Oh Boy Records

Oh Boy Records is an independent American record label founded in 1981 by singer John Prine, his manager Al Bunetta, and their friend Dan Einstein. The label has released more than 40 audio and video recordings by singer-songwriters Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Daniel "Slick" Ballinger, Shawn Camp, Dan Reeder, and Todd Snider, along with a dozen reissues of classic country music artists. Oh Boy Records also manages two subsidiary labels, Steve Goodman's Red Pajamas Records and specialty label Blue Plate Music. Oh Boy is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Oh Boy Records
Founded1981 (1981)
FounderJohn Prine, Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein
Distributor(s)Alternative Distribution Alliance (US), Fusion III (Canada), Proper Music Group (UK), I.R.D. (Italy), Shock Records (Europe), Elite Imports (NZ)
GenreAmerican folk, Americana, country
Country of originU.S.
LocationNashville, Tennessee
Official websitewww.ohboy.com

History

Al Bunetta was a talent manager with Paul Anka's management company CMA, working with artists such as Bette Midler, Al Green, and The Manhattan Transfer. When Anka signed John Prine and Steve Goodman to management contracts in 1971, Bunetta became the manager for both of them.[1] In 1980, Prine finished his recording contract with Asylum and moved to Nashville. Rather than sign with another major label, he decided to start one of his own, and was joined by Bunetta and associate Dan Einstein.[2] The new Oh Boy label's first release was a red vinyl Christmas single with Prine singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" on the A-side and "Silver Bells" on the B-side.[3] The first full-length release was Prine's Aimless Love in 1984. Around 1989, Sony offered to buy Oh Boy Records, but Prine decided to keep the label independent and turned down the offer.[4]

Recent projects

In 2000, the label began reissuing a series of classic country music artists titled Oh Boy Classics Presents... These are remastered versions of the original recordings. The first three artists in this series were Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard. In 2007, Oh Boy released Standard Songs for Average People, an album of classic country duets by Prine and bluegrass singer Mac Wiseman. In February 2010, singer-songwriter Dan Reeder released his album This New Century, using instruments he made himself.[5]

The release of a new Prine live album in 2010, In Person & On Stage, was followed by Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, a tribute album of Prine songs performed by artists such as Sara Watkins and Old Crow Medicine Show.[6] Both of these 2010 releases debuted at number one on the Billboard Folk Album charts.

In April 2018, John Prine released Tree of Forgiveness produced by Dave Cobb. This was Prine's first album of original works in 13 years. Guest artists on the album include Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, and Dan Auerbach.[7]

In 2019, the label signed singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon. The female outlaw country singer is Oh Boy's first artist signing in 15 years.[8]

In December 2019, Oh Boy Records signed Sacramento, California-based indie folk-singer Tré Burt. Burt was introduced to the label by Jody Whelan, who had discovered the folk singer's album Caught It from the Rye.[9]

In June 2020, Oh Boy Records signed Ohio-based country singer Arlo McKinley, marking him as the last signee by John Prine.[10]

