Psychedelic Rock Record Labels You Need to Know

In the 1960s, Psychedelic Rock was the soundtrack to a generation’s mind-expanding exploration of consciousness. These record labels were at the forefront of this musical revolution.

Introduction

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psyrock, is a diverse style of music that is united by a strong focus on sonic experimentation and extended improvisation. The genre emerged in the mid-1960s and reached its peak popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Psychedelic rock objectionably influenced dozens of other genres, including punk rock, metal and disco.

The term “psychedelic” is derived from the Greek words “psyche” (mind) and “delos” (manifest), meaning “mind-manifesting”.Psychedelic music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline and DMT.

Psychedelic music often makes use of new recording techniques such as multitrack recording, feedback loopsand reverse tapes. It employs new electronic sound-generating devices such as the theremin, synthesizer, sequencerand vocoder. It was also one of the first genres to make extensive use of studio effects units such as echo chambersand phaser filters.

The Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) is credited with popularizing psychedelia in mainstream music. With its deliberately ironic lyrics, unconventional album art design and experimental sound recordings, the album helped usher in a new era of self-consciousness and creativity in popular music.

Background

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s and was characterized by distorted guitars, feedback, and extreme levels of distortion. The genre often incorporated elements of Eastern philosophy and culture, including sitars and tablas. The electronic effects used in psychedelic rock, such as the phaser, were also integral to the development of disco and electronic dance music. Psychedelic rock record labels were often small independent labels that specialized in the genre.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock is a style of music that emerged in the mid-1960s and became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It is characterized by distorted guitars, feedback, and other sonic effects, and is often used to refer to a particular period of rock music that was influenced by psychedelic culture.

The term can also be used more broadly to describe any rock music that exhibits characteristics associated with psychedelic culture, such as drug use, experimentalism, extended jams, and multimedia presentations.

The Origins of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psychedelia, is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the mid-1960s. Musically, it is characterized by electric guitars, bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and sometimes sitar and other string instruments, used to replicate the sound of ocean waves. The genre’s original meaning was broader than simply music that replicated the sound of waves or had an “oceanic” feel; it also included guitar-based rock influenced by Eastern modalities such as drone and raga.

The term “psychedelic” was first coined in 1956 by psychiatrist Humphry Osmond as an alternative descriptor for hallucinogenic drugs in the context of psychedelic therapy. By the mid-1960s, both “psychedelic” and “acid rock” were used to describe these emerging genres. Psychedelic rock is sometimes referred to interchangeably with acid rock and/or psychedelic pop.

The Record Labels

In the 1960s, a new type of rock music emerged that was influenced by psychedelic drugs. This music was called psychedelic rock, and it became its own subgenre of rock. Many psychedelic rock bands were signed to record labels that specialized in this type of music. Here are some of the most important psychedelic rock record labels you need to know.

Elektra Records

Elektra Records is an American major record label founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk music and rock music, and was the home of some of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The label was sold by Holzman to Atlantic Records in 1970.

Elektra’s roster included a number of influential folk and folk-rock artists such as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Phil Ochs, Odetta, John Prine, Judy Henske, David Ackles, Tim Buckley, Janis Ian, and Richie Havens; several of these artists recorded for Elektra during the label’s most successful period in the 1960s. The label also achieved success with a number of psychedelic rock artists in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including The Doors, Love, The Stooges, Nico (who recorded three albums for Elektra), Carly Simon (whose first album for Elektra was produced by John Simon), and Queen (whose first album was co-produced by Roy Thomas Baker).

Capitol Records

Capitol Records is one of the most well-known and respected record labels in the music industry. The label was founded in 1942 and has since been home to some of the most iconic artists and bands in history, including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Capitol Records has also been at the forefront of psychedelic rock, signing groundbreaking artists like The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Cream. In recent years, the label has continued to champion psychedelic rock with signings like Tame Impala and Temples.

RCA Records

In business since 1901, RCA is one of the world’s oldest record labels. The label is home to a wide range of artists including Psychedelic Furs, Interpol, and Editors.

RCA Records was originally founded as The Victor Talking Machine Company in Camden, New Jersey. The company was named after its founder, Eldridge R. Johnson. He created the first phonograph that used wax cylinders instead of tinfoil to record sound.

In 1929, the company was renamed RCA Victor after it was bought by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA). The label became known for signing and promoting a number of big-name artists including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley.

In recent years, RCA has been re-establishing itself as a major force in the music industry with a new generation of artists. Psychedelic Furs’ 2016 album “The Ghost in You” marked the band’s return to the label after 33 years. Interpol’s self-titled album was released on RCA in 2018 to critical acclaim.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many different psychedelic rock record labels out there, each with their own unique styles and rosters of artists. While some may be more well-known than others, all of these labels are worth checking out if you’re a fan of psychedelic rock music.