Eighties Vinyl Records

Eighties Vinyl Records (EVR) is an independent English record label based in Liverpool. Established in 2012 by Dave Hewitson, the label was created around a commitment to physical music culture, particularly limited-edition vinyl releases by emerging local artists and selected established acts. Its formation followed Hewitson's successful bid at an auction for a day in a recording studio. The Sand Band, then recently separated from the Liverpool label Deltasonic, agreed to record the first release for the new imprint. On 17 July 2012, the band recorded at Track Studios in Liverpool city centre, and the resulting single, "When We Kiss," became EVR's debut release on 2 November 2012 as a limited white-vinyl 7-inch. The label's early catalogue expanded rapidly during 2013 and 2014. It issued singles and EPs by a broad group of Liverpool and Merseyside-connected artists, including The Troubadours, Sankofa, The Thespians, The Merrylees, Cold Shoulder, The Sister Ruby Band, Sunstack Jones, Ian Prowse, Dan Donnelly, The Balcony Stars, Aviator, The Reflections, Mike Badger and The Shady Trio, and Beach Skulls. The releases used a collector-oriented format strategy, with coloured vinyl, picture discs, small pressings, and catalogue numbering that emphasized the label's archival and tangible character. EVR was nominated for a Liverpool Music Award in 2013, providing recognition within the city's music community. Although the label's core activity was the release of new music, its catalogue also developed a strong Liverpool-pop and cultural-archive dimension. EVR issued material connected with The Stairs, Space, The Cheap Thrills, The Stands, and The La's, alongside compilations and soundtrack projects. The La's releases included historical recordings such as "Breakloose 1985/86," "Callin' All 1986/87," and a live collection from 1986/87. These projects positioned EVR not only as a contemporary singles label but also as a vehicle for making previously unavailable or difficult-to-find Liverpool recordings available on vinyl. A notable later project was the planned limited-edition 12-track vinyl release of the soundtrack to the 2009 film Awaydays. Announced in April 2018, the project brought together post-punk and electronic music associated with the film's setting and atmosphere, including music linked to Ultravox and Joy Division. EVR's wider album catalogue also included further Awaydays material, as well as soundtrack compilations associated with The Business, The Football Factory, The Firm, and The Firm '89. Other compilations, including Scouse Soul, Stars Are Stars, and Just Records, reinforced the label's emphasis on regional musical identity and curated physical editions. EVR is best understood as a small, independent imprint rather than a conventional mass-market music company. Its stated not-for-profit orientation, Liverpool base, limited vinyl formats, and mixture of new artists, local heritage material, and soundtrack albums distinguish it from major-label catalogues. Publicly available reference material does not establish its current ownership, financial scale, distribution arrangements, or present operating status.

Eighties Vinyl Records was formed in Liverpool in 2012 by Dave Hewitson after he won an auction for a day in a recording studio. The Sand Band, which had recently left its previous label Deltasonic, agreed to make the first record for the new imprint. The band recorded at Track Studios in Liverpool city centre on 17 July 2012. The resulting single, "When We Kiss," was released on 2 November 2012 as a limited white-vinyl 7-inch and became the first entry in the EVR catalogue. During 2013, the label established a substantial singles programme featuring local and independent acts. Releases included records by The Troubadours, Sankofa, The Thespians, The Merrylees, Cold Shoulder, The Sister Ruby Band, Sunstack Jones, Ian Prowse and Dan Donnelly, The Balcony Stars, and Aviator. The catalogue used a variety of physical formats and special pressings, including coloured vinyl and a picture disc. EVR also issued Sankofa's self-titled 10-inch EP and a promotional Whitewood Sessions release. The label's work was recognised through a nomination for a Liverpool Music Award in 2013. EVR continued its singles and EP activity in 2014 through releases by The Reflections, Sunstack Jones, Mike Badger and The Shady Trio, and Beach Skulls. In 2015 it released Sankofa's "Slow Killer City / Vanishing Point" as a limited picture-disc 7-inch, followed by records by The Stairs and Space in 2015 and 2016. The Cheap Thrills, The Stands, and The La's were subsequently added to the label's catalogue. These releases broadened EVR's role from a platform for newer local artists to an imprint also capable of presenting historically significant Liverpool material and collaborations involving established musicians. The label's album programme included the compilation Just Records, several soundtrack collections, and archival releases by The La's. The La's-related albums documented recordings from 1985/86 and 1986/87 and included a live collection from the same period. EVR also issued or catalogued compilations connected with Awaydays, The Business, The Football Factory, The Firm, and The Firm '89, as well as Scouse Soul and Stars Are Stars. This mixture of contemporary singles, regional compilations, soundtrack projects, and archive recordings gave the imprint a distinctive Liverpool-oriented identity. On 21 April 2018, EVR announced a limited-edition 12-track vinyl release of the soundtrack to Awaydays, the 2009 film whose musical setting draws on post-punk and electronic music, including material associated with Ultravox and Joy Division. The project was described as the first vinyl release of the soundtrack. Public reference material does not provide reliable details about EVR's current management, ownership, distribution, financial position, or whether the imprint remains active.

