MOONBEAM
A label from
Barrhead, Scotland, and, like Scotia (q.v.) a product of S.M.D.
Recordings of Paisley. Moonbeam was owned by Bill Wallace, son of Scotia's Jim. Its records
have proved difficult to trace - perhaps they are commoner North
of the Border than they are down here. Catalogue numbers were
mainly in the MBR-100s (the prefix was changed to MMBR for a maxi-single);
the series reached at least MBR-140 but all the singles that I have traced in
that series have had even numbers, which strongly suggests that
there may not have been any odd-numbered ones. The earliest
single with an MBR prefix that has come
to light so far was issued in 1973, while the highest number I have
been able to track down, MBR-140, dates from 1976. Subsequent 7" records seem to have adopted an
MBS-5000 series. The few of Moonbeam's singles and EPs that I have found are
listed below; to judge from their titles it looks as though the company
concentrated on Scottish Folk / Vocal material in the main, with some Club /
Cabaret material thrown into the mix. The only two records that I have
seen in the vinyl were pressed by Decca. The blue labels appear to be the
commoner of the two colours. Thanks to Stephen Small for his help in
filling-in several of the gaps.
Copyright 2008 Robert Lyons.