MAP

 

Not a label that is seen very often.  Map was the label of TMC Studios, of Tooting, which explains the catalogue number prefix.  It seems to have been a custom recording concern, at least in part, though the sleeve notes on the Western Echos LP 'Live At The Nashville Rooms' indicate that it was made for TMC Productions, which suggests that it was a proper release by the company.  The first single on Map had a 'TMC' prefix, the remainder a 'TMC SP' one; EPs usually had a 'TMC EP' prefix, logically enough.  Numbers were generally in the 000s; the highest number I have been able to trace was TMC SP-011.  There was also a TMC SP (or EP)-1000 series, which appears to have started in 1972.  LPs had a separate TMC LP-000 series, which reached TMC LP-011 in 1975.
One basic label design served from start to finish, but in or around 1973 there was a change of colour from blue with a grey and green map (1) to pink with a dark-pink and green map (2) - the singles affected were TMC SPs 008 upwards.  In addition the artist credit on the first single was at 9 o'clock (1); for subsequent issues it moved to 6 o'clock (2, 3).  Musical content was varied, and included a lot of Gospel as well as some Country and Club / Cabaret fare.  The first singles were issued in 1971; unfortunately the later ones had no date on them.  Manufacture of the few copies that I have seen was by either British Homophone or Orlake.  There was another Map label in 1980-81; despite the fact that the label design was basically the same the two companies don't appear to have been connected - the '80s label seems to have been the product of a company called Magnum Artists Productions.  The discography below includes all the TMC Map records that googling has come up with.  Help with filling the gaps would be welcome.

Copyright 2009 Robert Lyons.