Shrapnel Records

Shrapnel Records is an American record label group founded by record producer Mike Varney. The group principally uses the Shrapnel Records record label, a guitar-oriented label which features shred guitar, hard rock, metal and progressive metal. In the 1990s, he also started the Tone Center Records and Blues Bureau International sublabels to promote fusion and blues.

Blues Bureau artists include Rick Derringer, Eric Gales, Marc Ford, Chris Duarte, Leslie West and Pat Travers.

Tone Center Records grew out of Varney's admiration for the jazz fusion of the 1970s and groups such as The Tony Williams Lifetime, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return to Forever, and Soft Machine. Tone Center's early releases included drummer Steve Smith and guitarists Larry Coryell, Frank Gambale, and Scott Henderson.

History Guitarist Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth and Cacophony), one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album Unsung Guitar Heroes II in 1980 with the band Vixen. Vixen would later change their name to Hawaii and release the album One Nation Underground for Shrapnel. In 1981, a friend gave Mike Varney a tape featuring a 17-year-old Swedish guitarist named Yngwie Malmsteen. A year later, Malmsteen wrote to the label stating that he wanted to export his music to America. Varney, who started writing a column called "Spotlight" for Guitar Player magazine in 1982, featured Malmsteen in his February 1983 column. The record executive flew Yngwie to California and set him up with vocalist Ron Keel's new band called Steeler. Steeler's self-titled album became a best selling release for Shrapnel Records.

Blues Bureau was created as a subsidiary in 1992,Deborah Russell, "Grass Route". Billboard, June 20, 1992. as an American guitar oriented, blues, and blues rock independent record label.

The label was acquired by The Orchard, subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, in November 2015.

Related labels In 1989, Mike Varney co-founded progressive rock/metal label Magna Carta Records.

Tone Center Records a jazz oriented label featuring fusion guitar as well as a number of jazz tributes.

Notable releases Shrapnel Records # Artist Title Year NoteSH-1001Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.)U.S. Metal Vol. 11982SH-1002Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.)U.S. Metal Vol. 21982feat. Michael Angelo Batio and Marty FriedmanSH-1003Wild DogsWild Dogs1983feat. Deen CastronovoSH-1004ExciterHeavy Metal Maniac1983SH-1007SteelerSteeler1983feat. Yngwie MalmsteenSH-1008CulpritGuilty as Charged1983SH-1009HawaiiOne Nation Underground1983SH-1013Unsung Guitar Heroes (V.A.)U.S. Metal Vol. 41984feat. Shawn LaneSH-1014KeelLay Down the Law1984SH-1018ChastainMystery of Illusion1985SH-1019LondonNon-Stop Rock1985SH-1020Vicious RumorsSoldiers of the Night1985SH-1021Tony MacAlpineEdge of Insanity1986SH-1022Fifth AngelFifth Angel1986SH-1023Racer XStreet Lethal1986SH-1024ChastainRuler of the Wasteland1986SH-1027Vinnie MooreMind's Eye1986SH-1028MacAlpine, Aldridge, Rock, SarzoProject: Driver1986SH-1030Joey TafollaOut of the Sun1987SH-1031CacophonySpeed Metal Symphony1987SH-1032Racer XSecond Heat1987SH-1033Vicious RumorsDigital Dictator1988SH-1035Marty FriedmanDragon's Kiss1988SH-1036Jason BeckerPerpetual Burn1988SH-1037Greg HoweGreg Howe1988SH-1038Racer XExtreme Volume Live1988SH-1040CacophonyGo Off!1988SH-1042Richie KotzenRichie Kotzen1989SH-1043Phantom BluePhantom Blue1989SH-1044Howe IIHigh Gear1989SH-1045Michael Lee FirkinsMichael Lee Firkins1990

Blues Bureau

Eric Gales - Relentless (2010) Marc Ford - Weary and Wired(2007) Joe Louis Walker - New Direction (2004) Leslie West - Got Blooze (2005) Chris Duarte - Blue Velocity (2007) Jimi Kidd/Paul Gilbert - Raw Blues Power (2001) Glenn Hughes - Blues L.A. Authority Volume II (1992–93) Rick Derringer - Back to the Blues (1993) Pat Travers - Just A Touch (1993) Outlaws - Hittin' The Road Live! (1993) Outlaws - Diablo Canyon (1994) Jon Butcher - Positively the Blues (1995) Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club - Marc Ford & The Neptune Blues Club (2008)

Shrapnel Records

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