From 1968-78, Blue Thumb Records, formed by Tommy LiPuma and Bob Krasnow, was one of music's most adventurous record labels, boasting a diverse roster of cutting-edge artists representing a wide variety of genres. This three LP set has been long out of print, but if you don't have a copy and can't find one there's a two CD set that was reissued on the label's 50th birthday in 2017 that included a couple of bonus tracks by Buddy Guy and the Pointer Sisters. Get it while you can.
This vinyl anthology that is the subject of this post is beautifully presented in a triple gatefold sleeve and pressed on red, yellow and blue vinyl. It appeared in 1995 and shows off Blue Thumb's eclectic artist roster wonderfully well - and since both Krasnow and LiPuma have now passed away it's an honourable tribute to their original vision.
I'd be hard-pressed to find a more diverse compilation anywhere. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Ike and Tina Turner, the Pointer Sisters, Gerry Rafferty, Dan Hicks, Dave Mason, Leon Russell, Love, Sun Ra, the Last Poets, Gábor Szabó, Ken Nordine, Mark-Almond, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, the Crusaders, Luis Gasca, Hugh Masekela … the list goes on and on and what more could anybody ask for in one compilation? What a blast Krasnow and LiPuma must have had running their label!
It's the kind of thing I wish I'd had the balls to do, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Blue Thumb for helping me discover so much wonderful music. This is where I stumbled upon Hugh Masekela, right here in the grooves of this compilation. Incredible stuff! I'm still discovering Blue Thumb artists. If I'm digging through a bin in a used record store somewhere and come across a record on the Blue Thumb label I generally just buy it, even - maybe especially - if it's an artist I've never heard of before. If it's on Blue Thumb it's not going to be a bad record (well, up until the became something they weren't intended to be - see sidebar).
The label really was counter to what was going on at the time, and this was intentional. No one else dared sign such a wide range of talent. It was too risky, but Krasnow and DiPuma prided themselves on their diversity. If they liked what they heard they signed the artist and made a record. It was as simple as that and nobody else had yet done that so deliberately. Nobody really does it now, either.
All Day Thumbsucker Revisited encompasses nearly every conceivable popular style of music. Too idealistic to stand a long-term chance from a strictly business point of view, the label folded after only a decade and after changing hands a few times. After that it more-or-less became an outlet for Pointer Sisters music. Honestly. You can't make this stuff up.
But anyone looking to get an overview of what the label had to offer in its prime will find much to like in All Day Thumbsucker Revisited. The first time I played this record I was hooked, and although the track sequencing lacks any sense of rhyme or reason it's still a great listen. In fact, that's probably why it's such a great listen.
Starting off with Dave Mason's Only You Know And I Know, it then slips into The City, by Mark-Almond and then The Crusader’s 1972 hit Put It Where You Want It. Then it's back to 1970 with Leon Russell and A Song For You, which is followed by the wonderful Stimela (Coaltrain), by Hugh Mesekela. Then comes Tyrannosaurus Rex, Phil Upchurch, Captain Beefheart and Aynsley Dunbar. And that's just side one! Five more sides of music follow and they're all just as awesome.
Open-minded listeners will marvel at the broad range of music on this compilation. It is …
From 1968-78, Blue Thumb Records, formed by Tommy LiPuma and Bob Krasnow, was one of music's most adventurous record labels, boasting a diverse roster of cutting-edge artists representing a wide variety of genres. This three LP set has been long out of print, but if you don't have a copy and can't find one there's a two CD set that was reissued on the label's 50th birthday in 2017 that included a couple of bonus tracks by Buddy Guy and the Pointer Sisters. Get it while you can.
This vinyl anthology that is the subject of this post is beautifully presented in a triple gatefold sleeve and pressed on red, yellow and blue vinyl. It appeared in 1995 and shows off Blue Thumb's eclectic artist roster wonderfully well - and since both Krasnow and LiPuma have now passed away it's an honourable tribute to their original vision.
I'd be hard-pressed to find a more diverse compilation anywhere. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Ike and Tina Turner, the Pointer Sisters, Gerry Rafferty, Dan Hicks, Dave Mason, Leon Russell, Love, Sun Ra, the Last Poets, Gábor Szabó, Ken Nordine, Mark-Almond, Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, the Crusaders, Luis Gasca, Hugh Masekela … the list goes on and on and what more could anybody ask for in one compilation? What a blast Krasnow and LiPuma must have had running their label!
