A small independent company formed in December 1978 by Root Jackson and Raffi Pereira, both formerly members of a band called F.B.I.. According to 'Music Week' of the 27th of January 1979 Umbrella was 'gaining momentum' with the release in 7" and 12" form of the Goodtime Band's, 'Baad Goodtime Band' b/w 'Good Feeling' (PFU-1401 / PFUL-1401; 12/78), and was on its way to becoming a 'musicans' co-operative'. As did several other independents, Umbrella had recourse to Plastic Fantastic (q.v.), a firm which offered marketing services and arranged pressing and distribution; thus the 'PFU' prefix. Manufacture and distribution of the Goodtime Band's records were by Pye, as was the case for all the Plastic Fantastic family labels at that time. The Goodtime Band was related to Funk group Kokomo; its single seems to have been the company's only release under the Umbrella label, for 'MW' of the 16th of June revealed that the company had changed its name to Brolly (q.v.) and was working out of premises at 17 Queensgate Place, London SW7. The article said that as the result of a deal with Eden Studios one single on the new label was in the pipeline and several others should be forthcoming, but sadly that single seems to have been the only one.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.