The label of 2000 A.D. Music, a small independent company from Stratford-on-Avon. A covering letter accompanying a single by Grok, 'Magnetic Boots' b/w '1990 Metal Sister', stated that 2000 A.D. aimed to be 'An efficient and competitive mail order company for the less commercial artistes who have talent and originality', and that SF was intended as an outlet for 'Real science fiction music' such as no record company had released before. The letter indicated that 2000 A.D. was also interested in other forms of music, and that SF might in future not be its only label. In the event, however, the Grok single seems to have been both 2000 A.D.'s and SF's only release. There's no date on the labels, but James Trash of the 45Cat site was able to pin it down to early 1977 - it was advertised in 'Record Mirror' during February and March of that year. According to the letter, 2000 A.D. intended to be known as a 'Word in your ear' company and to avoid 'heavy advertising campaigns or other expensive forms of publicity' in order to keep costs to the customer down, so presumably the 'RM' advert, which was a small one, wasn't expensive. The directors of the company were Robert Porter, D. Halford and J. Halford. Pressing marks suggest that manufacture of the Grok single was handled by Linguaphone. The material in the grooves more or less lives up to the claims made in the letter, and the 'Made On Earth' at the top of the labels is a nice touch. The name Grok originated in a Science Fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, 'Stranger In A Strange Land'. Thanks to Klepsie and James Trash of the 45Cat site, and to Eddie Hutchinson, all of whom brought SF to my attention.
Copyright 2025 Robert Lyons.