Mississippi Records

=History=

Mississippi Records was founded by Alex Yusimov. Yusimov used the name and address of his longtime friend, Eric Isaacson, who was starting a record store called Mississippi records in Portland, Oregon, because he had no permanent address at the time. An LP by Yusimov's project DUCK DUCK GRAY DUCK became Mississippi Records #1 (MR-01).

Isaacson got involved with the label starting with the fourth release. Known as the rarest release on Mississippi, MR04 was a cassette release of Eric's band THE ILLEGAL GUARDIANS. A 3 piece punk band that at the time sported a 10 year-old singer and were know for their contemporary classic "Burritos". Starting with MR05, Isaacson asked his long time Canadian friend Warren Hill to join the label forever changing the course of the Mississippi Records label to mostly reissues of hard to find music. Hill runs a shop by the name of Backroom Records & Pastries from a shed attached to the back-end of his apartment building in Montreal. Isaacson still runs a shop in Portland sharing its title with that of the label: Mississippi Records.

"The label started, as far as me and Eric go, I think in 2003 or 2004... We put in $3,000 each and put out our first two vinyl releases, which was the Washington Phillips and Last Kind Words, and then things have just been going without really needing any more money put in." - Warren Hill [ Warren Hill in an interview for Hour.ca by Steve Guimond]

The label has begun to catch the attention of collectors worldwide by bringing to light obscurities from lands stretching from Thailand to North America to Africa with releases limited to only 1000 copies. Another factor adding to the demand for these records is their affordability with all releases sold at under ten dollars abiding by their "Always - Love Over Gold" motto.

Namesake Shop

Mississippi Records is located at 4007 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, Oregon known for holding true the same philosophy as the label providing hard to find music cheaply. They carry only vinyl and cassette with a very small amount of CDs by local Portland bands.

Releases

MR-001--"Desire"by Duck Duck Gray DuckFirst solo album by multi-instrumentalist Alex Yusimov.

MR-002--"Life During Wartime-The Troubles" cassette by Erin Yankee

MR-003--"Nightmare Fantasy/Spooky Reality" 2xLP by Spooky Dance Band

MR-005--"Last Kind Words (1926-1953)" by Various Artists
"Incredibly well compiled '20s-'30s era blues comp. High quality of sound for the time period of its recordings. This compilation is filled with the most accessible blues songs made to be appreciated by enthusiasts and those new to the genre. Features Blind Willie McTell, Memphis Minnie, Geechie Wiley, etc." [Release list by Forced Exposure]

MR-006--"What Are They Doing in Heaven Today?" by Washington Phillips
"Original recordings from 1927-1929, with Phillips perhaps accompanied on the Dolceola (miniature piano-like instrument). Beautifully haunting music from Phillips. His sweetly-sung Christian blues, bathed in a celestial haze of notes from an instrument that sounds like a child's music box, stand out amongst the work of guitar evangelists and street corner Scripture-ites of the era. Phillips' sacred porch songs provide evidence of a higher power, for how could man alone create music for the angels? These recordings sound remarkable from being from the 1920s." [Release list by Forced Exposure]

MR-007--"To Trace a Raveling" by Tara Jane O'Neil
Compilation of "Tracer" EP (2005) and "A Raveling" EP (2005).

MR-008--"Love is Love" by Various Artists
"The styles of music featured on this Lp are: R&B, Highlife, & Dry Guitar Music."--Liner notes.

MR-009--"70s Thai Orchestra" by Thai Orchestra
""A stunning LP of hypnotic country molam from Thailand. A rich tapestry of heavy percussion, xylophone, khaen & phin (more or less the Thai electric guitar). A strong groove behind an inherently psychedelic music." Not mentioned anywhere on this record, but this is actually a copy of the legendary Siamese Temple Ball CD that came out back at the dawn of time (I mean, year 2000); one mystery meats another mystery."" [Release list by Forced Exposure]

MR-010--"Interacting Cautiously/Mold/Streets" 7"ep by Red Herring

MR-011--"Warning/Building Blocks" 7"ep by Red Herring

MR-012--"Whats Lost" by Evolutionary Jass Band

MR-013--"Lipa Kodi Ya City Council" by Various Artists
"This LP contains hard to find R&B, Pop, Highlife, Palm-wine, JùJú & Choral music recorded between 1967 & 1972."--Liner notes.

