Celluloid

Celluloid

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Celluloid Records was a French label & distributor founded in Paris in 1977 by Jean Karakos, Gilbert Castro and Jean-François Bizot. Initially specialized in importing European hits records for the French market. Soon after the creation of Celluloid, Karakos, with more international ambitions for the label, proposed to move to New York. Castro and Bizot refused, so Celluloid split in two, with Karakos starting a new life for Celluloid in New York in 1981, while the French Celluloid continued in Paris for a while.
The label then began to focus on experimental music and cross-cultural fusion sounds. Shortly after, Celluloid began a long and fruitful relationship with Bill Laswell who produced many of its recordings in the first half of the 80's.

In the 80's, Celluloid produced a large amount of records which to this day are regularly quoted as having a significant cultural influence. The default position of "way ahead of the time" was great for the label´s reputation but not always great for its financial situation. In 1988 Celluloid went bankrupt and Jean Karakos returned to Paris.

After years of breadline-indie-label-toil Jean's ship finally came in when he found, signed and released the only pop release of his career; "The Lambada", with the help of his A&R man of that time, Robert Soares, becoming one of the biggest global hits of 1989.

In 1990, the rights to all the Celluloid master recordings were transfered to American record distributor, John Matarazzo, who was also the executive producer behind Bill Laswell's and Robert Soares´ Subharmonic and Strata labels between 1993 and 1995. On August 1994, Adageo BV purchased all rights to the Celluloid catalog and name. Adageo remain the owners to the present day.

In 2010, Jean returned to A&R duties of Celluloid Records. With the renewed interest in the early 80's New York culture, the label plans to release some compilations featuring previously unheard Celluloid recordings from the period, while new projects are in the works.

