Beserkley Records Discography
By Patrice Eyries, Mike Callahan, and David Edwards
Last update: December 27, 2005





Beserkley Records was an independent label founded by Matthew King Kaufman in Berkeley, California, about 1975. It anticipated the "alternative rock" genre by providing a label for music that didn't interest the majors, but was exciting to college age music fans.

Kaufman was manager of the group Earth Quake, who had done a couple of albums for A&M in 1971- 72, but had no real success and were not picked up by any of the existing labels when their contract with A&M was up. Kaufman started his own label "to have fun and make some interesting recordings." In addition to Earth Quake, Kaufman signed Jonathan Richman, Greg Kihn, and the Rubinoos. The first single issued was Earth Quake's "Friday On My Mind" coupled with "Roadrunner" by Jonathan Richman.

In fact, Beserkley had only a handful of artists on the label at any given time throughout their history. The biggest name artist was the Greg Kihn Band, who had a number of national hits. Both Earth Quake and the Rubinoos also placed records on the national charts. And although Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers didn't chart nationally, they still had, and have, a strong following.

Matthew King Kaufman recently wrote to us and gave us some insight on the label. Kaufman noted, "Really, Earth Quake turned down offers and formed a record company with me, and then had five successful LPs. They were the band for Jonathan Richman's 'Roadrunner' and Little Roger's 'Stairway to Gilligan's Island.' As for charting, Jonathan Richman's 'Roadrunner' was top ten everywhere but here, and 'Egyptian Reggae' was #1 worldwide. Kihn's 'Break-up Song' made #9 and 'Jeopardy' was #1 everywhere but here, where it spent 8 weeks at #2."

In addition to calling themselves "Home of the Hits," Beserkley had the hubris to start their album catalog with a "greatest hits" album called Beserkley Chartbusters, Volume 1, as if they HAD any chartbusters at the time. In fact, according to an interview with members of the Rubinoos, some of the songs were recorded especially for that album - - they weren't even singles beforehand!

Their records were initially distributed by Playboy until about 1977, then by Janus/GRT until GRT folded in 1979. GRT was formed in the sixties, as one of the original 4-track (and then reel-to-reel, 8-Track, and cassette) tape duplicators. In their heyday, they were the tape duplicator for ABC Records, Arista Records, and dozens of major labels. GRT also owned several notable record labels besides Janus, most notably Chess, Checker, Cadet and Barnaby.

Beserkley was without distribution for several months, but inked a distribution deal with Elektra/Asylum starting in 1979. About 1984, they started running into money problems and stopped issuing records, although they had a subsidiary, Son of Beserkeley, operating into the 1990s. Kaufman told us, "We closed Beserkely because of corporate rock and independent promotion."

Today Kaufman is in another music production endeavor called Sobent (located in Berkeley, naturally). Sobent is aimed at "direct communication between the artist and fan." Their web page notes that it "helps architect and integrate the various digital mediums to establish a fan focused, artist operated, internet presence." The medium may have changed since 1975, but the philosophy remains the same.

We would appreciate any additions or corrections to this discography. Just send them to us via e-mail. Both Sides Now Publications is an information web page. We are not a catalog, nor can we provide the records listed below. We have no association with Beserkley Records. Should you be interested in acquiring albums listed in this discography (which are all out of print), we suggest you see our Frequently Asked Questions page and follow the instructions found there. This story and discography are copyright 2000, 2001, 2005 by Mike Callahan.




BESERKLEY RECORDS ALBUM DISCOGRAPHY

Record Number - Album Title - Artist [Issue date] (Chart) Contents

Tracks are listed in order of appearance on the LP, except for albums indicated with an asterisk (*), whose tracks are listed alphabetically because we do not have the track lineup information.

