The Hello CD of the Month Club, also known as the Hello Recording Club or simply Hello, was a subscription-only record company that operated from 1993 to 1996. Hello was organized by John Flansburgh of American alternative rock band They Might Be Giants and Marjorie Galen.Miller Rosenblum, Trudy (April 1994). "Shoestring Label Provides an Outlet for Side Projects". Billboard. Archived by Google. Retrieved December 25, 2012. Members of Hello received monthly issues of CD extended plays, each containing four or five songs by a particular artist. These EPs were exclusive to Hello.The subscription model is explained in a Hello ad, which is archived here. Retrieved 2012-11-24.
History John Flansburgh founded the Hello CD of the Month Club with Marjorie Galen in 1993 as a way to provide an outlet for his solo material. Hello issued four Mono Puff releases, as well as two EPs by Flansburgh's bandmate John Linnell, while also providing a platform for both established musicians signed to other labels and new artists. Flansburgh and Galen originally intended Hello to be a standard independent label. However, this was not financially plausible, so Hello adopted a subscription model instead."Brain Child of a Giant". Creative Loafing. January 6, 1994. Although Flansburgh and Galen had to seek out artists for Hello's first year of operation, by 1994, musicians were contacting the label themselves. In its first year, the label faced difficulties with understaffing.
Flansburgh has stated that the purpose of Hello was to produce and distribute music projects cheaply for the artist and the consumer. Hello only produced as many discs as the number of subscribers. It did not achieve outstanding financial success; however, Flansburgh reported that the label was in the black. Proceeds from They Might Be Giants' 1985 Demo Tape, an optional addition to 1994 subscriptions, were donated to the People With AIDS Coalition.
The label dissolved after its 1996 subscription year due to a level of demand that the small label could no longer service. Some members did not receive the final 1996 releases until May 1997. For a brief time afterward, the Hello back catalogue was still available for purchase. Over the span of Hello's existence, it issued works from 34 different artists.
Releases Hello produced 39 EPs over four years, as well as two promotional samplers, a promotional copy of a full-length Mono Puff album, and one compilation of original material by various artists. Hello also issued a live sampler from They Might Be Giants, and reissued their 1985 Demo Tape on cassette.
1993 Artist Title Format Type Month NotesBrian DewanBrian DewanCDEPMarchFirst releaseNeloriesThe NeloriesCDEPAprilFlat Old WorldFlat Old WorldCDEPMayIncluded bonus cassetteThey Might Be Giants1985 Demo TapeCassetteDemoMayBonus reissue cassette sent with the May EP for an additional $5Kurt Hoffman's Band of WeedsKurt Hoffman's Band of WeedsCDEPJuneEugene ChadbourneEugene ChadbourneCDEPJulyThe ResidentsPrelude to "The Teds"CDEPAugust Later released as part of "Our Poor, Our Tired, Our Huddled Masses" and the pREServed edition of Gingerbread ManHello The BandHello The BandCDEPSeptemberDuplex Halloween PlanetDuplex Halloween PlanetCDEPOctoberFrank BlackFrank BlackCDEPNovemberThe Minus 5Hello EPCDEPDecember
1994 Artist Title Format Type Month NotesVarious ArtistsHello 1993 SamplerCDPromoN/AIncluded selections from 1993 cataloguesVarious ArtistsA Hello CD of the Month Club SamplerCDPromoN/AIncluded selections from 1993, 1994, and 1995 cataloguesPortastaticPortastaticCDEPFebruaryDrink MeFive SongsCDEPMarchThe JicketsThe JicketsCDEPAprilPeter StampfelPeter StampfelCDEPMayJohn LinnellState SongsCDEPJuneLater expanded to a full albumBrian DewanBrian DewanCDEPSeptemberSpanish FlyInsert Tongue HereCDEPOctoberAndy PartridgeAndy PartridgeCDEPNovemberChaz and the MotorbikesChaz and the MotorbikesCDEPDecemberIncluded bonus CDThey Might Be GiantsLive!! New York City 10/14/94CDLiveDecemberElektra Records promotional CD sent with December EP
1995 Artist Title Format Type Month NotesJohn Flansburgh's Mono PuffJohn Flansburgh's Mono PuffCDEPMarchMy Dad is DeadMy Dad is DeadCDEPAprilAlaskaAlaskaCDEPMaySpondeeSpondeeCDEPJuneFreedy JohnstonFreedy JohnstonCDEPJulyThe CoctailsThe CoctailsCDEPAugust Philco BendyxPhilco BendyxCDEPSeptemberAmy Allison and The MaudlinsAmy Allison and The MaudlinsCDEPOctoberDave SchrammDave SchrammCDEPNovemberVarious ArtistsHello Family Santa SpecialCDCompilationDecemberChristmas-themed compilation
1996 Artist Title Format Type Month NotesThe Gothic ArchiesLooming in the GloomCDEPMarchWill RigbyWill RigbyCDEPAprilMono PuffUnsupervisedCDAlbumMaySpecial advance promo; not commercially availableSoul CoughingSoul CoughingCDEPJuneLaura CantrellLaura CantrellCDEPJulyLater reissued independentlyJohn LinnellHouse of MayorsCDEPAugustHal SirowitzHal SirowitzCDEPSeptemberYou Were SpiralingYou Were SpiralingCDEPOctoberMono PuffThe Hal Cragin YearsCDEPNovemberMono PuffThe Steve Calhoon YearsCDEPDecemberFinal release
See also
List of record labels
References
External links Hello CD of the Month Club on This Might Be A Wiki Soul Coughing – Hello CD of the Month Club selection June 1996