Fried Egg Records
Encyclopedia
Fried Egg Records was a record label
set up in 1979
by Andy Leighton, administrator of the Bristol
based Crystal Theatre. Its first release was by the Theatres anarchic “house band” Shoes For Industry. In its short two year existence the label did manage to produce records from some of Bristols’ more notable bands, plus a compilation LP, E(gg)clectic 1.
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
set up in 1979
1979 in music
See also:Record labels established in 1979* 1979 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.-January–February:*January 1...
by Andy Leighton, administrator of the Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
based Crystal Theatre. Its first release was by the Theatres anarchic “house band” Shoes For Industry. In its short two year existence the label did manage to produce records from some of Bristols’ more notable bands, plus a compilation LP, E(gg)clectic 1.
Artists
- Art Objects: New Wave “Art band” (1978–1981). Fronted by Bristol Beat Poet Gerard Langley, brother John Langley on drums, dancer Wojtek Dmochowski (all later of Blue Aeroplanes), Bill Stair, and brothers Jonjo and Robin Key (both simultaneously in the band Various Artists). After their Fried Egg single they released another single and the album ‘Bagpipe Music’ on Heartbeat Records.
- Various Artists: Pop band fronted by Jonjo Key, brother Robin Key, bassist Christian Clarke and drummer John Langley. Released a track on Avon CallingAvon CallingAvon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979...
, a Fried Egg single and the ‘Solo Album’ LP (VA 1) on their own label (this was later released in Japan on CD in 2002). Jon Jo and Robin later became Either/Or and released a single in Holland before signing to Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
as Lovetrain and releasing a LP and 3 singles. According to Andy Leighton of Fried Egg, “…we got Trevor Horn…to see Various Artists for the second time, he wanted to sign them and record them. … the dream remained for a break out band, unfortunately Jon Jo … turned Trevor Horn’s overtures down and the main chance was gone.” - Pete Brandt’s Method: Large jazz-funk band, this was their only single. Pete Brandt is now producing melodic acoustic folk.
- Electric GuitarsElectric GuitarsElectric Guitars were formed early in 1980 by Neil Davenport and Richard Hall who were both studying English at Bristol University. The band soon increased to a five-man line-up, with Andy Saunders , Matt Salt and Dick Truscott , they also later added two backing singers: Sara and Wendy...
: Esoteric pop/funk band (1979–1983). After initially recording singles for Fried Egg and Recreational RecordsRecreational RecordsRecreational Records was a British record label set up in 1981 by the Bristol record shop and distributor Revolver Records. Originally formed as an independent record label with its own distribution as part of the Cartel.-Revolver Records and the Cartel:...
, and contributing live tracks to the first edition of The Bristol Recorder, the band was signed to and then dumped by Stiff RecordsStiff RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. They released a total of 5 singles and 2 post break-up albums. - Exploding Seagulls: Manic guitar based band from Hampshire. Nick Jacobs (guitarist) joined up with ex-members of Art Objects to form The Blue AeroplanesThe Blue AeroplanesThe Blue Aeroplanes are an English rock band from Bristol, the mainstays of which: Gerard Langley, brother John Langley and dancer Wojtek Dmochowski originate from the earlier New Wave “Art band” Art Objects .-History:...
. - The Fans: Guitar band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. Consisting of George Smith, Barry Cook, Tony Bird and Rob Williams, their first release was an EP with ‘Giving Me That Look In Your Eyes/Stay The Night’ and a version of Jim ReevesJim ReevesJames Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
’ song ‘He'll Have To Go’. A second single in 1980 had ‘You Don't Live Here Anymore/Following you’, the band then split up. The Fans singles were picked up by Japanese indie label 1977 Records and re-released in 2001. A CD album containing the singles, demos and live recordings from a Bristol gig was released on 1977 Records in 2004. Japanese metal/punk band BrahmanBrahman (band)-Brahman:Their name comes from the Sanskrit word Brahman meaning the Supreme Reality, and represents their ethos of bringing Asian influences to the Western punk genre, including Okinawan, folk and gypsy music.-Discography:*Grope Our Way...
recorded a version of ‘You Don't Live Here Anymore’ in 2008 and The Fans have reformed to tour Japan in 2010. - Shoes For Industry: Crystal Theatres’ anarchic “house band”. Fried Egg Records was formed to release their 2 singles, and an album called ‘Talk Like A Whelk’. Their singer P. B. Davies provided the ‘Ideas Are Animals’ quintet of tracks on Bristol Recorder 3, he also performs at the Edinburgh Fringe and writes for radio.
- The StingraysThe StingraysThe Stingrays are a New Wave/Rockabilly band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol, England, and is still gigging today. ....
: New Wave/Rockabilly band (1977-current). First single was on Fried Egg, second was on Circus RecordsBristol record labelsThe city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...
, they also contributed a track to the LP Avon CallingAvon CallingAvon Calling is an album of tracks featuring bands from Bristol, UK, on local record label Heartbeat Records, and was originally released in 1979...
