I need to get this straight, since I'm getting some conflicting info:
- Was Roadracer the American branch of Roadrunner? Or did they just change the name for a while?
- Are there any albums or singles both available as Roadrunner- and Roadracer-pressings?
Roadrunner/Roadracer question
I have found out a lot more details about the Roadrunner label over the last while so I'm going to add to this. Just keep in mind that I’m almost strictly a CD collector, so all of this may not apply to vinyl.
“Roadrunner” was the original name that this label used. The label was originally formed out of Holland and catered specifically to the European market.
Their releases were generally licensed out to other labels (Metal Blade, Combat) for the North American market until around 1987.
In 1986 Roadrunner expanded their offices, most notably to the US but due to copyright/further legal issues were unable to use the name “Roadrunner” for US pressings. To get around this they started using two other “sub-label” names around 1988. “Roadracer” was the European branch mostly manufactured in Holland and West Germany. “R/C” was the North American branch mostly manufactured within the US.
During the 1988-1990 period very few releases were put out still bearing the “Roadrunner” name, however, bands that had previous multiple album contracts with Roadrunner from before this time (King Diamond, etc) still had their albums printed under the Roadrunner name for the European market, as well as under “Roadracer” and “R/C”. So you could actually purchase multiple copies of the same album released the same year under “Roadrunner”, “Roadracer” and “R/C”.
To add even further confusion to the process, in 1991 the label also started releasing US pressings under the “Roadracer” name up until late 1992.
I hope that this information is of use to you.
“Roadrunner” was the original name that this label used. The label was originally formed out of Holland and catered specifically to the European market.
Their releases were generally licensed out to other labels (Metal Blade, Combat) for the North American market until around 1987.
In 1986 Roadrunner expanded their offices, most notably to the US but due to copyright/further legal issues were unable to use the name “Roadrunner” for US pressings. To get around this they started using two other “sub-label” names around 1988. “Roadracer” was the European branch mostly manufactured in Holland and West Germany. “R/C” was the North American branch mostly manufactured within the US.
During the 1988-1990 period very few releases were put out still bearing the “Roadrunner” name, however, bands that had previous multiple album contracts with Roadrunner from before this time (King Diamond, etc) still had their albums printed under the Roadrunner name for the European market, as well as under “Roadracer” and “R/C”. So you could actually purchase multiple copies of the same album released the same year under “Roadrunner”, “Roadracer” and “R/C”.
To add even further confusion to the process, in 1991 the label also started releasing US pressings under the “Roadracer” name up until late 1992.
I hope that this information is of use to you.
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