{{Short description|UK record label}} {{Redirect|One Little Indian|the 1973 Disney film starring James Garner|One Little Indian (film)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music --> | name = One Little Independent Records | image_name = One Little Independent Records logo.png | image_size = | image_bg = | parent = Spiderleg Records | founded = {{Start date|1985}} | founder = Derek Birkett | status = <!-- Leave blank unless Inactive or Defunct. --> | distributor = | genre = Punk rock | country = United Kingdom | location = London | url = {{URL|https://olirecords.com}} }}
'''One Little Independent Records''' (formerly '''One Little Indian Records''') is an English independent record label. It was founded in 1985 by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett, his wife Sue Birkett and former Flux guitarist Tim Kelly.<ref name="Music Week">{{cite journal |title=Maverick label reaches 21st birthday |journal=Music Week |date=28 January 2006 |issue=4 |pages=2–8}}</ref> In the 1990s it set up a number of subsidiary labels.
== History == === 1980s === One Little Indian Records was founded in 1985 and managed by former Flux of Pink Indians bassist Derek Birkett, with the name inspired by the "philosophies of the Indigenous People of the Americas".<ref name=namechange>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53005676|work=BBC News|title=Lady Antebellum: US band change name to Lady A over slave-era links|date=11 June 2020}}</ref>
Many of the early releases on the label stemmed from the founders' anarcho-punk connections. These included reissues of two albums by Flux of Pink Indians, and new releases by several acts previously associated with Crass Records: D & V,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pinfold |first1=Will |title=Various Artists: Cease & Resist: Sonic Subversion & Anarcho Punk in the UK 1979-1986 |url=https://spectrumculture.com/2023/05/21/various-artists-cease-resist-sonic-subversion-anarcho-punk-in-the-uk-1979-1986-review/ |website=Spectrum Culture |access-date=2 September 2025}}</ref> The Babymen (featuring members of The Cravats),<ref>{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |title=The Great Alternative & Indie Discography |url=https://archive.org/details/greatalternative0000stro |url-access=registration |year= 1999 |publisher=Canongate |isbn=0-86241-913-1 }}</ref> Annie Anxiety Bandez and the Sugarcubes (who included Björk and other former members of anarcho-punk band K.U.K.L.)<ref name="Music Week" /> The first album release on the label was ''Uncarved Block'' by Flux.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Indie and New Wave Music|editor-first=Colin |editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=Second|isbn=0-85112-657-X|page=151}}</ref>
Other early signings included A.R. Kane.,<ref>{{cite web|title=A.R. Kane Biography & History|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ar-kane-mn0000921542/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=10 February 2017}}</ref> Kitchens of Distinction and The Shamen.<ref name="Music Week" />
=== 1990s ===
Success continued with Alabama 3,<ref name="amazing-oli" /> Björk,<ref name="guardian-fufanu" /> Chumbawamba,<ref name="amazing-oli" /> Skunk Anansie,<ref name="amazing-oli" /> Sneaker Pimps.<ref name="guardian-fufanu" />
Beginning in 1990, the label created several autonomous satellite imprints including Clean-up Records, Partisan Records and Fat Cat Records,{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} all of which had success. Artists on the labels included Alabama 3 (A3), Sigur Rós, and Sneaker Pimps. Elemental Records was added to the roster in 1995.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}}
The song titles of The Shamen's 1996 album ''Hempton Manor'' form an acrostic, spelling out "Fuck Birket" in an acrimonious reference to label co-founder Derek Birkett, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/articles/cb7ac9cf-207e-4244-8302-2436f2c2ba5a|title=7 secret codes and ciphers hidden in music - BBC Music|date=20 October 2017|website=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=13 February 2019}}</ref>
In 1997 and 2001, the company also acquired some of the old Rough Trade Records and Nude Records labels, and the rights to several albums previously released by spinART Records.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}
=== 2000s ===
In 2009, Paul McCartney, along with Youth, released an album called ''Electric Arguments'' under the name of The Fireman through One Little Indian.<ref name=amazing-oli/>
