The record label of the Alida Star studios, of Syston, Leicestershire. Opinions differ as to what the label was actually called - the logo just has 'Cottage' on it, while the 'ASC' prefix suggests 'Alida Star Cottage'. Most of the few records that I have seen listed on the label were LPs, but there was at least one 7" record: an EP by Country singer Don Woods, featuring 'Don't Tear Down The Pedestal', 'Love Beyond Compare' and the two tracks shown on the scan above. Its catalogue number, ASC 127514, give the month (12) and the year (75) in which the recording was made; the remaining numbers presumably show that it was the fourteenth record made that year. Pressing was done by Orlake, probably in early 1976. There is some doubt as to whether Alida Star / Cottage was a custom recording concern or a bona fide label. The material on the Don Woods EP and on the Heidelbergers' 'Nottingham Bier Keller' LP (ASC-107510) hints at the former, but cult Folk band Spriguns Of Tolgus are said to have been signed to the label for their now hugely-collectable 'Jack With A Feather' LP (ASC-7755), and Folk singer Rosie Hardman is reported to have been unhappy with the cover which the company provided for her album 'Jersey Burger' (ASC-7754), which suggest that Alida Star may have actually issued records, not just made them. The only other record on the label that Googling turns up is another Folk LP, Mick Smith's 'Words And Music' (ASC-771; 1977). Doubtless there are others out there - are there any more 7" ones? Don Woods went on to make a definitely self-financed album through SRT, 'Country At The Flixton Buck' (SRTX/79/CUS/493), and had a couple of singles out in the 1980s on the Merseyside-based 'Peninsula' label.
Copyright 2014 Robert Lyons.