Au Go Go Records

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Au Go Go Records is the name of a Melbourne, Australia based independent record label. It was founded by Bruce Milne and Philip Morland in 1979 and is now operated by Greta Moon.

The label started releasing bands on the Melbourne punk and New Wave scene. Its first 25 releases were the bands' debut recordings, and included some seminal Australian acts such as The Young Charlatans, Little Murders, the Zorros and Dorian Gray. Philip Morland left and Greta Moon joined in 1982.

Releases from this later period included the Scientists "Swampland" (which was actually the b-side of the single, with the a-side being "This Is My Happy Hour") and God's "My Pal", one of the label's most popular releases, as well as titles by Ollie Olsen's band NO, Harem Scarem, various compilations such as the "Asleep At The Wheel" collection of (mostly unsigned) Melbourne bands, and the well-received "Hard To Beat", a double album tribute to the Stooges, featuring many Australian acts. The label also branched out into international releases, issuing albums by overseas bands such as Sonic Youth and Big Black.

In 1987, with the success of the mail-order service, the record shop was started. (The shop shifted to a smaller space in 2000. It closed in late 2003 after losing its lease. Greta Moon continues to operate the mail-order service.)

Bruce Milne started an offshoot label, Giant Claw Records, in 1989, to issue 7" singles. He is currently involved in running Melbourne pub/rock venue the Tote, in Collingwood, as well as a new label, Infidelity Records.

Au-Go-Go continued throughout the '90's, issuing early releases from such Australian acts as Spiderbait, The Meanies and Magic Dirt, the latter becoming one of the label's top attractions. Magic Dirt left Au-Go-Go in 1999, and the label never fully recovered. Due to a lack of funds, many of Au-Go-Go's releases are now out of print and are fast becoming collector's items one such album was "A Much Sweeter Gag" by The Mungabeans which sold for a record price recently.