The Return of Dromedary Records!

Much-loved indie label decides to resume operations after a ten-year hiatus.

By Blurt Staff

Back at the dawn of time - 2000; ten years in the current music biz climate amounts to an eon - a northeast-based music fanatic named Al Crisafulli decided, with heavy heart, that it was time to fold his micro-indie label Dromedary Records. He'd run it for much of the previous decade, since 1992, issuing well-received titles from the likes of the Mommyheads, cuppa joe, Footstone, Godspeed and others. But the vicissitudes of the industry, and assorted personal and career callings, eventually made it impossible for him to continue.

Intriguingly, though, Dromedary remained very much on Crisafulli's mind, and a year ago, in January of 2009, he started a blog where he proceeded to tell the story of his little label that could (and did) in installments. Wrote Crisafulli in his first entry:

"there are things that happened during the dromedary days that i never really passed along to anyone - things people did, things people said, things that deserve to be out there. 

"there are also people who talk about starting indie labels - like i did - who have no idea what they're doing - like i did.  and there's not really a resource for this (except the mechanic's guide), and there's not really a memoir of this kind of thing documented anywhere.  that i'm aware of, at least.

"so for all these reasons, i've decided to tell the story, bit by bit, online.  while i'm telling the story, i'll also be building out a website for dromedary records.  i'll post mp3s of songs we released, demos we received, songs from our friends.  i'll post scans of album art, photos, and letters i received.  i've got some other surprises i'll throw in as well."

The blog features thoughts, opinions and anecdotes, memories of triumphs and failures, peaks and valleys, complete with a cast of illustrious and colorful music-making characters, some of whom are still around and some who have long since passed from his life, music-making and sadly, the world. And  apparently the response to the blog was significant: Crisafulli has now re-launched the label itself at www.dromedary-records.com.

"Over the past year, writing the blog and seeing the response it's gotten, my passion for doing it has been rekindled," says Crisafulli.  "and even though the music industry has taken a hit over the years, there's still a thriving underground.  So after some prodding from our friends, and some real soul-searching, we're going to get some good old, guitar-based indie rock back out there for people to hear."


To that end, Dromedary intends to start by re-releasing many of the titles it initially released when it was an active label in the ‘90s.  "We'll make them available digitally, so the people who loved the music then can get their hands on it again."  The label also plans to issue other, previously-unreleased material from its heyday, as well as new music from current indie rock artists.

So with that, Dromedary's initial release is a digital copy of NJ's now-defunct power punk luminaries' Footstone's 1994 single, "Wobbles From Side To Side," plus one additional, previously-unreleased track. The recording will be made available for a limited time for free download from the label's site. Dromedary will then follow on February 2 with a digital-only release of Footstone's acclaimed, Lippy CD  (originally released in 1995). The album will be available in all the leading internet retail stores, including iTunes.

And a rare and special treat for those in and around NYC/NJ: on Saturday, February 6th, Maxwell's in Hoboken will play host to a Dromedary relaunch show which will include a reunion set from Footstone, along with sets from The Dark Brothers and a reunited Friends, Romans, Countrymen.

"We're back," the Dromedary blog announces at the most recent post. "I finally decided to get back on the horse.  When I began this blog, re-starting Dromedary was the furthest thing from my mind.  I was looking for closure.  But some doors, they just won't stay closed."

And out here in indie land, a lot of us are happy that they didn't stay closed. Welcome back, Al, and Dromedary.