Label code LC 7710
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Label

Releases

Status Catalog Number  Image Artist Title ( Format) Label Catalog Number  Country Year Actions
07SP 789 Grand Mixer D.ST.* - Crazy Cuts Grand Mixer D.ST.* Crazy Cuts (Single) 07SP 789 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2757 Material - For A Few Dollars More Material For A Few Dollars More 12AP 2757 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2758 Grandmixer D. ST.* & The Infinity Rappers - The Grand Mixer Cuts It Up Grandmixer D. ST.* & The Infinity Rappers Grandmixer D. ST.* & The Infinity Rappers - The Grand Mixer Cuts It Up 12AP 2758 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2759 Shango - Shango Message Shango Shango Message 12AP 2759 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2760 Material - Time Out Material Time Out(12") Celluloid, CBS/Sony 12AP 2760 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2762 Time Zone - The Wildstyle (Remix) Time Zone The Wildstyle (Remix) (EP) 12AP 2762 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
12AP 2909 Lightnin' Rod With Jimi Hendrix - Doriella Du Fontaine Lightnin' Rod With Jimi Hendrix Lightnin' Rod With Jimi Hendrix - Doriella Du Fontaine 12AP 2909 Japan 1984 Sell This Version
12AP 3018 Time Zone Featuring John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa - World Destruction Time Zone Featuring John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa Time Zone Featuring John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa - World Destruction 12AP 3018 Japan 1985 Sell This Version
12IS 135 Time Zone - Wildstyle (Special New Mix) Time Zone Wildstyle (Special New Mix) (Single) 12IS 135 UK 1983 Sell This Version
12IS146 DST* - Crazy Cuts DST* Crazy Cuts 12IS146 UK 1983 Sell This Version
12WIP 6743 Mathématiques Modernes - Disco Rough (Long Version) Mathématiques Modernes Disco Rough (Long Version)(12") Metropolis (7), Celluloid 12WIP 6743 UK 1981 Sell This Version
12WIP 6744 Alan Vega - Jukebox Babe Alan Vega Jukebox Babe(12") Celluloid 12WIP 6744 UK 1981 Sell This Version
25AP 2751 Material - Memory Serves Material Memory Serves (Album) 25AP 2751 Japan 1982 Sell This Version
25AP 2752 Bill Laswell - Baselines Bill Laswell Baselines(LP, Album, Promo) CBS/Sony, Celluloid 25AP 2752 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
25AP 2753 Daniel Ponce - New York Now! Daniel Ponce New York Now! (Album) 25AP 2753 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
25AP 2754 Material - One Down Material One Down (Album) 25AP 2754 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
25AP 2755 The Golden Palominos - The Golden Palominos The Golden Palominos The Golden Palominos (Album) 25AP 2755 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
25AP 2756 Billy Bang - Outline No. 12 Billy Bang Outline No. 12 (Album) 25AP 2756 Japan 1983 Sell This Version
28 Various - CD Tune Up #28 Various CD Tune Up #28(2xCD, Comp, Promo, S/Edition) The Album Network 28 US 1989 Sell This Version
28AP 2882 Shango - Shango Funk Theology Shango Shango Funk Theology (Album) 28AP 2882 Japan 1984 Sell This Version
28AP 3063 Touré Kunda - Natalia Touré Kunda Natalia (Album) 28AP 3063 Japan 1985 Sell This Version
28AP 3084 Touré Kunda = トゥレ・クンダ* - Casamance Au Clair De Lune = カザマンス Touré Kunda = トゥレ・クンダ* Touré Kunda = トゥレ・クンダ* - Casamance Au Clair De Lune = カザマンス (Album) 28AP 3084 Japan 1985 Sell This Version
28AP 3157 Various - Bill Laswell Presents New Africa Various Bill Laswell Presents New Africa (Comp) 28AP 3157 Japan 1985 Sell This Version
32DP 471 The Golden Palominos - Visions Of Excess The Golden Palominos Visions Of Excess(CD, Album) CBS/Sony, Celluloid 32DP 471 Japan 1986 Sell This Version
0156 Fab 5 Freddy / Beeside* - Change The Beat Fab 5 Freddy / Beeside* Fab 5 Freddy / Beeside* - Change The Beat (Maxi) 0156 US 1982 Sell This Version
