Cryptovision Records
An independent American record label founded in New York City in 1979 and relaunched in New Jersey in 2009.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Cryptovision Records is an independent American record label associated with the New York City music scene. It was founded in 1979 by musicians James Talley, Mike Linn, Brian Beggs, and Gene Wood. During its original period of operation, the label released singles, extended plays, albums, and compilations by a range of alternative, punk, post-punk, garage-rock, and related independent acts. Its catalogue included releases by Deprogrammers, Stepford Husbands, Flying Color, Desolation Angels, Distraction Boys, Mod Fun, Optic Nerve, Black Orchids, Contact Obsession, Sultrees, The Lyon in Winter, The Donner Party, The Corvairs, Hector Penalosa, and others. The label’s original run ended when Cryptovision Records dissolved in 1990. Although its catalogue was relatively small compared with the output of major record companies, the label occupied the typical role of a local and regional independent imprint: documenting bands through relatively compact physical releases, including 7-inch singles, 12-inch singles and albums. Its releases also reflected the format culture of the period, when independent labels often used numbered vinyl issues to build a recognisable catalogue and support emerging artists. Cryptovision Records is particularly notable for its early connection to Sam Coomes. The label helped launch the career of Coomes through his group The Donner Party. Coomes later became known for forming the experimental rock duo Quasi and for playing guitar for Elliott Smith, giving the label a documented connection to musicians who subsequently achieved wider recognition in independent and alternative music. In 2009, Dave Amels, who had worked as an A&R representative for the original label, restarted Cryptovision Records in New Jersey as Cryptovision Records LLC. The relaunch extended the name beyond its original 1979–1990 period and restored the imprint as an active independent label. Its first documented release after the restart was Dennis Diken with Bell Sound’s album Late Music, issued on CD in 2009. The available reference material does not establish a broader current roster, ownership structure, distribution arrangement, or release schedule beyond this relaunch information. Cryptovision Records is therefore best understood as a historically focused independent label with roots in late-1970s and 1980s American alternative music, rather than as a large international music corporation. Its significance rests on its preservation of underground and regional recordings, its association with the early career of Sam Coomes, and the continuation of its identity through the 2009 New Jersey revival.
History
Cryptovision Records emerged in New York City in 1979, founded by musicians James Talley, Mike Linn, Brian Beggs, and Gene Wood. Its creation placed the label within the network of small independent American imprints that operated outside the major-label system and used inexpensive physical formats to circulate music by developing artists. The surviving discography shows a concentration on 7-inch singles, 12-inch records, albums, and compilations released under numbered catalogue sequences. The label's original catalogue developed through the 1980s. Early documented issues included a 1981 Deprogrammers single and a 1984 Stepford Husbands single. The output expanded in 1985 with releases by Deprogrammers, Stepford Husbands, Flying Color, Desolation Angels, and Distraction Boys. In 1986, the label issued records by Mod Fun and Optic Nerve, as well as the albums As Winter Falls by The Lyon in Winter, Dorothy's Dream by Mod Fun, and the various-artists compilation Please Don't Adjust Your Set.... These releases indicate a broad but coherent interest in independent guitar-oriented music rather than a narrowly defined commercial genre. Cryptovision continued adding artists and formats in the later 1980s. The Stepford Husbands' New Ways of Seeing, The Donner Party's self-titled album, and The Corvairs' Rio Blanco appeared in 1987. The label also issued releases by Hector Penalosa in 1988 and by various artists on Havoc from Holland in 1989. Additional singles came from Black Orchids, Contact Obsession, Sultrees, and Stepford Husbands. This period is important in retrospect because the label helped establish the early career of Sam Coomes through The Donner Party. Coomes later formed Quasi and played guitar for Elliott Smith, connecting Cryptovision's catalogue to later recognized independent and alternative music careers. The original Cryptovision Records operation dissolved in 1990. Its final listed original-period release was a Stepford Husbands record, Building of Love For Sale/Bag Man/Tick Tock. The available material does not describe the circumstances of the dissolution, any catalogue sale, or a successor company during the intervening years. In 2009, Dave Amels, identified as an A&R man for the original Cryptovision Records, revived the label in New Jersey as Cryptovision Records LLC. The relaunch restored the name as an active independent imprint rather than merely preserving it as a historical catalogue. Its debut documented release was Dennis Diken with Bell Sound's Late Music, issued on compact disc. The available reference material does not provide enough information to describe the relaunch's subsequent roster, distribution, ownership beyond Amels' role, or present release activity. Cryptovision Records is consequently best documented as a New York-founded independent label with an original 1979–1990 run and a New Jersey-based revival beginning in 2009.
