Philo Records was founded in 1973 by half-brothers Michael Couture and Bill Schubart to record and distribute folk and traditional music. Over the course of its nine-year history, before its sale to Rounder Records in 1982, Philo produced roughly 100 albums of folk, traditional, and later, jazz, world, and new music from a converted barn-studio in North Ferrisburg, Vermont. Philo's allure to many established and emerging artists was its policy of giving them full control over their productions and repertoire.

Early years Philo Records (as distinct from the Philo Records founded in California in 1945 by Eddie, Leo and Ira Messner, a jazz and R&B label) was founded in 1973 in a barn in North Ferrisburg, Vermont by half-brothers Bill Schubart and Michael Couture. The two brothers shared a love of eclectic music and Couture was himself a performing musician, while Schubart had long dabbled in recording various folk and classical groups. Schubart bought a vacant dairy barn on eight acres in 1969 that had been recently used to raise pigs, steam-cleaned it and elicited the help of an architect friend, Arthur Norcross, to create a home recording studio. The studio opened as Earth Audio Techniques in 1972. Schubart and Couture founded Philo Records to produce and distribute some of the music they had recorded at Earth Audio.

The first two releases in 1973 were Philo 1000 The UVM Choral Union performing The Psalmody and Fuguing tunes of Justin Morgan (of Morgan Horse fame) and Philo 2000 Louis Beaudoin, the soon to become renowned French-Canadian fiddler. These two releases loosely defined the 1000 series of more popular releases and the 2000 series that was more strictly roots or traditional music. In 1979, the 9000 series was added to include jazz, world and new music releases.

Philo’s aesthetic hallmark was its artist-centered culture. The prevailing industry employment of sA&R (artists & repertoire) executives who choose material, hire arrangers and sidemen, and then oversee the production of market-ready music was never adopted at Philo. Schubart and Couture chose musicians, not for only their renown, but for their ability to perform live outside the studio. They often opted to record unknown artists whose work they respected and gave them full control over their own production and choice of sidemen. Their goal was to capture on LP the artist’s own vision of their music. There was no prescribed company vision. This, of course, cut both ways. The company produced a number of releases that received significant critical acclaim but sold only a few hundred copies. It also led to considerable success and the debut of a number of new faces in the folk, traditional and, later, new music fields such as: Tom Mitchell, Kilimanjaro, Mary McCaslin and Jim Ringer

Engineers

Resident engineers included co-founders Michael Couture and Bill Schubart, and also Chas Eller and David Green. Gregg Lamping served as the technical engineer.

Artists Philo’s better known artists included Mary McCaslin, Jim Ringer, Jean Carignan (Canada), Dave van Ronk, Rosalie Sorrels, Jean Redpath, The Boys of the Lough, Utah Phillips, The New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Bill Staines, Kilimanjaro, Patty Larkin, Martin Grosswendt, and Nanci Griffith.

Bought by Rounder Records

In 1979, the music industry suffered major losses from piracy and the collapse of the two-tier distribution system. In that year, Philo saw two of its major distributors fail and the significant loss of receivables triggered a chapter 11 filing under which Philo sought bankruptcy protection. The label limped along for two and a half more years continuing to pay down its debts and then sold itself to Rounder Records which assumed the label name and catalog of artists. Rounder proved to be a good steward, keeping many of the albums available and converting many to the then-new CD format. Rounder added other well-known artists to the roster including: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Ellis Paul, Bill Morrissey, Iris Dement, Carrie Newcomer, Christine Lavin, Vance Gilbert and Cliff Eberhardt. In the continuing consolidation of a collapsing music media industry, Rounder itself was sold to Concord Music Group in April 2010.

Master List / Discography

Philo PHEP 001 The Decentz: Get In Trouble Philo PHEP 002 Christine Lavin: Another Woman’s Man Philo 01DT Mary McCaslin & Jim Ringer: Live at the Bottom Line