0044-0069 series (Playboy/CBS distribution):

BZ 0044 - Beserkley Chartbusters, Volume I - Various Artists [1975] Reissued in 1978 as JBZ-0044 distributed Janus/GRT. Friday On My Mind - Earth Quake/All The Right Reasons - Greg Kihn/Gorilla - Rubinoos/The New Teller - Jonathan Richman/Road Runner - Jonathan Richman//Tall Order For A Short Guy - Earth Quake/Mr. Security - Earth Quake/Government Center - Jonathan Richman/It Will Stand - Jonathan Richman/Mood Mood Number - Greg Kihn/Sitting In The Middle Of Madness - Earth Quake

BZ 0045 - Rocking the World - Earth Quake [1975] Route 66/Power Glide Slide/Friday On My Mind/(Sitting In The Middle Of) Madness//Mr. Security/Tin Soldier/Head Held High/Ma Ma Ma Belle

BZ 0046 - Greg Kihn - Greg Kihn [2/76] Don't Expect To Be Right/Any Other Woman/Emily Davison/Try Try To Fall In Love/Kid From Louieville//Worse Or Better/He Will Break Your Heart/What Goes On/Satisfied/Why Don't You Try Me

BZ 0047 - 8.5 - Earth Quake [1976] (9-76, #151) Finders Keepers/Little Cindy/And He Likes To Hurt You/Savin' My Love//Girl Named Jesse James/Motivate Me/Hit The Floor/Same Old Story/Don't Want To Go Back

BZ 0048 - Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - Jonathan Richman & Modern Lovers [1976] Reissued in 1978 as JBZ 0048 distributed by Janus/GRT. Rockin' Shopping Center/Back In The USA/Important In Your Life/New England/Lonely Financial Zone//Hi Dear/Abominable Snowman/Hey There Little Insect/Here Comes The Martian Martians/Springtime/Amazing Grace

BZ 0049 -

BZ 0050 - The Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers [1976] Reissued in 1978 as JBZ 0050 distributed by Janus/GRT. Roadrunner/Astral Plane/Old World/Pablo Picasso//She Cracked/Hospital/Someone I Care About/Girl Friend/Modern World

BZ 0051 - The Rubinoos - Rubinoos [1977] I Think We're Alone Now/Leave My Heart Alone/Hard To Get/Peek-A-Boo/Rock And Roll Is Dead//Memories/Nothing A Little Love Won't Cure/Wouldn't It Be Nice/Make It Easy/I Never Thought It Would Happen

BZ 0052 - Greg Kihn Again - Greg Kihn [5/77] Love's Made A Fool Of You/Island/Last Of Me/Real Big Man/Politics//Hurt So Bad/For You/If You Be My Love/Madison Avenue/Untie My Hands

BZ 0053 - Rock 'N' Roll with the Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers [1977] The Sweeping Wind (Kwa Ti Feng)/Ice Cream Man/Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns/Summer Morning/Afternoon/Fly Into The Mystery//South American Folk Song/Roller Coaster By The Sea/Dodge Veg-O-Matic/Egyptian Reggae/Coomyah/The Wheels On The Bus/Angels Watching Over Me

BZ 0054 - Leveled - Earth Quake [1977] Lovin' Cup/Emma/Kicks/Trainride//Nothing Personal/Street Fever/Julie Anne/Upstairs


Distributed by Janus/GRT.

JBZ 0055 - Modern Lovers Live - Modern Lovers [1978] I'm A Little Airplane/Hey There Little Insect/Egyptian Reggae/Ice Cream Man//I'm A Little Dinosaur/My Little Kookenhaken/South American Folk Song/New England/The Morning Of Our Lives

JBZ 0056 - Next of Kihn - Greg Kihn Band [7/78] (9-78, #145) Cold Hard Cash/Museum/Remember/Chinatown//Sorry/Everybody Else/Understander/Secret Meetings

JBZ 0057 - Yachtless - Tyla Gang [1977] Hurricane (Standing In The Middle Of)/Dust On The Needle/On The Street/New York Sun/Speedball Morning//Don't Shift A Gear/Lost Angels/The Young Lords/Whizz Kids/Don't Turn Your Radio On

JBZ 0058 - Spitballs - Spitballs [1978] I Can Only Give You Everything/Gino Is A Coward/Over And Over/Bad Moon Rising/Life's Too Short/Let Her Dance/I Want Her So Bad/Telstar//Way Over There/Chapel Of Love/Knock On Wood/Just Like Me/Boris The Spider/Feel Too Good/Batman

JBZ 0059 - Moonproof - Tyla Gang [1978] Tropical Love/Oakland Red/It's Gonna Rain/Did You Hear It On The Radio/Rodeo//Walking The Dog/Spanish Street/No Roses/American Mother/Suicide Jockey/Flashing In The Subway

