since 1996!

303 W Griggs St, Urbana IL 61801 USA
phone: 217-344-4070
fax: 217-344-8652
e-mail: distro@parasol.com

WELCOME TO PARASOL DISTRIBUTION’S PAGE!

Parasol Distribution sells the best independent music in the world to independent music shops throughout the USA, Japan, and the rest of the world. We sell releases that our own in-house labels (Parasol, Mud, Spur and Hidden Agenda) put out, along with the exclusive labels we distribute (Shinkansen, Sonic Enemy, etc) and sometimes manufacture (Elephant 6, Twelve Inch, Grand Theft Autumn, Martians Go Home, Bus Stop, etc). We also stock a wide selection of other titles from 100s of other indie labels. We carry tons of vinyl and compact discs, plus zines and books relative to our/your indie-pop lifestyles.

Angie Heaton handles the retail sales, records occasionally for Mud Records, and generally keeps things sane. Jim Kelly does export and distributor sales, buys everything from everybody.

We let shops know what we have via our weekly New Release fax or e-mail list. If you're a retail outlet and want to know what we got in that week, you can e-mail or call us (217-344-4070) and we'll fax or e-mail the update to you. We love e-mail, and it's the cheapest way to share the information!

If you're a distributor and you're interested in carrying the Parasol, Mud, Hidden Agenda and Spur catalogs (plus our various manufactured/exclusive labels), get in touch!

IN-HOUSE, EXCLUSIVES and MANUFACTURED LABELS...

PARASOL Records:
Pop stuff from around the world…
Bands like Wolfie, White Town, Starlet, Weird Summer...

MUD Records:
Local indie-rock mostly, from our own Midwestern scene…
Bands like Sarge, Braid, Very Secretary, Angie Heaton, and last but-not least Feaze!

SPUR Records:
Our little Americana imprint, countrified rock and pop sounds…
Bands like Steve Pride, Herring Boys, and Philo!

HIDDEN AGENDA Records:
Exploratory Pop weirdness from many cracks and crevices…
Bands like Bikeride, Quickspace, The Gerbils, Novak, Vitesse, and Ken Stringfellow!

PARASOL’s EXCLUSIVE Labels!

In addition to the Parasol, Mud, Hidden Agenda and Spur labels, we also have a few labels that we carry exclusively, manufacturing and distribution agreements mostly, which means buying from us gets you the very best price and a head start on the release before they get shipped to others distributors!

BUS STOP Records (manufactured+distributed by Parasol):
Bus Stop's newest release is a 7" by the Orange Peels (Allen Clapp's new band). Bus Stop has also recently re-printed a couple of their old Rocketship singles and the Allen Clapp LP+CD (100% Chance of Rain).

ELEPHANT 6 Recording Co (manufactured+distributed by Parasol):
The label run by Robert and Hilarie of The Apples In Stereo. While the name gets dropped everywhere this is the official label for "the collective"! Past releases (some out-of-print) include stuff from The Minders, Beulah, The Music Tapes, Secret Square, Von Hemmling, and Marbles... Look for newies by Essex Green, Admiral, The Marbles and more in the "near future"!

GRAND THEFT AUTUMN Records (manufactured+distributed by Parasol):
Two of the former Braid fellows run this label: Roy (currently in Very Secretary) and Todd. While the backcatalog is in-and-out-of-print there's new stuff from their pals Kind Of Like Spitting and a new CD featuring an ex-member of Low called Best Boy Electric. Coming soon are CD releases by Camden and Snail House.

MARTIANS GO HOME Records (exclusively distributed by Parasol):
Hum's very own label! Martians Go Home offers Hum's CD re-issue of 'Electra 2000' and the vinyl version of their 'Downward Is Heavenward' album! No word on new releases but we'll let you know.

SHINKANSEN Recordings (exclusively imported+distributed by Parasol for the USA):
Matt from Sarah Records "new" imprint (since 1996) features releases by Trembling Blue Stars, The Field Mice, Blueboy, Harvey Williams, Monograph, Cody, and Tompot Blenny.

TWELVE INCH Records (manufactured+distributed by Parasol):
The label run by Rick and Rose of The Poster Children. Most recent releases include 2 full lengths of the Poster Kids' Salaryman techno project (on LP+CD)! Plus some other backcatalog lying around...

Please contact us if you would like to buy from or sell to Parasol Distribution, and we will be happy to send you more information...