How The Braces Got Blackmailed Into Their First Album Deal (And Enjoyed Every Minute Of It)

This post is part of the Ska Memoirs series. Today I would like to take you back to my hometown Krefeld in the summer of 1988.

My mother speaks English fairly well. She can easily impress her family and friends when reciting a monologue from Shakespeare’s „Macbeth.“ She will start with the words „Is that a dagger in my hand …?“ and go on for minutes.

But nothing has prepared her for talks with English-speaking record label owners looking to make a deal. Her first conversation on the phone with Mark Johnson goes something like this:

Mum: „Huerlimann.“ (her last name, different from mine, a long story)
MJ: „Hi, this is Mark Johnson from Unicorn Records in London“, could I please talk to Joachim Uerschels?“
Mum: „No.“
MJ: Do I have the right number? Shall I call back later?
Mum: Yes.
MJ: When will he come back? I am calling to make an offer concerning The Braces.“
Mum: „ I sink he just opened se door.“

Mark now hears some German mumbling between mother and son at a distance from the receiver. Then I take over. Not that I am more prepared for any such negotiations. But if you are in a Ska band in the late 1980s you shouldn’t be surprised.

The offer

After introducing himself (which isn’t necessary, because I own a good number of his label’s records), Mark Johnson gets right to the point. He tells me he knows about The Braces by listening to the “Skank – Licensed To Ska” compilation that was just released by “Skank/Link Records. And then he drops the bomb: “Unicorn Records would like to release your band’s first album.”

The objections

“Hm”, I say, trying to win some time in search of the right words in a foreign language. At the same time I think of all the other bands that desperately want some label’s attention, while The Braces are being hunted down. Catching a glimpse of my face in the glass table I’m surprised how ugly my grin can be. Many others would have shouted “yes!” before catching breath. Not me! But then again, I realize I should at least say SOMETHING before the line is dead. Here is my brilliant move: “Link Records has already asked us to publish our album with them.” And the best thing is, it isn’t even a lie.

The homerun

The pause on his side isn’t half as long. “That’s no problem.” Mark addresses my objections directly by saying that Unicorn and Link Records work together on some projects …and that he is giving us a better deal. Then he lets me know the details, as if he hasn’t even heard a „but“.

He talks about the label’s reputation, about global distribution, about label mates like The Deltones, Napoleon Solo and Skaos and about the fair income split between label and bands. But what really gets to me are two things. Mark says, if you join Unicorn you

1. get the chance to tour with Bad Manners through the UK.
2. are invited to the 1. London International Ska Festival.

If there has ever been a sense of solidarity with Link Records, I have miraculously lost touch with it by now. Because even I understand Mark’s implication: “And if you do NOT sign with us, you will never have 1 and 2.”

There is no way for a young Ska band to turn down the offer to play with Bad Manners on a UK tour. And come on, who doesn’t want to play at the 1. International Ska Festival in London? The Trojans, Bim Skala Bim … and even Prince Buster will be there.

I thank Mark for the info and promise to call back after I talked with the rest of the band. Upon meeting later that day we share the opinion that this is no offer, but a blackmail. We gladly accept.“

What’s the morale?

I don’t know what BANDS can learn here, but there is definitely something in it for record label executives. If you are on the lookout for good bands, just follow this route to success: Organize a festival that everyone wants to be part of.

Let me emphasize that Mark Johnson kept his word. Details of The Braces
tour with Bad Manners through the UK and the 1. London International Ska Festival will be shared here in the next posts of the “Ska memoirs series”. If you like to stay connected, join Joe Scholes on Facebook, claim the free newsletter with special offers, or use RSS.