SÎR



Something of a mystery.  The only 7" record on the Sîr label that I have ever seen is the EP shown above, on which Ann Coates sings 'Aderyn Eira', 'Fy Annwyl Fam', 'Yr Hen Arw Groes' and 'Gwir Serch', which are Welsh-language versions of 'Snowbird', 'Mother Of Mine', 'The Old Rugged Cross' and 'True Love'; I wouldn't have seen that if Robert Bowes hadn't been kind enough to alert me to the label's existence.  The EP was issued in 1976 and had a catalogue number of SR-3005, the SR-3000 numbers being shared by 7" and 12" records alike.  Googling has brought several more Sîrs to light but they were all albums; I've listed them below for the sake of interest (!).  The majority were by male voice choirs, but Triawd Tanat, who recorded 'Triawd Tanat Gyda'r Delyn' (SR-3007; 1977) was apparently a folk group, and the Colwyn Borough Band was a brass band.  Manufacture of the few that I've seen pictured was done through Westwood Records (q.v.), of Montgomery.  The company was obviously Welsh, and 'sîr' is Welsh for 'county'; I guessed that the pronunciation would be the same as the English 'shire' but Hawkmarty of the 54cat site has been kind enough to say that it is actually 'sear'.  Sîr was presumably a custom recording affair with links to Westwood, or perhaps a small independent concern, and it seems to have operated from around 1975 to 1978, but other than that....  If anybody knows what the missing SR-3001 was I'd be pleased to hear from them.  Just as an aside Ann Coates released two albums on the Westwood label, 'That Star Belongs To Me' (WRS-081; 1975) and 'Please Don't Cut The Roses' (1978).

Copyright 2011 Robert Lyons.