Neat Records

Neat Records
Parent company Universal Music Group
Founded 1979
Founder David Wood
Status Inactive. Sold to Sanctuary Records in 1995
Genre Heavy metal
Speed metal
Black metal
AOR
Country of origin  United Kingdom
Location Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England

Neat Records was a record label based near Newcastle, England. The label was established in 1979 by David Wood, who was the owner of Impulse Studios in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England. [1][2] The establishment of Neat coincided with the arrival at Impulse of Songwriter/Producer Steve Thompson who guided the early direction of the label and also set up a music publishing venture "Neat Music". The early output of Neat was produced by Steve Thompson, assisted by and sometimes co-produced with engineer, Micky Sweeney. When Thompson departed to pursue his songwriting ambitions he recommended local songwriter/musician Keith Nichol to take up duties behind the mixing desk. The label was sold in 1995 by its then owner, the former Tygers of Pan Tang vocalist Jess Cox, to Sanctuary Records.[1]

Neat Records was arguably the most instrumental label in the revival of heavy metal in the early 80s in the UK. The movement was known as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal or NWOBHM for short. The label is most notorious for the early releases of Newcastle band Venom who are widely credited with the invention of black metal. While none of Neat Records' acts really broke through to the mainstream themselves, Venom, Raven, Blitzkrieg and Jaguar particularly are acknowledged as major influences on a host of major American thrash metal bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. In fact Metallica have even covered Blitzkrieg's self-titled song "Blitzkrieg" and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich has claimed "Whiplash" to be a deliberate attempt to emulate Jaguar's song "Stormchild".

Other notable acts to release music through Neat Records include White Spirit (notable as the then current band of Iron Maiden guitarist Janick Gers) and Persian Risk (notable as the original band of current Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell).

Contents

Discography

Singles

Albums

[3][4]

Compilations

There have been a number of complications released which exclusively feature tracks from the Neat Records catalogue.

References

  1. ^ a b Apicella, Vinnie (June 2002). "Interview with NWOBHM Musician/Label Owner Jess Cox". Vinnie's World. http://www.vinniesworld.com/articles/archive/music/jess_cox.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  2. ^ Barton, Geoff (16 August 2005). "The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal". Neal Kay's Heavy Metal Soundhouse. http://www.hmsoundhouse.com/hmsoundhouse/1c_special_features.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  3. ^ "Neat Records Discography". Vinylnet.co.uk. http://www.vinylnet.co.uk/label-discography.asp/label/45/Neat-records-discography.html. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  4. ^ Sanchez, Raoul; Dan Edman. "Neat Records Discography". The Corroseum.com. http://www.thecorroseum.com/labels/neat.html. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  5. ^ "The Neat Singles Collection, Vol. 1". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r906314. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  6. ^ "The Neat Singles Collection, Vol. 2". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r626189. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  7. ^ "The Neat Singles Collection, Vol. 3". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r626323. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  8. ^ "The Flame Burns On: The Best of Neat Records". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r598129. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 

See also