MR-014--"I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore 1927-1948" by Various Artists
"This compilation is our tribute to the music made in the U.S. between 1927 and 1948. We decided not only to focus on traditional genres (blues, old-time, Cajun), but to also show the music that was brought by the boatloads of immigrants coming to these shores. Their music influenced and still affects our culture today. The album starts off with a heavenly example of Greek rebetica from Marika Papagika. Also featured is early Tex-Mex pioneer Lydia Mendoza and gospel duo Two Gospel Keys. The latter gives us our title track. Louisiana Cajun music is beautifully executed by artists Cleoma Falcon and Blind Uncle Gaspard with Dela Lachney. The Blue Sky Boys may be considered old-time, but their haunting, melancholic harmonies belong in their own genre. The Caresser and Wilmouth Houdini bring on the Calypso with that New York jazz flavor. Hawaiian slack key guitar is demonstrated by Mike Hanapi's Ilima Islanders and Mme. Riviere's Hawaiians. Aside from Calypso, NY was also a big hub for Jewish klezmer, as shown by Jacob Hoffman playing with Henry Kandel's Orchestra. Sexteto Bolona is a great example of the roots of salsa and there's even a mystery track by an unknown Indonesian folk singer of the time. The comp ends with blues performer Big Boy Cleveland with his oddly original 'Quill Blues.' A beautiful record from beginning to end." NB: Lp is inscribed with MR-014, while sleeve is inscribed with MR-013 on some releases. [Release list by Forced Exposure]

MR-015--"Mental Blocks For All Ages" by Dog Faced HermansDog Faced Hermans was a five-piece band whose style could be described as anarcho-artpunk incorporating folk and noise influences as well as unorthodox instrumentation. Hailing from Scotland, DFH came out of the herky-jerky Glasgow scene with bands like Stretchheads, Dawson and Archbishop Kebab. Mental Blocks was their 2nd full length LP, released in 1991 on the band's own Demon Radge label. They had 3 LPs, 1 12" EP and a collection of EPs, comp tracks and splits before signing on with Alternative Tentacles for their last two LPs. Guitarist Andy Moor has been a part of The Ex for about 12 years now, and bassist Colin McLean is now playing as part of The Ex's live set. DFH has influenced bands such as Erase Errata, Veronica Lipgloss, God Is My Co-Pilot, and many more. Mental Blocks is considered one of their (if not the) best and hardest to find albums. Remastered by members of the band for improved clarity over the original release."

MR-016--"Malcolm X Memorial" by Phillip Cohran and the Artistic Heritage Ensemble
"An early member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Philip Cohran went on to record & self-release this LP in 1968, originally in an edition of 1,000. Cohran was a personal friend of Malcolm X, & this is a concept album musically telling the story of Malcolm's political & spiritual journey. It features a tight groove-oriented band (which later evolved into the Pharoahs, & then Earth, Wind, & Fire!) who explore soul, jazz, & Middle Eastern rhythms. A politically radical & intense recording not to be missed. Philip Cohran is a much under-appreciated musical genius, & we are proud to reissue this album for the first time on vinyl. Gatefold LP with archival photos & liner notes." [Release list by Forced Exposure]

MR-017--"Life is a Problem" by Various Artists
"Compilation of raw electric guitar-based gospel recorded between 1949 & 1976. Hard to find & unreleased gospel that makes most rock & roll sound weak & contained. Features Utah Smith, Rev. Lonnie Farris, Sister O.M Terrill & many lesser known artists. Fourteen tracks in all." [Release list by Foreced Exposure] The first edition of this release had a 7" (MR-017.5) of George "Bongo Joe" Coleman performing "This Old World is in a Terrible Condition" but the second edition does not.

MR-018--"The Best Of The First Biennale Of Arts And Culture For The Young (1970) by Orchestre Regional De Kayes

MR-020--"Skip James 1931" by Skip James
"Twelve songs from Skip's first recording session."

MR-023--"Cavaliers Unlimited"

References

Citations

External links

* [http://www.hour.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=13945] - Interview with Warren Hill at Hour.ca
* [http://www.forcedexposure.com/Labels/mississippi.records.html] - Discography at Forcedexposure.com
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4007+N+Mississippi+Ave,+Portland,+Multnomah,+Oregon+97227,+United+States&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&cd=1&geocode=FTwStwIdth6w-A&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=23.875,57.630033&ll=45.556011,-122.674541&spn=0.007512,0.019226&z=16&layer=c&cbll=45.55224,-122.675509&panoid=nIdf1Jdfr3VLHV-nwdMP5g&cbp=2,285.1710939482209,,0,0.3203947670997055] - Mississippi Records on Google Street View