• 2018

  Awaydays soundtrack vinyl announced

  [1]Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  EVR announced a limited 12-track vinyl edition of the previously unavailable-on-vinyl Awaydays soundtrack.

• 2013

  Liverpool Music Award nomination

  [1]Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  EVR received a nomination for a Liverpool Music Award.

• 2012

  Label founded in Liverpool

  [1]Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Dave Hewitson formed Eighties Vinyl Records after winning an auction for a day in a recording studio.

• 2012

  First recording session

  [1]Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Sand Band recorded the label's first single at Track Studios in Liverpool on 17 July.

• 2012

  First release issued

  [1]Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Sand Band's "When We Kiss" was released as EVR001, a limited white-vinyl 7-inch.

A Liverpool-rooted, independent and not-for-profit vinyl imprint that combines support for local artists with collector-focused editions, regional music heritage, and soundtrack releases.

• Vinyl singles · 2012

  Limited 7-inch singles

  The label's principal early format was the limited 7-inch single. Releases included The Sand Band's debut EVR single and records by a wide range of Liverpool and independent acts. EVR used coloured vinyl, white vinyl, picture discs, and other small-run variants to give individual catalogue entries a collector-oriented identity.

• EP · 2013

  Sankofa EPs

  EVR issued Sankofa material in multiple physical formats, including a self-titled orange 10-inch EP, the "Slow Killer City / Vanishing Point" picture-disc single, and the promotional Whitewood Sessions release. These records represent the label's support for local independent music and its use of distinctive vinyl formats.

• Archival album · 2018

  The La's archival releases

  The label's catalogue includes archival and live recordings associated with The La's, including "Breakloose 1985/86," "Callin' All 1986/87," and a live album covering 1986/87. These releases extend EVR's role beyond new-artist singles into the preservation and presentation of Liverpool music history.

• Film soundtrack · 2018

  Awaydays soundtrack

  EVR announced a limited 12-track vinyl edition of the soundtrack to the 2009 film Awaydays. The soundtrack's post-punk and electronic orientation, with music associated with the film's period and atmosphere, made it a natural fit for the label's vinyl and regional-culture focus.

• Compilation album · 2013

  Soundtrack and regional compilations

  EVR's album catalogue includes Just Records, Scouse Soul, Stars Are Stars, and soundtrack compilations connected with The Business, The Football Factory, The Firm, The Firm '89, and Awaydays. These collections combine soundtrack curation with a broader interest in Liverpool music and culture.

• 2018

  Develop a vinyl edition of the Awaydays soundtrackProduct launch

  Background

  The 2009 film soundtrack had not previously been released on vinyl and was closely associated with post-punk and electronic music.

  Action taken

  EVR announced plans for a limited 12-track vinyl LP.

  Aftermath

  The announcement expanded the label's catalogue of soundtrack and cultural-archive projects, although public reference material does not confirm subsequent sales or distribution results.

  Source

• 2012

  Launch the imprint around limited vinyl releasesStrategy

  Background

  The label was created after Dave Hewitson won access to a recording studio, with The Sand Band agreeing to make the inaugural record.

  Action taken

  EVR began with a limited white-vinyl 7-inch and developed a catalogue centred on physical releases by local and independent artists.

  Aftermath

  The approach produced a broad series of singles, EPs, compilations, soundtrack albums, and archival releases.

  Source

1. 1Eighties Vinyl Recordsen.wikipedia.org