LIGHTNING
RECORDS
Independent label: Lightning Records started life as a one-stop
distributor, stocking chart singles, reggae records and a large selection of
'Golden Oldies' for jukebox owners. Under manager Alan Davison it provided
an outlet for many for DIY / small independent labels during the Punk explosion,
and grew rapidly; an advert in 'Billboard' magazine of the 21st of May 1977
describes it as the U.K.'s 'newest' and 'leading' one-stop operation, which
suggests that it may have started out some time (late?) in 1976. The
company launched its own label in 1977, a deal with Trojan leading to Reggae
singles with Trojan catalogue numbers appearing on a Lightning label through
B&C / Saga, with distribution by Selecta. These were followed by a
couple of Punk issues, which shared B&C's BCS-0000 numbering; then Lightning
received its own, short-lived, LIGS-100 series, which again issued only
Reggae. In November of that year Lightning signed a five-year worldwide
licensing deal with the major WEA; at this point, according to Billboard (19th
November 1977) Ray Laren was in charge - Alan Davison later set up the Laser
label. It continued to issue Reggae singles on its green label, this time
with a credit to WEA at the bottom, but started a red label for other kinds of
music - Rock, Pop, and so on. Some, mainly Punk, singles had their own,
yellow, label; these were distributed by Lightning themselves. The various
differently-coloured labels shared a single numbering series, LIG-500, during
the WEA era, but the yellow-labelled singles had the prefix numbers reversed -
GIL instead of LIG. The label's design stayed the same throughout its
life, the only change being the addition of a small black 'A' near the bottom on
most singles from February 1978 to February 1979. Success came early on,
when Althia and Donna shot to No.1 in the British Singles Chart with 'Uptown Top
Ranking', the company's sixth single with WEA. Copies of this single can be
found with injection-moulded labels; these appear to be contract pressings made
by Phonodisc. In 1978, as if to prove that they hadn't forgotten their
roots, in the midst of all these Reggae and Punk releases, Lightning launched
'Old Gold', a label dedicated to reissues of oldies; it would appear that the
company decided to concentrate on these reissues, because while Old Gold
continued on for many years there seems to have been only one record issued on
the Lightning label after 1979 - an EP by Rockabilly band Jets, 'Rockabilly
Baby' (LREP-1), which came out in August 1981. Lightning did however
launch the 'Scope' label in mid 1979, mainly for Reggae and Disco releases; this
lasted until the autumn of 1980 and towards the end issued a few records which
might have been expected to come out on Lightning. Pressing may well have
been by Saga during the B&C era, as Saga owned B&C and Trojan; the few
records from the WEA years have been CBS or Pye pressings. Thanks to
Robert Lyons For The Info.
| 72 |
Prince Far I |
Heavy Manners |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9000 |
| 72 |
Diego & The Sons Of Jah |
Jah Jah
Ital |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9001 |
| 77 |
Simon Tito |
Oh
Patricia |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9002 |
| 77 |
Boote Ken |
Silver Words |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9003 |
| 77 |
Not Traced |
|
TROJAN |
TRO |
9004 |
| 77 |
Marks
Louis |
Keep It
Like It Is |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9005 |
| 77 |
Malcolm Carlos & His Afro Jamaican
Rhythms |
Bonanza
Ska |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9006 |
| 77 |
Biggs
Barry |
Why Must
You Cry |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9007 |
| 77 |
Inner
Circle |
Duppy
Gunman |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9008 |
| 77 |
Fergus
Winston |
African
Woman |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9010 |
| 77 |
Archer Elizabeth & The Equators |
Feel
Like Making Love |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9011 |
| 77 |
Ray Danny |
Playboy |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9012 |
| 77 |
Silvertones |
African
Dub |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9013 |
| 77 |
Thunderball (The Silvertones) |
My
Twentyeight |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9014 |
| 77 |
Silvertones |
What A
Situation |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9015 |
| 77 |
Oddjob |
Express
Yourself |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9016 |
| 77 |
Lloyd Miller |
