Parasol Records is an American

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...

based in

Urbana, Illinois Urbana ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Urbana had a population of 38,336. As of the 2010 United States Census, Urbana is the 38th-most populous municipality in Illinois. It ...

. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalog Parasol Mail Order (which was started in

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the ...

). The Parasol Records banner also includes the smaller labels associated with it, including Mud,

Spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to ba ...

Hidden Agenda Hidden Agenda or Hidden Agendas may refer to: Video games * ''Hidden Agenda'' (1988 video game), a 1988 text-based game * ''Hidden Agenda'' (2017 video game), a thriller video game developed by Supermassive Games for the PlayStation 4 Film * ...

and Galaxy Gramophone. The majority of Parasol's releases have been

indie pop Indie pop (also typeset as indie-pop or indiepop) is a music genre and subculture that combines guitar pop with DIY ethic in opposition to the style and tone of mainstream pop music. It originated from British post-punk in the late 1970s and su ...

CD and 7"

vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from viny ...

singles. Artists signed to Parasol Records include: 16 Tons,

The 1900s ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

, 7% Solution,

Absinthe Blind Absinthe Blind was an American shoegaze and dream pop group from Urbana, Illinois. The first group was formed by brothers Seth and Adam Fein and Tristan Wraight in 1996, by merging Adam Fein's group (coincidentally also called Absinthe Blind) and T ...

Acid House Kings Acid House Kings are a Swedish indie pop band. They were founded in 1991 by Joakim Ödlund (also in the bands Poprace, Double Dan, and Starlet) and brothers Niklas (Red Sleeping Beauty) and Johan Angergård ( Club 8, The Legends, Poprace). His ...

, The Action,

AK-Momo AK-Momo are a musical duo from Stockholm, Sweden. They met through mutual friends at a bar in central Stockholm. Olsson invited Malmborg to his studio for a visit. The group consists of Anna Karin ('AK') von Malmborg (vocals, Optigan and whistlin ...

, Mark V. Bacino,

Bikeride Bikeride was an American indie rock band fronted by Tony Carbone. Their record companies of the past have included is Hidden Agenda, a part of Parasol Records, and Choclaty! Records. Bikeride's newest album, ''The Kiss'', has been released on ...

, Brian Leach, Bruno, Matt,

Budgie Jacket Budgie may refer to: Arts * ''Budgie'' (album), the debut album by the Welsh heavy metal band Budgie * Budgie (band), a Welsh heavy metal band from Cardiff * Budgie (musician) (born 1957), English drummer * ''Budgie'' (TV series), a British tel ...

, Busytoby, C-Clamp,

Doleful Lions The Doleful Lions are a pop group headed up by frontman Jonathan Scott and usually brother Robert Scott. Their first 45" was released by Parasol Records out of Illinois in 1997 and they stayed with the label until 2008's "7" they now release their ...

, Elsinore,

Honcho Overload Honcho or Honchō can refer to: Places * Itabashi-honchō Station, a metro station on the Toei Mita Line in Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan * Yoshiwara-honchō Station, a train station on the Gakunan Railway Line in Fuji, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan * ...

, Hot Glue Gun, Lanterna, The Moon Seven Times, Neilson Hubbard, Hum, Jack & the Beanstalk, Jenifer Jackson, Ryan Groff, Sugarbuzz and others. Geoff Merritt and friend Ric Menck ( Velvet Crush) also run

Reaction Recordings Reaction may refer to a process or to a response to an action, event, or exposure: Physics and chemistry *Chemical reaction *Nuclear reaction *Reaction (physics), as defined by Newton's third law *Chain reaction (disambiguation). Biology and me ...

—best known for the "

Songs of the Pogo A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetition ...

" ( Walt Kelly and Norman Monath) re-release along with re-releases from The Action,

The Vertebrats The Vertebrats were a musical group formed in the twin cities of Champaign-Urbana (CU), Illinois, initially active from 1979 until 1982. They are credited with being one of the originators of a local CU DIY music scene that still exists. The V ...

, Crippled Pilgrims and Richard Lloyd.

References

External links

Parasol's Official Website
American independent record labels Record labels established in 1991 1991 establishments in Illinois {{US-independent-record-label-stub

See also

References

External links