In 2010, during his residency at the Headlands Center for the Arts in Sausalito, Calif., Sonny Smith (of Sonny & amp; the Sunsets) took on the incredibly ambitious task of creating 100 fictitious bands and writing songs for each, an undertaking he dubbed the “100 Records Project.” Smith invented band names and song titles, then spent the next year recording singles for each of his 100 imaginary bands. Not stopping there, he also invited notable visual artists — including Chris Johanson, Esther Pearl Watson and William Wiley — to design album art for each.

That same year, the 100 Records Project was first shared with the public at San Francisco’s Gallery 16. The art exhibit, which was highly praised by critics and fans alike, allowed visitors to play all 100 songs on a homemade jukebox and view original prints of the album covers.Two collections featuring songs from the project, 100 Records: Vol. 1 and 100 Records: Vol. 2, have previously been released in extremely limited edition runs.

And now, to celebrate the conclusion of the 100 Records Project’s second showing (at Portland’s Museum of Modern Art), Polyvinyl will release 100 Records: Vol. 3, the third and final installment, on limited edition white vinyl, cassette and through all digital outlets on January 29. Limited edition cassettes of Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 will be released on the 29th as well.

Listen to “If You Don’t Make A Change” by the fictional band, Don Adora’e, featured on 100 Records
Vol. 3:

Pre-order 100 Records Vol. 1, 2 and 3: http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/100records