One of the labels of independent distributors Enterprise Records Distribution, the other being Enterprise (q.v.). Sticky enjoyed two incarnations. Its first batch of singles, dating from 1973, were numbered in the STY-0s; catalogue numbers suggest that there were at least six of them, but I have only been able to trace five (1). The first came out in April; naturally enough, Enterprise themselves handled the distribution. According to 'Music Week' of the 7th of April, which reported the label's formation, a company called 'Instant Music' had undertaken to supply Sticky with at least three singles per year, but in the event fate intervened. A couple of months later a fire destroyed Enterprise's files and accounts, along with 100,000 records in its warehouse. The company seems to have taken a serious financial blow; in October of that same year Enterprise Records Distribution was placed in the hands of the official receiver, and it looked as though that would be the end of Sticky. In April 1974, however, President Records bought Enterprise's assets. It seems probable that the distribution network was the main attraction, but the Sticky label seems to have been included in the deal and in March 1977 President brought it back to life with a single by Robert Nat Young, 'Hot Stuff' b/w 'This Bird's Gonna Fly' (STY-101). This time around the numbering was in an STY-100 series (2). There was a lull after that; the following year saw another two releases in the STY-100s, but they appear to have been the last. The label design was basically the same for both series. Various kinds of music can be found on Sticky. In its first incarnation it leaned towards Soul, with some product licensed from American labels; in its second it was distinctly Rockier. Latterly Sticky was marketed by its new owners President (q.v.), with distribution by Lugton and H. R Taylor as well as by President's own network. The late '70s saw the appearance of two other Sticky labels and a couple of 'Sticky Label' labels (q.v. all), while in the early '80s a fourth Sticky label released at least five singles using a PEEL OFF-0 numerical series.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.