Idiot Records
The label (one of the first Indie Record Labels in the Netherlands) was founded in 1977, besides the already existing Art Publishing Foundation De Enschedese School, by Johan Visser and Willem Wisselink. They called it A 1.000 Idiot Records. Based on their marketing strategy, which was to have at least a thousand idiots buy their product(s), they released the first punk song, Van Agt Casanova, in Dutch by an artist called Paul Tornado. More than 5.000 copies were sold via mail order only! When the number of copies exceeded the estimated one thousand, the record label's name was later changed to Idiot Records.
Famous Artists Idiot artists are Paul Tornado, Suzannes, KEWI à Go Go Party (later KEWI University of Swing), Wisselink, La Salle’s, Monomen, Pete Turner, Fay Lovsky, Mathilde Santing, Raphaela Dell, Joep Bruijnjé, Boulevard of Broken Dreams Orchestra, Gigantjes (Little Giants), Jakob Klaasse, Stephen Emmer, The Smithereens, Nils Wieland, Jump Dickie Jump! and Petra Lugtenburg’s Siobhan.
Fay Lovsky, Mathilde Santing, and The Boulevard of Broken Dreams Orchestra were all awarded an Edison Award (Dutch Grammy), and Fay Lovsky was also awarded a Silver Harp.
Famous Record Companies Early releases were 45s: singles and EPs. At first, it was distributed through mail order only, but later, it was distributed by different record companies (Ariola, Dureco, RCA). It wasn’t until the release and success of the first Fay Lovsky album that they became a well-known singer/songwriter label and signed a licensing deal with Warner Elektra and Atlantic (WEA). When their greatest fan and A&R manager, Herman van der Zwan, moved to Phonogram years later, Idiot Records also switched.
Easy to whistle, hard to forget Songs you could be familiar with, or at least should look up on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Music, are: Christmas Was a Friend of Mine by Fay Lovsky, Behind a Painted Smile by Mathilde Santing, I get along without you very well by the Boulevard of Broken Dreams Orchestra, Paris Rendezvous by Siobhan, (You is) a guarantee for love by The Smithereens, Yaki Taki Oowah! by The Little Giants, The world is coming to an end by Jump Dickie Jump! and last but not least: Sie wünscht sich ein Kewi ins Bett, Little Asia and Biggles by The Kewi’s.
History of the Idiot logo The logo of Idiot Records changed over the years until it finally found its definitive shape. Order from right to left.
1000 Idioten Records This is the very first one: I promise you, I will eat my own records if they don’t sell!
The Picasso version Here’s when the name of the label also changed to Idiot Records. Still eating their own records as a reminder of old times. Mathilde Santing was probably the first artist whose records were released on the yellow label.
The Egg logo This one is only used for a short period of time. The drawing of the naked dancing man is by Frans Oosterhof, inspired by the famous statement of his neighbour: “Is there a party going on, or are you just doing something?”
Fay Lovsky’s Origami album and singles were the only releases carrying this label.
Square Here's where the logo finally found its definite shape. Each Idiot artist had their own label colour. Logo and text were always in silver. This purple one was reserved for The Boulevard of Broken Dreams Orchestra. Here’s when a plan comes together.
Warner Chappell / Idiot Songs publishes all original music by Idiot artists.
HQ
ENSCHEDE
The Netherlands
Chamber Of Commerce
41203089