Philo 1000 Vermont Harmony I: UVM Choral Union, arr. Dr. James Chapman (1973) Philo 1001 Margaret MacArthur: The Old Songs Philo 1002 Craig Morton: Them Liverpool Judies (1973) Philo 1003 Jim Brewer, 1974 Philo 1004 Utah Phillips: Good Though (1973) Philo 1005 Owen McBride, 1973 Philo 1006 10th Annual Old Time Fiddlers Conference at Craftsbury (1973) Philo 1007 Lazy Bill Lucas, 1974 Philo 1008 Kenny Hall, 1974 Philo 1009 Ray Wylie Hubbard: Crusdaes of the Restless Knight Philo 1010 Eric & Martha Nagler (w/ Evelyne Beers): Gentleness in Living (1973) Philo 1011 Mary McCaslin: Way Out West (1973) Philo 1012 Jim Ringer: Good to Get Home (1974) Philo 1013 Billy Vanaver and Livia Drapkin: Landfall 2 Philo 1014 Priscilla Herdman: The Water Lily Philo 1015 Bodie Wagner: Hobo (1975) Philo 1016 Utah Phillips: El Capitan (1975) Philo 1017 Glenn Ohrlin: Cowboy Songs Philo 1018 Vermont Harmony II Philo 1019 The Music of Rev. Baybie Hoover & Virginia Brown Philo 1020 Sara Cleveland (1975) Philo 1021 Jim Ringer: Any Old Wind (1974) Philo 1022 Ted Ashlaw: Adirondack Woods Singer Philo 1023 Jay Ungar & Lyndon Hardy - Jay & Lyn: Songs, Ballads & Fiddle Tunes Philo 1024 Mary McCaslin: Prairie in the Sky (1975) Philo 1026 The Boys of the Lough: Live at Passim (1975) Philo 1027 Tom Mitchell (1976) Philo 1028 Various - National Folk Festival: Good Time Music Philo 1029 Rosalie Sorrels: Always A Lady Philo 1030 Fred Holstein: Chicago & Other Ports (1977) Philo 1031 Boys of the Lough: Lochaber No More (1976) Philo 1032 Lew London: Swingtime In Springtime Philo 1033 Rosalie Sorrels: Moments of Happiness (1976–77) Philo 1034 Doris Abrahams: Labor of Love (1976) Philo 1036 Dave van Ronk: Sunday Street Philo 1037 Jean Redpath: The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. I, arr. Serge Hovey (1976) Philo 1038 VT Choral Union: Vermont Harmony II, cond. Dr. James Chapman (1976) Philo 1040 Jay Ungar and Lyn Hardy: Catskill Mountain Goose Chase Philo 1041 Martin Grosswendt: Dog on a Dance Floor (1979) Philo 1042 Boys of the Lough: The Piper’s Broken Finger Philo 1044 Bill Lucas Philo 1045 John Lutz: Midnight And Dawn Philo 1046 Mary McCaslin: Old Friends (1977) Philo 1047 Jim Ringer: Tramps & Hawkers (1977) Philo 1048 Jean Redpath: Songs of Robert Burns Vol. II, arr. Serge Hovey (1980) Philo 1049 Rosalie Sorrels: Travelin’ Lady Rides Again Philo 1050 Utah Phillips: The Telling Takes Me Home (1976) Philo 1051 The Boys of the Lough: Good Friends — Good Music Philo 1052 Eric von Schmidt: Champagne Don’t Hurt Me Baby Philo 1053 Huxtable, Christensen & Hood: Wallflowers (1980) Philo 1054 Jean Redpath: Song of the Seals (1978) Philo 1055 Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin: The Bramble and the Rose Philo 1056 Do’a: Light Upon Light (1978) Philo 1058 Winnie Winston: Steel Wool Philo 1061 Jean Redpath: Father Adam Philo 1062 VT Choral Union: An Early New England Christmas (1978) Philo 1065 Dave van Ronk: Somebody Else, Not Me (1980) Philo 1066 Jean Redpath: Lowlands Philo 1067 Mary McCaslin: No Deposit, No Return (1975) Philo 1068 Jean Redpath, Lisa Neustadt & The Angel Band: Shout for Joy Philo 1069 Lilianne Labbé and Don Hinkley: Un Canadien Errant - French Music In The North American Tradition (1986) Philo 1070 Mason Daring & Jeanie Stahl: Heartbreak Philo 1071 Jean Redpath: The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. III arr. Serge Hovey Philo 1072 Jean Redpath: The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. IV arr by Serge Hovey Philo 1073 The University Of Vermont Choral Union: Vermont Harmony III (1985) Philo 1074 Ferron: Testimony (1981 reissue, originally released on Lucy in 1980) Philo 1075 Mary McCaslin: the Best of… (1981) Philo 1076 Utah Phillips: We Have Fed You All A Thousand Years (1983) Philo 1077 Lui Collins: Baptism of Fire (1981) Philo 1078 Robert J. Lurtsema: Christmas