Referral code for up to $80 off applied at checkout

VMP ANTHOLOGY
Sale

The Story of Tribe Records

7 albums that capture the essence of the legendary Detroit jazz label. This is an unnumbered copy of the original pressing.

UNAVAILABLE: This product is currently unavailable. You're on the waitlist and will be notified if it becomes available. Join the waitlist to be notified if it becomes available.

NOTE: Please purchase this product individually, as it cannot be combined with other products in our store.
Timeline is subject to change due to COVID-19.
We will notify you of any shipping updates.
We wanted the world to hear our music, and realize some of the issues that existed in terms of race in America. We didn’t realize that we were, in a sense, revolutionaries in the way we approached the music and the business, out of necessity to try to alleviate some of the problems that existed through the music. That was our weapon.
Quote Author Image
Phil Ranelin
Tribe Records' 
co-founder

A great series unfolds in episodes

...and the best stories are told in chapters. While the Tribe label has remained one of the brightest lights of America’s 1970s jazz underground, the label has never been feted with a definitive set of reissues, and has thus remained obscure. That changes now. This is your chance to indulge in the music and story of one of the most meaningful, local movements of the 20th Century Black American experience, one that expanded outwards towards the cosmos. In the words of the collective themselves, “Music is the healing force of the universe.” The box will ship with seven albums inside, and will come with an exclusive podcast series that features interviews with label co-founders Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison and more, to help guide you on your three week journey through the Tribe Records collective.

Episode Image
EPISODE ONE
Wendell Harrison & Phil Ranelin
Message From The Tribe (1973)
Episode Image
EPISODE ONE
Wendell Harrison
Evening With The Devil (1972)
Episode Image
EPISODE TWO
Phil Ranelin
The Time Is Now! (1974)
Episode Image
EPISODE TWO
Phil Ranelin
Vibes From The Tribe (1976)
Episode Image
EPISODE THREE
Harold McKinney
Voices and Rhythms of the Creative Profile (1974)
Episode Image
EPISODE THREE
Doug Hammond & David Durrah
Reflections in the Sea of Nurnen (1975)
Episode Image
EPISODE THREE
Wendell Harrison
Farewell to the Welfare (Unreleased, 1975)

What's included

Included Icon
7 Essential Tribe Records Releases
In partnership with Now-Again Records, we present the definitive reissues of these sought-after albums. These albums sound as good – or better – than the rare original LP issues. They are pressed on high-quality 180g black vinyl and housed in heavyweight, tip-on jackets.
Included Icon
Exclusive Podcast Series

In this four-episode podcast series, our host Marcus Moore talks with Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison about what led them to found their own label and collective, their impact on Detroit’s Black community and what that still means in today’s, divided America.
Included Icon
Liner Notes Booklet
Tribe historian Larry Gabriel and journalist Jeff “Chairman” Mao take us through the history of Tribe Records, in a compelling story that delves not just into the history of the label and its principles, but into the story of Black American empowerment in the latter half of the 20th Century.
Included Icon
Premium Commemorative Box
This heavyweight two-piece slip and slash box features the iconic Tribe logo and a wrap around photo of Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison onstage, and is hand-numbered, with original design by Clay Conder. First Edition, limited to 1000.
Included Icon
Exclusive AMA Video Session
Throughout your experience, we will host an “Ask Me Anything” video session. Stay tuned for guest announcements as part of the experience.
Section Image

These Rare Albums Remastered With Care

TOP-TIER AUDIO MASTERING

These albums sound as good – or better – than the sought after and rare original LP issues. Some were remixed from the original tapes, under the supervision of Tribe’s co-founders Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison, and some were lacquered directly from the original master tapes in an all-analog transfer by Bernie Grundman. They are pressed on high-quality 180g black vinyl and housed in heavyweight tip-on jackets.

Section Image

Exclusive Podcast & Liner Notes

HEAR THE STORY FIRST-HAND


Exclusive Podcast Series
In this four-episode podcast series, our host Marcus Moore talks with Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison about what lead them to found their own label and collective, their own albums in the box — they lead five of the albums here — their impact on Detroit’s Black community through their music and activism, what has and hasn’t changed in the struggle they started decades ago, and what the legacy of their courage in music is in today’s, divided America.

The Liner Notes
Veteran music journalist Marcus Moore hosts the Tribe Records podcast, which features interviews with Phil Ranelin and Wendell Harrison, Tribe Records' co-founders and braintrust.

FAQS

Got a question?

VMP Anthology is the vinyl box set, reinvented. It aims to use music to tell a story, and gives space for lots of listening, learning, and conversation along the way.
VMP started as a record of the month club in 2013 and has expanded into an online record store and magazine.
Shipping is free in the U.S. and $40 internationally. Records will be sent in one shipment. Timeline is subject to change due to COVID-19. We will notify you of any shipping updates.
We created VMP Anthology for people who recognize that every album has a deep story to tell. By breaking up the albums into 3 episodes, we give you space to truly listen and absorb each individual recording, listen to the podcast and soak it in.
Nope! We built VMP Anthology as a way for all fans to experience music more deeply, and VMP membership is not required.
Yes, shipping is available in 16 countries in addition to the U.S. (view all FAQs for more details). For international customers, customs and duties will be pre-paid and nothing will be due upon receipt.
Afterpay is an interest-free financing option that allows you to make four bi-weekly (every two weeks) installment payments rather than one upfront payment. If you choose Afterpay at checkout, you will be redirected to the Afterpay site to create an account and to complete your payment. You won’t be charged any interest or fees, as long as your payments are made on time. At this time, Afterpay is only available for customers in the United States.
To get the Member Price, you must be an active VMP Member for our monthly record subscription (and make sure you are logged in).

The Story of Tribe Records [UNNUMBERED]

Shopping Cart

Your cart is currently empty.

Continue Browsing
Similar Records
Other Customers Bought

Free shipping for members IconFree shipping for members
Safe & secure checkout IconSafe & secure checkout
International shipping IconInternational shipping
Quality guarantee IconQuality guarantee