Brain Damage Records was created in 1978 to provide an alternative path for recording artists to produce, publish, and distribute their music. Brain Damage is a non-profit recording label, with all releases managed by the artists who choose to distribute their music through the label. Unlike traditional music publishers, Brain Damage Records takes no profits whatsoever from music sales. With no profit motive, the Brain Damage label allows artists 100% control over what they record, when they release it, how they distribute it, and how they market it. Brain Damage Records provides the lowest possible cost for recording, manufacturing and distribution of recorded music in small quantities, with the least possible overhead and zero artistic interference. Brain Damage Records artists even retain control over their own publishing rights. This approach is useful to alternative artists who make music that may not be considered commercially viable, artists who seek complete freedom of expression, and start-up artists who do not seek or expect commercial-level distribution. If you love music, like to support small local artists, and/or believe in freedom of expression, then please support the musicians who choose to distribute their music through Brain Damage Records.

FEATURED MUSIC Click here for descriptions, samples, pictures, and track lists of the most popular CDs available from Brain Damage Records artists. ARTISTS AND MUSIC CATALOG Click on underlined artist names for links to artist web pages. Captain Chemical - "junk blues" with strong drug influence, hardcore lyrics (adult content, extremely politically incorrect) BDR-CC01       Music To Waste By   (5/1978, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC02       The Age of Insanity   (7/1978, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC03       Tertiary Consciousness   (8/1978, 8 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC05       Recital   (6/1979, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC06       An Evening With The Captain   (5/1980, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC07       Dementia In Excelsis Deo   (10/1982, 15 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC08       Live From Cleveland   (11/1983, 12 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-CC09CD   Fucked Up: The Sickest of Captain Chemical   (8/2007, 22 tracks, CD)   available BDR-CC10CD   Ain't Dead Yet   (4/2021, 13 tracks, CD, digital)   available   featured BDR-CC11CD   Stupid   (10/2021, 12 tracks, CD, digital)   available BDR-CC12CD   The Decline of Civilization   (1/2023, 9 tracks, CD, digital)   available   featured BDR-CC13CD   Dumbstruck   (6/2024, 14 tracks, CD, digital)   available the End - monsters of sixties pyschedelic and acid rock, featuring music of the Doors and original psychedelic music BDR-TE01     Beginnings [summer '81 version]   (8/1981, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-TE01A   Beginnings [official version]   (9/1981, 11 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-TE01CD Beginnings [remaster]   (date TBD, 13 tracks, CD) planned release BDR-TE02     Contemporary American Acid   (8/1982, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-TE02CD Contemporary American Acid [remaster]   (date TBD, 10 tracks, CD) planned release BDR-TE03     Strike Three   (2/1983, 8 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-TE03CD Strike Three [remaster]   (date TBD, 8 tracks, CD) planned release BDR-TE04CD Final Judgment: The Best of The End   (8/2001, 16 tracks, CD) available BDR-TE05CD Flashback   (10/2003, 12 tracks, CD) available BDR-TE06CD Psychedelicious   (9/2005, 7 tracks, CD) available   featured BDR-TE07CD Night of the Living End   (3/2008, 28 tracks, CD, 3 disks)   [available only through Friends of The End] F. Scott - songwriter-musician-singer, primarily working in rock and alternative genres BDR-FS010     Use Correct Zip Code   (8/1980, 15 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS011     Close Cover Before Striking   (9/1982, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS012     Refrigerate After Opening   (10/1982, 14 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS013     Keep Out of Reach of Children-Full Version   (4/1984, 21 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS013A   Keep Out of Reach of Children-Distribution   (4/1984, 14 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS013ACD  Keep Out of Reach of Children [remastered for CD]   (1/2012, 17 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS014     Discard After Use   (9/1985, 10 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS014CD  Discard After Use [remastered for CD with bonus tracks]   (12/2011, 12 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS015     Tales of the West   (12/1986, 11 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS015CD  Tales of the West [with bonus tracks for CD]   (7/2013, 13 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS016     Tales of the East   (12/1987, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS016CD  Tales of the East   (7/2013, 13 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS017     Use As Directed   (3/1989, 14 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS017CD  Use As Directed   (3/1989, 14 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS018     Repeat As Necessary   (7/1991, 16 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS018CD  Repeat As Necessary   (7/1991, 16 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS019     Caution: Filling Is Hot   (1997, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-FS019CD Caution: Filling Is Hot   (1997, 13 tracks, CD) available BDR-FS020CD Free Prize Inside (8/2010, 12 tracks, CD)   available BDR-FS021CD Objects Are Closer Than They Appear   (date TBD, TBD tracks, CD) planned release Instant Party! - alternative dance music with zany male-female vocals influenced by the B-52s BDR-IP001   ...Just Add Fun   (8/1984, 10 tracks, tape) out of print Peach Stealing Monkeys - masters of trip-hop, featuring signature "lo-fidelity" sounds BDR-PSM01CD   The Missing Link of Lo-Fi  (2/2008, 14 tracks, CD)   available   featured Renaissance Woods - all-female early music group (renaissance/medieval/baroque), featuring woodwinds, violin and vocals BDR-RW01     Renaissance