Norton Records, self proclaimed home of the “Loud Sound,” needs your help. The label’s warehouse in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy last month and they are still reeling from the damage. Everything from paperwork and master tapes to new product and backstock have been damaged or destroyed. Norton is looking for volunteers to help salvage what is left of their Red Hook warehouse and openly taking donations on their website. Information about donating and volunteering is available here.
Norton has been the home for over-the-top rock ‘n’ roll for nearly 30 years. They’ve reissued material from rock pioneers Jerry Lee Lewis and Link Wray, unearthed rare material from cult acts such as ? and the Mysterians and The Sonics, and have released new material from modern acts like King Khan and The Black Lips. Their 25th anniversary show last year included The Reigning Sound, Andre Williams, Real Kids, and Tandori Knights.
Norton is not the only label to suffer catastrophic losses from the hurricane. Modern classical label New Amsterdam, home to acts such as yMusic and Shara Worden (a.k.a. My Brightest Diamond) was also flooded in Red Hook. They’ve reportedly lost over 70% of their stock and are also seeking donations and volunteers. Information about helping out New Amsterdam can be found here.
So if you’re in the greater New York metro area and have a few hours to kill, shoot either label an email and see what you can do to help.
• Norton Records: http://www.nortonrecords.com
• New Amsterdam Records: http://www.newamsterdamrecords.com
