Scottish, based in Edinburgh. Pan-Audio started out as a radio and TV commercial production company in 1974. In November of that year, under managing director John MacKinnon, BBC sound engineer Alan Spence and The Corries, it launched its own record label. 'Music Week' of the 23rd of that month reported that manufacture of Pan-Audio records was to be by Orlake and that the company was looking for a distributor to cover the UK outside Scotland. The company soon set up its own distribution arm, CML Distribution, the 'CML' standing for 'Corries Music Ltd'; it was operative by February 1975, and according to 'MW' of the 19th July it was introduced because The Corries wanted a more personal method of distributing their recordings. An issue of 'MW' from later that year (6th December) says that Pan-Audio now had UK and Irish distribution, via Rediffusion and H.R. Taylor. That article mentions a single by Bill Torrance, 'It Doesn't Have To Be That Way', which I haven't been able to track down; apart from that one, the Corries' 'Flower of Scotland' b/w 'The Roses Of Prince Charlie' (PA or SPA-003) seems to have been Pan-Audio's only 7". The Corrries' single proved very popular and can be found with two different catalogue numbers and three differently coloured labels.
The Pan-Audio label as such disappeared in February 1976 when its name, and that of the studio, was changed to Dara (q.v.), though the holding company retained the 'Pan-Audio' identity ('MW', 21st February). Several Pan-Audio items were re-pressed on Dara with theit old catalogue numbers, including the 'Flower of Scotland' single. In both its incarnations Pan-Audio / Dara seems to have concentrated on traditional Scottish material. Most of its products seem to have been albums, if the few that I have managed to trace are any indication. LPs and singles alike appear to have shared a common '000' numerical series, with albums having a 'PA' or 'MPA' prefix and singles generally an 'SPA' one. Thanks to Robert Bowes for the first scan.
Copyright 2009 Robert Lyons.