Woods (Eponymous)   (12/1983, 16 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-RW02     Souls Thou Wakest   (12/1984, 11 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-RW03     Woods, Winds, and Friends   (11/1986, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-RW04     Women's Weavings   (12/1988, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-RW05     Joys Abound   (11/1990, 10 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-RW06CD Compendium   (9/2007, 43 tracks, CD)   available   featured the Shrunken Headbangers - "shock-and-roll" band, shamelessly exploiting tragic events, human foibles, and the absurd BDR-SHB00101     Coldcock   (12/1993, 12 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-SHB00101CD Coldcock [remastered for CD with bonus tracks]   (4/2000, 17 tracks, CD) available BDR-SHB00102     Speculum   (11/1994, 11 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-SHB00102CD Speculum [remastered for CD with bonus tracks]   (7/2000, 18 tracks, CD) available BDR-SHB00103     Stink   (1/1996, 8 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-SHB00103CD Stink [remastered for CD with bonus tracks]   (9/2000, 18 tracks, CD) available BDR-SHB00104     Spew   (9/1999, 9 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-SHB00104CD Spew [remastered for CD with bonus tracks]   (10/2000, 21 tracks, CD) available BDR-SHB00105CD The Shrunken Headbangers' Anthology   (11/2001, 55 tracks, CD, 3 disks) available   featured John Symington - musician (guitar)-singer-songwriter, rock and country, humorous or poingnant BDR-JCS01     Sampler [with F. Scott]   (1/1985, 5 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS02     More Songs About Armadillos And Love [with F. Scott]   (1/1986, 7 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS03     I Can't Help It If I'm Named After A Drink   (1/1987, 5 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS04     Be Quiet For Once   (12/1987, 6 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS05     Lessons Of Life   (1988, 10 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS06     The Definitive Xmas Album [with F. Scott]   (1/1992, 7 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS07     No Sex At The Beach [with Phone Sex]   (1993, 4 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS08     Work (& Other Great Adventures)   (1995, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-JCS08CD   Work (& Other Great Adventures)   (1995, 13 tracks, CD) out of print USA - alternative band with minimalist punk stylings and ascerbic lyrics BDR-USA01     Album   (6/1983, 13 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-USA01CD Album [CD reissue with bonus track]   (2/2014, 14 tracks, CD)   [special availability] BDR-USA02     Life   (6/1984, 8 tracks, tape) out of print BDR-USA02CD Life [CD reiussue]   (2/2014, 8 tracks, CD)   [special availability] BDR-USA03CD Office   (9/2007, 11 tracks, CD)   available   featured Peter Whipple - lounge pianist, specializing in Broadway tunes and classics of the 1930s and 1940s BDR-PAW01   At The Piano   (10/2001, 16 tracks, CD)   [special availability] BDR-PAW02   Piano At Twilight   (7/2008, 16 tracks, CD)   [special availability] ORDERING MUSIC FROM BRAIN DAMAGE RECORDS Most artists on Brain Damage Records sell their own recordings directly. Some Captain Chemical tracks are available digitally at music stores such as Apple Music, iTunes, and Amazon Music, and can also be streamed on Pandora, Spotify, Napster etc. Those who want the full album artwork, or just like having physical copies of albums can order any CD that is listed as "available" or "featured" in the Brain Damage Records catalog directly from Brain Damage Records. Most BDR CDs are priced at $10 each, plus shipping costs, but pricing varies so you will need to send an email request listing what you would like, and we will reply with your total cost and expected shipping date. To send an email request and start the ordering process click here. THE BRAIN DAMAGE RECORDS NAME Other entities have done business under the name "Brain Damage Records", but most of these entities appear to be inactive or defunct. The most prominent of these (based on Google searches, anyway) is in the U.K. As of July 2021, the only commercial Internet presence for Brain Damage Records-UK appeared to be a MySpace page (www.myspace.com/braindamagebzh). The BDR-UK entity appears to be associated with a guy who goes by the name DJ Disowned and uses www.braindamageradio.com as his link. BDR-UK offers primarily punk, dance, and hardcore music, but it appears have been inactive since 2015. Elsewhere, in 2011 a different Brain Damage Records appeared in northern California, offering psycho hip-hop and rap, apparently primarily associated with the group Corpse Circus. If that's the Brain Damage Records you're looking for that, you could try their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BrainDamageRecords), or this link: https://www.discogs.com/label/644970-Brain-Damage-Records-2 , but neither of these seem to be frequently maintained. Yet another Brain Damage Records appeared in 2006 in Slovenia. BDR-Slovenia doesn't seem to have an Internet presence, but they have released at least 10 discs of techno/trance or metal music. One of those releases can be seen at https://www.metal-archives.com/labels/Brain_Damage_Records/31693 . Finally, a Braindamage label (not Brain Damage Records) in Germany released one disc in 1996 but appears to be defunct. It's interesting to note that all five BDRs have a logo that depicts an impaled brain. Because our mission is to encourage musicians rather than create trouble for musicians, we have not attempted and do not currently intend to take any action to discourage any of these other Brain Damage Records entities from doing business under the Brain Damage Records name. However, the fact that there may be as many as four different entities using (or formerly using) the name 'Brain Damage Records' could lead to confusion. Perhaps these other BDRs are as commercially-challenged as we are; they certainly have similar sense of company naming humor. However, to be clear this Brain Damage Records is located in the USA, has existed since 1978, uses braindamagerecords.com as its home address, and has a limited but fairly diverse artist roster.