JAY-LEE

   

Something of a puzzle.  Catalogue numbers suggest that Jay-Lee managed at least thirteen issues, but I have only managed to track down eight of them.  The date of operations was from 1977 to at least 79.  Presumably Jay-Lee was a small custom recording concern; EJL-10 and JL-11 and 13 were all recorded at the Music Bank Studios, in Manchester, so there may be a link between the studio and the label.  It would appear that numbering was in a JL-0 series for singles, EPs and albums alike, but the first EP was given a preliminary 'E'.  The labels came in various colours, as the scans show - JL-5 was presumably re-pressed, as it can be found with two different types of label (3, 4).  Manufacture was initially by Linguaphone.  Decca took over later on - the Deccas have a different look to them and have 'Made in England' above the logo (5) - while JL-13 was pressed in France, as happened with quite a few records released by small companies.  Thanks to Robert Bowes for the second scan.

Copyright 2007 Robert Lyons.