The record label of Enterprise Records Distribution, one of several independent record distribution companies operating in Britain in the 1970s. 'Music Week' of the 7th of November 1970 gives the people behind the label as trombonist Johnny Watson and his wife Monica; at that point it was about to issue its first three albums. A later 'MW' (7th October 1972) gives the company's address as 37 Winchelsea Road, London NW10. For the record side of its business Enterprise concentrated heavily on budget-priced albums, but in April 1973 it earned a place for itself on this site by putting out a couple of singles. First out of the block numerically was 'Mama Say' b/w 'Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast' by the Karlins (ENTS-100; 4/1973); second was a maxi-single by the Nashville Teens which featured 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy', 'Let It Rock / Rocking On The Railroad' and 'Break Up' (ENTS-101; 4/73). Both groups had made previous recordings, the Karlins for Parlophone and Columbia, the Teens for Decca, Major Minor and Parlophone; but despite their honourable track records neither of their Enterprise discs threatened the charts. The style of the matrix number in the run-off suggests that the Teens' single was manufactured by British Homophone. Enterprise had a sister label, Sticky - see 'Sticky (1973-77)'.
There was a serious fire at the Enterprise premises in June 1973: the company's files and accounts were destroyed, along with 100,000 records ('MW' 2nd June). It would appear that the business struggled to recover, and in October of that year Enterprise Records Distribution went into receivership. According to 'MW' of the 17th of November the hope was to sell the company as a going concern. Some seven months later its assets were bought by President Records and it was reborn as Enterprise Records 1973, but while the distribution network continued from a new address at Arklow Road, London SE14, the Enterprise label appears to have been phased out within a year or so.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.