JBZ 0060 - Back in Your Life - Jonathan Richman & Modern Lovers [1979] Distributed by Playboy/CBS. Abdul And Cleopatra/(She's Gonna) Respect Me/Lover Please/Affection/Buzz Buzz Buzz/Back In Your Life//Party In The Woods Tonight/My Love Is A Flower (Just Beginning To Bloom)/I'm A Nature's Mosquito/Emaline/Lydia/I Hear You Calling Me

JBZ 0061 - Back to the Drawing Board! - Rubinoos [1979] Fallin' In Love/I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend/Promise Me/Hold Me/Ronnie/Drivin' Music//Operator/Arcade Queen/Lightning Love Affair/1, 2, 3 Forever


BZ 10000 series (Elektra distribution; previous series continues with an additional "1" at the front of the catalog number):

BZ 10060 - Back in Your Life - Jonathan Richman & Modern Lovers [1979] Reissue of Beserkley JBZ 0060. Abdul And Cleopatra/(She's Gonna) Respect Me/Lover Please/Affection/Buzz Buzz Buzz/Back In Your Life//Party In The Woods Tonight/My Love Is A Flower (Just Beginning To Bloom)/I'm A Nature's Mosquito/Emaline/Lydia/I Hear You Calling Me

BZ 10061 - Back to the Drawing Board! - Rubinoos [1979] Reissue of Beserkley JBZ 0061. Fallin' In Love/I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend/Promise Me/Hold Me/Ronnie/Drivin' Music//Operator/Arcade Queen/Lightning Love Affair/1, 2, 3 Forever

BZ 10062 -

BZ 10063 - With the Naked Eye - Greg Kihn Band [6/79] (8-79, #114) Rendezvous/In The Naked Eye/Getting Away With Murder/Moulin Rouge/Beside Myself//Roadrunner/Another Lonely Saturday Night/Can't Have The Highs (Without The Lows)/Fallen Idol

BZ 10064 -

BZ 10065 - Two Years in a Padded Cell - Earth Quake [1979] Goodbye California/Tremor's Touch/Don't Stop Me Now/Mr. Stranger/Trouble//Coming Home/Say You Will/Rear View/Teen Age Idol/I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye

BZ 10066 -

BZ 10067 -

BZ 10068 - Glass House Rock - Greg Kihn Band [3/80] (4-80, #167) Castaway/Desire Me/Anna Belle Lee/Things To Come/Small Change//The Only Dance There Is/The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance/Serenade Her/Night After Night/For Your Love

BZ 10069 - GregRockihnrollBand - Greg Kihn Band [4/81] (4-81, #32) Valerie/The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)/Womankind/Can't Stop Hurtin' Myself/Trouble In Paradise//Sheila/Nothing's Gonna Change/The Girl Most Likely/When The Music Starts/True Confessions


60000 series (Elektra consolidated series):

E1 60101 - Kihntinued - Greg Kihn Band [3/82] (4-82, #33) Happy Man/Every Love Song/Everyday/Saturday/Dedication/Tell Me Lies//Testify/Sound System/Seeing Is Believing/Higher And Higher/Family

E1 60116 - Next of Kihn - Greg Kihn Band [1982] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0056. Cold Hard Cash/Museum/Remember/Chinatown//Sorry/Everybody Else/Understander/Secret Meetings

E1 60117 - Greg Kihn Again - Greg Kihn [1982] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0052. Love's Made A Fool Of You/Island/Last Of Me/Real Big Man/Politics//Hurt So Bad/For You/If You Be My Love/Madison Avenue/Untie My Hands

60224-1 - Kihnspiracy - Greg Kihn Band [2/83] (3-83, #15) Jeopardy/Fascination/Tear That City Down/Talkin' To Myself/Can't Love Them All//I Fall To Pieces/Someday/Curious/How Long/Lover Never Fails

60354-1 - Kihntagious - Greg Kihn Band [5/84] (6-84, #121) Reunited/Rock/Make Up/Stand Together/Confrontation Music//One Thing About Love/Worst That Could Happen/Trouble With The Girl/Cheri Baby/Hard Times/Work, Work, Work


PZ 34000 series (Distributed by Playboy/CBS, in the CBS consolidated series):

