RECORDS
Independent label: Oval Records was set up in 1972 by broadcaster / writer Charlie Gillett and Gordon Nelki. Oval's first actual release came out in 1974, through Virgin; it was an album of Cajun material. Records in a variety of styles followed, including several Reggae singles; numbering was in the OVAL-1000s. Virgin remained responsible for marketing and distributing Oval product, at first via Island and EMI, then, in 1976, through Anchor and CBS. After the release of its twelfth single, in August 1976, Oval seems to have taken a break. It next appeared in early 1978 when it combined forces with Stiff Records to release a couple of old Oval 'A' sides back to back as a single on the 'Ovalstiff' label. Late that same year it forged another partnership, this time with A&M Records; around half a dozen singles were issued on the 'A&M / Oval' label, using A&M catalogue numbers, before the company struck out on its own again, towards the end of 1979. It picked up its numbering where it had left off, starting with OVAL-1013, but distribution was now by Spartan. Several different label designs were used by Oval during the '70s and '80s: the first single had a light blue label; the second had a similar appearance but with a large dark-blue oval around the perimeter and another small dark-blue oval on the right hand side. The orange design came into use with OVAL-1003 and was used until OVAL-1012. Labels throughout this period credit Virgin with distribution; manufacture was presumably by EMI until the start of 1976 and CBS from then until the break - those were the companies which pressed Virgin's singles at those times. The revival in 1979 saw a new halved design being used, in pink and green for 1013 and 1014, and in pink and yellow for 1015 and 1016); 1015 was pressed by Lyntone. By the middle of 1984 Pinnacle had taken over distribution. Oval Music is still very much in business today. Thanks to Robert Lyons For The Info.
| 74 | Johnnie Allen | Promised Land | OVAL | OVAL | 1001 |
| 75 | Celebrated Artists Band | Who Do You Think You Are | OVAL | OVAL | 1002 |
| 75 | Jimme Shelter | Achin' In My Heart | OVAL | OVAL | 1003 |
| 75 | Tommy McLain | Before I Grow Too Old | OVAL | OVAL | 1004 |
| 75 | Pete Fowler | One Heart One Song | OVAL | OVAL | 1005 |
| 75 | Barbara Lynn | Letter To Mommy & Daddy | OVAL | OVAL | 1006 |
| 75 | Sir Douglas Quintet | Mendocino | OVAL | OVAL | 1007 |
| 76 | Michael Rose | Guess Who'S Coming To Dinner | OVAL | OVAL | 1008 |
| 76 | Dennis Brown | Go Now | OVAL | OVAL | 1009 |
| 76 | Horace Andy | I'M In Love | OVAL | OVAL | 1010 |
| 76 | Not Traced | OVAL | OVAL | 1011 | |
| 76 | Tommy McLain | Sweet Dreams | OVAL | OVAL | 1012 |
| 79 | Reluctant Stereotypes | The Lull | OVAL | OVAL | 1013 |
| 79 | Ed Sirrs | I Think I Think Too Much | OVAL | OVAL | 1014 |
| 79 | Rhythm On The Road | Witches Brew | OVAL | OVAL | 1015 |
| 79 | Holly And The Italians | Tell That Girl To Shut Up | OVAL | OVAL | 1016 |
| 80 | Woodhead Monroe | Mumbo Jumbo | OVAL | WOOD | 17 |
| 80 | Kakoulli Harry | I'M On A Rocket | OVAL | HARRY | 18 |
| 81 | Airstrip 1 | Longer To Live | OVAL | OVEP | 19 |
| 82 | Direct Drive | Don'T Depend On Me | OVAL | DRIVE | 20 |
| 82 | Direct Drive | I'M The One | OVAL | DRIVE | 21 |
| 82 | First Light | Horse With No Name | OVAL | FLIGHT | 22 |
| 82 | First Light | A.M | OVAL | FLIGHT | 23 |
| 83 | Republic | My Spies | OVAL | FLAG | 24 |
| 83 | Shapiro Helen | Let Yourself Go | OVAL | HELEN | 25 |
| 84 | Shapiro Helen | Brickyard Blues | OVAL | OVAL | 26 |
| 84 | Swimming To France | You Never Even Asked | OVAL | OVAL | 27 |
| 84 | African Connexion | C'Est La Dase | OVAL | OVAL | 28 |
| 84 | Republic | One Chance | OVAL | OVAL | 29 |
| 84 | Kantata | Asiko | OVAL | OVAL | 30 |
| 84 | George Darko | High Life Time | OVAL | OVAL | 31 |