In June 2020, in response to worldwide protests following the murder of George Floyd, it was announced that the company's name would be changed from One Little Indian Records to One Little Independent Records with immediate effect,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53005676 |title=Record label One Little Indian scraps name |newspaper=BBC News |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=11 June 2020}}</ref> and that the company would donate money towards organisations which promote and assist Native American communities in North America.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hatfield|first=Amanda|title=One Little Indian changes "offensive" name to One Little Independent Records|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/one-little-indian-changes-offensive-name-to-one-little-independent-records/|work=Brooklyn Vegan|date=10 June 2020|access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref> In a written statement, Birkett said:<blockquote>The last few weeks have been a monumental learning curve ... Following the receipt of an eye-opening letter from a Crass fan that detailed precisely why the logo and label name are offensive, as well as the violent history of the terminology, I felt equally appalled and grateful to them for making me understand what must be changed.<ref name=namechange/></blockquote>
== Controversies ==
In 1986, the label's reissue of the Flux of Pink Indians album ''The Fucking Cunts Treat Us Like Pricks'' was banned by several major retailers including HMV and Our Price due to its sexually explicit title and cover art.<ref name="Cloonan">{{cite book |last1=Cloonan |first1=Martin |title=Banned! Censorship of popular music in Britain, 1967-92 |date=1996 |publisher=Arena: Ashgate Publishing Ltd |isbn=1857423003 |pages=81–82}}</ref><ref name="Ankeny">Ankeny, Jason "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/flux-of-pink-indians-mn0000194586 Flux of Pink Indians Biography]", Allmusic. Retrieved 14 June 2013</ref><ref name="Ogg">Ogg, Alex "Flux of Pink Indians" in Buckley, Peter (ed.) (1999) ''The Rough Guide to Rock'', Rough Guides, {{ISBN|978-1858284576}}, pp. 382-3</ref><ref name="Glasper">Glasper, Ian (2006) ''The Day the Country Died: A History of Anarcho Punk 1980 to 1984'', Cherry Red Books, {{ISBN|978-1901447705}}, pp. 43-44</ref> Copies of the album were seized by police from Manchester's Eastern Bloc record shop, which was charged with displaying "Obscene Articles For Publication For Gain".<ref name="Redhead">Redhead, Steve (1990) ''End of the Century Party: Youth and Pop Towards 2000'', Manchester University Press, {{ISBN|978-0719028274}}, p. 18</ref> The label and its publishing company, Second Wind, were also charged under the Obscene Publications Act.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Flux: Uncarved Block |url=http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/mrrissue64.pdf |magazine=Maximum Rocknroll |issue=64 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013200/http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/mrrissue64.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |page=38 |date=September 1988 |url-status=dead}}</ref> All cases were eventually dropped.<ref name="The Catalogue">{{cite journal |title=Censorship Matters |journal=The Catalogue |date=March 1988 |issue=57 |page=8}}</ref>
In 1992, The Shamen's single "Ebeneezer Goode" provided the label with its first number 1 hit on the UK Charts.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-09-05.pdf|title=Top 60 Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=22|date=5 September 1992|access-date=29 September 2020}}</ref> ''The Sun'' and ''The Daily Telegraph'' alleged that the song encouraged drug use,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dellar |first1=Fred |title=MOJO Time Machine: The Shamen Top The Charts |url=https://www.mojo4music.com/time-machine/1990s/mojo-time-machine-the-shamen-top-the-charts/ |website=MOJO |access-date=2 September 2025}}</ref> and the Broadcasting Standards Council ruled that it should not have been broadcast by the programme ''Top of the Pops''.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Cloonan |first1=Martin |title=Popular music and censorship in Britain: An overview |journal=Popular Music and Society |date=1 September 1995 |volume=19 |issue=3 |pages=75–104 |doi=10.1080/03007769508591600 }}</ref>
