MWS was a Scottish label; the initials stood for Music World Scotland, the Glagow-based company which owned it. Music World Scotland was a management / agency / publishing firm initially. Its record label came on the scene in October 1975. It was bigger North of the border than South, but it had ambitions not only to turn towards England and the expatriate market but also to broaden its scope. In February 1976 it licensed George Porter's London-based 'Badger' (q.v.) label, and 'Music Week' of the 7th of that month says that it was in the process of negotiating deals for Jazz and Classical records. 'MW' for the 1st of May 1976 reported that MWS had completed a distribution deal with Selecta for all of its products, the agreement starting at the beginning of April. Four weeks later 'MW' revealed that MWS had taken over the Badger label, which would serve as its 'Pop' label from that point. Sadly, despite all this positive activity MWS went into voluntary liquidation in the Spring of the following year ('MW', 5th March 1977) and its staff of six people were made redundant. It had twelve albums in its catalogue at the end, but as can be seen from the discography below it wasn't quite as active on the singles front, not even if its Badger releases are counted in. Manufacturers were Lyntone (2) and Decca (3). 'Music Master' gives the same date of issue for the three singles that it lists, October 1976, which indicates that the first two releases were re-released via Selecta at that time; at first they were handled by distributors Clyde Factors. Thanks to Robert Bowes for the second scan, and to Stephen Small for discographical input.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.