Island Records (1970's), Factory Records (late 70's), 4AD (early 80's), Elektra Records (mid 60's to early 70's), Stax (60's), Motown (60's), ZE Records (early 80's), Blood & Fire (90's onwards), RCA ("orange label" - mid 70's), Zoo Records (early 80's), Creation (early to mid 90's), Nude (mid 90's), Domino, XL, Rough Trade (present day).
Rubyworks was formed by Niall Muckian in Dublin in 2001. Niall was promoting the now famous Ruby Sessions acoustic evening in Doyle’s Pub.
The first release was by the forty legged groove machine which was the Global Funk Orchestra, fondly remembered for their late night Dublin Olympia gigs. However, the story really starts with a couple of Mexican guitarists called Rodrigo y Gabriela, who had left Central America at the turn of the millennium armed with two acoustic guitars and a taste for adventure. Niall saw them supporting Damien Rice at Vicar Street in Dublin and knew immediately that he wanted to work with them. (Niall was working with Damien Rice at the time helping him with the formative stages of his solo career). Rubyworks released “Re – Foc” in September 2002, and continues to manage Rodrigo y Gabriela to this day.
Rubyworks took its next step by releasing a new Hothouse Flowers (“Into Your Heart”) album in early 2004. Developing an international presence, the label helped established Irish acts like Aslan and Jerry Fish release their music outside of Ireland. The next major break through came later in 2004, when the second Rodrigo y Gabriela album – “Live Manchester And Dublin” – became the first wholly instrumental album to debut in the Irish album chart Top 10. (The album has gone onto to achieve platinum status). Rodrigo y Gabriela’s and Rubyworks’ local and international profile started to increase from this juncture.
In 2005, Roger Quail joined Rubyworks from the UK, having previously had long spells at 3mv (Oasis, Suede, Ministry Of Sound) and Sony’s SINE independent label development wing with a view to developing Rubyworks’ international profile. The label enjoyed further critical success with jazz ‘n’ blues maestro Nigel Mooney and Dublin melodic rockers The Devlins.
In early 2006 Tara McCormack joined Rubyworks to manage PR in-house and the label enjoyed its greatest success to date with the eponymous third Rod & Gab long player, which charted at 1 in the Irish album charts in February 2006, beating off the challenge of Arctic Monkeys and Johnny Cash. Extensive touring in the UK and Europe started to pay off for RyG and Rubyworks was there to develop and support them along the way. The label also released new albums from Leya and Koufax in the same year.
2007 saw Rubyworks busier than ever. With new albums from Sinead O’Connor, Moving Hearts and Foy Vance. Thanks to astute international licensing deals in North America, Australia and South Africa, global sales of the current Rodrigo y Gabriela album stand at 430,000 and rising.
2008 will see ongoing promotion of Rodrigo y Gabriela (full European and Japanese releases due February and March) around the world. Plus further releases from Foy Vance, Sinead O'Connor (with Republic Of Loose) and Moving Hearts.
With a philosophy based on signing charismatic performers with amazing live ability and memorable tunes; Rubyworks is living proof that an Irish based independent label can flourish on both domestic and international platforms.
Please,for the love of whomever,blow the dust off Sinead's page and do something with it! it's a scandal to leave it there dead like that for so long! Even her diehard fans are disappointed when they go there. Sinead's touring--what's the scoop? Videos? Reviews? Photos? ANYTHING!
Hem pujat una nova cançó. “Yo sé” Visita’ns i escolta-la! I Després ens dius que t’ha semblat! Hemos subido una canción nueva. “Yo sé” Visítanos y escúchala! Y luego nos dices que te ha parecido! We uploaded a new song. “Yo sé” Visit us and listen it! And then tell us what you think about it!
Colm Lynch and The Honeydogs ‘It’s Coming Down’ Single Launch + Special Guests – The Last Tycoons At The Button Factory Sunday 29th June Doors 7.30 €10
Single available for download from Monday, July 7th
You can hear Colm on The Ian Dempsey Show TodayFM Tuesday June24 8am
Just a quick note to tell ya I..ve got a free summer download on my page of a cover of Leonard Cohns "Hallalujah"..which features on my "Building Churches" album..feel free to download it and have a peacful summer...Cheers Danny
Ashot from the top of the Maamturk Mountains in my homeland of Galway..
i heard there was a secret chord that david played and it pleased the lord but you don't really care for music, do you well it goes like this the fourth, the fifth the minor fall and the major lift the baffled king composing hallelujah
hallelujah...
well your faith was strong but you needed proof you saw her bathing on the roof her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you she tied you to her kitchen chair she broke your throne and she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah
hallelujah...
baby i've been here before i've seen this room and i've walked this floor i used to live alone before i knew you i've seen your flag on the marble arch but love is not a victory march it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
hallelujah...
well there was a time when you let me know what's really going on below but now you never show that to me do you but remember when i moved in you and the holy dove was moving too and every breath we drew was hallelujah
well, maybe there's a god above but all i've ever learned from love was how to shoot somebody who outdrew you it's not a cry that you hear at night it's not somebody who's seen the light it's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah
My new single 'Come North' is out now on Leftarm Records, and is taken from the album 'Book of Days' produced by Fran Ashcroft (Gorillaz/Dandy Warhols). Check it out!
Hiya I've just uploaded the first mixed version of 6 tracks from my debut album. They are starting to come together nicely now. Please have a listen and leave a comment if you wish. Chat soon, J.