill - Hook Me
15. Tandoori Knights - Temple of Boom
16. Sonic Youth - Silver Rocket
17. Blessed - Pill
18. Priests - The Seduction of Kansas
19. The Shiverettes - Very Cool Dude
20. Protruders - Hydrophytol
21. Butchers - Apex Predator
22. White Lung - Vegas
23. Chain & The Gang - Come Over
24. School Damage - Two Friends
25. The Pink Noise - Girl with the Golden Skin
26. The Black Angels - She's Not There
27. Pylon - Yo-Yo
To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 13.
Show 769 Playlist (Originally Aired On April 6, 2019)(I.R.S. Records, The Dirtbombs, The Idols):
1. The Fleshtones - Cold, Cold Shoes
2. Brian James - Ain't That A Shame
3. Buzzcocks - What Do I Get?
4. Protruders - No Stone
5. Blesssed - Thought
6. The Courtneys - 90210
7. John Doe & The Sadies - Are The Good Times Really Over For Good?
8. The Sadies - Coming Back
9. The Cramps - Uranium Rock
10. SpaceSlave - Admired
11. R.E.M. - West of the Fields
12. R.E.M. - Little America
13. West Ends - Strangers
14. The Ding-Dongs - Phantom On The Hill
15. Les Sexarennos - Let's Go
16. The Gories - I'll Go
17. The Dirtbombs - Words That Hurt
18. The Dirtbombs - I'll Be In Trouble
19. B.A. Johnston - I Miss 90s Hash
20. The Idols - Girl That I Love
21. The Idols - Bigger Splash
22. Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - Going Steady
23. The Replacements - Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out (Live At Maxwell's 1986)
24. The Damned - Wait For the Blackout
25. Payola$ - Jukebox
To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for April 6.
Show 768 Playlist (Originally Aired On March 30, 2019)(Ranking Rodger & Scott Walker tribute, Bloodshot Bill, Jonathan Richman, The Vondells):
1. The Clash (Featuring Ranking Roger) - Rock The Casbah
2. The Beat - Mirror In The Bathroom
3. The Beat - Too Nice To Talk To
4. Scott Engel - The Livin' End
5. Scott Walker - Jackie
6. Scott Walker - 30th Century Man
5. Bloodshot Bill - I Don't Mind At All
6. Bloodshot Bill - One At A Time
7. Jonathan Richman - Everyday Clothes
8. Jonathan Richman - Since She Started To Ride
9. Jonathan Richman - No Te Oye
10. Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty
11. Volunteers - Pass My Time
12. The Vondells - Dill Pickles
13. The Vondells - Go Go Gone
14. The Mighty Swells - Lone Rhino
15. The Leather Uppers - Hot Shot
16. The Reaction - The Kids Arrived
17. The Mummies - A Girl Like You
18. The King Khan & BBQ Show - Lonely Boy
19. The Bad Beats - Can't Understand
20. Ex Hex - Cosmic Cave
21. Trout - Mt. Eremos
22. The Unintended - Bells of War
23. Ritual Howls - Love Cuts
24. The Government - Fire Escape
25. Meath Puppets - Warranty
26. Nirvana - Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol That Flow Through The Strip
27. The Police - Fallout
28. Sector 27 - Can't Keep Away
To download this weeks program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and download the file for March 30.
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