MIXCREST



A slightly odd one.  The single which seems to have been Mixcrest's only release, 'Girl (How Am I Gonna Win You)' b/w '5 And 10 Cent Store' by T.J. Thorpe and the C.B. Band (MIX-1; 4/79), was a 7" only at its narrowest point: it was actually seven-sided, and was grey in colour.  According to Billboard of the 7th of April 1979 the idea behind the design of the disc was that it looked like a fifty-pence piece and it sold for fifty pence.  Thorpe, the article went on, had been a member of The Rubettes.  The previous week 'Music Week' had done a short piece on the company, which, it said, was 'Shaping Up For 50p Launch'.  Included in that piece were some quotes from label boss Tommy Wolbrom, who said that he had formed Mixcrest because of his "growing awareness of the problems facing managers, producers and bands when it comes to placing product."  He added that he intended to pick up masters rather than sign bands, and to pursue different promotional and marketing techniques for each new record.  The report claimed that at least 10,000 copies of the T.J. Thorpe single would be made available, retailing at 50p each; as well as being silver in colour the pressings would each contain a small amount of silver metal.  Wolbrom warned that after the first 10,000 copies prices would rise "in view of our hefty production expenses."  It may perhaps be that those expenses were enough to deter the company from issuing any more records, as, despite the plans, Googling reveals no others.  Mixcrest did however recoup some of its outlay on that record: 'MW' of the 28th of April reported that a long-term licensing deal for it had been signed with EMI's Licensed Repertoire division.  The sides were duly reissued on EMI International (INT-589) the following month, in the standard black circular form.  A second single by the band, 'Ain't No Kinda Star' b/w 'Part Of Your Heart' came out on EMI International in August 1979, as INT-594, with a production credit to Mixcrest - thanks to Klepsie of the 45Cat site for letting me know about that one.  Both singles can be filed under 'Country-flavoured Pop'.




Copyright 2007 Robert Lyons.