The Business

Anthropology Records

Formed in 1985 to produce and distribute Wckr Spgt recordings and, by the end of the year, several other artists were recording for Anthropology Records including The Congress, Mr. French Connection, and Pocket O Piano. Released A Sample of Anthropology Recording Artists, a cross-section of new recordings by the bands on the label, followed by Spgtmuzik by Wckr Spgt. The humorous slogan "If it's on Anthropology, it's really good!" exemplified their light-hearted approach to the business. Enjoyed several years of success that ended with the release of a Wckr Spgt Greatest Hits record, Five Years, in 1988.

Between 1988 and 1991, Wckr Spgt recordings were primarily being released and distributed by Shrimper Records and, at the end of 1991, Jupa Records released the first Wckr Spgt vinyl 7-inch. Anthropology was revived in 1991 when a new catalogue was assembled and all tapes were remastered. Several tapes were put together to fill-in material that had been overlooked initially, Fire in the Hole being the best example. The "new" Anthropology stopped production of music in 1993 and control of Wckr Spgt material was transferred to Wckr Spgt MultiMediums.

Wckr Spgt MultiMediums

Formed in 1993 as the parent company for all Wckr Spgt-related endeavors with divisions for printed works as well as recorded material. Several articles were published under the WSMM banner, notably "Making Wckr Spgt Your Friend" (1993) and "The Discontinuance of Sweat" (1994). Wckr Spgt MultiMediums also controls the publishing rights for all Wckr Spgt songs, sometimes under the name Spgtmuzik. Carpe Piscem, the publisher of Salmon Bosch, is also a division of Wckr Spgt MultiMediums.

The Bowl Sheet

The Bowl Sheet - A Functional Approach to 'Moderne' Life was published monthly by Anthropology Press from 1986 to 1988 as a parody of, and a reaction to, the plethora of small poorly produced "zines" that began to appear like weeds in the do-it-yourself garden. Well organized and humorous, The Bowl Sheet contained, among other things, a column called "Duckpin's Alley" by Howard Drucker, a comic strip called "The Handicaption", a mascot named "L'il Bowlie", and a brilliant cut-and-paste comic by Joel called "Ex Organ", where the name "Car In Car", Joel's record label, first appeared.

Carpe Piscem

Carpe Piscem, Latin for "Seize the Fish", produced the new Anthropology Records Catalogue from 1991-1993 before being absorbed by Wckr Spgt MultiMediums. The design firm Tensile Pennon, Inc., a division of Carpe Piscem, defined the look and feel with beautifully hand-drawn typographic characteristics and innovative layout. Several pieces, most notably "The Cash Nexus Family Tree" (1993), demonstrated the style in which Tensile Pennon, Inc. worked. The most popular title under the Carpe Piscem heading was the magazine Salmon Bosch, published between 1993 and 1995.

Salmon Bosch

Tensile Pennon, Inc. developed the layout and transcribed this innovative magazine, producing one of the most beautiful examples of typographic design in the independent "zine" market. Published bi-monthly by Carpe Piscem, Salmon Bosch contained material from Joel and Mark as well as games, artwork, prose, charts, reviews, and regular contributions from Howard Drucker, Tim Hatch, Chris Pellitteri, Cris Dornaus, Gayle Brandeis, and Buzzsaw, among others. A breakthrough publication in a number of ways, that number being seven.

Car In Car Disco Product

Joel started Car in Car Disco Product in 1993 as a means to distribute the recordings of Furniture Huschle, his solo project. In the two years that followed, Car in Car had released tapes by Nothing Painted Blue, The Mountain Goats, T.H.U.D., Cash Nexus, Flaming Interior Decorator, and Wizard Ho-Ho, among others.

The full-color, plastic clamshell packages were eye-catching wonders that set these releases apart, distinguishing Car in Car as a label with a firm grip on high quality. Sadly, production stopped in 1996 after three years of hair-raising, record-breaking success.

Cache Cow

The newest member of the Wckr Spgt MultiMediums empire, Cache Cow was formed in 1999 to present the works of Cash Nexus to the digital world. Production is expected to begin at the turn of the century, first with the novel " From W/ATE/R to W/IN/E and Halfway Back: The Unauthorized Autobiography of Cash Nexus" and then the recording Cache As Cash Can. The full Cash Nexus discography is available in digital format and two more books are planned for 2006. Further information will be release slowly and sporadically, if at all, and will be posted if it does become available. Cache Cow is a division of Carpe Piscem.

Shrimper Records

Dennis, the guitar player for Refrigerator, the greatest rock and roll band in the history of the known world, also runs Shrimper, the greatest record label in the history of the known world.

Jupa Records, the label owned by Nothing Painted Blue, released the first two Wckr Spgt singles.