SPY Records was a

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

based independent music label created in 1977 by

John Cale John Davies Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various sty ...

and Jane Friedman.

History

The label was created in 1977 by John Cale and Jane Friedman, who was the manager of

Patti Smith Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album ''Horses''. Called the "punk poet ...

, and Cale's girlfriend at the time. It was housed in Cale's 250 West 57th Street office.John Cale timeline: 1978
The concept of the label that all artists were to be produced by Cale. The label was distributed by

I.R.S. Records I.R.S. Records was an American record label founded by Miles Copeland III, Jay Boberg, and Carl Grasso in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new w ...

Its logo was designed by Michel Esteban, using an image of Cale's eye from his ''

Fear Fear is an intensely unpleasant emotion in response to perceiving or recognizing a danger or threat. Fear causes physiological changes that may produce behavioral reactions such as mounting an aggressive response or fleeing the threat. Fear ...

'' album cover. Cale introduced Esteban to British-born entrepreneur Michael Zilkha, and in 1978 Esteban and Zilkha left SPY records to found their own label,

ZE Records ZE Records was originally a New York-based record label, started in 1978 by Michael Zilkha and Michel Esteban. It was reestablished by Esteban in 2003. History Michael Zilkha (b. 1954) is a British-born Oxford graduate of Iraqi descent, the ...

. SPY Records closed in 1980. John Cale then released three albums on ZE Records: '' Music for a New Society'' (1982), ''

Caribbean Sunset ''Caribbean Sunset'' is the ninth solo studio album by Welsh rock musician John Cale, released in January 1984 by ZE Records. ''Caribbean Sunset'' became Cale's only studio album to chart on the Dutch Album Top 100, peaking at No. 28. Release ...

'' (1983) and '' Comes Alive'' (1984).

Discography

* SPY 001 Harry Toledo & The Rockets - "Busted Chevrolet" EP (7", EP) * SPY 002 The Necessaries - "You Can Borrow My Car" (7", Single) * SPY 003

Lester Bangs Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs (December 14, 1948 – April 30, 1982) was an American music journalist, critic, author, and musician. He wrote for ''Creem'' and ''Rolling Stone'' magazines, and was known for his leading influence in rock music ...

- "Let It Blurt / Live" (7", Single) * SPY 004 Model Citizens - "Untitled" (7", EP) * SPY 005 Marie Et Les Garçons - "Rebop / Attitudes" (7", Single) * SPY 007

- "Mercenaries" (7", Single) * SP004 -

- ''

Sabotage/Live ''Sabotage/Live'' is a live album by John Cale. It was recorded at CBGB, New York on 13–16 June 1979, and released by SPY Records in December 1979. Release A studio version of "Mercenaries (Ready for War)" was released as a single in the US ...

'' (LP)

References

{{Authority control American record labels Record labels established in 1977