It's the kind of thing I wish I'd had the balls to do, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Blue Thumb for helping me discover so much wonderful music. This is where I stumbled upon Hugh Masekela, right here in the grooves of this compilation. Incredible stuff! I'm still discovering Blue Thumb artists. If I'm digging through a bin in a used record store somewhere and come across a record on the Blue Thumb label I generally just buy it, even - maybe especially - if it's an artist I've never heard of before. If it's on Blue Thumb it's not going to be a bad record (well, up until the became something they weren't intended to be - see sidebar).
The label really was counter to what was going on at the time, and this was intentional. No one else dared sign such a wide range of talent. It was too risky, but Krasnow and DiPuma prided themselves on their diversity. If they liked what they heard they signed the artist and made a record. It was as simple as that and nobody else had yet done that so deliberately. Nobody really does it now, either.
All Day Thumbsucker Revisited encompasses nearly every conceivable popular style of music. Too idealistic to stand a long-term chance from a strictly business point of view, the label folded after only a decade and after changing hands a few times. After that it more-or-less became an outlet for Pointer Sisters music. Honestly. You can't make this stuff up.
But anyone looking to get an overview of what the label had to offer in its prime will find much to like in All Day Thumbsucker Revisited. The first time I played this record I was hooked, and although the track sequencing lacks any sense of rhyme or reason it's still a great listen. In fact, that's probably why it's such a great listen.
Starting off with Dave Mason's Only You Know And I Know, it then slips into The City, by Mark-Almond and then The Crusader’s 1972 hit Put It Where You Want It. Then it's back to 1970 with Leon Russell and A Song For You, which is followed by the wonderful Stimela (Coaltrain), by Hugh Mesekela. Then comes Tyrannosaurus Rex, Phil Upchurch, Captain Beefheart and Aynsley Dunbar. And that's just side one! Five more sides of music follow and they're all just as awesome.
Open-minded listeners will marvel at the broad range of music on this compilation. It is …
BONUS TRACK
Bob Krasnow had been in the record business since the 1950s, working as a promotion man for King Records and for Buddah/Kama Sutra Records.
Blue Thumb was originally intended by Captain Beefheart to be the name of his backing band, but Krasnow didn't think it fit. But it worked as a label moniker, and so Blue Thumb Records was born.
Krasnow and label co-founder Tommy LipUma certainly had a vision, and they set themselves apart from other labels even when it came to distribution, originally doing it independently. But in 1970 they started using Capitol/EMI for distribution in order to get more exposure and to save money. Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group took over distribution in 1971, then bought the label outright in 1972.
Late in 1974 the Famous Music record labels were sold to ABC Records, who kept Blue Thumb active for a short time, mostly to release records by the Pointer Sisters and the Crusaders as well as some reissues of previous successes.
In 1979 ABC sold its labels to MCA Records, which discontinued the Blue Thumb imprint. In the United Kingdom and Europe, Blue Thumb releases were licensed to Harvest Records from 1969-71, and to Island Records after that.
The label was revived in 1995 mostly for blues and some easy listening and light-rock releases. In 2005 Blue Thumb was deactivated and replaced with Verve Forecast. UMG's reissue arm, Hip-O Records, has reissued several Blue Thumb recordings.
I have no idea why all this buying and selling happened, but in my opinion Blue Thumb certainly deserved a bit more respect than it ended up with.
Bob Krasnow had been in the record business since the 1950s, working as a promotion man for King Records and for Buddah/Kama Sutra Records.
Blue Thumb was originally intended by Captain Beefheart to be the name of his backing band, but Krasnow didn't think it fit. But it worked as a label moniker, and so Blue Thumb Records was born.
Krasnow and label co-founder Tommy LipUma certainly had a vision, and they set themselves apart from other labels even when it came to distribution, originally doing it independently. But in 1970 they started using Capitol/EMI for distribution in order to get more exposure and to save money. Gulf and Western's Famous Music Group took over distribution in 1971, then bought the label outright in 1972.
Late in 1974 the Famous Music record labels were sold to ABC Records, who kept Blue Thumb active for a short time, mostly to release records by the Pointer Sisters and the Crusaders as well as some reissues of previous successes.
In 1979 ABC sold its labels to MCA Records, which discontinued the Blue Thumb imprint. In the United Kingdom and Europe, Blue Thumb releases were licensed to Harvest Records from 1969-71, and to Island Records after that.
The label was revived in 1995 mostly for blues and some easy listening and light-rock releases. In 2005 Blue Thumb was deactivated and replaced with Verve Forecast. UMG's reissue arm, Hip-O Records, has reissued several Blue Thumb recordings.
I have no idea why all this buying and selling happened, but in my opinion Blue Thumb certainly deserved a bit more respect than it ended up with.
