JUMP UP RECORDS began in 1993 with very humble intentions. Come to think about it, we're still pretty humble. Back then, we pretty much released Midwestern Ska exclusively. You remember the American Skathic compilation series, right? Too young, you say? Well - our compilatons introduced the world to lots of great bands like Mustard Plug, The Suicide Machines, Hot Stove Jimmy, The Parka Kings, Slapstick, The Eclectics, and many many more. Those darn comps were everywhere. It was really fun then; we released Midwest bands because we believed in them. We also believed in the strong Midwest scene built around my radio show here in Chicago (on WNUR-FM from 1988-1996). Then the mid-90's hit, and suddenly everybody started a ska band, and it seems like everybody started a ska "label" too. The music REALLY suffered; it was all just bandwagon-jumping bands, who all sounded like Reel Big Fish or some other ska-punk band. It got really bad, and the true ska music fans turned away due to the over-commercialization of the scene. It wasn't a scene anymore - just lots of Warped Tour wannabes putting out bad records. Great labels like MOON SKA crumbled. JUMP UP!, however, dug it's heels in for the longhaul, and from the year 2000-2003 we were the only American ska label that continued to release new traditional ska music. We launched the STILL STANDING 4xCD BOX set and the ska world seemed to pick up again!
We're now at 75 releases...and there's no stopping us. We are still on the radio every week on WLUW-FM. We still organize concerts, and DJ every month at Delilah's. Listen to REAL SKA and JUMP UP! Records. We run the only internet mail order that carries NEW IMPORTED ska at CHEAP PRICES. Don't buy ska music from some internet punk site - they only sell the watered down punky junk. Stick with JUMP UP! Records, we won't steer you wrong! We take pride in what we offer! Guess that didn't sound so humble after all...
Chuck Wren, Owner, Order Packer, all around good guy
