Noble Records, founded by Dillon Smith, stemmed from a lifelong passion for collecting records, eventually evolving into a full-time project. In addition to running Noble Records, Dillon has ventured into the realm of music production with his label, Noble Records Label, reissuing obscure gems from various genres.

The dream of opening a welcoming record store, devoid of elitism, led Dillon to establish Noble Records in 2019, offering a diverse selection with a focus on psych and prioritizing a friendly, inclusive atmosphere. What distinguishes Noble Records is its eclectic inventory, friendly staff, and commitment to providing a unique experience for customers. Dillon’s vision extends beyond merely selling records; he aims to foster a community around music appreciation, offering rare finds and exclusive releases to enrich the vinyl culture. With a focus on preserving musical legacies and introducing them to wider audiences, Dillon’s label endeavors to offer high-quality reissues and exclusive releases, showcasing overlooked masterpieces to a new generation of listeners.

“It was always a dream to open a real store”

Can you tell us about your journey in deciding to start your own record shop, Noble Records? What inspired this venture?

Dillon Smith: Well, I started collecting records when I was 10 years old, it’s been a thing I always come back to. It’s the one constant in my life, that always brought be joy. As an adult, I tried a bunch of 9-5 jobs, but never felt like I was fulfilling my purpose. I started selling records online in 2010, to supplement my income. In 2019 I was laid off from my job, and decided to go full time with records. We opened our brick and mortar shop in October of 2019. It was always a dream to open a real store. I had been in so many stores that just felt intimidating, with rude and arrogant staff, that made me uncomfortable. I always thought if a record store could have good records and nice staff, it would be unstoppable, so that has been my goal.

What sets Noble Records apart from other record shops?

I like to think, like every shop, we have our own style. I think every shop is special it its own way. Some shops focus on punk, or metal, or jazz. We do a lot of everything, but are definitely heavy on the psych. Personally, I collect everything from psych, to jazz to Zamrock, punk, library, blues… if it’s good, I like it, so I want my shop to reflect that. Also, my main focus, even above the records, is a friendly and welcoming staff. Everyone who walks in the door gets a “Hey, how’s it going!?” With a smile and eye contact. The community is a big part of what makes shops work, and we try to cultivate that.

Also, I want it to be an experience when you come in the store, there’s always stuff on the wall and in the bins that you don’t usually see. We always have some original Zamrock from Zambia, rare psych, out of print stuff, and anything else unique we can find.

How do you envision the synergy between Noble Records and your own label that you will start?

Well, the label is already underway, we already have licensed 6 albums and will have some vinyl out soon.

A little before I opened the shop, I started a YouTube channel where my focus is to talk about some of the obscure music that deserves more attention. We have been able to get the word out on some cool things that way.

A few years ago when RidingEasy Records reissued Randy Holden’s ‘Population II,’ they allowed me to do an exclusive color for my shop. We did 200 copies on yellow vinyl.

I put some on my website and some in the shop, and they sold out very quickly. After that, I heard Guerssen was reissuing Farm, and they let me do an exclusive as well. 300 copies on yellow vinyl. They sold out within hours on our website. Over the past few years we have done exclusives with RidingEasy, Guerssen, Ancient Grease, Ripple, Permanent Records, Colemine, and now we do an exclusive release every month. We have done Samuel Prody, Elias Hulk, Orang-Utan, Fresh Blueberry Pancake, Poobah, and more. So that has gotten my feet wet a little and a look behind the curtain.

Between the shop and our website, we have developed a reputation of recommending good records, and the label is a way we can supply them.

Could you share some insights into the process of acquiring the incredible masters you mentioned?

I’m still in the early stages, but one of my favorite parts has been tracking down the original band members and learning about the recording processes. Finding out who owns the rights can be tricky, but it’s like a puzzle, and I enjoy trying to solve it.

We do our best to get the master tapes if they exist, but with obscure bands, they usually don’t.

However, we have acquired a couple.

What criteria did you use to select these masters? Were there specific genres, eras, or artists you focused on?

Well, I am obsessed with records, always doing research and digging for them. When I find one that is great, that hasn’t had a good reissue, I start to consider possibly reissuing it. I usually focus on Psychedelic Rock, Prog and Hard Rock, but I’m not married to that. We did just license a jazz-fusion record. In choosing a record, I really just look for records that are very hard to find, but need more attention. I have a pretty good idea what will do well with my customer base, and what they will like. But more than anything, I try to have fun with it, and put things out that I really like.

Can you give us a glimpse into the significance of these masters? What makes them truly exceptional in your eyes?

There are some standout titles we have licensed, first of all, a local group called “Dryewater” they have a record called ‘Southpaw’ that was released in 1974. It’s really killer Hard Rock. Originals are very rare and sought after. We were able to get the original tape, and discovered there were some extended tracks and even an unreleased track. They are all available on streaming now, and our reissue will have those tracks.

Another one is Yezda Urfa – ‘Boris’. We also got the master tapes for it, and were able to restore them and get some really great sounding masters.

Are there any standout stories behind the discovery or acquisition of certain masters that you’d like to share with our audience?

I suppose they all have a story, but here’s the first story. A couple years ago, one of my local customers, and dear friends found a record at a yard sale called “Underground Fire” which looked awesome. It was a local record that I’d never seen or heard of, which is unusual. He brought it to the shop and we threw it on the turntable, and we were blown away. It was absolutely incredible psychedelic garage rock.

There was no info online about it, only 3 people had it on Discogs, it was a really undiscovered gem. So I reached out to one of the band members and we started discoursing a reissue. Through the course of that, I was able to find a mint copy, and we got the masters from that.

