Fowl Records - Releases

Releases

Fowl released the first three J.C.S. recordings. the cassettes Chicken Scratch in 1993 Spit Burger Lottery in 1994 which were later put on one cd called 2 For 1 Special. 1995 a live cd called Giving Something Back was released. In 1996 Fowl incorporated and released "An Udderly Fowl Release," a compilation featuring regional powerhouses like the Kelly Bell Band, All Mighty Senators, Mary Prankster, and the unreleased Jimmie's Chicken Shack song, "Bongjam." There was a later compilation entitled "A Family Fowlbum."

Fowl was not focused on a particular genre of music, but regarded by its founders as a development tool for local and regional bands in the Mid-Atlantic Music Scene to gain exposure through Fowl's substantial local, regional and national distribution network as well as their online store which was one of the first independent online music and music merchandise stores. The Fowl Records business model was built around grass roots and lifestyle promotion, leveraging mail and (early) email lists gleaned from the substantial fanbases the bands developed by playing as many shows as possible. Fowl sold hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of CDs through its own distribution network.

At its peak Fowl was able to leverage its success and respect in the area by launching the local band stage, which was initially called "The Fowl Stage," at the highly regarded HFStival. Several of the label's artists won Wammies from the Washington Area Music Association. In the days before the massive consolidation of radio properties the programming staff at WHFS were highly supportive of Fowl Records, Jimmie's Chicken Shack and the label's other artists.