Welcome to VARULVEN RECORDS

Varulven Records is Boston's original rock label, established in 1976 as an offshoot of Varulven Magazine, a film/music fan magazine which first issued in 1969. The first releases, "The Salt Water Summers" by The Count and "Blowfish In The New Wave" by comedian Paul Lovell are considered rare gems from the modern rock movement of the mid-1970s. In 1978 Patrick Mathe' signed label president Joe Viglione to his Flamingo label in Paris, distributed by dance company Carrere. When Mathe' opened New Rose Records a couple of years later, he made Joe the A & R man who promptly signed Willie "Loco" Alexander and Johnny Thunders to New Rose/RCA and New Rose/Musidisc, respectively. El Loco brought Joe the tape of "I'm Sticking With You" that he had at his mom's house on Cape Cod. Obtaining permission from Willie, Jonathan Richman and Moe Tucker, that classic was put out on 45 RPM and immediately became a hit on Boston radio. Moe Tucker of The Velvet Underground said to the late Sterling Morrison "Joe is the reason we are touring" at a Cambridge nightclub called The Middle East when she introduced Joe to Sterling. We also released the "Another View" E.P. (Another "v.u. or view - another look at the Velvets; a title lifted by Polygram for their follow-up to V.U.) and are working on a tribute to Lou and The Velvets entitled "I`m Sticking With Lou." We also represented the late Jimmy Miller, producer of The Rolling Stones/ Motorhead/The Plasmatics/Buddy Guy/Traffic/Blind Faith, etc. We have a tribute to Mr. Jimmy in the works. We have released 25 compilations, mostly of Boston music. Willie Alexander, Count Viglione, comedian Blowfish, The Unnatural Axe, Moulty & The Barbarians, Tennie Komar with The November Group, Barb Kitson, Lady Carolyn, Jo Jo Laine (ex wife of Denny Laine from Wings), these artists have appeared on our discs over the years. The Unnatural Axe EP sells for $175.00. Sperm Bank Babies lp (Willie Alexander Live) and The Boston Bootlegs 1 and 2 have been long out of print. Our "bootleg" series are legitimate Boston underground band recordings. We are about to release a double cd featuring the best of Vol. 1 and 2, as well as a new collection of old favorites from the 70`s Boston scene Our mission is the preservation of cool Boston music that we love. We've found our artists bootlegged by other companies - including other Boston labels. It's the sincerist form of flattery - but is not as fair (or collectible) as obtaining the original recording on Boston's original rock label. Varulven Records is about to enter its 30th year. We intend to re-release some of our more popular titles with numbered and signed liner notes bringing more information to a public which wasn't around when these important recordings were first issued. We are proud of our legacy and will be bringing more titles to the GEMM site in the near future. Joe Viglione President and Founder Varulven Records 5:59 pm February 15, 2009 5:22 PM September 19, 2005 last update 9/19/1999

blog capture February 1, 2010