Jeepster was created in 1995 by like-minded people looking for an outlet for a style of music they felt was missing from the scene at that time. Our first signing, Belle & Sebastian, brought the label into the indie media and buyers’ consciousness almost immediately and, via its association with the band, so developed a ‘Jeepster sound’. Increasingly, new artists wanted to be associated with the development of the label.

Belle & Sebastian’s initial success provided the label with the opportunity to expand its roster, firstly with Snow Patrol in winter 1997, Salako early the following year and finally Looper and The Gentle Waves.

Critically acclaimed album releases followed from all four new signings. When Belle & Sebastian released their third album The Boy With The Arab Strap in 1998 and against all odds went on to beat Steps to the 1999 Brit Award for Best Newcomer, they were not most popular with some less indie-orientated industry gurus.

Despite so much critical success, commercially things had always been rather difficult. By 2002 the unpleasant realities of increasing recording and marketing costs allied with a reduced market for indie music generally at that time forced the label to consider ways to consolidate its position to secure some sort of future. So, to retain the catalogue we had worked so hard to create the decision was taken to reduce the size of the label and temporarily curtail its signing activity.

But we didn’t stop working … in October 2003 Jeepster released Fans Only, Belle & Sebastian’s first DVD project. This retrospective compilation was aimed squarely at their ever loyal fanbase and records the development of the band during their time with Jeepster, bringing together videos, live performances, interviews, out-takes, tv appearances, documentary footage and exclusive material to give an insight into the evolution of the band.

In May 2005 Jeepster complimented Fans Only with the band’s first compilation album, Push Barman To Open Old Wounds, which brought together all 25 tracks from their seven Jeepster EP and single releases. While at Jeepster, the band had a no singles from albums policy and so only one b-side had ever appeared on an album, making this a worthwhile project.

In April 2006 it was time to look after the Snow Patrol fans and we re-released their two very excellent Jeepster albums, Songs For Polarbears and When It’s All Over We Still Have To Clear Up, with loads of extras including b-sides and a video.

Everything went to plan and having protected the label from exploitation and successfully maintained its independent status for eleven years we were in a position to get back to what we liked to do best: releasing records from great new bands. As part of this pledge we signed the lively and totally enigmatic (with some thoroughly good tunes) SixNationState. They returned our commitment by touring tirelessly in support of their debut album, SixNationState, which was released in 2007.

Having got back into the swing of things we slipped back into our accidental habit of working with Glasgow based bands when we added the bouncy and hugely energetic (with some equally cracking tunes) Parka to our roster. Like SixNationState Parka recorded a debut album to be proud of and Attack Of The Hundred Yard Hardman hit stores in spring 2008.

As if that wasn’t enough to keep us occupied, in the summer of 2008 we finally got the go ahead to release an album of highlights from Belle & Sebastian’s various BBC Sessions. The album had been a long time coming having been originally intended for release before ‘Push Barman…’ but once we had the green light we worked all out to pull together the best collection of songs available and get the album released without further delay.

With a basis of fourteen session tracks spanning the band’s career with Jeepster, the limited double CD format also brings to light a bonus twelve track live recording dating back to 2001. The album provides the band’s dedicated fans with a nostalgic reminder of how Belle & Sebastian’s sound progressed as their confidence grew.