Marmalade Records
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Marmalade Records was a short-lived British independent record label (distributed by Polydor). Started by Swiss-resident Georgian pop impresario and ex-manager of both the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds Giorgio Gomelsky in 1966, it released records by artists including Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger and The Trinity, who jointly reached No. 5 in the UK in 1968 with This Wheel's on Fire[1] and Blossom Toes, as well as early recordings by Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who became 10cc. Marmalade's first release was in August 1966; a controversial single called "We Love The Pirate Stations" by five well-known musicians masquerading as The Roaring Sixties who were mainly members of the Ivy League, who later went on to release hits as The Flower Pot Men. "We Love The Pirates" was not a hit despite extensive airplay on Radio 270, Radio Caroline and Radio London - its a bit of a half hearted song at medium tempo but still well loved by offshore radio aficionados. The Marmalade label ceased to exist in 1969 when it ran out of funds.[2]
Aftermath
Driscoll again performed This Wheel's on Fire—without Auger—as the closing title music for BBC TV's Absolutely Fabulous comedy show between 1990 and 1996.[3] She was partnered on this version of the Bob Dylan/ Rick Danko song by AbFab writer and star Jennifer Saunders's husband[4] Adrian Edmondson.[5]
After a time managing French progressive rock band Magma, Gomelsky headed for New York City in the mid-1970s, where he co-founded Utopia Records, a label, that was to have had the same alternative-innovative-minded focus as Marmalade.[6] Gomelsky produced Magma's Live/Hhaï album for Utopia in 1975. Utopia, co-founded with Kevin Eggers, was allegedly financed by then-RCA president Ken Glancy. Gomelsky was slowly sidelined, and Eggers effectively took over the reins. Utopia later went to the wall, with Tomato Records growing out of the wreckage and taking over Utopia's back catalogue.[7] Tomato re-released Live/Hhaï in 1978. Gomelsky's production appeared again - in versions of varying lengths - on the French Label Du Bon Independant in 1985, on Paris-based 7th Records in 1989, on the UK's Charly Records and again on Tomato in 1996, on Japan's Victor Records and again on Charly in 2001—and again on 7th Records—this time in Japan - in 2009.[8]
Discography
Singles
- Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger Trinity - This Wheel’s On Fire/ A Kind Of Love-In (#5 UK)
- Blossom Toes - What On Earth/Mrs. Murphy's Budgerigar/Look At Me I'm You (October 1967, Marmalade 598002)
- Blossom Toes - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob Dylan) b/w "Love Is" (March 1968, Marmalade 598009)
- Blossom Toes - Postcard/Everybody's Leaving Me Now (October 1968, Marmalade 598012)
- Blossom Toes - Peace Loving Man/Above My Hobby Horses Head (April 1969, Marmalade 598014)
- Blossom Toes - New Day / Love Bomb (October 1969, Marmalade 598022)
Albums
- Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger Trinity - Open (1967)
- Blossom Toes We Are Ever So Clean (October 1967, Marmalade 607001 (mono) 608001 (stereo))
- Brian Auger - Definitely What
- John McLaughlin - Extrapolation (1969) Marmalade 608007
- Blossom Toes - If Only for a Moment (Album - July 1969, Marmalade 608010)
- Various Artists - 100° Proof (Sampler)
References
- ^ Charts Of Past Years: Monthly Best Sellers, UK & USA, Undated. accessed: 24 December 2010.
- ^ [David Wells's June 2003 liner notes to the Strawberry Bubblegum CD of 'pre-10cc tracks recorded at Strawberry Studios' in Stockport, England.]
- ^ Absolutely Fabulous, The Band's official website, Undated.Accessed: 4 December 2010.
- ^ Edmondson, Adrian (1957-), British Film Institute, Undated.Accessed: 24 December 2010.
- ^ absolutely fabulous, BBC Entertainment, BBC, Undated.Accessed: 24 December 2010.
- ^ Giorgio Gomelsky, Richie Unterberger, of All Music, for Verve Music Group, Undated.Accessed: 24 December 2010.
- ^ Tomato, Unsigned, Undated.Accessed: 24 December 2010.
- ^ Magma (6) - Live, Discogs.com, Portland, OR, Undated.Accessed: 24 December 2010.