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Postcard Records is a British, Glasgow-based independent record label founded by Alan Horne in 1979 as a vehicle for releases by Orange Juice and Josef K.[1] The label's motto was "The Sound of Young Scotland",[1] a parody/tribute to the Motown motto; its logo featured a cartoon cat beating a drum. Although short-lived, Postcard was a key influence on the C81 and the later C86 indie-pop movements.
The label's first release, in spring 1980, was Orange Juice's, "Falling and Laughing",[1] which was jointly financed by Horne and band members Edwyn Collins and bass guitarist David McClymont.[2] The label went on to sign such bands as Aztec Camera and The Go-Betweens, before winding down in 1981 shortly after Orange Juice left to sign a major deal with Polydor.[1] In 1984 Horne then started a new label as part of a deal with London Records, called Swamplands, releasing a handful of singles before folding. He then resuscitated Postcard in 1992, releasing various new albums and retrospectives until 1997.
The label was profiled in depth in 2015 documentary film, Big Gold Dream, and the 2014 book by Simon Goddard, Simply Thrilled: The Preposterous Story of Postcard Records, although both concentrate largely on the original 1980-81 era of the label, and Alan Horne declined to be involved in either endeavour.
In March 2020, Postcard Records appeared to be showing signs of activity again, via a Twitter account @Dubh18.5.[3] Tweets referencing "some kind of reboot", and various archival footage in a series of GIFs hinting at further releases.
In December 2020, it was announced that the label was being reactivated as "Postcard Recordings Of Scotland Extra Terrestrial" to release a deluxe anthology vinyl boxset of recordings by Paul Quinn & The Independent Group,[4] including a 144 page hard backed book. The boxset was limited to 300 copies only and went on pre-sale via Bandcamp on 2 April 2021. It sold out within 24 hours and was finally delivered to buyers in late July 2021, to universal praise. The box contained re-pressed versions of the two original 1990s LPs along with a new 3rd double LP of unreleased live and studio material, a 10" of other recordings, along with the aforementioned book, and a handmade screenprint.
| Date | Artist | Title | Type | UK Indie Chart position | Catalogue ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 1980 | Orange Juice | "Falling and Laughing" | Single | No. 48 | 80 1 |
| August 1980 | Orange Juice | "Blue Boy" | Single | No. 15 | 80 2 |
| August 1980 | Josef K | "Radio Drill Time" | Single | No. 15 | 80 3 |
| November 1980 | The Go-Betweens | "I Need Two Heads" | Single | No. 6 | 80 4 |
| December 1980 | Josef K | "It's Kinda Funny" | Single | No. 12 | 80 5 |
| December 1980 | Orange Juice | "Simply Thrilled Honey" | Single | No. 5 | 80 6 |
| March 1981 | Orange Juice | "Poor Old Soul" | Single | No. 5 | 81 2 |
| March 1981 | Aztec Camera | "Just Like Gold" | Single | No. 10 | 81 3 |
| March 1981 | Josef K | "Sorry For Laughing" | Single | – | 81 4 |
| May 1981 | Josef K | "Chance Meeting" | Single | No. 5 | 81 5 |
| 1981 | Orange Juice | "Wan Light" (assigned serial number but never issued) | Single | – | 81 6 |
| July 1981 | Josef K | "The Only Fun in Town" | Album | No. 3 | 81 7 |
| August 1981 | Aztec Camera | "Mattress Of Wire" | Single | No. 8 | 81 8 |
The source for the information below is the website discogs.com[5]
The source for the information below is the website discogs.com[6]
The source for the information below is the website discogs.com[7]
The above releases all had the Postcard drumming kitten logo on sleeve and label. The 7" catalogue numbers were prefixed POS(tcard)P(olydor)
