One of those sad cases where records have no shared label identification, just a common set of catalogue numbers. Under Thomas Bryce Laing, Craighall Studios, of Edinburgh, was responsible for making a considerable number of records from the early 1960s into at least the late '70s. Bryce Laing was the managing director of Edinburgh furniture store George Jeffrey Ltd; at his instigation it opened a record department, and then, in 1959, set up a two-track recording studio in a back room of the premises and started its own label, Waverley Records (q.v.). After the original store building was scheduled for demolition the studio was moved and improved; it ended up at 68 Craighall Road, and became Craighall Recording Studios. From 1966 to 1981 Craighall was contracted to supply EMI with Scottish material, which was released by that company on the Waverley label. The deal with EMI meant that the studio could be upgraded - by 1983 it had a facility for cutting discs ('Studio Scene'; October 1983). The 'Studio Scene' article does not, however, mention any manufacturing plant.
Craighall wasn't blessed with many mentions in the Trade press of the '70s. 'Record Retailer' of the 14th of March 1070 carried an advert in which it was described as 'Scotland's Leading Recording Studio', and gave the name of the chief engineer as Robert Sibbald. 'Music Week' of the 8th of April 1972 reported that Craighall was acting as a production company as well as a recording studio, and that EMI had first option on the productions; it also offered custom recording facilities, though the records were pressed elsewhere. There was a change of emphasis in 1973, with 'MW' of the 29th of September breaking the news that the company's studios were no longer for hire, as it was concentrating on its productions. It would, however, continue to process tape-to-disc material for 'bulk' pressings. The studios seem to have been made available again, as 'MW' of the 19th of June 1975 was able to say that Craighall now offered a complete set of services from recording to the finished product. According the the article, sleeves were printed locally but the records were pressed in London 'as there is no manufacturing facility in Scotland'.
As far as non-EMI product is concerned, Craighall's albums, EPs and singles alike were mainly numbered in a TD-5000 / 6000 / 7000 series, though the prefix 'PR' was also used - the studio offered custom recording facilities and a tape-to-disc service, so it is possible that the 'PR' was used for the latter; it seems to stand for 'private'. Another prefix associated with Craighall was 'JEF', while latterly a 'CS' prefix was used alongside the 'TD' one. Other TD-numbered records can be found listed under the Mayfair (1977), Phoenix Promotions, Black Hole, J.A.I. and Strathclyde labels; the 'discography' below lists the few 7"s that I've found so far, but it's a pathetically poor return from what appear to be several hundred records. Needless to say, any information about other TDs, PRs and CSs would be welcome; thanks to Stephen Small, who has already chipped in with several. Other labels with a similar appearance to the '70s Craighall Studios family labels are Road, JD and Faith Mission (q.v. all). The first scan comes by courtesy of Hugh Macpherson, the fourth from Ade Macrow, of the excellent 45Cat site. The Escorts single was pressed by British Homophone.
Copyright 2013 Robert Lyons.