A Scottish independent label from the Punk / New Wave years. Zoom was founded in 1977 by Bruce Findlay, owner of a chain of record shops called Bruce's Records. Its main claims to fame are, firstly, that it discovered Simple Minds, who took it into the Singles Chart in 1979 with 'Life In A Day' (ZUM-10); and, secondly, that Midge Ure, later of Ultravox, made his first records for it, as part of the band PVC 3. Amid all the New Wave stuff, ex- Incredible String Band man Mike Heron recorded a single for the company, 'Sold On Your Love' (ZUM-5; 1978). Initially distribution was by Rough Trade, and then by Lightning, but in August 1978 Zoom signed a manufactuing, marketing and distribution deal with the major Arista Records. Its singles were mainly injection-moulded, and were pressed by Phonodisc: the first four had silver labels with four small pictures at the top of it (1), while the Arista-era ones had a red label with the picture replaced by the word 'Zoom' (2). The Simple Minds' single 'Chelsea Girl' (ZUM-11; 1979), with its paper label, seems to have been the only exception - that was manufactured by CBS. In 1980, after issuing thirteen singles and an LP, Findlay shelved the label in order to concentrate on management. Tony Pilley's 'Off The Hook', which was to have been ZUM-13, eventually came out on the Barclay Towers label (q.v.). Thanks to Robert Bowes for the scan of the silver label.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.