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John Peel Wiki
in: Record Labels, Compilations

Stiff Records

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Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007.

Established at the outset of the punk rock boom, Stiff signed various punk rock and new wave acts such as Nick Lowe, the Damned, Lene Lovich, Wreckless Eric, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, and Devo. In the 1980s, with most of their early signings having moved on, the label found commercial success with Madness, The Pogues, Tracey Ullman, Belle Stars, Kirsty MacColl, King Kurt and others.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel[]

"It is mainly those small labels, Stiff and Chiswick, which give me heart and bring a little joy into this wicked world.”
{John Peel, Sounds, 23 Oct 1976.)[2]

For six straight shows from 23 August 1976, Peel played Stiff's first release, 'So It Goes' by former Brinsley Schwarz member Nick Lowe, which boasted the catalogue number BUY 1. On the seventh night, he aired the b-side, 'Heart Of The City'.

With roots in the pub rock scene, including early financing by Lee Brilleaux of Dr Feelgood, the brash new label welcomed the back-to-basics approach of punk, releasing the first British punk single ('New Rose' by the Damned) and LP (the same band's debut album). Both produced by Lowe, the records were featured heavily by Peel as the focus of his show shifted in a new direction.

On 26 Oct 1976, Peel compered a gig showcasing Stiff bands Damned, Tyla Gang and Graham Parker & The Rumour at Victoria Palace, London.[3] [4] Three days earlier, he wrote in Sounds:

“Stiff, with their Pink Fairies, Nick Lowe, Sean Tyla, Lew Lewis et al, have yet to release anything other than an excellent record.”[5]

On 10 December 1976, the DJ's landmark "punk special" show included the first session by the Damned, as well as '(I Belong To The) Blank Generation' by Richard Hell & The Voidoids, released in the UK by Stiff. A year later, three tracks from the label appeared in his self-chosen 1977 Festive Fifty, by the Damned, Elvis Costello and Wreckless Eric, highlighting the musical diversity of its roster beyond punk.

Helped by big label distribution, Stiff enjoyed chart success into the 1980s with Peel session artists including Ian Dury, Madness and the Pogues.

On 14 June 2022, Stiff: The Story of a Record Label by Bert Muirhead (1983) was among a lot of six "Punk" books from John Peel's library in an auction of rare records and other items from the Peel archive.[6]

Sessions[]

Peel sessions by Stiff artists, including sessions when not on the label. Nick Lowe and Ian Gomm both recorded four sessions with Brinsley Schwarz (1971-1975), but neither had solo sessions. Lowe also one session in 1977 as a member of Dave Edmunds Rockpile.

Festive Fifty[]

According to The Festive Fifty by Mark Whitby (1st edition, 2005, pg195), Stiff had the joint 16th most Festive Fifty entries of any label in Peel's lifetime (with 14, level with Cog-Sinister and Probe Plus). 'Jocko Homo' by Devo placed #58 in the 1977 Festive Fifty, but was not released in the UK by Stiff until 1978.[7]

Compilations[]

(Plays by Peel of various artist (v/a) releases on Stiff. Please add more more information if known.)

(LP - Bunch Of Stiff Records)

(LP - Hits Greatest Stiffs)

(LP - Live Stiffs Live)

(LP - The Akron Compilation)

(LP – Heroes & Cowards)

See Also[]

Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ In Richard Balls, Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story (Soundcheck Books, 2014), pg 112, Wreckless Eric describes hearing Peel play 'Whole Wide World' from the 'Bunch Of Stiffs” comp:
    “It was me and it was on John Peel. I just didn’t know what had happened, it was so shocking. It was kind of beyond pleasure or exciting or elating. It was just the world had done something weird at that moment. There it was on f***ng radio on John Peel. I’d been listening to John Peel religiously since I was thirteen, so I was somewhat confused.”[1]
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