The seventh member of the Old 3C Label Group is Tone Scholar Recordings of Columbus, Ohio, directed by Paul Nini (Closet Mix, Great Plains, Log, Peck of Snide, etc.), whose band Closet Mix is the first to appear on the label. Nini’s previous bands and solo efforts have been issued by Old 3C Records, and he’s also the guy who runs the Old 3C Label Group.
| TS 01 | AWY 92 | Closet Mix, 01 EP | 5 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
| Reviews | Dagger Zine (Tim Hinely) | Blurt (Fred Mills)
Closet Mix is Dan Della Flora (drums), Chris Nini (keys), Paul Nini, (vox, bass), and Keith Novicki (guitars, vox), and this is their long-in-the-making, debut digital and vinyl release. The band name comes from Sterling Morrison’s derogatory term for Lou Reed’s mix of the Velvet’s legendary third LP — and that’s appropriate, as they keep things kind of slow-ish, quiet-ish and a little moody. Watch the videos made for all five songs on the Old 3C YouTube page. Vinyl is limited to a pressing of 200, co-released with our good friends at Anyway Records.
| Mail order the 12″ vinyl EP via| Bandcamp | Midheaven | Grapefruit Record Club | Jigsaw Records | or directly from Old 3C via Paypal ($20, US orders only).
| Mug & Brush Sessions videos, April 2017 | It’s Better My Way | Vague Uncertainties
| TS 02 | Fruitpie (The Magician), Self-Titled | 19 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Fruitpie (The Magician) is a solo project of Randy Cheek, veteran of Cincinnati, Ohio-area bands The Ready Stance, Ass Ponys, The Fairmount Girls, The Libertines US, and some others going too far back for anyone to remember very well. Recorded on a 4-track cassette with a broken SM-57, a Kay Guitar, a battery powered Dr. Sampler and a radio. The hiss is an integral component of the composition (and proof of the Big Bang). No computers were used in the recording process.
| TS 03 | Log, The Artful Riffing of Yes | 13 songs
The title of this collection is taken from an article in an old issue of Guitar Player magazine from February 1997 that was lying around the studio while Log recorded what would become their 1999 album, Auto Fire Life. When a cassette was recently discovered that included working-mix versions of these songs, it appeared that a free Bandcamp release was in order.
| TS 04 | Closet Mix, Live at the UA Library 11 May 2017 | 4 songs
Featuring four songs captured live — one new original and three covers (Big Star, Bob Dylan, and The Velvet Underground). These recording also marks the introduction of member Ed Shuttleworth (Van Echo, Red Skylark, etc.) on guitar. Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 05 | Paul Nini, My Chequered Past | 15 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
| Review | Dagger Zine (Tim Hinely)
Paul Nini has been writing songs and releasing records since the mid-1980s, both in various bands and as a solo artist. For some reason, he decided to put a collection together of favorite tunes — and as the head honcho of the Old 3C Label Group, no one stopped him. Features songs from his stints with Great Plains, Log, Peck of Snide, Closet Mix, and “solo” cuts under his own name, Sanpaulo, Saint Paul, etc. Name your price (including free) on Bandcamp.
| TS 06 | Sanpaulo, Thicker Skin + Serpent Mound | 2 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Sanpaulo is the “nom-du-rock” that Paul Nini seems to want to use these days for his new solo output. This two-song, digital single includes an original and a cover of a Great Plains classic cut from 1984, both rendered in a stripped-down style. Name your price (including free) on Bandcamp.
| TS 07 | Sanpaulo, (Say No To) Saturday’s Girl + Bad Reputation | 2 songs
Sanpaulo features two songs from the Hoboken–Manhattan axis of the 80s and 90s (by way of Ohio and Kansas, respectively) – one by Human Switchboard, and on by Freedy Johnston. Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 08 | Sanpaulo, Smile A Little Smile For Me + Goin’ Back | 2 songs
| Review | Reverb Raccoon
Sanpaulo covers two classic pop songs from the 1960s – “Smile a Little Smile for Me” (The Flying Machine, 1969, written by Stephens and Macaulay), and “Goin’ Back” (The Byrds, 1966, written by Goffin and King). Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 09 | Sanpaulo, If We Wait + Where’s Your Patience, Dear? | 2 songs
Sanpaulo does versions of two favorites from the 1990s/2000s – “If We Wait” (Guided By Voices, 1993, from their split 7″ with Jenny Mae Leffel), and “Where’s Your Patience, Dear?” (Matt Suggs, 2000, from his criminally overlooked “Golden Days Before They End” CD). Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 10 | Sanpaulo, Hell Is Other People (Let’s Party!) + Remix | 2 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Sanpaulo’s ’80s-inspired, modern-day interpretation (of sorts) of J.P. Sartre’s “No Exit.” If you have no idea what that means, there’s more info here.
