THUNDERBIRD RECORDS

Former NME journalist turned P.R. man Chris Hutchins and ex-member of Johnny Kidd’s Pirates, Mick Green set up the Thunderbird label with CBS distribution in October 1975. Among the first artists to have releases on the label was Freddie Starr; his recording of ‘White Christmas’ just failed to make the British Top 40, peaking at number 41. Early 1976 releases included singles by Keith Baden-Powell and The Butterflies, both of whom had appeared on ‘Opportunity Knocks’. Another, ‘A Love For All Seasons’, by a group called Champagne, was a song that was a contender to represent Britain in that year’s Eurovision Song Contest  – it was voted 8th most popular out of the twelve songs. In August 1976 Thunderbird (and its publishing arm Parbeach Music) became part of the Kassner Music / President Records group of companies, Mick Green remaining as A & R Manager. Green was also a member of the rock band Shanghai (Cliff Bennett was the lead singer) which released a version of ‘Shakin’ All Over’ as a single on the label as well as an album, ‘Fallen Heroes’ . The group’s bass player Pat King went on to be a member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, drummer Pete Kircher had been in Honeybus and later joined Liverpool Express.