U.M. appears to have been a custom recording offshoot of Ultimate Music (q.v.). It was responsible for at least four records, which were numbered in a UM-500 series, following on from the first Ultimate single. UM-502 came out in 1977 and was an EP by Elsie Pepper & Her Organ; it offered two originals in 'God Bless You Son' and 'Jubilee Song' as well as covers of 'Just Loving You', 'I Believe' and 'Just Out Of Reach'. That EP was followed by two LPs: 'Listening By The Fireside' by organist Roy Sheppard (UM-503; 1978), and an album of train sounds from the Nene Valley Railway, 'Eurosteam' (UM-504; 1979). In the same year as the railway LP came an EP called 'Music In The Air' by The New Chordettes Showband (UM-505; 1979). Tracks on this EP were covers of 'Love Is In The Air', 'A Little Bit More', 'Say Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose', and 'The Hustle'. The fact that it was made by Ultimate for 'N.C. Recording' suggests a self-financed record, intended mainly for sale at the band's gigs. By the time it came out the logo and the artist's name had swapped sides: Elsie's name was on the left, on her EP. Thanks to Hedgehopperray of the 45cat site for the use of his scan here.
Copyright 2017 Robert Lyons.