Caribbean Way |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9017 |
| 77 |
Holt John |
Lets Get It While It'S Hot |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9018 |
| 77 |
Michael "Bammie" Rose |
Key Of
Keys |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9019 |
| 77 |
Lewis
Candy |
I'Ll
Be Free Some Day |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9020 |
| 77 |
Baga
(Matumbi) |
Can'T
Satisfy |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9021 |
| 77 |
Douglas
Lambert |
Jah Jah No
New |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9022 |
| 77 |
Dingle
Brothers |
Happiness |
TROJAN |
TRO |
9023 |
| 77 |
Gray Owen |
When I Need
You |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9024 |
| 77 |
One Love |
Slave Trade |
LIGHTNING |
TRO |
9025 |
| 76 |
Nicky Scott |
Pasadena |
B&C |
BCS |
0001 |
| 76 |
Love Apples |
Yours |
B&C |
BCS |
0002 |
| 77 |
Rula Lenska |
In A Movie With You |
B&C |
BCS |
0003 |
| 77 |
Nanette Newman |
Fun Food Factory |
B&C |
BCS |
0004 |
| 77 |
Matt Black And The Doodlebugs |
Punky Xmas |
PUNK |
BCS |
0005 |
| 77 |
Winston Groovy |
I'm Going Back / So Easy ? |
B&C |
BCS |
0006 |
| 77 |
Horror Comic |
I`M All Hung Up On Pierrepoint |
LIGHTNING/B&C |
BCS |
0007 |
| 77 |
Lucy |
Really Got Me Goin' |
LIGHTNING/B&C |
BCS |
0008 |
| 77 |
Trinity |
Three Piece
Suit |
LIGHTNING |
LIGS |
101 |
| 77 |
Aitken
Marcia |
Still In Love With You Boy |
LIGHTNING |
LIGS |
102 |
| 77 |
Bronx Jet |
Ain'T Doin'
Nothin' |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
501 |
| 77 |
Snatch |
Stanley |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
502 |
| 77 |
Mirrors |
Cure For Cancer |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
503 |
| 77 |
Blitzrieg Bop |
Let'S Go |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
504 |
| 77 |
Snatch |
All I Want |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
505 |
| 77 |
Althia & Donna |
Up Town Top Ranking |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
506 |
| 78 |
Martin & Brownshirts |
Taxi Driver |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
507 |
| 78 |
Motello Elton |
Pogo Pogo |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
508 |
| 78 |
Fruit Eating Bears |
Chevy Heavy |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
509 |
| 78 |
Carpendale Howard |
Ti Amo |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
510 |
| 78 |
Dirty Dog |
Let Go Of My Hand |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
511 |
| 78 |
Horrorcomic |
I Don'T Mind |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
512 |
| 78 |
Too Much |
Who You Wanna Be |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
513 |
| 78 |
Not Traced |
|
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
514 |
| 78 |
Culture |
Jah Pretty
Face |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
515 |
| 78 |
Lucy |
Never, Never |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
516 |
| 78 |
Blackbeard |
Don'T Let This Good Things Go Bad |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
517 |
| 78 |
Van Duyne Toni |
Venus & Mars |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
518 |
| 78 |
Exits |
The Fashion Plague |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
519 |
| 78 |
Nerves |
Tv Adverts |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
520 |
| 78 |
Bilbo Baggins |
I Can Feel Mad |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
521 |
| 78 |
Spondoolix |
Nymphomaniacs |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
522 |
| 78 |
Not Traced |
|
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
523 |
| 78 |
Not Traced |
|
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
524 |
| 78 |
Jet Bronx |
Rock 'N' Roll Romance |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
525 |
| 78 |
Thomas
Ruddy |
Loving
Pauper |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
526 |
| 78 |
Brown
Dennis |
Equal
Rights |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
527 |
| 78 |
Dhaima |
Ina Jah
Children |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
528 |
| 78 |
Not Traced |
|
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
529 |
| 78 |
Rebel Force Band |
Living In These Star |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
530 |
| 78 |
Cane |
3 X 3 [ Ep ] |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
531 |
| 78 |
Althia
& Donna |
Love One
Another |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
532 |
| 78 |
Slainte
Mhath |
Sons Of
Scotland |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
533 |
| 78 |
Snifters |