- 2009
New Jersey revival begins
[1]Dave Amels restarted the label as Cryptovision Records LLC in New Jersey.
- 1990
Original label dissolves
[1]The first New York-based operation ended after approximately eleven years.
- 1987
The Donner Party album released
[1]The label issued The Donner Party's self-titled album, helping document an early project associated with Sam Coomes.
- 1986
Catalogue expands into albums and compilations
[1]Cryptovision released albums by The Lyon in Winter and Mod Fun, plus the compilation Please Don't Adjust Your Set....
- 1981
First listed Deprogrammers single
[1]The label issued Deprogrammers' Midas Touch/Grim Reaper as catalogue C-1001.
- 1979
Label founded in New York City
[1]James Talley, Mike Linn, Brian Beggs, and Gene Wood founded Cryptovision Records.
Products and positioning
A small independent label focused on alternative, punk, post-punk, garage-rock, and related underground music, with an emphasis on artist development and physical catalogue releases.
Physical music releases · 1981
7-inch singles and extended plays
Seven-inch records formed a substantial part of the original catalogue. Documented releases include recordings by Deprogrammers, Stepford Husbands, Flying Color, Desolation Angels, Distraction Boys, Mod Fun, Optic Nerve, Black Orchids, Contact Obsession, and Sultrees. These compact releases were used to present individual songs or short collections by independent artists.
Albums · 1986
Independent vinyl albums
Cryptovision's album catalogue included As Winter Falls by The Lyon in Winter, Dorothy's Dream by Mod Fun, New Ways of Seeing by The Stepford Husbands, Donner Party by The Donner Party, Rio Blanco by The Corvairs, and Hector by Hector Penalosa. These releases broadened the label's role beyond singles and provided longer-form showcases for its artists.
Compilations · 1986
Compilation albums
The label issued multi-artist collections including Please Don't Adjust Your Set... in 1986 and Havoc from Holland in 1989. Such compilations grouped independent acts within the Cryptovision catalogue and offered a broader overview of the label's musical network.
Compact disc album · 2009
Late Music
Late Music by Dennis Diken with Bell Sound was the first documented release of the revived Cryptovision Records operation. It was issued on compact disc in 2009 under catalogue number CRC-3000.
Brand decisions
2009
Revival of the Cryptovision Records imprintStrategyBackground
The original label had dissolved in 1990, but its name and catalogue identity remained associated with independent music history.
Action taken
Dave Amels, who had worked in A&R for the original label, restarted the business in New Jersey as Cryptovision Records LLC.
Aftermath
The revival's first documented release was Late Music by Dennis Diken with Bell Sound. Further operating details are not established by the available reference material.
2009
Release of Late MusicProduct launchBackground
The relaunched label required a new release to establish its post-1990 activity.
Action taken
Cryptovision Records issued Dennis Diken with Bell Sound's Late Music on CD.
Aftermath
The album is identified as the debut release of the revived label.
Recent events
- 2009
Cryptovision Records relaunched in New Jersey[1]
Other
Dave Amels, formerly associated with the original label's A&R activities, restarted the imprint as Cryptovision Records LLC.
- 2009
Late Music becomes the relaunch's debut release[1]
Product launch
Dennis Diken with Bell Sound released Late Music on CD as the first documented release of the revived label.
- 1990
Original Cryptovision Records operation dissolves[1]
Other
The original New York-based label ended its operation after a run that began in 1979.
- 1987
The Donner Party releases its self-titled album on Cryptovision Records[1]
Product launch
The label issued The Donner Party's self-titled album, a release associated with the early career of Sam Coomes.
- 1979
Cryptovision Records founded in New York City[1]
Other
Musicians James Talley, Mike Linn, Brian Beggs, and Gene Wood established Cryptovision Records as an independent label.
Sources1 sources
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