ZOOM
RECORDS

Independent Scottish label from the Punk / New Wave years: Zoom Records was founded in 1977 by Bruce Findlay, owner of a chain of record shops called Bruce's Records.  Its main claims to fame are, firstly, that it discovered Simple Minds, who took it into the Singles Chart in 1979 with 'Life In A Day' (ZUM-10); and, secondly, that Midge Ure, later of Ultravox, made his first records for it, as part of the band PVC 3.  Amid all the New Wave stuff, ex- Incredible String Band man Mike Heron recorded a single for the company, 'Sold On Your Love' (ZUM-5; 1978).  Initially distribution was by Rough Trade, and then by Lightning, but in August 1978 Zoom signed a manufactuing, marketing and distribution deal with the major Arista Records.  Its singles were mainly injection-moulded, and were pressed by Phonodisc: the first four had silver labels with four small pictures at the top of it, while the Arista-era ones had a red label with the picture replaced by the word 'Zoom'.  The Simple Minds' single 'Chelsea Girl' (ZUM-11; 1979), with its paper label, seems to have been the only exception - that was manufactured by CBS.  In 1980, after issuing thirteen singles and an LP, Findlay shelved the label in order to concentrate on management.  Tony Pilley's 'Off The Hook', which was to have been ZUM-13, eventually came out on the Barclay Towers label. Thanks to Robert Lyons For The Info.

  

77	Valves	Robot Love	ZOOM	ZUM	1
77	Pvc 2	Put You In The Picture	ZOOM	ZUM	2
77	Valves	Tarzan Of The Kings Road	ZOOM	ZUM	3
78	Zones	Stuck With You	ZOOM	ZUM	4
78	Heron Mike	Sold On Your Love	ZOOM	ZUM	5
78	Questions	Some Other Guy	ZOOM	ZUM	6
78	Nightshift	Love Is Blind	ZOOM	ZUM	7
79	Questions	Can'T Get Over You	ZOOM	ZUM	8
79	Meal Ticket	Shape I'M In	ZOOM	ZUM	9
79	Simple Minds	Life In A Day	ZOOM	ZUM	10
79	Simple Minds	Chelsea Girl	ZOOM	ZUM	11
79	London Zoo	Receiving	ZOOM	ZUM	12
79	Pilley Tony	Off The Hook (Not Released)	ZOOM	ZUM	13
79	Cheetahs	Radio-Active	ZOOM	ZUM	14