I Like Boys |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
534 |
| 78 |
Alec R. Costandinos And The Syncophonic
Orchestra |
Romeo Et Juliet |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
535 |
| 78 |
Neville Wanker And The Punters |
(Sing A Little Song) For The Boys On The
Dole |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
536 |
| 78 |
Wood Lane |
Skate Board Saturday |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
537 |
| 78 |
Great British Heroes |
Eric Miller |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
538 |
| 78 |
Culture |
Two Sevens Clash |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
539 |
| 78 |
Mirrors |
Dark Glasses |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
540 |
| 78 |
The O's And The O.K. Band (Official Orient 1978
Squad) |
Fantastic'O |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
541 |
| 78 |
Nasty Media |
Spiked Copy |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
542 |
| 78 |
Blitzrieg Bop |
U.F.O |
LIGHTNING |
GTL |
543 |
| 78 |
Arsenal 1978 Squad |
Roll Out The Red Carpet |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
544 |
| 78 |
Can |
Can-Can |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
545 |
| 78 |
Krypton Tunes |
Limited Vision |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
546 |
| 78 |
Samson |
Telephone |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
547 |
| 78 |
Bilbo |
She'S Gonna Win |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
548 |
| 78 |
Jerks |
Cool |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
549 |
| 78 |
Brown
Dennis |
How Can I
Leave |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
550 |
| 78 |
Bilbo |
Don't Blame It On Me |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
551 |
| 79 |
Too Much |
Be Mine |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
552 |
| 79 |
Samson |
Mr. Rock & Roll |
LIGHTNING |
GIL |
553 |
| 79 |
Brown Dennis |
Money In My Pocket (Part 1) |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
554 |
| 79 |
Berry Mike |
Stay Close To Me |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
555 |
| 79 |
Bilbo |
America |
LIGHTNING |
LIG |
556 |
| 79 |
Troggs |
Wild Things |
LIGHTNING / OLD
GOLD |
LIG |
9001 |
| 79 |
Mr Bloe |
Groovin' With Mr Bloe |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9002 |
| 79 |
Chicory Tip |
Son Of My Father |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9003 |
| 79 |
Python Lee Jackson |
In A Broken Dream |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9004 |
| 79 |
Lindisfarne |
Meet Me On The Corner |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9005 |
| 79 |
Shocking Blue |
Venus |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9006 |
| 79 |
Boone Daniel |
Beautiful Sunday |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9007 |
| 79 |
Ward Clifford T |
Gaye |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9008 |
| 79 |
Shearstone Gary |
I Get A Kick Out Of You |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9009 |
| 79 |
Flowerpot Men |
Let'S Go To San Francisco |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9010 |
| 79 |
Chris Montez / Lonnie
Mack |
Let'S Dance /
Memphis |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9011 |
| 79 |
Lester Kitty / The Casinos |
Love Letters / Then You Can Tell Me |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9012 |
| 79 |
Del Vikings |
Come Go With Me / Whispering Bells |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9013 |
| 79 |
Drifters |
Save The Last Dance For Me / When My Little Girl Is
Smiling |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9014 |
| 79 |
Teddy Bears, The / Jody
Reynolds |
To Know Him Is To Love Him /
Endless Sleep |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9015 |
| 79 |
Johnny Tillotson |
Poetry In Motion / Princess, Princess |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9016 |
| 79 |
Bobby
Darin |
Dream Lover/Mack The Knife |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9017 |
| 79 |
Everly Brothers |
Bird Dog / Devoted To You |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9018 |
| 79 |
Earls / Billy Bland |
Remember Then / Let The Little Girl
Dance |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9019 |
| 79 |
Jewel Akens /
Fendermen |
The Birds And The Bees / Mule
Skinner Blues |
LIGHTNING CRUISIN |
LIG |
9020 |
| 79 |
Equals |
Baby Come Back |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9021 |
| 79 |
Lopez Trini |
If I Had A Hammer |
LIGHTNING / OLD GOLD |
LIG |
9022 |
| 81 |
The Jets |
Rockabilly
Baby |
LIGHTNING |
LREP |
1 |