0158 Infinity* And Grandmixer D.ST.* - Grandmixer Cuts It Up! Infinity* And Grandmixer D.ST.* Infinity* And Grandmixer D.ST.* - Grandmixer Cuts It Up! (Maxi) 0158 US 1982 Sell This Version
000695 Bévinda - Billes De Gum. Bévinda Billes De Gum.(CD, Album, Dig) Celluloid 000695 France 2011 Sell This Version
1037 Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material(LP, Album, RP, Blu) Celluloid, Celluloid 1037 France Unknown Sell This Version
1925 Xalam - Kanu / Sidi Yella Xalam Kanu / Sidi Yella(7", Single) Celluloid 1925 France 1984 Sell This Version
1926 Arto* + Brockington - Foxy Eyes / Cruising Fleet Arto* + Brockington Arto* + Brockington - Foxy Eyes / Cruising Fleet(7") Celluloid 1926 France 1981 Sell This Version
1930 Winston Tong - Theoretical China / Comme Les Autres Winston Tong Theoretical China / Comme Les Autres(7") Celluloid 1930 France 1984 Sell This Version
1933 Bruno Carone - Comme Un Soleil Bruno Carone Comme Un Soleil(7", Single, Promo) Celluloid 1933 France Unknown Sell This Version
1939 Winston Tong - Reports From The Heart Winston Tong Reports From The Heart(7", Single) Celluloid 1939 France 1985 Sell This Version
2171 Nayanka Bell - If You Came To Go Nayanka Bell If You Came To Go(Cass, Album, Dol) Celluloid 2171 France 1984 Sell This Version
4478 Touré Kunda - É'mma Africa Touré Kunda É'mma Africa (Album) 4478 France Unknown Sell This Version
4601 DK B Osibisa - Celebration Osibisa Celebration(Cass, Album) Celluloid 4601 DK B France Unknown Sell This Version
4602 Toure Kunda* - Live Paris-Ziguinchor - Tournée Africaine Déc.83 / Jan.84 Toure Kunda* Live Paris-Ziguinchor - Tournée Africaine Déc.83 / Jan.84(Cass) Celluloid, Celluloid 4602 France 1984 Sell This Version
4604 DK B Youssou Ndour* & Le Super Etoile De Dakar - Immigrés / Bitim Rew Youssou Ndour* & Le Super Etoile De Dakar Youssou Ndour* & Le Super Etoile De Dakar - Immigrés / Bitim Rew(Cass) Celluloid 4604 DK B France 1988 Sell This Version
4606 Soft Cell - Tainted Love Soft Cell Tainted Love(Cass, Single) Celluloid 4606 France 1981 Sell This Version
4609 Fẹla* Fẹla(Cass, Album, Mono) Celluloid 4609 France Unknown Sell This Version
4619 Various - Tropic Tonic No 2 Various Tropic Tonic No 2(Cass, Album, Comp) Celluloid 4619 France 1987 Sell This Version
5601 Blaspheme - Désir De Vampyr Blaspheme Désir De Vampyr(LP, Album) Lizard Records (5), Celluloid 5601 France 1985 Sell This Version
5602 Andrew More - La Vie Sauvage Andrew More La Vie Sauvage(LP, Album) Lizard Records (5), Celluloid 5602 France 1983 Sell This Version
5603 Blaspheme - Vivre Libre Blaspheme Vivre Libre(7", Promo) Lizard Records (5), Celluloid 5603 France 1985 Sell This Version
5604 Andrew More - La Vie Sauvage Andrew More La Vie Sauvage(7", Promo) Lizard Records (5) 5604 France Unknown Sell This Version
006001 Jacno - Jacno Jacno Jacno(CD, Album, RE) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal 006001 France 2011 Sell This Version
6137 Touré Kunda - Karadindi Touré Kunda Karadindi(Cass, Album) Celluloid, Celluloid 6137 Netherlands 1985 Sell This Version
6138 The Golden Palominos - A Dead Horse The Golden Palominos A Dead Horse(Cass, Album) Celluloid 6138 Netherlands 1989 Sell This Version
6203 Steve Kekana - Makhombo Steve Kekana Makhombo(Cass, Album) Celluloid 6203 Netherlands 1992 Sell This Version
6208 The Last Poets - Retro-Fit The Last Poets Retro-Fit(Cass, Comp) Celluloid, Celluloid 6208 US 1992 Sell This Version
6226 Material - Bustin' Out Material Bustin' Out(7") Celluloid 6226 France Unknown Sell This Version
6227 Gichy Dan - Cowboys And Gangsters / Action Man Gichy Dan Cowboys And Gangsters / Action Man(7", Single) Celluloid 6227 France Unknown Sell This Version
6537 Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material (Album) 6537 France 1979 Sell This Version
