About us

The early years

Soul Selects is an independent record label based in Hopewell, NJ. Its mission is to support the music, art and live performance scene centered around the creative epicenter of the greater Hopewell area and the label’s Artist in Residence, Chris Harford.

Soul Selects originally began in Boston in 1985 as the launching pad for Three Colors and its eponymous EP. The band included Hub and Max Moore, Chris Harford, Dana Colley, and Barry Stringfellow and its debut was produced by Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade. The label went on hiatus shortly after due to the band members each taking their own unique paths in music, art and life.

A rebirth and an evolution

In 2021, the label was relaunched — this time in Hopewell, NJ — with the debut album by Blanc du Blanc. Since then, Soul Selects has released 15 vinyl records in genres (do we dare use that word?!) such as dub, rock, indie rock, soul and folk. A couple of our releases can even be found in local record shops throughout America thanks to Secretly Distribution. Keep an eye out. Tell your friends. Sound Fragrancy is spreading!

We work for the love of the music and the art. “Money will not become our king” (to quote Tom Petty). We will continue to release great music on vinyl (especially), occasionally on CD and via Bandcamp and other streaming services by Chris Harford, Blanc du Blanc, Jeff the Brotherhood, Vorhex Angel, Three Colors, Rachel Goodrich, Birdfeeder, and more.

Oh, and where does our name come from?

College literature aficionados and straight A students may recognize “soul selects” from the Emily Dickinson poem, “The Soul selects her own Society” (c. 1862):

The Soul selects her own Society —
Then — shuts the Door —
To her divine Majority —
Present no more —

Unmoved — she notes the Chariots — pausing —
At her low Gate —
Unmoved — an Emperor be kneeling
Upon her Mat —

I've known her — from an ample nation —
Choose One —
Then — close the Valves of her attention —
Like Stone —

Furthermore, musicologists and trivia buffs will also recognize the play on Dickinson’s word from the Three Colors track "Rise Out of Nothing," wherein the band nods to Dickinson with the lyrics "and his soul selects the next 45."

At Soul Selects, we do this because we love it. Sound Fragrancy forever — from the 08525 to you!

Soul Selects’ first band, Three Colors, in Boston circa 1985.