Raw Energy Records was a Canadian independent record label, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The music label was established in the late 1980s by founder entrepreneur and music journalist Graeme Boyce,[1] initially to distribute the debut EP by King Apparatus, Loud Party.[1] Prior to launching Raw Energy, Boyce was a staff writer for RPM.[1]

Raw Energy Records
Founded1989
FounderGraeme Boyce
Statusreinvigorated for the modern era.
Distributor(s)A&M Records (Canada) & Black Mark (Global)
Genrepunk, ska
Country of origin Canada
LocationToronto, Ontario

The label subsequently released King Apparatus' full-length debut album in 1990; after selling over 5,000 copies of the album in just a handful of record stores in downtown Toronto, the label secured a national distribution deal with A&M Records.[1] The company expanded over the years, and launched new divisions to manage growth, such as Raw Energy Promotions and Raw Energy Radio.

Canadian artists who released Raw Energy albums included King Apparatus, King Cobb Steelie, Dinner Is Ruined, Random Killing, Trunk, Marilyn's Vitamins, Five Knuckle Chuckle, Three Impotent Males, Throbbin‘ Hoods, Out of Hand, Cut Off, Double Standard, DNS, and Sectorseven. Raw Energy also released product from two U.S. acts, The Toasters and Rosie O'Shea. Grouped into the alternative genre, augmenting its roster of punk and ska, the label released a rap album from Top Secret and a noise album from Space City USA.

Discography[2]

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Band Release Title Format(s) Date
All Good Children All Good Children Cass/CD 1992
The Toasters New York Fever Cass/CD 1992
Various/Compilation On The Road Cass/CD 1993
King Apparatus Marbles Cass/CD 1993
King Apparatus Hospital Waiting Room CD/EP 1993
Haze Book of Shadows Cass/CD 1993
King Cobb Steelie King Cobb Steelie Cass/CD 1993
King Cobb Steelie You Said A Mouthful CD/EP 1993
Top Secret It Ain’t Over Cass/CD 1993
Dinner Is Ruined Love Songs… Cass/CD 1993
Various/Compilation Dead On The Road Cass/CD 1993
Mundane Seed Cass/CD 1993
Random Killing Thoughts of Aggression Cass/CD 1994
Throbbin’ Hoods Ambush Cass/CD 1994
Satanatras Eight Ate Hate Cass/CD 1994
Rosie O’Shea Practicing Silence Cass/CD 1994
Trigger Happy Killatron 2000 Cass/CD 1994
Various/Compilation On The Road in NYC CD 1994
Center Za Dehumanizacijo On The Red Screen 7” Vinyl 1994
Five Knuckle Chuckle Charliee Horse CD 1995
Trunk Beaned Up Polkas CD 1996
Throbbin’ Hoods Hot Live Action CD 1996
Three Impotent Males Three Impotent Males CD 1996
Random Killing Urine The 90s Now CD 1996
Marilyn’s Vitamins In These Shoes CD 1996
The Tirekickers Smedication CD 1996
Space City USA Chromed CD 1997
Jersey No Turning Back CD 1997
Out Of Hand Canadian Gothic CD 1997
Random Killing Stranded CD 1997
Five Knuckle Chuckle All Hammed Up CD 1997
Toe To Toe Tao CD 1997
Various/Compilation On The Road Again CD 1997
Trunk Throwin’ The Horns CD 1998
Marilyn’s Vitamins Politics On The Dance Floor CD 1998
Cutoff Makin’ Breakfast CD 1998
Various/Compilation Twentybandcomp CD 1998
Jersey/Outspan In Friends We Trust CD/EP 1998
Marilyn’s Vitamins Squeegee Girl 7” Vinyl 1998
Double Standard Dig That Trash CD 1999
Various/Compilation On The Road With a Snowboard CD 1999
Sector Seven Along The Way CD 1999
DNS Idle Time CD 1999
No Connection Toe Tappin’ Fun CD 1999
Racer Analytical Observations Of Unnecessity CD 1999
Out Of Hand Reserection CD 1999
Various/Compilation On The Road To Amsterdam Promotional CD 1999

Compilation albums

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Raw Energy
Compilation album by
Various Artists
Released1993
GenreAlternative rock
LabelRaw Energy Records

In 1993, Raw Energy released its first compilation, simply titled Raw Energy. Because of the cartoon drawing used on the cover, it quickly took on the name On the Road within the hardcore community. Raw Energy played on this to release a series of "On the Road" compilations, featuring unsigned and emerging Canadian punk, hardcore and alternative rock bands du jour. Some would end up signing with Raw Energy.

The series of "On the Road" compilations includes:

  • Raw Energy (aka On the Road, 1993)
  • On the Road Again (1994)
  • Dead on the Road: Songs Without Keyboards (1994)
  • On the Road to New York City (1994)
  • On the Road to Amsterdam (1999)
  • On the Road... with a Snowboard (1999)

Other compilations include Twentybandcomp, co-released with Shock Records in Australia.

Track listing

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  1. The Dinner Is Ruined, "Stuck Pig"
  2. Groovy Religion, "Wanda"
  3. hHead, "Collide"
  4. King Cobb Steelie, "One's a Heifer"
  5. The Imagineers, "This is Nevada Calling"
  6. Jale, "I Lied"
  7. Cottage Industry, "Theme from Superstar"
  8. Yeti, "The Crossing"
  9. Wooden Stars, "Hate Everyone"
  10. Wining Dining and Drilling, "Captain's a Wreck"
  11. Deadbeat Backbone, "Til I'm Gone"
  12. Eric's Trip, "Understanding"
  13. Change of Heart, "Stress Monkey"

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Toronto Label Taps Raw Energy". Billboard, May 7, 1994.
  2. ^ "Raw Energy". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
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