Stories Philo 1079 Bill Staines: Rodeo Rose (1981) Philo 1080 The Best of Mary McCaslin: Things We Said Today Philo 1081 Lui Collins: Made in New England, which Philo 1082 Jean Redpath w Abby Newton: Haydn Scottish Songs Philo 1083 Ellis Paul: Live Philo 1084 Laurie Spiegel: Expanding Universe Philo 1085 Cheryl Wheeler: Live and Otherwise Philo 1086 The New Black Eagle Jazz Band: At Symphony Hall (1982) Philo 1087 Jean Redpath: Lady Nairne Philo 1088 Utah Phillips: Good Though! Philo 1089 Jim Fitzgerald: Jim Fitzgerald Sings the Quiet Place Philo PHC 1091 Jim Ringer & Mary McCaslin: Bramble and the Rose (1978) Philo 1092 Jon Gailmor: Dirt! Philo 1093 Jean Redpath : The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. V, arr. Serge Hovey (1983-4) Philo 1096 Nanci Griffith: Once in a Very Blue Moon Philo 1097 Nanci Griffith: There’s a Light Beyond These Woods Philo 1099 Mary McCaslin: Sunny California (Leased to Mercury as SRM-1-3772 Produced by Philo) Philo 1103 Patty Larkin: Step Into the Light (1985) Philo 1104 Christine Lavin: Future Fossils Philo 1109 Nanci Griffith: Last of the True Believers (1986) Philo 1110 Jean Redpath: A Fine Song for Singing Philo 1111 Hugh Moffatt: Loving You Philo 1112 Magpie: If It Ain't Love Philo 1113 Spirit of the West: Tripping Up the Stairs Philo 1114 Jean Redpath: The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. VI, arr. Serge Hovey Philo 1115 Patty Larkin: I’m Fine Philo 1116 Tom Russell Band: Road to Bayamon Philo 1117 David Olney: Deeper Well Philo PH 1118 Bill Staines: Redbird's Wing (1987) Philo 1124 Maura O’Connell: Just in Time (1988) Philo 1126 Jean Redpath: The Songs of Robert Burns Vol. VII, arr. Serge Hovey Philo 1131 Jean Redpath: Leaving the Land (1990) Philo 1132 Christine Lavin: Attainable Love Philo 1133 Katy Moffatt: Child Bride Philo 1134 Bill Staines: Tracks And Trails Philo 1135 Tony Bird: Sorry Africa Philo 1136 Patty Larkin: Live in the Square Philo 1153 Sharon Shannon Philo 1156 Vance Gilbert: Edgewise Philo 1171 Disappear Fear (1994) Philo 1172 Disappear Fear: Live at the Bottom Line (1995) Philo 1173 Disappear Fear: Deep Soul Diver (1990) Philo 1174 Diane Zeigler: Sting of the Honeybee Philo 1175 Kristina Olsen: Hurry on Home Philo 1176 Carol Noonan: Absolution Philo 1177 David Olney: High, Wide And Lonesome Philo 1178 The Burns Sisters Band: Close To Home Philo 1179 Kimberly M'Carver: Inherited Road Philo 1180 Disappear Fear: Seed in the Sahara (1996) Philo 1186 Vance Gilbert: Fugitives Philo 1206 Ray Wylie Hubbard: Dangerous Spirits Philo 1207 SONia: Almost Chocolate Philo 1208 The Burns Sisters Band: Tradition: Holiday Songs Old & New (1996) Philo 1209 Carol Noonan Band: The Only Witness Philo 1210 Utah Phillips: The Telling Takes Me Home (1997) Philo 1211 The Kennedys: Angel Fire Philo 1212 Cheryl Wheeler: Sylvia Hotel Philo 1213 Vance Gilbert: Shaking Off Gravity Philo 1214 John Forster: Helium Philo 1215 Lynn Miles: Night In A Strange Town Philo 1216 Bill Morrissey: Songs of Mississippi John Hurt Philo 1217 Garnet Rogers and Archie Fisher: Home Is Where the Music Is Philo 1218 Ray Wylie Hubbard: Crusades of the Restless Knights Philo 1219 Lynn Miles: Slightly Haunted Philo 1221 Jean Redpath: Father Adam Philo 1222 Ray Wylie Hubbard: Eternal & Lowdown (2001) Philo 1247 Carrie Newcomer: Regulars and Refugees

Philo 9000 Do’a Ornament of Hope (digital) Philo 9001 Kilimanjaro (1980) Philo 9002 Lar Duggan: The Lake Studies (1980) Philo 9003 Laurie Spiegel: The Expanding Universe (1977) Philo 9004 Do’a: Ancient Beauty (1981) Philo 9005 Kilimanjaro II Philo 9006 Ancient Future Philo 9007 Tony Vacca & Tim Moran w Don Cherry: City Spirits (1985) Philo 9008 Elements with Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb Philo 9009 Do’a: Companions of the Crimson Ark Philo 9011 Elements (Mark Egan, Danny Gottlieb, Clifford Carter, Bill Evans)