Obscure Records


Obscure Records was a U.K. record label which existed from 1975 to 1978. It was created and curated by Brian Eno. Ten albums were issued in the series. Most have detailed liner notes on their back covers, analyzing the compositions and providing a biography of the composer, in a format typical of classical music albums, and much of the material can be regarded as 20th-century classical music. The label provided a venue for experimental music.

Discography

Obscure Records

CatalogYearArtistTitleNotes
Obscure no.11975Gavin BryarsThe Sinking of the TitanicRelease also contains Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet, which includes Derek Bailey on guitar and Michael Nyman on organ.
Obscure no.21975Christopher Hobbs, John Adams, Gavin BryarsEnsemble Pieces
Obscure no.31975Brian EnoDiscreet MusicTitle track utilizes the tape loop system previously used by Fripp & Eno in and soon to be known as Frippertronics
Obscure no.41975David Toop, Max EastleyNew and Rediscovered Musical InstrumentsDavid Toop's name appears first on the cover, but his tracks occupy side two. Toop's tracks are incorrectly listed in backward order on both cover and label of Island and Polydor editions. The Virgin CD reissue retains the cover and label order, but adjusts the running order of the tracks on the disc itself to match
Obscure no.51976Jan Steele, John CageVoices and InstrumentsFeatures Robert Wyatt singing two tracks
Obscure no.61976Michael NymanDecay Music
Obscure no.71976Members of the Penguin Café OrchestraMusic from the Penguin CaféLists Simon Jeffes as the artist on the label only, on Island and Polydor editions
Obscure OBS-81978John White, Gavin BryarsMachine Music
Obscure OBS-91978an opera by Tom Phillips, music by Gavin Bryars, libretto by Fred OrtonIrma
Obscure OBS-101978Harold BuddThe Pavilion of Dreams

Ambient Records

CatalogYearArtistTitle
Ambient/Polydor/EG AMB-0011978Brian Eno'
Editions EG EGAMB-0021980Harold Budd, Brian Eno'
Editions EG EGAMB-0031980Laraaji'
Editions EG EGED-201982Brian Eno'

Releases and editions

The first seven albums were issued on the Obscure label in 1975 and 1976, manufactured and distributed in the UK by Island Records whose name appeared at the bottom of the label. These have a catalogue number expressed as "Obscure no. 1" through 7 on the covers, or "OBSCURE-1" etc. on the labels. All albums use the original, mostly black, cover art.