Summerhouse Records

Summerhouse was formed in 1986 in Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England. Its aim was to tap into the flow of leading independent bands passing through the area’s Dovecot Arts Centre, where label founder William Jones was working as Music Officer, and provide an outlet for some of the region’s own bands, centring on those of Jones and collaborator Carl Green.Securing distribution deals initially with Probe Plus and then Red Rhino, Summerhouse launched with a batch of three singles, from Friends, Whirlpool Guest House and highly tipped Lincoln band 4,000,000 Telephones. The Telephones, who had already released a home-produced album on their own Bunker label, were particularly successful in Germany, where they had built a reputation through touring.Singles and albums from the three bands were followed by the signing of Rumblefish and Quinn The Eskimo. Rumblefish were arguably the most fashionable band on the extremely fashionable Pink Label and released two 12” singles on Summerhouse before moving on to East West. The onward growth of the label was interrupted by the liquidation of Red Rhino and Summerhouse sought alternative distribution.During the 1990s Friends teamed up with producer John Spence at Fairview Studios in Hull and released a series of albums. A debut album from Shandy Wildtyme and a series of live dates with Friends followed before Shandy Wildtyme split up in late 1995.In 1999 the label moved to London, and embarked on a new schedule of releases, including new Friends albums, two 12” singles by the dance music act Southbeach, retrospective albums from 4,000,000 Telephones and Rumblefish, and in 2007 the album by Belgian band Showstar.