Zoom Records Four

The last in this short series features former London punk band ‘Blunt Instrument’ who split up in 1978 and became new wavers ‘London Zoo’ and Penicuik bad bouys ‘The Cheetahs’ with their Punk Rock’n’Blues pub rock only single. ‘London Zoo’ show great ideas with their single Receiving End especially the B’side anthem London Zoo which pops along quite nicely. Basically power pop with an ear for the new wave positive punk that was slowly growing in London and the south eastern region of England in 1979. Penicuik (a small town south of Edinburgh) however was a breeding ground for something rather different. Having built up a loyal following in Edinburgh’s pubs and clubs, ‘The Cheetahs’ were offered a single deal with ZOOM and promptly released their stonking only single Radio Active. It is solid pub rock with a definite nod to the punk bands that were evolving in Edinburgh recording their A-side in the renowned Barclay Towers studio.

Zoom Records Two

So, almost a year has passed since I set sail on the idea of collecting as many of the singles released on local Scottish Indie record labels. It seems the idea fell by the wayside except for the third and fourth releases on Zoom Records. I suppose I was deflated as it became harder to find decent rips on the interweb of the more obscure releases. What I will do is post the rips of singles that I currently have as they document some of the better post-punk / pub rock / new wave that was available. Zum 3 is another classic from the now legendary Valves. Both tracks on their second single relate to an area on the east side of Edinburgh called Portobello. They’re followed by Glasgow based New Wavers The Zones debut single which you should all own a copy of. There’s more from The Zones here with additional background information on the roots of the core band. Enjoy.

Zoom Records

Zoom Records was a short-lived record label established in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded and funded by the successful ‘Bruce’s’ record shop owner Bruce Findlay in the summer of 1977. After the first four single releases it secured a licensing deal with Arista Records. Findlay closed the label in 1980, to dedicate his time to managing one of the most successful bands who began there, Simple Minds. Zoom signed many Scottish punk and new wave bands, some of them, later well-known and successful, like Simple Minds, who Findlay managed from 1978 to 1990. However, one of the first bands signed was Edinburgh pub Punk band, The Valves; the second band to sign was PVC2 (who featured Russel Webb and Midge Ure). Skids almost joined the label, but Findlay encouraged them to go to their local Dunfermline record shop owner, Sandy Muir, out of which No Bad Records was formed.

The first single released by Zoom was "Robot Love" (with "For Adolf’s Only" as the B-side), by The Valves, in August 1977, selling 15,000 copies.