== Notable artists == {{div col}} * Árný Margrét<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Will |date=23 October 2022 |title=Arny Margret - "whatever it means" |url=https://weallwantsomeone.org/2022/10/23/arny-margret-whatever-it-means/ |access-date=13 April 2023 |website=We All Want Someone To Shout For |language=en-US}}</ref> * Ásgeir<ref name="upcoming-asgeir" /> * Björk<ref name=spin-bell/> * Cody Chesnutt * Daisy Chainsaw * Emilíana Torrini<ref name=upcoming-asgeir>{{cite news|last1=Hobbs|first1=Matt|title=Ásgeir at Shepherd's Bush Empire|url=http://www.theupcoming.co.uk/2014/11/27/asgeir-at-shepherds-bush-empire-live-review/|access-date=25 November 2015|work=The Upcoming|date=27 November 2014}}</ref> * Foxtrott<ref name=beat-foxtrott>{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Russell Dean|title=Foxtrott's New Mixtape Hits All the Right Frequencies|url=http://www.thebeatjuice.com/trax/2015/07/15/10815/foxtrotts-new-mixtape-hits-all-the-right-frequencies/|access-date=25 November 2015|work=Beat|date=15 July 2015|archive-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213020804/http://www.thebeatjuice.com/trax/2015/07/15/10815/foxtrotts-new-mixtape-hits-all-the-right-frequencies/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Fufanu<ref name=guardian-fufanu>{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Dave|title=Björk, KUKL and Purrkur Pillnikk – the anarcho-punk roots of Iceland's music scene|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jan/08/northern-souls-the-anarcho-punks-who-made-iceland-a-pop-powerhouse|access-date=25 November 2015|work=The Guardian|date=8 January 2015}}</ref> * Gabríel Ólafs<ref name=grapevine-gabriel>{{cite news|last1=Ehrat|first1= Noemi|title=19-Year Old Gabríel Ólafs Signs With One Little Indian|url=https://grapevine.is/news/2018/07/24/19-year-old-gabriel-olafs-signs-with-one-little-indian/|access-date=3 July 2023|date=24 July 2018}}</ref> * Galya Bisengalieva<ref name="yoo">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/5-new-albums-you-should-listen-to-now-bill-callahan-lomelda-big-sean-and-more/|title=5 New Albums You Should Listen to Now: Bill Callahan, Lomelda, Big Sean, and More|first=Noah|last=Yoo|website=Pitchfork |date=4 September 2020|access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref> * God Damn<ref name=amazing-oli/> * Jesse Malin * Kathryn Williams<ref name=hitfix-lesson>{{cite news|last1=Hasty|first1=Katie|title=Song Of The Day: Kathryn Williams gives a 'Little Lesson' for our love|url=http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/immaculate-noise/posts/exclusive-song-of-the-day-kathryn-williams-gives-a-little-lesson-for-our-love|access-date=26 November 2015|work=HitFix|date=20 May 2010|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208013826/http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/immaculate-noise/posts/exclusive-song-of-the-day-kathryn-williams-gives-a-little-lesson-for-our-love|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Manu Delago * Marry Waterson<ref name=whitby-gig>{{cite news|title=Home town gig for folk siblings|url=http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/home-town-gig-for-folk-siblings-1-3121265|access-date=26 November 2015|work=Whitby Gazette|date=25 February 2011}}</ref> * Olga Bell<ref name=spin-bell>{{cite news|last1=Joyce|first1=Colin|title=Olga Bell Surveys Emotional Wreckage on 'Rubbernecker'|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/10/olga-bell-rubbernecker-stream-premiere/|access-date=25 November 2015|work=Spin|date=13 October 2015}}</ref> * Penelope Trappes * Queenadreena *Sijya * Samaris<ref name=amazing-oli>{{cite web|title=Interview: One Little Indian|url=http://amazingradio.com/home/interview-one-little-indian|website=Amazing Radio|access-date=25 November 2015|date=9 September 2014}}</ref> * Sarasara<ref name=Sarasara>{{cite news|last1=Lester|first1=Paul|title=New band of the week: Sarasara (No 121) – gorgeous but outlandish glitchy pop|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/sep/26/new-band-week-sarasara-no-121-french-singer-amorfati-bjork-matthew-herbert|date=26 September 2016}}</ref> * Sinéad O'Connor * The Shamen * The Sugarcubes * Tusks * Wild Palms<ref name=mttm-2010>{{cite web|last1=Turauskis|first1=Maria|title=Wild Palms Interview|url=http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/interviews/wild-palms|website=More Than the Music|access-date=11 November 2015|date=28 October 2010}}</ref>
{{div col end}}
== Reception == Amazing Radio has characterised the label as "consistently brilliant" and as having "a rich musical history".<ref name=amazing-oli/>
== See also == * :Category:One Little Independent Records artists * List of independent UK record labels * List of record labels * Spiderleg Records
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://olirecords.com Official UK & EU website]
{{Authority control}}
Category:One Little Independent Records Category:Punk record labels Category:British independent record labels Category:Record labels established in 1985 Category:1985 establishments in England Category:Name changes due to the George Floyd protests