Founded as an imprint of the Dutch East India Trading distribution group based in Rockville Centre, New York, Rockville Records -- originally under the name Giant Records -- emerged in the late 1980s as a small but active indie label on Long Island. While the label operated modestly, it became notable for signing bands on the fringes of mainstream rock and alternative-country.
One of the most important acts on Rockville Records was Uncle Tupelo, the Belleville, Illinois trio whose debut album No Depression was released June 21, 1990 on Rockville Records. Their second and third albums — Still Feel Gone and March 16‑20, 1992 — were also released on Rockville.While critically acclaimed and influential (particularly the debut, which helped give its name to the “No Depression” magazine and the alt-country movement), the relationship with the label soured: Rockville Records reportedly refused to pay the band royalties despite respectable sales of the two albums combined. Eventually the group left for a major label deal and the masters were contested in litigation.
The label also released titles by Dag Nasty, Shonen Knife (who toured with Nirvana), The 5-6-7-8's (as featured in the movie Kill Bill), and Government Issue.
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on November 5, 2025.