Skull Valley Records | Interview | Outsider and “Real People” Music and Culture
Skull Valley Records is a new independent record label trying to archive and preserve Outsider and “Real People” Music and Culture, specifically that of Arizona and the “Four Corners” States.
Originally started by Jesse Bass, the label has a fascinating YouTube channel with countless private press and weirdo records. Bass has also managed to reissue ‘While In Exile’ by Terry Telson. For nearly three years Terry Telson isolated himself in the high mountains of Prescott, Arizona working diligently to perfect his craft. His effort, ‘While In Exile’ (released locally in 1975) fully embodies the spirit of the true Arizona poet, whose dedication and skill is displayed through grueling hard work, sacrifice and outright honesty. The label originally debuted with the release of ‘Chantli’ by Jesse Bass’s own project called Mazatzal.
“I have always been a sucker for anything with a D.I.Y. charm to it”
Where and when did you grow up? Was music a big part of your family life?
Jesse Bass: I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. Music has always been a part of my life, my father studied Jazz History at Tulane University in New Orleans and passed on his love and appreciation for the genre to me, while my mom, who grew up in New York in the 1960’s, got me into guys like Neil Young to Blue Cheer from a young age. My older brother was also a drummer in a bunch of local punk bands, which helped inspire me to start playing bass when I was around nine or ten.
What was it about music that made you start collecting records?
Growing up with deep, enriching collections around me, my personal collecting just came naturally. Cover art and design have always made a big impact on the records I buy. I have always been a sucker for anything with a D.I.Y. charm to it; private press records with stock cover copies have always been a staple of my collection. A couple years into my collecting I started to notice more and more records from Arizona in my collection and that in turn blossomed into my obsession with all privately released music from my home state.
Do you recall what are some of the first albums you got?
Besides my parent’s hand-me-down vinyl, I think the first things I really started collecting deeply were psychedelic rock albums. Bands like The 13th Floor Elevators, The Velvet Underground, Red Krayola, and anything that sounded trippy.
Is there a certain record that truly inspired you to become a collector?
There were certain records that definitely impacted which direction my collection was going to go for the time. Speaking on the Arizona aspect of my collection, I remember being drawn to the individuality of artists on local labels like Soundtech, Audio Recorders Arizona, and Canyon. I came up on Mike Craig’s ‘Stuck In Phoenix’ pretty early into my collecting, which really grew my knowledge and appreciation for the deep, weird world of private press “real people” records.
What are some of the most interesting records in your collection?
That’s a really hard question, I have really narrowed my collection down to mostly private press obscurities lately, and I feel every record could tell an interesting story. The more D.I.Y. independent records with the more obscured back-stories really seem to interest me the most. Single-sided Audition Recordings and acetates are really interesting in that most of the stories behind them have been lost.
Who have been some of your “mentors” in record collecting? Who have you learned the most from?
Throughout the years I have had a few people introduce me to certain genres and aspects of collecting that I was unfamiliar with beforehand. Early on when I started posting obscure songs on to my YouTube channel, guys like Robert Jacob Sanders and James from Thrift Store Vinyl opened up my appreciation for the likes of lounge music and all things gospel. Recently, my label partner Stephen Chin (Mr. Chinn) has really helped me appreciate dance music and the 12” aspect of collecting. All in all, I am constantly growing my appreciation for all aspects of collecting, and I find inspiration in other collectors being proud of whatever facet of music they are into.
Is there an album that has profoundly affected you more than others?
Richard Powell’s ‘Memories of Glenavy’ definitely changed the game for me. The Numero Group got in contact with me through one of the YouTube uploads I made from the album letting me know they had secured the rights to the album from Mr. Powell, but could not trace down an actual copy.
I ended up working with them to help remaster the album directly from my LP, which in turn saw a digital reissue of the entire LP, plus a track ending up on Numero’s excellent ‘Whispers: Lounge Originals’ compilation. Being a part of that really helped me see the possibility of preserving some of my own records for the present and future waive of collectors.
Unlikeliest places you’ve found records? Memorable dollar-bin finds?
I find most of my records in unlikely places; thrift stores, estate sales, barns, the grimier the better. I came up with a few thousand records (including many local Arizona grails) for free sitting outside of the house waiting to go to the dump. I do not find any of my records in a standard way. I have found many unknown and forgotten LPs in dollar bins.
