Squier Only A Key 'Stroke' Away

07/13/1998 6:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(7/13/98) - Billy Squier hasn't had a platinum album in nearly 15 years, but J-Bird Records is hopeful that signing the veteran guitar-slinger will help put the Wilton, Conn.-based Internet record label on the map.

The label, which sells its product via its website and traditional retail outlets, has actually been around for nearly two years. But, until now, its artist roster has consisted mostly of obscure acts such as R&B combo Jumani, Bonnie Lee Sanders, blues-rockers the Reputations, hard-rockers Lovepump, and alternative rock act Shit Bong.

Although Squier hasn't exactly been burning up the charts in the last decade, his signing to J-Bird comes at an opportune time: A newly remixed version of Squier's signature tune, the 1981 hit "The Stroke," is included on the recently released DreamWorks soundtrack Small Soldiers.

Squier's deal with J-Bird gives the company the right to release new recordings--such as the all-acoustic Happy Blue--as well as the material he recorded for Capitol, since the guitarist retains the rights to his catalog.

"Billy is the first real major artist attracted to the blueprint we have," Jay Barbieri, founder/ president/ CEO of the label, tells myLAUNCH. The executive says the Squier continues to be a sales force to reckon with. "We did some research and found he was SoundScanning 100,000 albums a year," Barbieri adds.

With the exception of the acoustic update of his signature hit, retitled "The Stroke Me Blues," Happy Blue, which is due September 15, features all-new material. "It's a total maturation of his career," Barbieri says. "It's a real songwriter's record. It's almost Dylanesque."

Squier says his decision to go with the company is simple. "J-Bird allows me the freedom to make the records I want to make. If I can't fully explore my artistic vision there really is no point."

Barbieri is optimistic that the Squier signing will send a message to other artists and the industry. "We represent total creative freedom. Billy is the first real major artist to take advantage of it and the results are extremely positive. I think it will make other artists realize there's a blueprint out there that will allow them to be more creative and do the projects they want to do, but feel a little hindered by traditional record labels."

As for Squier's catalog, Barbieri expects some titles to see the light of day in 1999. "Billy likes what we do and he is very interested in re-releasing some catalog titles," he says. The re-released albums will most likely be repackaged with some interactive content and bonus tracks.