BYG Records

21/02/2025

31/01/2025

New release! Daevid Allen: Now Is the Happiest Time of Your Life [LP & CD]

A long-awaited reissue of the classic solo album by visionary Gong founder Daevid Allen, capturing the whimsical yet profound spirit of his music.

Originally released in 1977, Now Is the Happiest Time of Your Life invites listeners to join Allen's musical journey alongside his imaginary green hero, Zero, a character familiar to fans of the Gong trilogy.

With its lush instrumentation, including the use of tabla, harp, and Allen’s signature glissando guitar, the album creates a peaceful, meditative atmosphere that meanders gracefully across its tracks.

This first-ever vinyl reissue features remastered audio, restoring the warmth and clarity of Daevid Allen’s sound to its analog roots.

The CD digi-sleeve includes a full-sized collector poster showcasing Allen’s hand-drawn artwork ✨

Available now 👉 https://charlyrecords.lnk.to/0kG1SMCl

24/01/2025

Pre-Order Now: Clifford Thornton’s first studio album Ketchaoua 🎺

A timeless call for unity and long-lost classic in avant-garde jazz inspired by Algiers and the Pan-African movement.

Now meticulously restored and remastered from the original BYG tapes, this reissue presents Clifford Thornton’s bold vision in breathtaking clarity.

Featuring a stellar lineup of musicians—including Archie Shepp, Arthur Jones, Sunny Murray, Grachan Moncur III, Dave Burrell, Earl Freeman, and Beb Guerin—this recording is a vibrant exploration of unity, culture, and faith.

Ketchaoua will be available on February 21, 2025, as deluxe LP and CD editions. Pre-order & more info hit the link here 👉 https://fcmg.lnk.to/4Lan5mUT

25/10/2024

We’re thrilled to announce the 55th Anniversary remastered edition of Archie Shepp’s iconic Live at the Panafrican Festival — now available for pre-order on Vinyl & CD! 🎷

Recorded live in Algiers in 1969, this album captures the powerful union of African and African-American artists, bringing together jazz legends and Touareg musicians in an unforgettable, trance-inducing performance.

More info & secure your copy: link in comment

23/10/2024

Nouvel article sur BYG Records dans le magazine BEST ! 🎶

Dans la section BEST ALBUMS, Jack Lalli vous plonge dans les récentes réeditions des albums cultes prog rock et psyché de notre catalogue : 'Alice', 'Freedom at Last' et 'Camembert Electrique'. 📀

Découvrez l'article complet dans le lien en commentaire ! 👇

[English]
BYG Records is featured in the latest "BEST ALBUMS" section of BEST magazine! 🎶
Written by Jack Lalli, this article dives into the albums 'Alice', 'Freedom at Last', and 'Camembert Electrique'.
Check out the full article [French speaking] via the link in the comments! 👇

04/10/2024

Hi BYG Friends ✨

Let's celebrate Bandcamp Friday together once again! Today, we offer a 25% discount on the Bandcamp platform, available on all our discography - code: byg25

Later this month, we will launch the pre-orders of an historic live recording session in the vanguard of collaborations between African-American and African artists - stay tuned

For Daevid Allen fans, space-rock lovers and Gong collectors, we are happy to share with you the Planet Gong album 'Live Floating Anarchy 1977' - Pre-orders are now up on the brand new Charly Records Bandcamp! Check it out and enjoy a special 25% discount available today on everything until 11:59pm UTC - code: charly25

BYG and Charly Bandcamp links are in the comments sections

STAY FREE 🎵

13/08/2024

The limited edition transparent green marbled vinyl of the Art Ensemble of Chicago's classic Message to Our Folks is almost sold out. Secure your copy now 🎺

Get it from the Charly Records Store with a special 20% discount or via the BYG Bandcamp store (stores links are in the comments section)

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The album has been restored and remastered from the original master tapes and is available in deluxe editions 180-gram black vinyl, 180-gram marbled vinyl, CD & high definition digital audio. Each format includes insightful notes from author and music journalist John Masouri.

"Although the Art Ensemble would evolved out of the collision of free jazz, radical theatre and Black Nationalism in the US during the late 60s, the band really came into their own after relocating to Paris. The enthusiastic welcome they were given by French audiences revitalised them and inspired many unforgettable performances and recordings, including this classic Message to Our Folks. Recorded at Studio Saravah, August 1969 in Paris, the title referred to African American audiences back home, who would recognise many of the gospel, funk, bebop and even rock influences the Art Ensemble draw upon here. Typically their interpretations prove radically different as this pivotal group’s freedom-loving approach brings fire and imagination to the mix." John Masouri

SIDE 1
1. Old Time Religion
2. Dexterity
3. Rock Out

SIDE 2
1. A Brain For The Seine

An Original BYG Recording.

09/08/2024

OUT NOW! Freedom At Last by Freedom ☮️

"Psychedelia and UK blues rock collide in this excellent reissue from BYG Records. It's today's Album of the Day." / "An overlooked '70s gem." Bandcamp

"An amazing power trio. This is probably the missing link between 60s bands like Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and more experimental outfits like Led Zep, Deep Purple and the harder edge that The Who developed.” / "A quality album." Classic Rock Society

Freedom were one of many British groups that grew from that particularly fertile period that saw the likes of Alexis Korner, John Mayall, The Yardbirds and of course the Rolling Stones come to the fore. Comprising former members of the highly successful Procol Harum, the band recorded fresh original material that put them at the cutting edge of what became known as blues rock, all the while covering classics by their role models.

Freedom At Last is one of the best albums the group made in a relatively short life cycle. At times loud, hard and aggressive and at others mellow and introspective, the music showcases the compositional strengths of Bobby Harrison, Rogers Saunders and Walt Monaghan, while the reprises of anthems by the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and Junior Wells makes it clear the band knew where it was going because it did not forget where it came from.

This newly remastered version of Freedom At Last is a very timely reminder of the vibrant work of a British band that made premium blues rock with attitude.

Available on 180-gram black vinyl LP - comes in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with insert and exclusive liner notes

Links in the comments section.

12/07/2024

Le Jazzophone Magazine (FR) features BYG in their Summer 2024 edition! Great article by Jack Lalli which highlights albums by Areski & Brigitte Fontaine, Alice, Gong, Daevid Allen, Archie Shepp & Aynsley Dunbar.

Looking forward to the 2nd part of Jazzophone's report on BYG in the next Winter 2024 issue!

Pioneering French independent record label. Avant-Garde, Free Jazz, Experimental, Prog/Psychedelic Rock from the 60s & 70s

14/06/2024

Next week, in honor of Black Music Month, and in conjunction with the annual Juneteenth celebration, we are partnering with Bandcamp to present a Listening Party of the soon-to-be-released album POEM FOR MALCOLM by Archie Shepp.

For the occasion, we invite in the chat Kevin Le Gendre, who wrote the reissue sleeve notes, for a special conversation about the album with the fans and the BYG team!

How it works:
Connect to the event (link in comment) - hit the RSVP button - at showtime the album will play once from start to finish, at the same time the live chat will be available on the event page.

Showtime:
Tuesday, June 18, 12:00pm EST (US)
Tuesday, June 18, 05:00pm BST (UK)
Tuesday, June 18, 06:00pm CET (FR)

We can't wait to listen to this iconic recording together and chat with you all!

You can check out the programme of this week of celebrations via the Bandcamp link in comment - festivity will start from Sunday, June 16

*** Kevin Le Gendre is a writer, journalist and broadcaster with a special interest in black music. Deputy editor of Echoes, he contributes to a wide range of publications that include Jazzwise, MusicWeek, Vibrations and The Independent On Sunday and also appears as a commentator and critic on radio programmes such as BBC Radio 3's Jazz Line-Up and BBC Radio 4's Front Row. ***

07/06/2024

It’s release day for the Art Ensemble of Chicago! Out Now the inspiring Message to Our Folks recording ✨ What best to celebrate this release than being awarded ALBUM OF THE DAY by Bandcamp! (link below)

We started to fulfill the pre-orders earlier this week and we can't wait to know what your impressions are about this newly remastered edition.

Play it loud and stay free! 🎷

Irreverent humor collides with 50 different musical styles on this high-water mark from the legendary jazz group.

06/06/2024

Buongiorno amico italiano, last night MARCELLO LORRAI played loud the newly remastered edition of Blasé by Archie Shepp on Radio Popolare as part of the 'Jazz Anthology' show.

1 hour of music and talk focus on this landmark recording which blend superbly the heat of the blues and the fire of the avant-garde.

Nel cuore dell'agosto del '69, a Parigi Archie Shepp si sottopone, per la felicità della Byg, ad un autentico tour de force: dall'11 al 18 agosto è tutti i giorni in studio, incidendo a proprio nome il trittico di album che farà epoca, o partecipando alla registrazione di album intestati ad altri...

31/05/2024

Pre-order now POEM FOR MALCOLM by Archie Shepp ✊🏿

Standing tall in what can be seen as an inspired trilogy of albums that includes Yasmina, A Black Woman and Blasé, Poem For Malcolm offers an opportunity to feel the power of Archie Shepp’s poetry as well as the artistry of a transatlantic band at the cutting edge of post-War improvised music.

The words and sounds have lost none of their appeal and will be heard loud and clear on this newly remastered edition which commemorates the upcoming 2024 "America's second Independence Day", Juneteenth, that emphasizes teaching about African-American heritage and agitates awareness.

Poem For Malcolm will be released on June 21st on 180-gram vinyl / CD / high definition digital audio.

Info & pre-order: links in the comments section

24/05/2024

ALBUM OF THE DAY on Bandcamp 🎧

Review By Jim Allen - thanks for the support!

A new remaster of the Parisians' 1971 classic enshrines their pothead pixie antics.

24/05/2024

BIG DAY AT BYG! ✨ Today marks the release of three essential recordings from our catalogue.

"Mu" First Part - "Mu" Second Part - Camembert Electrique

These albums are from visionary artists Don Cherry & Gong whose creativity and soul we deeply admire. Their works had a strong impact on the alternative music scene at the end of the 60s and we are convinced that their sound is even more powerful and influential today and will once again raise awareness.

A huge thank you to everyone who pre-ordered through our store, we're working to fulfill all orders by next Wednesday. Check your email for tracking info soon. 🙏

The newly remastered albums are available on 180-gram vinyl, CD and high-definition digital audio.

Stay free come what may.

Pioneering French independent record label. Avant-Garde, Free Jazz, Experimental, Prog/Psychedelic Rock from the 60s & 70s

21/05/2024

Tune in to Radio Popolare's as we dive deep into the seminal album "Yasmina, a Black Woman" and the legacy of BYG Records 📻✨

Thanks MARCELLO LORRAI for this hour of rich history, iconic music, and passionate discussion.

This was broadcast yesterday in Italy as part of the 'Jazz Anthology' show on Radio Popolare FM 107.6

Listen to it: link in the comments section

17/05/2024

Last day of the BYG Week at Spiritland ✨ Let’s get trippy with Camembert Electrique by Gong

Check the video in comment 🔉

☮️

16/05/2024

The Art Ensemble is spreading the Message to Our Folks at Spiritland 🎷