Ep559: Rhino Records Co-Founder Richard Foos
Summary
Host Nate Goyer interviews Rhino Records co-founder Richard Foos, who discusses the label’s origins as a 1973 LA record shop and its pivotal role in creating reissue culture. Foos shares stories about licensing James Brown, the DIY punk era, and his arrest for selling bootlegs. He also covers his later work at Shout! Factory, the vinyl revival, and the philosophy behind curating definitive listening experiences for fans.
Topics discussed
Intro: Rhino Records and Richard Foose
Early days of record collecting in the 70s
Rhino as a punk rock hub and DIY culture
The first major reissue: James Brown
Commitment to original master tapes
Curating compilations vs. label greatest hits
The success of the Doo-Wop box set
Nostalgia cycles and 2000s vinyl scarcity
Bootleggers, underground comics, and arrests
Record labels vs. fan culture and fandom
Streaming, ownership, and music availability
Artist control and re-recording issues
Shout! Factory and TV music rights
Frank Zappa and elaborate vinyl packaging
Current projects and closing thoughts
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