Sympathy for the Record Industry (also known as Sympathy Records or Sympathy 4 the R.I.) is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by Long Gone John (aka John Edward Mermis). The first Sympathy release was the Lazy Cowgirls' Radio Cowgirl LP, which Long Gone John said he released as a "favor to the band." Sympathy has a catalogue of more than 750 releases and is based in Olympia, Washington. The label's name is a play on the song "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones.
(Read more at Wikipedia.)
Links To Peel[]
“A one man show that has become a breeding ground for influential US bands.”
(SFTRI selected as Peel’s “featured label’ of the month on BBC website, June 2002, with nod to founder Long Gone John)[1]
According to show playlists available on this site, Peel’s first of many plays of Sympathy For The Record Industry releases came on 26 September 1989, when he gave airtime to ‘Loser Bar’ from the Creamers LP ‘Love, Honor, & Obey’. The following night, it was the turn of the 'Heavy Black Noise' single by Sacred Miracle Cave.[2]
For listeners of the Peel show, Sympathy Records are most closely associated with the White Stripes, who were much loved by the DJ and released their first three albums on the label, as well as other bands featured on the 2001 ‘Sympathetic Sounds Of Detroit’ compilation, including Come Ons, Detroit Cobras, Dirtbombs, Soledad Brothers and Von Bondies, who all recorded Peel sessions.
In an earlier era, SFTRI released ‘Retard Girl’, the debut single of future session band Hole, which was played by JP in summer 1990. The label also put out records by revered Peel-show names such as Roky Erickson, Gun Club and Suicide.
After Peel’s death, several Sympathy releases featuring White Stripes and associated artists were found among the DJ’s most-treasured 45s in John Peel's Record Box.
Sessions[]
(Peel session artists who released records on SFTRI, including sessions when not on the label. Billy Childish had a Peel session with Pop Rivets in 1980, before recording for Sympathy with other bands and as a solo artist.)
- Chrome Cranks: (1 session, 1995)
- Come Ons: (1 session, 2002)
- Detroit Cobras: (2 sessions, 2003-04)
- Dirtbombs: (1 session, 2001)
- Hole: (2 sessions, 1991-93)
- Hot Snakes: (1 session, 2004)
- Loudspeaker: (1 session, 1992)
- Lunachicks: (1 session, 1989)
- Man or Astro-man?: (6 sessions, 1993-2000)
- Melvins: (1 session, 1991)
- Mr Airplane Man: (2 sessions, 2003-04)
- Mummies: (1 session, 1994)
- New Bomb Turks: (1 session, 1993)
- Pooh Sticks: (2 sessions, 1988-89)
- Pussy Crush: (2 sessions, 1994-96)
- Revillos: (2 sessions, 1980-81)
- Servotron: (1 session, 1997)
- Soledad Brothers: (3 sessions, 2002-04)
- Trumans Water: (3 sessions, 1993-94)
- Von Bondies: (3 sessions, 2001-04)
- White Stripes: (2 sessions, 2001)
- Wreckless Eric: (2 sessions, 1977-78)
Festive Fifty[]
(F50 tracks released by SFTRI. List does not include releases by SFTRI artists on other labels.)
- Detroit Cobras: 2001 Festive Fifty: Shout Bama Lama #15
- Von Bondies: 2002 Festive Fifty: It Came From Japan #33
- White Stripes: 2001 Festive Fifty: Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground #25 / Fell In Love With A Girl #6 / Hotel Yorba #2 // 2002 Festive Fifty: Fell In Love With A Girl #27 / Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground #15
John Peel's Record Box[]
- The Upholsterers: Makers Of High Grade Suites / I Ain't Superstitious / Pain (2000)
- The White Stripes: It Takes Two, Baby / Fell In Love With A Girl (2001)
- The White Stripes: Lord, Send Me an Angel / You're pretty good looking (2002) (two copies)
- The White Stripes: Hello Operator / Jolene (2000)
- The White Stripes: The Big Three Killed My Baby / Red Rolling Ball Ruth (1999) (two copies)
Compilations[]
(Known Peel show plays of various artist (v/a) releases on SFTRI, listed chronologically by first play. Please add more information if known.)
 |
 |
 |
 |
(2x7" - If It Ain't The Snow It's The Mosquitos)
- 29 January 1993: Paska: Ace Of Spades
- Peel Out In The States (Program 06): Paska: Ace Of Spades
(CD / LP – Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit)
- 15 May 2001: White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
- 24 May 2001 (Radio Eins): White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
- 03 June 2001 (BBC World Service): White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
- 28 June 2001 (Radio Eins): White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
- 02 August 2001: Dirtbombs: I'm Through With White Girls
- 07 August 2001: Soledad Brothers: Shaky Puddin'
- 30 August 2001 (Radio Eins): White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
- 24 April 2003: White Stripes: Red Death At 6:14
(CD - The Sympathetic Sounds Of Toe Rag Studios London)
- 11 February 2003: Gustav Temple & The Blades: Puddings And Pies
- 19 February 2003 (Radio Mafia): Gustav Temple & The Blades: Puddings And Pies
(2xLP / CD- Root Damage)
- 29 July 2003: Reigning Sound: As Long
- 26 August 2003: Cool Jerks: Man and A Woman
- 28 August 2003: Interstate Leisure Kings: Best Liquor Store
- 28 August 2003 (Radio Eins): Speedball Baby: Blackish Man
- 03 September 2003: Darlins: Take Me Dancin'
- 04 September 2003: Revelators featuring Walter Daniels: Old Slew Foot
- 04 September 2003 (Radio Eins): Mr. Airplane Man: Sun Sinking Low
(CD - Sympathetic Sounds Of Montreal)
- 22 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): Scat Rag Boosters: Owe Money
- 23 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): Royal Routes: Ahe