D’ART RECORDS

The label was launched in late October 1971 and it remains something of a mystery why more of its releases didn’t make a much greater impression than they did at the time; it’s only hit came via ‘Shoes’ by Reparata (it made # 43 in late October 1975), though this had to be ‘shared’ with Polydor due to some legal shenanigans. The producers of that record, Americans Steve and Bill Jerome had, in fact, supplied several of the label’s early releases including four of its first five releases. A single by actress / singer Sally Sagoe, ‘A Little Bit Of Love’ (a Van McCoy song) nearly made the charts (one week in the ‘Breakers’ list) in October 1975. Other releases on the label were produced by Ben Findon & Peter Shelley, Biddu, (American) Jimmy Wisner and Tommy Scott (The Bachelors, The Dubliners, Them and more). Wheelin’ Wilson And The Carburettors who released  “I’m The Leader Of A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band (Ain’t Got No Lead Guitar!) on the label in 1972 was made up of  drummer John Bonham and bass player John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, lead guitarist Steve Gould, then with Rare Bird and Blue Weaver on keyboards from the Strawbs – all ‘moonlighting’ of course and the B side of the November 1972 release by Banzai featured, as lead singer, Paul Raven (a/k/a Gary Glitter). Radio One dee-jay David Hamilton also had one release on the label. The label’s last release was in 1977, save for one in February 1981 by Jakpak. An interesting label, but sadly the most memorable thing about it was its striking label design, pink with white spots.