The label of producer Derek Lawrence. After spending several years producing records for companies such as EMI, MGM, Sovereign and US Decca, Lawrence started his own label, Retreat, in the summer of 1973. The Gossip column in 'Music Week' of the 21st of July mentioned that he was planning to launch Retreat through EMI; the rumour was confirmed in 'MW' of the 4th of August. 'Billboard' of the 11th of August added that Reggae band Greyhound had been signed, with Derek Bloxham to act as their producer, and that the agreement with EMI was for the world excepting America. For the next two-and-a-half years Retreat issued a collection of interesting but ultimately unsuccessful singles and albums from a small but varied roster of artists, ranging from Cockney rockers Chas & Dave to Prog Rock band Strange Days via American Gospel group The Master's Children. Late 1975 found Lawrence in Los Angeles working with a band called Angel ('BB', 13th Aug); he ended up staying in America for two years, which presumably led to Retreat being shelved. After returning to the UK he went back to producing records for other companies, including Sunburst and MCA, usually working with Rock bands - he had produced albums for Deep Purple and Wishbone Ash before starting Retreat.
Retreat's singles numbering started at RTS-251 and ended at RTS-269 in early 1976. One label design - a rather attractive one in my opinion - served throughout (1), and there was a company sleeve. Manufacture and distribution were by EMI, and demos were either overprinted in the usual EMI fashion (2) or occasionally given 'Sample Record' stickers (3).
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.