. Band are still gigging, but out of Wales now. - The Untouchables: Youthful R’n’B band in the Dr. FeelgoodDr. FeelgoodDr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
model, so much so that Wilko Johnson produced their single for Fried Egg. Post break-up the vocalist Jerry Tremaine was filmed by Julien TempleJulien TempleJulien Temple is an English film, documentary and music video director. He began his career with short films featuring the Sex Pistols, and has continued with various off-beat projects, including The Great Rock And Roll Swindle, Absolute Beginners and a documentary film about Glastonbury.-Temple...
singing with the original Feelgood line-up at Southend on 9 May 2008, as part of the annual Lee Brilleaux memorial. - The Viceroys: Rock band including Nick SheppardNick SheppardNick Sheppard is a Bristol-born guitarist best known for being in the well-known punk band The Clash for a short time.-Biography:Nick Sheppard was educated at Bristol Grammar School, one of Bristol's leading public schools, and was in the same year as fellow musician Mark Stewart of The Pop Group...
and Mike Crawford, their only release was ‘Angels in the Rain’ on the Fried Egg World Tour EP, which was sold exclusively at gigs. Another Sheppard and Crawford band, The Spics, went on to play ‘Angels in the Rain’ at their very last appearance, on the BBC West TV arts show RPM. - Wild Beasts: R’n’B band, only released one single. Bassist and vocalist Andy Franks became a Tour Manager for Depeche Mode and drummer Ken Wheeler became a producer and ran Sound Conception recording studios.
Singles
| Cat No. | Artist | Title | Date | Configuration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGG 001 | Shoes For Industry | Falling In Love Again/Laughing Song | 1979 | ||
| EGG 002 | Wild Beasts | Minimum Maximum/Another Man | 1979 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 003 | The Fans | Giving Me That Look In Your Eyes/Stay The Night/He’ll Have To Go | 1979 | 7’’ EP | |
| EGG 004 | Shoes For Industry | Spend/Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 005 | Pete Brandt’s Method | What You Are/ Positive Thinking | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 006 | The Stingrays | Countdown/Exceptions/Action | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 007 | Art Objects | Hard Objects/Bibliotheque/Fit Of Pique | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 008 | Exploding Seagulls | Johnny Runs For Paregoric/Take Me To The Cinema | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 009 | Various Artists | Original Mixed Up Kid/ Unofficial Secrets | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 010 | The Fans | You Don’t Live Here Anymore/Following You | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 011 | The Untouchables | Keep On Walking/Keep Your Distance | 1980 | 7’’ | |
| EGG 012 | Electric Guitars | Health/Continental Shelf | 1980 | 7” | |
EP (EAT 001, Fried Egg World Tour 1980)
- The Viceroys – Angels in the Rain
- Shoes For Industry – Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon
- The Stingrays – Countdown
- Exploding Seagulls – Johnny Runs For Paregoric
- Various Artists – Original Mixed Up Kid
Albums
| Cat No. | Artist | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRY 001 | Shoes For Industry | Talk Like A Whelk | 1979 |
| FRY 002 | Various | E(gg)clectic 1 | 1980 |
Reissues on other labels
Bristol Archive Records are currently providing Fried Egg back catalogue tracks for download, through the usual outlets (Amazon, iTunes, etc.). In February 2010 they released a CD of The Best of Fried Egg Records (Bristol 1979-1980), which consists of the LP E(gg)clectic 1 (FRY 002) plus 8 additional tracks.The Best of Fried Egg Records (Bristol 1979-1980)
- Shoes For Industry – Jerusalem
- Pete Brandt’s Method – Positive Thinking
- Art Objects – Hard Objects
- Exploding Seagulls – Johnny Runs For Paregoric
- The Wild Beasts – Minimum Maximum
- Shoes For Industry – Invasion of the French Boyfriends
- Various Artists – Original Mixed Up Kid
- The Fans – Following You
- The Stingrays - Exceptions
- Various Artists – Unofficial Secrets
- The Untouchables – Keep on Walking
- Electric Guitars – Continental Shelf
- The Fans – Giving Me That Look in Your Eye (Additional Track)
- The Stingrays – Countdown (Additional Track)
- Art Objects – Fit of Pique (Additional Track)
- Electric Guitars – Health (Additional Track)
- The Viceroys – Angels in the Rain (Demo/Additional Track)
- Various Artists – Stephens Body (Additional Track)
- Electric Guitars – Work (Demo/Additional Track)
- Shoes For Industry – Sheepdog Trial Inna Babylon (Additional Track)
See also
- List of record labels
- List of Record Labels from Bristol
- List of Bands from Bristol
- Bristol Record LabelsBristol record labelsThe city of Bristol, in England, has since the mid 1970’s had a particularly fertile music culture, resulting in not only a great many influential musicians and bands, but also its own sound; Bristol Sound or Trip Hop. Along with the music scene, a number of local record labels also developed, some...
- Bristol Archive Records
- Art Objects
- Electric GuitarsElectric GuitarsElectric Guitars were formed early in 1980 by Neil Davenport and Richard Hall who were both studying English at Bristol University. The band soon increased to a five-man line-up, with Andy Saunders , Matt Salt and Dick Truscott , they also later added two backing singers: Sara and Wendy...
- Nick SheppardNick SheppardNick Sheppard is a Bristol-born guitarist best known for being in the well-known punk band The Clash for a short time.-Biography:Nick Sheppard was educated at Bristol Grammar School, one of Bristol's leading public schools, and was in the same year as fellow musician Mark Stewart of The Pop Group...
- The StingraysThe StingraysThe Stingrays are a New Wave/Rockabilly band, which originally formed in 1977 in Bristol, England, and is still gigging today. ....
External links
- Fried Egg Records at Discogs.com
- [ Shoes For Industry at Allmusic]
- [ Art Objects at Allmusic]
- Pete Brandt on myspace
- Listen to Electric Guitars at last.fm
- Electric Guitars on YouTube
- [ Electric Guitars at Allmusic]
- Band discography at Discogs.com
- Electric Guitars at Reverbenation.com
- Band discography from Bristol Archive Records
- The Fans on YouTube
- The Stingrays at last.fm
- The Stingrays on YouTube
- The Stingrays Discography at Discogs.com
- Review of The Stingrays at Bristol Archive Records
- The Spics play ‘Angels in the Rain’ by The Viceroys on YouTube