RELEASE
RECORDS

Independent Irish label: Release Records was one of Ireland's most prominent record labels, Release was founded by Mick Clerkin, Dermot Hegarty and Jimmy Magee.  It put its first single out in 1968, and expired in the early '80s.  The vast majority of its records were only released in the Republic, but in 1970-72 a number of them were pressed and released in Britain.  These singles lacked the 'Made in the Republic of Ireland' which can usually be found on Release records, and had different logos to the Irish releases - a fair number of Release singles were issued on the mainland later in the decade; these all seem to have been imported, not made here, although, as can be seen from the company sleeve, Release did have offices in England.  The vast majority of those singles were handled by Irish music importers Shannon, who were at the same address as that given on the sleeve above, but a few were handled by Spartan - which doesn't seem to have stocked imports generally - or by Northern Irish distributors Outlet.  The numbers of the British pressings were the same as the Irish ones, which used an RL-500 series, and Mini Monster MRL 1000 Series pressing of the few was by Pye. Thanks to Robert Lyons For The Info.

   

72	Various Artists	4 Great Irish Hits	RELEASE	MRL	1001
72	Various Artists	4 Great Irish Hits - Vol. 2	RELEASE	MRL	1002
73	Various Artists	Four Great Christmas Hits	RELEASE	MRL	1003
73	Various Artists	4 Great Irish Hits - Vol. 3	RELEASE	MRL	1004
73	Various Artists	4 Great Country Hits-Vol. 1	RELEASE	MRL	1005
73	Various Artists	4 Great Country Hits-Vol. 2	RELEASE	MRL	1006
74	Larry Cunningham	Lovely Leitrim	RELEASE	MRL	1007
74	Mattie Fox & The Grassroots	Cottage in Old Donegal	RELEASE	MRL	1008
74	Brian Harkin	Walk On By	RELEASE	MRL	1009
75	Brian Coll	Mail Call	RELEASE	MRL	1010
75	John Barrett	Don't Change The Old Love	RELEASE	MRL	1011

72	Margo	Cliffs of Dooneen	RELEASE	MRL	2001
72	Gerry Black & The Seasons	Meet Me Tonight In Laredo	RELEASE	MRL	2002