American, out of New York. Ork was owned by Terry Ork, manager of Punk group Television and booking agent at the city's CBGB's club. It lasted from 1975-77 in the States, and made a brief comeback in 1979. Only three singles, all from the 1979 revival period, were issued on Ork over here, via a licensing agreement with WEA. According to a 'Music Week' article of the 9th of June, which broke the news of the deal, the first three singles were due out on the 15th of June, and further releases - by The Erasers, Chris Stamey and the Student Teachers - were scheduled. Those 'further releases' never materialized. 'Music Master' lists the Cheetah Chrome single 'Still Wanna Die' as being released in October that year but doesn't give a catalogue number; despite the fact that it gives WEA as distributor that single seems to have been available only as an import - there's no sign of a British pressing. As can be seen from the scans, Ork singles had a different label design for their 'A' (1) and 'B' (2) sides. Catalogue numbers were in an NYC-0 series; Television's 'Little Johnny Jewel' (NYC 1 T) was only available as a 12" single, presumably with the 'Part 1' and 'Part 2' of the original American release joined together. Manufacture, marketing and distribution were handled by WEA under the licensing agreement; The Revelons' single 'My Way' (NYC-3) was pressed by Damont, a firm in which WEA had a majority holding.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.