| TS 11 | Sanpaulo, September Gurls + This Is Where I Belong | 2 songs
Covers of classic songs by Big Star and The Kinks that you should already know. The cover image is from the local headquarters of Mussolini’s Italian Fascist Party, 1934, the Palazzo Braschi in Rome. The “SI SI…” lettering was to urge a “Yes” vote for a single list of candidates presented by “Il Duce” himself — more info here. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” — George Santayana, 26 September 1952. Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 12 | Sanpaulo, All I Know + Cronulla Breakdown | 2 songs
Two covers of songs from the Pernice Brothers ”Australia Tour EP 2002,” a favorite in the Sanpaulo household. Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 13 | Sanpaulo, Elenore + Roll Away The Stone | 2 songs
| Review | Reverb Raccoon
Laid-back covers of classic songs by The Turtles (1968) and Mott The Hoople (1973). Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 14 | Closet Mix, Contact Buzz | 1 song
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
| Here’s more info from an article in Columbus Alive.
| Review | Dagger Zine (Tim Hinely)
Closet Mix “returns” with this song from a limited-edition (200 quantity), split 7″ vinyl single – with Ed Shuttleworth’s band Van Echo on the flip side, which features longtime members of the Cincinnati indie scene Randy Cheek, Brian Kitzmiller, and Wesley Pence.
| Mail order the 7″ clear-vinyl split-single, packaged in translucent vellum sleeves, via | Bandcamp | Grapefruit Record Club | Jigsaw Records | or directly from Old 3C via Paypal ($10, US orders only).
| TS 15 | Sanpaulo, Dancing Queen + Over My Head | 2 songs
Sanpaulo covers classic tunes by ABBA (circa 1976) and Fleetwood Mac (circa 1975). Why the hell not? Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 16 | Andy Hampel, Nightshift | 14 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Nightshift is the first solo collection from the prolific mind of Columbus, Ohio based singer/songwriter Andy Hampel. As a member of Connections (and formerly 84 Nash), Hampel has spent decades in search of the perfect pop song. Nightshift provides much of the same laser focus on melody and hooks, but with a more personal and introspective bent. For fans of Teenage Fanclub, The Lemonheads, Dwight Twilley, et al.
| Review | The Fire Note (Christopher Anthony)
| TS 17 | Sanpaulo, Two Hearts + You Don’t Miss Your Water | 2 songs
Sanpaulo covers The Jayhawks (circa 1995) and The Byrds (circa 1968) covering William Bell (circa 1961). Moody cowboys tunes this time it would seem. Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 18 | Sanpaulo, Foreign Powers + Extended Version| 2 songs
Sanpaulo lets loose a digital single in advance of election 2020. Voices by the Big Orange Hate Hole and his Sister Judge. All other sounds by Sanpaulo. Be sure to vote, all good people! Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 19 | Sanpaulo, The Future’s Tense + Acoustic Version| 2 songs
Sanpaulo lets loose another digital single in advance of election 2020. The present was indeed tense, I think you’ll have to agree. Again, be sure to vote, all good people, now and always! Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 20 | Sanpaulo, I Had To Tell You + Knox’s Lament | 2 songs
Sanpaulo covers The 13th Floor Elevators (from “Easter Everywhere,” 1967) and Dump (from “Superpowerless,” 1993). Who knew he could “sing” so high? Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 21 | Sanpaulo, This Man He Weeps Tonight + Radio City | 2 songs
Sanpaulo covers The Kinks (from “Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire),” 1969) and Fungobat aka Mike Hagen (from “Greatest Hits Vol.1,” 2005). Available only as a free Bandcamp release.
| TS 22 | Sanpaulo, Decade of the Year + Silhouette | 2 songs
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
Sanpaulo remakes / remodels two abandoned songs from the late-80s / early-90s on this free / name your price Bandcamp single also available via the streaming services. Drink Shiltz! Smash that phone!
| TS 23 | Closet Mix, My Appeal To Heaven (Single Mix) | 1 song
| Amazon Music | Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music
The free / name your price digital single in advance of the eventual full-length release that’ll be finished when it’s finished. Many thanks to Tim Perdue + Fred Gablick for the horns, and Keith Hanlon + Secret Studio for being so great to work with. Recorded with support from a Greater Columbus Arts Council Professional Artists grant. Watch the video on YouTube.
Please follow Closet Mix on Facebook.
Please follow Connections (Andy Hampel) on Facebook.
Please follow Fruitpie (The Magician) on Facebook.
Please follow Sanpaulo/Paul Nini on Facebook.
Please contact Tone Scholar Recordings at old3clabelgroup@gmail.com.
Old 3C Label Group 