6601 Bévinda - Serge Gainsbourg Tel Qu'Elle 1958-1968 Bévinda Serge Gainsbourg Tel Qu'Elle 1958-1968(CD, Album) Celluloid 6601 France 2006 Sell This Version
006603 Djeli Moussa Diawara - Sini Djeli Moussa Diawara Sini(CD, Album) African Science, Rue Stendhal 006603 France 2006 Sell This Version
006607 Annick Cisaruk - Chante Barbara Annick Cisaruk Chante Barbara(CD, Album) Celluloid 006607 France 2007 Sell This Version
006608 T. N. Krishnan - Violin Carnatic Soul T. N. Krishnan Violin Carnatic Soul(CD, Album) Rue Stendhal, Celluloid 006608 France Unknown Sell This Version
006609 Bévinda - Serge Gainsbourg Tel Qu'Elle 1958-1968 Bévinda Serge Gainsbourg Tel Qu'Elle 1958-1968(CD, Album, RE) Celluloid 006609 France 2007 Sell This Version
006610 Xalam - Live À Montreux Xalam Live À Montreux(CD, Album) Celluloid 006610 France 2008 Sell This Version
006611 Vinson* And Masoandro Band - Mikea Forest Blues Vinson* And Masoandro Band Vinson* And Masoandro Band - Mikea Forest Blues(CD, Album) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal 006611 France 2014 Sell This Version
006612 Kora Jazz Trio - Part III Kora Jazz Trio Part III(CD, Album) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal 006612 France 2008 Sell This Version
006613 Kora Jazz Trio - Part III Kora Jazz Trio Part III(LP, Album) Celluloid 006613 France 2008 Sell This Version
006614 Lee Perry - Jamaica Soul 3 (A Serious Selection Of 'Groovy Hits' From Lee Perry's Productions 1969-1977) Lee Perry Jamaica Soul 3 (A Serious Selection Of 'Groovy Hits' From Lee Perry's Productions 1969-1977)(CD, Comp) Santalina Records, Celluloid 006614 France 2009 Sell This Version
006615 Various - Jamaica Soul 3 (A Serious Selection Of 'Groovy Hits' From Lee Perry's Productions 1969-1977) Various Jamaica Soul 3 (A Serious Selection Of 'Groovy Hits' From Lee Perry's Productions 1969-1977)(2xLP, Comp) Santalina Records 006615 France 2009 Sell This Version
006616 Diane Tell - Docteur Boris & Mister Vian Diane Tell Docteur Boris & Mister Vian(CD, Album) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal 006616 Europe 2009 Sell This Version
006617 Mory Djely Kouyate, Jean-Philippe Rykiel - Tinkiso Mory Djely Kouyate, Jean-Philippe Rykiel Mory Djely Kouyate, Jean-Philippe Rykiel - Tinkiso(CD, Album) Celluloid 006617 France 2010 Sell This Version
006619 Bévinda - Lusitania Bévinda Lusitania(CD, Album) Celluloid 006619 France 2011 Sell This Version
006621 Kora Jazz Band - Kora Jazz Band And Guests Kora Jazz Band Kora Jazz Band And Guests(CD, Album) Celluloid 006621 France 2014 Sell This Version
006622 Kora Jazz Band - Kora Jazz Band And Guests Kora Jazz Band Kora Jazz Band And Guests(LP, Album) Celluloid 006622 France 2011 Sell This Version
006623 Francis Bebey - La Belle Epoque Francis Bebey La Belle Epoque(4xCD, Comp + Box) Rue Stendhal, Celluloid 006623 France 2011 Sell This Version
6625 Diane Tell - Rideaux Ouverts Diane Tell Rideaux Ouverts(CD, Album, Dig) Celluloid 6625 Europe 2012 Sell This Version
006628 Skilda - Skyewalker Skilda Skyewalker(CD, Album) Celluloid 006628 UK 2012 Sell This Version
006629 Electro Bamako - Electro Bamako Electro Bamako Electro Bamako(CD, Album) Celluloid 006629 France 2013 Sell This Version
006630 Jacno - Jacno Jacno Jacno(LP, Album, RE) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal 006630 France 2011 Sell This Version
006636 Dee Nasty - Classique Dee Nasty Classique(CD, Album) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal, Disques Pirates 006636 France 2015 Sell This Version
006636 Dee Nasty - Classique Dee Nasty Classique(CDr, Promo, Smplr, Car) Celluloid, Rue Stendhal, Disques Pirates 006636 France 2015 Sell This Version
006638 Dee Nasty - Classique Dee Nasty Classique(2xLP, Album, RSD) Celluloid 006638 France 2016 Sell This Version
006640 Various - Haiti Goes Latin Various Haiti Goes Latin(CD, Comp, Dig) Celluloid, Salsathérapie 006640 France 2014 Sell This Version