You have a rather extensive collection of underground music. Can you describe what you like to collect the most?
I really enjoy music by real people. Genuine private press records by people who put the entirety of their efforts into a certain project for a time. The more primitive or minimal the cover or design, the more interest I generally have in record. Anything with a basement / D.I.Y charm appeals to me.
“I own a whole lot of unknown records”
Do you own anything else which is widely unheard by others?
I own a whole lot of unknown records. Since starting my label I really haven’t had the time to be submitting and posting records as much, but I am still collecting them every day. I have been working on compiling these more and more…on to mixes for people to enjoy a certain aspect of my collecting.
As to rarity, what are your 5 rarest records?
Again, that’s a tough question as so many of my records are private press “budget” records. In terms of more well known records I would say, Morris Belknap’s ‘Jesus Saves’ (less than fifty of these were ever distributed), Charlie Harwood’s ‘In My World’ (an unknown soul demo out of Phoenix), Bryce Wemple’s ‘Mutual Amusement’ (fifty copies were sent to Europe and the other fifty copies stayed near Ft. Collins Colorado in 1986), Dennis Larsson’s ‘History Of Damage’ (200 copies pressed and distributed only in North Dakota) and Feel Ideal’s ‘Heaven On Earth’ (also known as the ‘Wasted Peyote’ LP, this one features three inserts filled with nonsensical gibberish).
Tell us how your YouTube channel was born?
I originally started my YouTube to help preserve the unknown and forgotten records I had in my collection. This in turn grew into my label, Skull Valley Records.
How do you manage to get so many obscure private press releases?
I feel like the deeper you go to dig, the more obscure stuff you find. I have been fortunate to find many private press records in the actual cities / towns where they were released forty to fifty years prior.
It is extremely exciting that you started the label. Would you like to present what is the main concept behind it?
Thank you so much! Skull Valley Records was started with the intention of both preserving the more unknown and real people records in my collection, while also making them more accessible to a broader audience. We are intent on presenting high-quality remastered audio for both digital reissues and limited vinyl and tape releases to keep the ethos of the private press alive.
So far you have two records out. ‘Chantli’ by Mazatzal and ‘While In Exile’ by Terry Telson. What’s the background story to those two records?
Chantli was my first venture into releasing my own personal music. I make ambient / new age music under the name Mazatzal in which I incorporate field recordings I take around the state with lush synthesized atmospheres. Making and recording the sounds and music for my Mazatzal releases is almost more therapy for me than anything. I have been overwhelmed by the positivity that I was met with upon releasing Chantli.
Terry Telson’s ‘While In Exile’ was Skull Valley Records first reissue. Released in the mountain town of Prescott, Arizona in 1975, While In Exile is as genuine and as masterful as any private press folk record I have come across. Originally from Chicago, Terry was burnt out from the hustle and bustle of the local folk music circuit (which included the likes of John Prine and Steve Goodman) and found himself in Prescott just trying to clear his mind.
Terry recorded the LP by himself in his living room, and distributed the original 200 copies in and around Prescott. It has since become a bit of a forgotten grail, and being a completely original Arizona classic, I felt like it would make an excellent introduction to the depths of private press Arizona folk music.
We’re extremely grateful for the reception we’ve had to the project as a whole and we’re very excited to be entering the world of preserving lost and forgotten music.
Can you reveal some of the future plans?
We currently have our second vinyl reissue in production, and are working on preserving more unknown music for our digital database. I don’t want to give too much away, but the reissue is another lost Arizona LP that has flown completely under-the-radar for almost fifty years! Digitally speaking, we have a couple LP’s in the works as well as a live tape from the 1970’s from one of our artists. We are extremely excited to be presenting everything we have in store!
This was a lot of fun. Last word is yours.
I really appreciate all the love and support everyone has shown me in every step of this journey. If the stories behind these private press records can teach you anything, it’s the importance of community and building an enriching, positive support team. I hope that Skull Valley Records can help inspire someone to both see the importance of preserving and respecting the past, while also grasping the importance of creating new and original work.
Klemen Breznikar
Skull Valley Records Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
