Oblivion Records

Oblivion Records was an American independent record label that focused on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was based in Huntington, New York and New York City and a post office box (Box X) in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976.

History

The company was formed based on a casual conversation between Long Island, New York record store owner, musician, and blues scholar Tom Pomposello, and college student and amateur recording engineer Fred Seibert, when Pomposello was musing about the best way to record and release his music. Seibert suggested a major label was a thing of the past and the way of the future was that Pomposello should record himself. The two quickly formed a partnership.

Seibert hosted a Columbia University, WKCR-FM radio show, and had recorded Pomposello for his accompanying legendary country blues artist Mississippi Fred McDowell at The Gaslight Cafe in November 1971. They agreed that the tapes were a commercial offering that could be used to launch the label. Pomposello suggested the tongue-in-cheek name Oblivion, cadged from an obscure Leo Kottke album, mistakenly believing the name to be a satire.