Echo was a joint venture between Harlesden-based record wholesalers Collins International and singer Donnie Elbert. According to 'Music Week' of the 3rd of March 1979 it was one of two labels that Collins International were launching; the other being 'Dignity', which was intended for mid-price Jazz, Rock and Country LPs. The article said that Echo was going to concentrate on Pop and Disco music and that its first releases were to be by Donnie Elbert and The Flirtations, but in the event the Flirtations record seems to have been cancelled and Echo soon became basically a Reggae and Soul label. Jeffrey Collins is quoted as saying "We've been selling other people's records for twenty-one years, and we reckon it's time to do our own thing.". The vast majority of Echo's products were albums or 12" singles but it put out a small number of 7" singles using four different numerical series: TRIS-000, EC-7000, RB-000 and (in the 1980s) ECHO-0. Jacob Miller's 'Silver Bells' (TRIS-001) was licensed from Top Ranking International - thus the prefix, I suppose - and had '1978' on the label; presumably that was the year in which the recording was made. Donnie Elbert's 'Are You Ready' (EC-7001; 1979) was pressed by Lyntone (LYN-6391/2); distribution was by Pinnacle, according to 'Music Master', though Collins International is credited on the label and doubtless shared the job. The date for RB-001 in the discography below is taken from 45cat; its 'B' side was a Red Bus production and was published by Echo / Red Bus Music, which may account for the prefix. The few Echoes that did or may have come out in the '70s are listed below. Records on the label continued to be issued until at least 1987. The Floyd Lloyd single shown above was reissued in 1982 in 7" and 12" form as ECHO-5, with a different 'B' side.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.