Thursday, February 7, 2013  Album Economics: Round Records
1974-76  Robert Hunter's Tales Of The Great Rum Runners, the
first album released on Round Records (RX-101) in June 1974
Round Records was the record company formed by Jerry Garcia and
Ron Rakow to release solo albums and other material by Garcia,
other members of the Dead and other musicians. The venture was
an adjunct to Grateful Dead Records, which had been born once
the Dead became free of their Warner Brothers contract in March,
1973. Per the legend, certain members of the Grateful Dead were
uncomfortable with the risk associated with expanding the record
company, so Garcia took on that risk himself. The label released
ten fascinating albums in its two year existence, finally
folding in early 1976.  Since Ron Rakow was a partner in Round
Records, and Rakow ultimately absconded with a few hundred
thousand dollars of the Grateful Dead's money in 1976, no one
wanted to talk about Round afterwards. What has made the
historical record confusing, howev