Virgin Progressive Music

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Leader: faustandkluster
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Created on: 14 Nov 2011
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Progressive music on the virgin label.

Branson and Powell had initially run a small record shop called Virgin Records and Tapes on Notting Hill Gate, London, specialising particularly in "krautrock" imports, and offering bean bags and free vegetarian food for the benefit of customers listening to the music on offer.[2] After making the shop into a success, they turned their business into a fully fledged record label. The name Virgin, according to Branson (in his autobiography), arose from Tessa Watts, a colleague of his, when they were brainstorming business ideas. She suggested Virgin - as they were all new to business - like "virgins".[3] The original Virgin logo (known to fans as the "Gemini" or "Twins" logo) was designed by English artist and illustrator Roger Dean: a young naked woman in mirror image with a large long-tailed serpent and the word "Virgin" in Dean's familiar script. A variation on the logo was used for the spin-off Caroline Records label.

The first release on the label was the progressive rock album Tubular Bells by multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield in 1973, for which the fledgling label garnered unprecedented acclaim.[4] This was soon followed by some notable krautrock releases, including electronic breakthrough album Phaedra by Tangerine Dream (which went Top 10), and The Faust Tapes and Faust IV by Faust. The Faust Tapes album retailed for 49p (the price of a 7" single) and as a result allowed this relatively unknown band to reach number 12 in the album charts. Other early albums include Gong's Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1), which Daevid Allen has been quoted as having never been paid for.

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  • Flight123

    On another note, UK viewers will see the latest Branson ad. for Virgin banking. It starts with a vinyl copy (and the theme from) 'Tubular Bells'. Sadly, no sign of the original Roger Dean design!

    March 2012

  • Flight123

    Interesting, reading the article on David Toop in the latest issue of The Wire (338) it mentions the compilation he did for Virgin 'Ocean of Sound', released in 1995, which triggered this reaction: 'There was a wild moment at Virgin in the mid-1990s, when a sector of the company, flashbacked to the label's pre-punk spirit of experimental eccentricity (Faust, Gong, Lol Coxhill, et al)" It is true that Branson launched V2 not long after, with Slapp Happy's 'Ca Va' as one of its releases...

    March 2012

  • faustandkluster

    I think I added Comus.

    March 2012

  • Flight123

    Rather belatedly I have noticed a lack of Clearlight! I think Comus also slip into the Virgin progressive fold (Lindsay Cooper was with them before joining Henry Cow)

    February 2012

  • Flight123

    According to Branson's autobiog. four albums were released simultaneously to launch Virgin records: 'Tubular Bells', 'Flying Teapot', 'The Faust Tapes' and 'Manor Live'! He later notes the Gong incident at the label's offices in 1976 and hearing Simon Draper playing the Sex Pistols as events that began the demise of 'Virgin Progressive Music'.

    February 2012

  • Flight123

    In response to Blutos below, check out: http://calyx.perso.neuf.fr/ Most of the Virgin prog bands have a full discography located there.

    January 2012

  • faustandkluster

    Gilgamesh is now added. Thanks for the tip.

    January 2012

  • blutos

    Has anyone ever went through the effort of putting together a full and detailed discography of their releases? I'm sure there's great stuff out there which no one has heard!

    January 2012

  • Flight123

    Gilgamesh also need to be added! Although released through the Caroline subsidiary, they were undoubtedly part of the Virgin prog roster and had very close links with the Hatfields - which ultimately resulted in National Health.

    January 2012

  • faustandkluster

    Can has now been added.Thanks for all the tips.

    December 2011

  • Flight123

    Can should be added - Virgin released three of their albums but were then part of the prog clear out in 1977.

    December 2011

  • umberto71

    That's right, my mistake. Much as I love Kevin Coyne, for a moment I erased the word "progressive" in this groups name ;)

    November 2011

  • Flight123

    Much as I like Kevin Coyne, I would be hard pressed to categorise his music as 'progressive'. Capt Beefheart and Ivor Cutler are probably more open to discussion. However, David Bedford is a definite!

    November 2011

  • umberto71

    ..........and KEVIN COYNE! How did I forget him on my first post. Shame on me!

    November 2011

  • umberto71

    Hi there, brilliant group for fantastic music, I'd say. The true Captain Beefheart would join Virgin in 1974. Ivor Cutler should be added, too. And the Oldfield-Friends David Bedford and Tom Newman.

    November 2011

  • faustandkluster

    Egg is now added

    November 2011

  • Flight123

    I should say, 'decline' on the part of Virgin's judgement - 'Concerts' is an amazing album!

    November 2011

  • Flight123

    Ah, good point - Egg released 'The Civil Surface' on the Virgin budget label, Caroline, after the band was defunct. Virgin also shunted Henry Cow 'Concerts' on to Caroline - another sign of decline.

    November 2011

  • HOD2010

    Where the f is EGG?

    November 2011

  • HOD2010

    Seen!

    November 2011
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