006641 Various - Haiti Goes Latin Various Haiti Goes Latin(2xLP, Comp) Celluloid, Salsathérapie 006641 France 2014 Sell This Version
006642 Le Sahel - La Légende de Dakar Le Sahel La Légende de Dakar(CD, Album) Celluloid 006642 France 2015 Sell This Version
006643 Zao (5) - Nouveau Combattant Zao (5) Nouveau Combattant(CD, Album) Celluloid 006643 2014 Sell This Version
006644 Kora Jazz Band - Back To Africa Kora Jazz Band Back To Africa(CD, Album) Celluloid 006644 France 2015 Sell This Version
006646 Le Sahel - La Légende de Dakar Le Sahel La Légende de Dakar(2xLP, Album) Celluloid 006646 France 2015 Sell This Version
006647 Wild Child (2) - The Next Decline Wild Child (2) The Next Decline (CD, Album, Comp) Celluloid 006647 France 2015 Sell This Version
6703 Osibisa - Celebration Osibisa Celebration(LP, Album) Celluloid, Celluloid 6703 France 1980 Sell This Version
6714 Les Standards - Jack & Jerry Les Standards Jack & Jerry(LP) Celluloid 6714 France 1984 Sell This Version
6775 Winston Tong - Theoretically Chinese Winston Tong Theoretically Chinese(LP, Album) Celluloid 6775 France 1985 Sell This Version
6808 La Souris Déglinguée - Une Cause A Rallier La Souris Déglinguée Une Cause A Rallier(12", MiniAlbum, RE, TP, W/Lbl) Celluloid 6808 France 1987 Sell This Version
08002-2 Jimmy Cliff - Samba Reggae Jimmy Cliff Samba Reggae(CD, Maxi) Celluloid 08002-2 France 1993 Sell This Version
08002-6 Jimmy Cliff - Samba Reggae Jimmy Cliff Samba Reggae(12") Celluloid 08002-6 France 1993 Sell This Version
08085-2 Jimmy Cliff - Samba Reggae Jimmy Cliff Samba Reggae(CD) Celluloid 08085-2 France 1993 Sell This Version
8311 Gnonnas Pedro & Ses Dadjes* - Les Femmes D'Abord Gnonnas Pedro & Ses Dadjes* Les Femmes D'Abord(LP, Album) Syllart Records, Syllart Records, Syllart Production, Celluloid 8311 France Unknown Sell This Version
8319 DST* - Crazy Cuts DST* Crazy Cuts(12", Maxi) Carrere, Carrere, Celluloid, Celluloid 8319 France 1983 Sell This Version
8327 Material - For A Few Dollars More Material For A Few Dollars More(12") Carrere 8327 France 1984 Sell This Version
8428 Manu Dibango - Abele Dance Manu Dibango Abele Dance(12", Maxi) Carrere, Carrere 8428 France 1984 Sell This Version
08530-1 Super Diamono* - Cheikh Anta Diop Super Diamono* Cheikh Anta Diop(LP, Album) Celluloid 08530-1 France 1988 Sell This Version
08530-2 Super Diamono* - Cheikh Anta Diop Super Diamono* Cheikh Anta Diop(CD, Album) Celluloid 08530-2 France 1988 Sell This Version
8810 Ettika - Ettika Ettika Ettika(7") Johnnie Coco Musik, Celluloid 8810 France 1985 Sell This Version
9500 Come-Back* - Viking Come-Back* Viking(LP) Celluloid 9500 France Unknown Sell This Version
9501 Ipomen* - Ipomen Ipomen* Ipomen(LP, Album) Celluloid 9501 France Unknown Sell This Version

Reviews

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gsheputis

gsheputis

January 16, 2023
The few things I ever bought on this label sounded like shit - I've heard bootleg labels that sounded better - a label to avoid, in my experience.....
Hot-Buttered-Dub

Hot-Buttered-Dub

April 2, 2018
edited over 4 years ago
Wikipedia says it was founded in 1976: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celluloid_Records, French Wiki, too.
The official Celluloid-site starts with 1970: http://www.celluloidrecords.net/discography-celluloid.php (scroll down to the bottom).
For Jean Karakos Wiki explicitly states he founded Cellulloid in 1976 in N.Y.C: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Karakos
VasiliKochura

VasiliKochura

February 5, 2015
It says that the label was founded in 1979 but there are several releases which date as far back as 1976 on Celluloid, most notably Magma's Inedits... Is there another Celluloid label?
See 2 replies
jwesteren

jwesteren

April 4, 2011
edited over 12 years ago
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