Fiction Records

Fiction Records was a label created by Chicago music journalist Cary Baker in 1977. The first 45 was by Rockford powerpop band The Names ("Why Can't It Be" b/w "Baby You're a Fool"). Wazmo Nariz released both a single ("Tele-tele-telephone") and an EP on Fiction. L.A. band Tremors featuring Bomp! Records employee Dave Roeder released a single ("Tonight's My Night"). And finally, Larry Rand broke the powerpop orientation with his solo folk/comedy "Skokie Blues" b/w "Dust Up His Nose". Fiction also distributed a lo-fi indie single by a Joliet singer/pianist named Chris Tolin. When Baker walked into Wax Trax in 1981 to be told by Jim Nash that Nash really dug the new Cure single (on a British label called Fiction), Baker decided enough was enough. He returned to journalism, and in 1984 moved to Los Angeles to work for I.R.S. Records.