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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | Approximately 4200 items |
Abstract | Merge Records was founded in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1989, by Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, at the same time that McCaughan and Ballance founded local independent rock band Superchunk. The record label began as a way to release recordings by Superchunk and other "indie rock" bands in the early 1990s. Merge featured bands from the local Chapel Hill music scene and released recordings on 7" records and in audiocassette form. In 1992, Merge released its first full-length release. The label has continued to grow since then and includes a wide range of national and international artists on its roster. The collection consists of audio and video recordings and administrative records and marketing and promotion materials relating to bands represented by Merge Records. Audio formats include multi-track Masters, two-track Masters, lacquer discs, bin loop masters, audiocassettes, 8mm backup tape (Data8), alesis digital audio tape (ADAT), digital audio tape (DAT), U-matic masters, compact disc (CD) masters, commercially released compact discs (CD), and bootlegs. Video formats include digital video disc (DVD), one inch video masters, mini DV masters, U-matic masters, betacam masters, D-2 videotapes, videocassetts, and film. Administrative records and marketing and promotion materials include correspondence between bands and Merge Records staff, financial records, original artwork, news articles, press releases, postcards, photographs and negatives, published and manuscript versions of Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records (2008), which documents the business history of Merge Records, and other related materials. |
Creator | Merge Records. |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Folklife Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Matt Dailey and Armando Suarez, August 2012
Encoded by: Matt Dailey and Armando Suarez, August 2012
Updated by: Amanda Loeb, May 2014
Updated by: Anne Wells, January 2016
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Merge Records was founded in Chapel Hill, N.C., in 1989, by Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, at the same time that McCaughan and Ballance founded local independent rock band Superchunk. The record label began as a way to release recordings by Superchunk and other "indie rock" bands in the early 1990s. Merge featured bands from the local Chapel Hill music scene, including Polvo, Erectus Monotone, and Portastatic, and released recordings on 7" records and in audiocassette form. In 1992, Merge released its first full-length release, "Tossing Seeds" by Superchunk. Merge continued to release single- and full-length recordings on CD, LP and audiocassette. The label has continued to grow since then and includes a wide range of national and international artists on its roster.
Merge's 2004 release of the Arcade Fire album, "Funeral", reached the USA Billboard 200 chart. Arcade Fire's later release on Merge, "The Suburbs," climbed to number one on the Billboard chart and won a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2011. Merge has claimed other Billboard Top Ten releases from artists such as Spoon and She & Him, as well as notable releases from Dinosaur Jr., Neutral Milk Hotel, The Magnetic Fields, and M. Ward, among many others.
Merge celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009 with a six-day music festival in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, N.C., along with a 17-disc CD box set and a book chronicling the history of the label, Our Noise, published by Algonquin Paperbacks.
Back to TopThe collection consists of audio and video recordings and administrative records and marketing and promotion materials relating to bands represented by Merge Records. Audio formats include multi-track Masters, two-track Masters, lacquer discs, bin loop masters, audiocassettes, 8mm backup tape (Data8), alesis digital audio tape (ADAT), digital audio tape (DAT), U-matic masters, compact disc (CD) masters, commercially released compact discs (CD), and bootlegs. Video formats include digital video disc (DVD), one inch video masters, mini DV masters, U-matic masters, betacam masters, D-2 videotapes, videocassetts, and film. Administrative records and marketing and promotion materials include correspondence between bands and Merge Records staff, financial records, original artwork, news articles, press releases, postcards, photographs and negatives, published and manuscript versions of Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records (2008), which documents the business history of Merge Records, and other related materials.
Back to TopArrangement: By format.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band.