PZ 34752 - Rocking the World - Earth Quake [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0045. Route 66/Power Glide Slide/Friday On My Mind/(Sitting In The Middle Of) Madness//Mr. Security/Tin Soldier/Head Held High/Ma Ma Ma Belle

PZ 34754 - 8.5 - Earth Quake [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0047. Finders Keepers/Little Cindy/And He Likes To Hurt You/Savin' My Love//Girl Named Jesse James/Motivate Me/Hit The Floor/Same Old Story/Don't Want To Go Back

PZ 34778 - The Rubinoos - Rubinoos [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0051. I Think We're Alone Now/Leave My Heart Alone/Hard To Get/Peek-A-Boo/Rock And Roll Is Dead//Memories/Nothing A Little Love Won't Cure/Wouldn't It Be Nice/Make It Easy/I Never Thought It Would Happen

PZ 34779 - Greg Kihn Again - Greg Kihn [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0052. Love's Made A Fool Of You/Island/Last Of Me/Real Big Man/Politics//Hurt So Bad/For You/If You Be My Love/Madison Avenue/Untie My Hands

PZ 34800 - Rock 'N' Roll with the Modern Lovers - Modern Lovers [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0053. The Sweeping Wind (Kwa Ti Feng)/Ice Cream Man/Rockin' Rockin' Leprechauns/Summer Morning/Afternoon/Fly Into The Mystery//South American Folk Song/Roller Coaster By The Sea/Dodge Veg-O-Matic/Egyptian Reggae/Coomyah/The Wheels On The Bus/Angels Watching Over Me

PZ 34801 - Leveled - Earth Quake [1977] Reissue of Beserkley BZ 0054. Lovin' Cup/Emma/Kicks/Trainride//Nothing Personal/Street Fever/Julie Anne/Upstairs


Related LP:

HOME OF THE HITS
HH-1911 - Scoop's Last News Shows - Various Artists [1976] Produced by Scoop Nisker of radio station KSAN-FM in San Francisco. "Scoop's Last News Show" was a regular feature on KSAN. This LP is a collection of news bits performed on KSAN as well as music performed by Energy Crisis (Phil Marsh/Tom Ralston/Bruce Barthol/Gary Salzman). The Kali Yuga Boogie/Chicago/Guru Voodoo And Doodoo/The Swami From Miami/Dark At The End Of The Tunnel/Skylab/It's All Over Now/Kickin' The Dick Around//I'm A Turkey, Not A Ford/Tantric Boogie/Kissinger My Brezhnev/Natural Calamities And Unnatural Acts/The Double-Breasted Sutra/The Apocalyptic Bicentennial Conspiracy Show/Kundalini Cowboy


Related CDs:

BLACKHEART
BH-128 - Beserkley's Best: Home of the Hits Revisited - Various Artists [1993] Roadrunner - Jonathan Richman/Friday On My Mind - Earth Quake/The Break-Up Song - Greg Kihn Band/Let Her dance - Spitballs/Egyptian Reggae - Jonathan Richmond & Modern Lovers/Jeopardy - Greg Kihn Band/I Want To Kill Everybody - Ed Haynes/R.A.D.I.O. - Count Pulaski & His Five-Minute Men/I Think We're Alone Now - Rubinoos/Tropical Love - Tyla Gang/Madness - Earth Quake/Astral Plane - Modern Lovers/Gearing Up For A Breakdown - Hobo/Ring On Her Finger - Lover's Leap/Visions Of You - Mrs. Green/Smell Of The Newsprint - Linda Brady/Backstabber - Eleven Bloody Men/Silent Night - Son Of Pete


RHINO/BESERKLEY
R2 70900 - KihnSolidation - Greg Kihn Band [1989] The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)/Jeopardy/Someday/Lucky/Reunited/Small Change/Can't Stop Hurtin' Myself/Any Other Woman/Happy Man/Testify/Sorry/Remember/For You/Madison Avenue/Rendezvous/In The Naked Eye/Anna Belle Lee/Love And Rock And Roll


Special thanks to Matthew King Kaufman (founder of Beserkely), David Stewart, Steve Brown, Abraham King, John Cuthbertson, and Marty Rudnick (GRT Mastering Engineer 1973-1979) .



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