Enemy Records Explained

Enemy Records
Founder:Michael Knuth, Bill Laswell
Country:Germany, United States
Location:Munich, Brooklyn

Enemy Records is an independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York and Munich, Germany, founded in 1986. Its debut was the free jazz album Last Exit by the band of the same name.[1]

History

The label was founded in 1986 by music enthusiast Michael Knuth and composer Bill Laswell. Eventually the two parted ways, with Knuth retaining sole distribution rights.[2] The label primarily focused on issuing records by artists who were influenced by jazz and experimental music. It served as an outlet for musical acts such as Gary Lucas, Sonny Sharrock, Last Exit, 24-7 Spyz, Crash Worship and Universal Congress Of.

Discography

Enemy Records released 60 albums between 1986 and 1996

CatalogArtistAlbum
EMY 101Last ExitLast Exit
EMY 102Sonny SharrockGuitar
EMY 103Last Exit
EMY 104Sonny Sharrock BandSeize the Rainbow
EMY 105Last ExitCassette Recordings '87
EMY 106SXLInto the Outlands
EMY 107Blind Idiot GodUndertow
EMY 108Sonny Sharrock Live in New York
EMY 109FrictionReplicant Walk
EMY 110Last ExitBest of Live
EMY 111Various ArtistsLive at the Knitting Factory Volume One
EMY 112Various ArtistsLive at the Knitting Factory Volume Two
EMY 113Various ArtistsLive at the Knitting Factory Volume Three
EMY 114Bachir Attar with Elliott SharpIn New York
EMY 115Myra Melford TrioJump
EMY 116Elliott Sharp / CarbonDatacide
EMY 117Universal Congress OfThe Sad and Tragic Demise of Big Fine Hot Salty Black Wind
EMY 118 Various Artists Live at the Knitting Factory Volume 4
EMY 119Sonny Sharrock Highlife
EMY 120
EMY 121Various ArtistsKnitting Factory Tours Europe 1991
EMY 122DefunktLive at the Knitting Factory NYC
EMY 123
EMY 124
EMY 125The Jazz PassengersLive at the Knitting Factory
EMY 126Gary LucasSkeleton at the Feast
EMY 127Jean-Paul BourellyTrippin
EMY 128Jungle Pilots Near-Miss
EMY 129John King / Electric WorldHot Thumb in a Funky Groove
EMY 130KelvynatorRefunkanation
EMY 131Myra Melford TrioNow & Now
EMY 132David LopatoInside Outside
EMY 133Gary LucasGods and Monsters
EMY 134Elliott Sharp / CarbonTocsin
EMY 135DefunktCrisis
EMY 136Universal Congress OfThe Eleventh-Hour Shine-On
EMY 137Manu DibangoAfrijazzy
EMY 138Liquid HipsFool Injection
EMY 139Various ArtistsKnow Your Enemy
EMY 140Defunkt Cum Funky
EMY 141The Killer ShrewsThe Killer Shrews
EMY 142Liquid HipsStatic
EMY 143Royal Crescent MobGood Lucky Killer
EMY 144Defunkt Cum Funky [Limited Edition Bonus Tracks]
EMY 145Defunkt Live & Reunified
EMY 146Gary LucasBad Boys of the Arctic
EMY 147Joe Baiza, Rafa Gorodetksy and Tony CiceroMecolodiacs
EMY 148Defunkt Special EditionA Blues Tribute - Jimi Hendrix & Muddy Waters
EMY 149Cyclone TempleMy Friend Lonely
EMY 15024-7 SpyzTemporarily Disconnected
EMY 151Crash WorshipTriple Mania II
EMY 152Ed HallLa La Land
EMY 153H.P. ZinkerMountains of Madness
EMY 154Liquid HipsRageaholic
EMY 15524-7 Spyz6
EMY 156Sonny Sharrock Into Another Light [Compilation]
EMY 157James Chance and the ContortionsMolotov Cocktail Lounge
EMY 158BelizbehaCharlie's Dream
EMY 159MarsPsycore
EMY 160RinneRadioRok

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jenkins, Todd S. . Free Jazz and Free Improvisation: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1 . . 2004 . 80 . 9780313333132 . October 18, 2014.
  2. Book: Lucas. Rage Records Inc was also a subsidiary with Rosalie Sendelbach, and Melvin Gibbs as partners. However, Rosalie and Melvin parted ways with Enemy due to accounting issues. They continued Rage and released 6 albums and many singles. Melvin Gibbs then joined The Rollins Band and the two parted amicably and Rosalie Sendelbach went on to be the sole owner of Rage Records releasing albums also from her studio in Jamaica of Richie Brown and Tyrant., Gary . Touched by Grace: My Time with Jeff Buckley . . September 1, 2013 . 69 . 9781908279460 . October 18, 2014.