Audiodisc D-20473/1 |
Angels of Epistemology7" Metal Stamper MRG-006-A |
Audiodisc D-20473/2 |
Angels of Epistemology7" Metal Stamper MRG-006-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/3 |
Bricks7" Metal Stamper MRG-005-A |
Audiodisc D-20473/4 |
Bricks7" Metal Stamper MRG-005-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/5 |
Erectus Monotone7" Metal Stamper MRG-009-A |
Audiodisc D-20473/6 |
Erectus Monotone7" Metal Stamper MRG-009-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/7 |
Portastatic: (Side A) "Naked Pilsners," 4 January 199410" record Test pressing reference copy made by Trutone Records Disk Mastering Labs for 7" pressing; 5 minutes 13 seconds; OLE 076-7 (Matador Records) |
Audiodisc D-20473/8 |
Portastatic: (Side B) "Feel better," "Josephine," 4 January 199410" record Test pressing reference copy made by Trutone Records Disk Mastering Labs for 7" pressing; 6 minutes 3 seconds; OLE 076-7 (Matador Records) |
Audiodisc D-20473/9 |
Superchunk10" Metal Stamper Etched Picture Disc Stamper for 7" pressing; Master, MRG-060.5-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/10 |
Superchunk, 19 January 199410" Metal Stamper Etched Picture Disc Stamper for 7" pressing; Mother, MRG-060.5-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/11 |
Superchunk7" Metal Stamper MRG-004-A |
Audiodisc D-20473/12 |
Superchunk7" Metal Stamper MRG-004-B |
Audiodisc D-20473/13 |
Superchunk7" Metal Stamper MRG-007-A |
Audiodisc D-20473/14 |
Superchunk7" Metal Stamper MRG-007-B |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/123 |
Superchunk: (Side A) Skip Steps 1 & 3, Seed Toss, Cast Iron, Tower, Punch Me Harder, Sprung a Leak; (Side B) 30 xtra, Tie a Rope, Press, Sidewalk, Creek, Throwing Things, 28 August 19911/4" Open Reel Audio 3.75 ips, OLE-354 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/124 |
Superchunk: (Side A) Precision Auto, From the Curve, For Tension, Mower, Package Thief, Swallow That; (Side B) I Guess I Remembered It Wrong, New Low, Untied, The Question Is How Fast, Trash Heap, Flawless, The Only Piece That You Get, 2 December 19921/4" Open Reel Audio 3.75 ips, OLE-049 |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/125 |
American Music Club, 29 June 2004Data8 MRG-252; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/126 |
Arcade Fire (Funeral), 24 May 2004Data8 MRG-255; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/127 |
The Clientele (Suburban Light), 15 January 2001Data8 MRG-187 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/128 |
Crooked Fingers (Reservoir Songs), 20 February 2002Data8 MRG-208 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/129 |
Destroyer (This Night), 12 July 2002Data8 MRG-218 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/130 |
East River Pipe, 10 April 2003Data8 MRG-234 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/131 |
East River Pipe (Shining Hours in a Can), 24 October 2001Data8 MRG-203 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/132 |
Honor Role, 10 December 1996Data8 MRG-041 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/133 |
Lambchop, 14 June 2001Data8 MRG-241 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/134 |
Matt Suggs, 16 May 2003Data8 MRG-226 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/135 |
Pipe (Slowboy), 19 February 1997Data8 MRG-123 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/136 |
Portastatic, 10 October 1996Data8 MRG-120 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/137 |
Portastatic (Looking for Leonard), 9 February 2001Data8 MRG-190 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/138 |
Richard Buckner (Dents and Shells), 25 May 2004Data8 MRG-249; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/139 |
The Rock*A*Teens, 18 December 1997Data8 MRG-140 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/140 |
The Rosebuds, 2 July 2003Data8 MRG-235; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/141 |
Shark Quest, 30 April 2004Data8 MRG-242; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/142 |
Spoon, 29 September 2000Data8 MRG-195; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/143 |
Spoon (Bring It), 8 May 2002Data8 MRG-215; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/144 |
Spoon (Series of Sneaks), 12 March 2002Data8 MRG-211 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/145 |
Superchunk (Indoor Living), 25 June 1997Data8 MRG-129 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/146 |
Superchunk (4 Song CD), 6 June 2001Data8 MRG-198 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/147 |
Superchunk , 1 June 2001Data8 MRG-201; see Folder 92 for tape log. |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/148 |
The Third Eye Foundation (Little Lost Soul), 20 October 1999Data8 MRG-174 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/149 |
The Third Eye Foundation (I Poopoo on Your Juju), 19 January 2001Data8 MRG-199 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/184 |
Superchunk (1-A)Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) Previously listed as DAT-20473/1 |
SFC Audio Open Reel FT-20473/185 |
Superchunk (1-B)Alesis Digital Audio Tape (ADAT) Previously listed as DAT-20473/2 |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Numerically by record release identifier.