Discography

Year Artist Title Number Comments
1981John PrineRed Vinyl Christmas 45OBR-001"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"/"Silver Bells"
1984John PrineAimless LoveOBR-002
1986John PrineGerman AfternoonsOBR-003
1987John PrineGreen Vinyl 45OBR-004"Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian"/"Kokomo"
1988John PrineJohn Prine LiveOBR-005
1989John PrineBruised OrangeOBR-006Originally released in 1978 as Asylum 139
1990?John PrinePink CadillacOBR-007Originally released in 1979 as Asylum 222
1990?John PrineStorm WindowsOBR-008Originally released in 1980 as Asylum 286
1991John PrineThe Missing YearsOBR-009
1993John PrineA John Prine ChristmasOBR-011
The Bis-QuitsThe Bis-QuitsOBR-012
John PrineGreat Days: The John Prine AnthologyOBR-ANTOriginally released as Rhino R2 71400
1995John PrineLost Dogs and Mixed BlessingsOBR-013
Heather EatmanMascara FallsOBR-014
1997John PrineLive on TourOBR-015
RB MorrisTake That RideOBR-016
Donnie FrittsEverybody's Got a SongOBR-017
1998Various ArtistsLucky 13OBR-018
1999John PrineIn Spite of OurselvesOBR-019
2000Todd SniderHappy To Be HereOBR-020
John PrineSouvenirsOBR-021Number may be OBR-010, sources disagree
Roger MillerOh Boy Records Classics Presents Roger MillerOBR-400
Willie NelsonOh Boy Records Classics Presents Willie NelsonOBR-401
Merle HaggardOh Boy Classics Presents Merle HaggardOBR-402
2001Joe TexOh Boy Classics Presents Joe TexOBR-403
Conway TwittyOh Boy Classics Presents Conway TwittyOBR-404
Bill AndersonOh Boy Classics Presents Bill AndersonOBR-405
The KendallsOh Boy Classics Presents The KendallsOBR-406
Merle HaggardOh Boy Classics Presents Merle Haggard...AgainOBR-407
John PrineSessions at West 54thOBR-500DVDDVD
2002Riders in the SkyA Pair of KingsOBR-022
Todd SniderNew ConnectionOBR-023
Don GibsonOh Boy Classics Presents Don GibsonOBR-408
Roy AcuffOh Boy Classics Presents Roy AcuffOBR-409
Rusty & Doug KershawOh Boy Classics Presents Rusty & Doug KershawOBR-410
Lorrie MorganOh Boy Classics Presents Lorrie MorganOBR-411
Don EverlyOh Boy Classics Presents Don EverlyOBR-412
2003Todd SniderNear Truths and Hotel RoomsOBR-024
Kris KristoffersonBroken Freedom Song: Live from San FranciscoOBR-025
Janis IanLive: Working Without a NetOBR-026Double CD
2004Dan ReederDan ReederOBR-027
Kris KristoffersonRepossessed/Third World WarriorOBR-028Double reissue of 1986/1990 Mercury albums
Janis IanBillie's BonesOBR-029Also released as Rude Girl Records RGR0019
Slick BallingerMississippi SoulOBR-030EP
Todd SniderEast Nashville SkylineOBR-031
Shawn CampLive at the Station InnOBR-032
Kris KristoffersonBreakthroughOBR-501DVD
2005John PrineFair & SquareOBR-034
John PrineFair & SquareOBR-034-1Vinyl with 4 Bonus Tracks
John PrineFair & SquareOBR-034-EPEP on CD with 4 Bonus Tracks
2006Slick BallingerMississippi SoulOBR-035Full Length
Dan ReederSweetheartOBR-036
2007Todd SniderPeace, Love and AnarchyOBR-037Rarities, B-Sides and Demos, Vol.1
John Prine with Mac WisemanStandard Songs for Average PeopleOBR-038
2010John PrineIn Person & On StageOBR-039Live. Includes duets with Iris DeMent, Sara Watkins, Emmylou Harris, Josh Ritter, Kane Welch Kaplin
Dan ReederThis New CenturyOBR-041
Various ArtistsBroken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John PrineOBR-042Tribute CD. Also vinyl as OBR-042-1
2011John PrineThe Singing Mailman DeliversOBR-040Double CD, live + studio, recorded in 1970
2015John PrineSeptember '78OBR-043Live at Park West in Chicago. Limited edition with 2000 units produced for Record Store day, re-released in 2017
2016John PrineFor Better, or WorseOBR-044Also vinyl as OBR-044-1
2018John PrineThe Tree of Forgiveness13327Also vinyl as 35143
2019Kelsey WaldonWhite Noise/White LinesOBR-050Also vinyl as OBR-050LP
2020Tré BurtCaught It from the RyeOBR-052Also vinyl as OBR-052LP

See also

  • List of record labels

References

  1. Bunetta, Al (2006-08-02). "Episode #9". Music Business Radio (Interview). Interviewed by David Hooper. Nashville, Tennessee: WRLP. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  2. "Question & Answer with John Prine". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  3. Bunetta, Al; Einstein, Dan. "A John Prine Christmas Liner Notes". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved 2008-11-30.
  4. Baker, Brian (June 2005). "John Prine does it "Fair & Square"". Country Standard Time. Archived from the original on 2006-09-10. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  5. Andrew Dansby. "CD reviews: Dan Reeder, Los Campesinos, Midlake". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  6. "Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine". Oh Boy Records. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  7. Keith Caulfield. "Jason Aldean Scores Fourth No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart With 'Rearview Town". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  8. Annie Reuter. "John Prine Signs Kelsey Waldon to Oh Boy Records". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  9. Cooper, Daniel (2019-12-03). "John Prine's Oh Boy Records signs Tré Burt". The Grateful Web. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  10. Sacher, Andrew (2020-07-22). "Arlo McKinley releasing 'Die Midwestern' on John Prine's label (watch video for new song)". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
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