The record label of the well-known charity. Mencap was run by chartered accountant Michael Weston in partnership with businessman Syed Ali. It seems to have put out just two singles on the Mencap label, using a MEN-000 numbering series. 'The Arsenal March' b/w 'The Chelsea March' (MEN-001; 1969) by The Complex was first out of the blocks, with Crispian St. Peters's 'Monumental Queen' b/w 'Soft As A Rose' (MEN-002; 1/70) following on - the label has '1969' on it but 'Record Retailer' gives the date of release as one of the first three weeks of 1970. Pressing and distribution were by Pye. The label of the Complex single looked like an old-fashioned football; an example can be found on the 45cat site. Mencap had a couple of sister-labels, 'Little Stephen' - which is probably from 1969 and with a name like that ought really to be described as a 'brother-label' - and 'Square' (q.v.).
Copyright 2016 Robert Lyons.