Audiodisc D-20473/15 |
Superchunk: Extra Chunky: Live at the Whiskey a Go Go, (Side A): Cool, (Side B): The Breadman, Los Angeles, Calif., 11 February 19927" vinyl Extra Chunky Records, UK |
Arrangement: Numerically by record release identifier.
Arrangement: Numerically by record release identifier.
Arrangement: By format.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Digital Video Disc DVD-20473/1 |
Arcade Fire (Miroir Noir), 10 March 2009MRG-270 |
Digital Video Disc DVD-20473/2 |
Arcade Fire (Miroir Noir), 10 March 2009MRG-270, with second disc of extras |
Digital Video Disc DVD-20473/3 |
Camera Obscura: Lloyd I'm Ready to be HeartbrokenNTSC, Elefant Records, Spain |
Digital Video Disc DVD-20473/4 |
Superchunk (Crowding Up Your Visual Field): (Videos): Throwing Things, Tie A Rope to the Back of the Bus, Fishing, Mower, Precision Auto, Untied, Package Thief, The First Part, Driveway to Driveway, Hyper Enough, Watery Hands, Art Class, Quest For Sleep (The movie); (Bonus videos): Rainy Streets, Cast Iron, Ribbon, Slack; (Live footage): My Noise, Night Creatures, Swinging, Train From Kansas City, Punch Me Harder, Seed Toss, Ribbon, Phone Sex, Cast Iron, Precision Auto, 20 January 2004MRG-230 |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Videotape VT-20473/1 |
Polvo (Tilebreaker)1" Open Reel Video Edited copy, VTR6 |
Videotape VT-20473/2 |
Spent (View from a Staircase): 29 August 19951" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/3 |
Superchunk (Driveway to Driveway): 26 April 19941" Open Reel Video Safety copy, Old version not for use |
Videotape VT-20473/4 |
Superchunk (Hyper Enough): 11 September 19951" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/5 |
Superchunk (Hyper Enough): 11 September 19951" Open Reel Video Vault copy, MIS57 |
Videotape VT-20473/6 |
Superchunk (Untied)1" Open Reel Video Protection copy |
Videotape VT-20473/7 |
Superchunk (The First Part), The 3Ds (Hey Seuss): 19 April 19941" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/8 |
Superchunk (The First Part)1" Open Reel Video Protection copy |
Videotape VT-20473/9 |
Superchunk (The First Part): 21 April 19941" Open Reel Video Vault copy |
Videotape VT-20473/10 |
Superchunk (Driveway to Driveway), Polvo (Tragic Carpet Ride), The Magnetic Fields (Born on a Train), 18 October 19941" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/11 |
Superchunk (Fishing): 8 September 19921" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/12 |
3ds (Man on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown): 19941" Open Reel Video |
Videotape VT-20473/12a |
The Jesus Lizard (Puss), Superchunk (Mower, Fishing)1" Open Reel Video |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Videotape VT-20473/28 |
Dillon Fence (Sugarcane), Zen Frisbee (Jonesin' (master dub)), J.Q. (10 Million Summers), Superchunk (Mower (master dub))U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/47 |
Imperial Teen (Ivanka)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/48 |
Spoon (Everything Hits At Once)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/49 |
Spoon (Everything Hits At Once)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/29 |
Superchunk (Mower)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/30 |
Superchunk (Tie a Rope to the Back of the Bus), Superchunk (Tie a Rope to the Back of the Bus (with bars and countdown)), Hop Flop Fly (Steady Thing (master dub)), Nikki Meets the Hibachi (Love (master dub))U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/50 |
Superchunk (Hyper Enough)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/51 |
Superchunk (Watery Hands)U-Matic |
Videotape VT-20473/52 |
Superchunk (Art Class)U-Matic |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.
Videotape VT-20473/53 |
Guv'ner (Break a Promise)D-2 Clone from master |
Videotape VT-20473/54 |
Spoon (Everything Hits at Once)D-2 Peter Simonite and Divya Srinivasan (Directors) |
Videotape VT-20473/55 |
Spoon (Everything Hits at Once)D-2 Duplicate, Peter Simonite and Divya Srinivasan (Directors) |
Arrangement: Alphabetical by band name.