How do you plan to preserve and honor the legacy of these masters while also introducing them to audiences?

One of the main reasons I am doing this is to make this music more available to a wider audience. The legacy of the artists is paramount in the process. My goal is to put out the best sounding, looking, feeling pressings possible. Maintaining the integrity of the original while preserving the legacy of the band.

For instance, both Dryewater and Yezda Urfa are getting AAA mastering, 100% analog. They are being done at Quality Record Pressing.

This is the first time either of them have had a reissue from the tapes, we already have test pressings and they sound incredible!

In terms of releases, what genres or styles can we expect from your upcoming label? Are there any specific artists or projects you’re particularly excited about?

I have been focusing on Hard Rock, Psych, Garage and Prog, but I am open to anything. Would like to do some funk, or funk rock, the key is if I hear something that’s excites me, that’s my only perimeter.

I’m excited to share these albums I love with the rest of the world, they are all so special to me.

Could you provide some further details about the upcoming releases on your label? Any teasers or hints you can share with us?

I’m an open book! Here’s some that I can share:

Underground Fire – This was the first record we licensed, it’s very near and dear to my heart. Even the deepest underground collectors didn’t know about it until now, it’s not in The Endless Trip, Acid Archives or any of the Pokora books. It’s killer garage rock with fuzz guitar and teenage angst. It’s a real hidden gem, from my hometown, Monroe, NC, where I grew up as a kid.

Dryewater – ‘Southpaw’ – This is a killer one that most Hard Rock collectors have probably heard. Another North Carolina grail, hard to find even around here. Original copies are going for around $750 now. It has a very unique sound. I really love the vocals, melodic guitar solos and tight riffs. We have the master tapes, and lots of cool band pictures and history that hasn’t been released.

Yezda Urfa – ‘Boris’ – This is a deep Prog Rock cut. Original copies never come up for sale but when they do they are over $2,000. It’s a wild synthesizer trip from start to finish. It’s an incredible mind blower. It’s like Gentle Giant’s evil twin brother. Last time it was reissued was 2009 and those reissues are now $150+, so we are happy to get them back in the hands of people who love this weird stuff.

George Brigman – ‘Jungle Rot’ – Another notorious Hard Rock Face Melter. Original copies are very scarce and usually over $1,000. It’s some very heavy fuzz guitar darkness. It’ll be an exciting one that’s due for a good reissue.

Windflower- ‘Dreams’ – This one is another one you don’t hear much about. It’s some great psychedelic hippie rock from Pennsylvania. It’s got some nice twists and turns and a few surprises. Never been reissued until now!

Genre – ‘Commercial Success’ – This is our latest signing, a really wild jazz/prog/rock fusion record from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Some wild guitar funk that’s hard to pin to a certain Genre. Never been reissued, it’ll be available on streaming soon!

What are some of the most interesting records in your collection?

My collection is all over the place. I’ve bought so many collections over the years, I’ve tried to have an open mind so a lot of influence has seeped in. If I had to pick a few interesting ones, I would say:

Atomic Forest – ‘Obsession ‘77’ – an insane psychedelic rock/funk record from India.

The Psycheground Group – ‘Psychedelic And Underground Music’ – An incredibly rare Italian psychedelic library record that is just a psychedelic dream.

Fraction – ‘Moon Blood’ – Everyone knows about that one.

I have almost every Zamrock record, I’m only missing 2. I have a big South American Rock Collection, Italian Prog, Libraries, African Rock…

My biggest focus has been USA Private Press & obscure rock.

I just try to collect what I like.

Is there an album that has profoundly affected you more than others?

The one that comes to mind is definitely Townes Van Zandt – 1969 Self Titled. It’s one that has really changed my mind about songwriting, and is probably my most regular spin.

What are some of the unlikeliest places you’ve found records? Any memorable dollar-bin finds?

Oh man, when I was young I used to dumpster dive for records, found some interesting ones that way. Some of my best $1 finds over the years have been… A 1st Stereo ‘Love Supreme,’ A NM Led Zeppelin ‘II’ RL, Formula 1 – ‘Hold On,’ I found a 1st UK press of Jerusalem but that one cost me $10.

And what are you spinning right now on your turntable?

I just found a real clean 1st press Blue Note Duke Jordan – ‘Flight To Jordan’ in a collection, that’s the last thing I spun. I also just took a trip to Acoustic Sounds/Analogue Productions/Quality Record Pressing in Salina, Kansas to do some videos showing their process for my YouTube channel. They are pressing Yezda Urfa and Dryewater. I got a bunch of great audiophile records from them so I have been listening to their Atlantic 75 series and the UHQRs as well.

“I really love what records have done for me personally”

What are some future plans for Noble Records and your label?

I just want to continue doing things that make me happy, and do my part to grow the vinyl community.

I really love what records have done for me personally, and the community it has brought into my life. I’m still very new at this whole label thing, but I really want to uncover some great music and re-introduce it to the world.

I want to keep building the shop, making connections to always get better and more unique inventory, and make more friends in the community. Who knows what I’ll be doing a year from now, or 10 years from now. I’m just going to follow my passion and see where I end up!

Thank you. The last word is yours.

Thank you for having me, if your readers would like to see more of what we do, you can find my channel on YouTube, where I do videos about all this stuff. We also actively post on Instagram. The shop: @NobleRecords

The label @NobleRecordLabel

My collection @FindThisRecord

Thanks so much for the opportunity to talk about our label, I’m excited for this year’s releases!

Klemen Breznikar

Special thanks to: Joe Macchia

Noble Records Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube