# Benchmark Recordings

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**Benchmark Recordings**[1] is a [record label](/source/Record_label) that was founded in 2000 by music industry veterans Bill Coben and [Denny Bruce](/source/Denny_Bruce)[2].

The initial catalog included the first four albums by [The Fabulous Thunderbirds](/source/The_Fabulous_Thunderbirds), which were originally released in the late 1970s and early 1980s on the [Takoma Records](/source/Takoma_Records) label and distributed by [Chrysalis Records](/source/Chrysalis_Records). The early albums featured [Kim Wilson](/source/Kim_Wilson) on vocals and harmonica and [Jimmie Vaughan](/source/Jimmie_Vaughan) on guitar.

A compilation of live recordings and new material titled *Tacos Deluxe* was released in 2004.

In 2008 [Jon Monday](/source/Jon_Monday)[3], who had worked with Denny and Bill at Takoma Records in the 1970s and 1980s, joined the company as its President.

A CD titled *[I'm With You Always](/source/I'm_With_You_Always)* by [Mike Bloomfield](/source/Mike_Bloomfield), a live recording from 1977 (exact date unknown), was released in late 2008. The songs on the album are a catalog of blues history, spanning acoustic, Chicago, and blues-rock styles.

In 2011 Benchmark released a "Best of" collection documenting live and studio recordings from their first decade, titled, [The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special](/source/The_Best_of_the_Fabulous_Thunderbirds:_Early_Birds_Special). The album features a collection of songs from the original tracks from their first four albums, live versions, and the hits from their later albums: Tuff Enuff and Powerful Stuff.

The label is now co-owned by [Jon Monday](/source/Jon_Monday) and Bill Coben.

## Catalog

- 8002-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, [Girls Go Wild](/source/Girls_Go_Wild)[4]
- 2003-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, [What's the Word](/source/What's_the_Word)?[5]
- 2004-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, [Butt Rockin'](/source/Butt_Rockin')[6]
- 2005-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, [T-Bird Rhythm](/source/T-Bird_Rhythm)[7]
- 2006-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tacos Deluxe
- 2007-2 CD Mike Bloomfield, [I'm With You Always](/source/I'm_With_You_Always)[8]
- 2008-2 CD The Fabulous Thunderbirds, [The Best of the Fabulous Thunderbirds: Early Birds Special](/source/The_Best_of_the_Fabulous_Thunderbirds:_Early_Birds_Special)

## References

1. ["IODA Site"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110706071707/http://mp3.al/en/music/label/id/312903/name/Benchmark-Recordings---IODA). Archived from [the original](http://mp3.al/en/music/label/id/312903/name/Benchmark-Recordings---IODA) on 2011-07-06.

1. "allmusic.com Biography Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Biography Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Entry"

1. "allmusic.com Entry"

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benchmark Recordings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmark_Recordings) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benchmark_Recordings?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.