Dindisc Records

Dindisc Records, also rendered DinDisc, was a British record-label imprint associated with Virgin Records. It operated semi-independently and was active from the middle of 1979 until early 1982. Although its period of operation was brief, the label became closely identified with a distinctive strand of British and internationally oriented post-punk, new wave, art-pop, and alternative pop. Its catalogue included Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Martha and the Muffins, the Monochrome Set, the Rezillos, and Hot Gossip. The imprint was founded and run by Carol Wilson, a Virgin music executive who had earlier discovered Sting and signed him to Virgin's music-publishing operation. Wilson used Dindisc to develop artists whose work combined artistic ambition with accessible pop writing. In later comments about signing Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, she described the group as embodying the balance she wanted from the label: a serious and experimental side alongside a commercially viable pop sensibility. That approach was also reflected in signings such as Martha and the Muffins and the Monochrome Set. Dindisc's first release was the Rezillos single "Where's the Boy for Me?", issued in September 1979 with the catalogue number DIN-1. The label's most prominent commercial successes followed in the early 1980s. Martha and the Muffins' "Echo Beach" reached number five on the UK singles chart in 1980. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark supplied a particularly important run of releases, including "Enola Gay", "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc", and "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)", several of which reached the UK top ten during 1980 and 1981. Visual presentation was an important part of the imprint's identity. Many Dindisc sleeves were designed by Peter Saville, whose earlier work at Factory Records had attracted Wilson's attention. She had become interested in Saville's design after signing OMD, particularly in connection with his thermographic-paper sleeve for Factory's release of "Electricity". Saville subsequently produced the Dindisc artwork for "Electricity" and, together with Ben Kelly, received a Designers and Art Directors Award for the design work associated with an Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album. The label ended operations after Hot Gossip's "I Don't Depend on You", catalogued as DIN-39, was released in February 1982. Wilson's inability to obtain a shareholding was identified as a factor in the label's dissolution. OMD's "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" carried the final catalogue number, DIN-40, although it had appeared several weeks earlier, in January 1982. Dindisc no longer operates as an active label, but Virgin reissues on compact disc have continued to refer to the imprint and its catalogue numbering. The label's closure also contributed to the later formation of Peter Saville Associates by Saville and Brett Wickens.

Dindisc was created within the Virgin Records organization in 1979 as a semi-independent imprint under the direction of Carol Wilson. Wilson brought experience from Virgin's music-publishing activities, including the earlier discovery of Sting, and used the new label to sign artists who did not fit a narrowly defined commercial format. Her stated interest was in music combining depth and experimentation with the possibility of reaching a broad pop audience. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark became a central example of that strategy, while Martha and the Muffins and the Monochrome Set represented related aspects of the label's alternative-pop identity. The imprint began its catalogue with the Rezillos' "Where's the Boy for Me?" in September 1979. Its subsequent releases connected Dindisc with the rapidly developing British new-wave and post-punk environment, while also giving the label an international dimension through acts such as Martha and the Muffins. Dindisc's best-known commercial period came in 1980 and 1981. Martha and the Muffins' "Echo Beach" reached number five in the United Kingdom, and OMD produced a series of UK top-ten singles, including "Enola Gay", "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc", and "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)". Design was a defining part of the imprint's presentation. Peter Saville, who had begun his career at Factory Records, came to Wilson's attention through her association with OMD and her interest in the distinctive sleeve design for Factory's release of "Electricity". Saville created artwork for Dindisc, including the Dindisc release of "Electricity", and worked with Ben Kelly on the design of an OMD album that won a Designers and Art Directors Award. This relationship helped connect Dindisc's record output with the highly regarded graphic culture surrounding Manchester's independent music scene. The label's catalogue sequence ended around the beginning of 1982. OMD's "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" was DIN-40, although it was released in January, before Hot Gossip's DIN-39 in February. Dindisc then ceased operations. The available account identifies Wilson's failure to secure a shareholding as a factor in the closure. Afterward, Saville and Brett Wickens established Peter Saville Associates. Dindisc's catalogue has remained visible through Virgin compact-disc reissues, which continue to identify the original imprint and catalogue numbers even though the label itself is defunct.

• 1982

  Final catalogue releases and closure

  [1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  OMD's DIN-40 appears in January, followed by Hot Gossip's DIN-39 in February; the imprint then ceases operations.

• 1980

  "Echo Beach" reaches number five in the UK

  [1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Martha and the Muffins achieve one of Dindisc's strongest chart results with "Echo Beach".

• 1980

  OMD becomes a major Dindisc success

  [1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  OMD begins a run of prominent Dindisc singles, including "Enola Gay" and later UK top-ten releases.

• 1979

  Dindisc is founded

  [1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Carol Wilson establishes Dindisc as a semi-independent imprint associated with Virgin Records.

• 1979

  First catalogue release

  [1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  The Rezillos' "Where's the Boy for Me?" becomes the first Dindisc release, issued as DIN-1 in September.

A semi-independent Virgin Records imprint focused on artistically distinctive British and international new-wave, post-punk, and art-pop releases with crossover potential.

• Record releases · 1979

  Singles

  Singles formed the core of Dindisc's catalogue. The imprint launched with the Rezillos' "Where's the Boy for Me?" and became particularly associated with successful new-wave and art-pop singles by OMD, including "Enola Gay", "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc", and "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)". Martha and the Muffins' "Echo Beach" was another major release.

• Record releases

  Studio albums

  Dindisc issued albums by artists aligned with its combination of experimental or artistic ambition and pop accessibility. The album programme was also notable for its sleeve design, including work by Peter Saville and Ben Kelly. Dindisc album catalogue items continue to be referenced through later Virgin reissues.

• Catalogue reissues

  Virgin CD reissues

  After Dindisc ceased operating, compact-disc reissues issued through Virgin continued to mention the original Dindisc imprint and catalogue numbers. These reissues preserve the label identity and make parts of its short catalogue available beyond the original release period.

• 1982

  End Dindisc operationsStrategy

  Background

  The label's short operating period ended after Wilson failed to obtain a shareholding in the imprint.

  Action taken

  Dindisc stopped issuing new releases after Hot Gossip's DIN-39 in February 1982.

  Aftermath

  The catalogue survived through Virgin reissues, while Peter Saville and Brett Wickens went on to establish Peter Saville Associates.

  Source

• 1979

  Create a semi-independent Virgin imprintStrategy

  Background

  Carol Wilson sought a label capable of developing artists with both serious artistic qualities and commercial pop potential.

  Action taken

  Virgin established Dindisc as a semi-independent imprint and placed Wilson in charge of its signings and releases.

  Aftermath

  The imprint developed a recognizable catalogue in new wave, post-punk, and art-pop, with notable chart success from OMD and Martha and the Muffins.

  Source

• 1982

  Dindisc ceases operations[1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The imprint ended operations after Hot Gossip's "I Don't Depend on You", released as DIN-39 in February 1982. OMD's DIN-40 had appeared earlier in January.

• 1980

  Martha and the Muffins reach the UK top five with "Echo Beach"[1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The Dindisc single "Echo Beach" became one of the label's most successful releases, reaching number five on the UK singles chart.

• 1980

  Dindisc releases a sequence of successful OMD singles[1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark delivered several of the imprint's best-known singles, including "Enola Gay" and "Souvenir", followed by "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans".

• 1979

  Dindisc issues its first release[1]Dindiscen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The Rezillos' "Where's the Boy for Me?" was released as Dindisc catalogue number DIN-1, establishing the new Virgin-associated imprint.

1. 1Dindiscen.wikipedia.org