Fly Records

Fly Records is a British independent record label created in 1970 by music publisher David Platz. The label emerged from Platz's earlier work arranging independent record productions and licensing them to established companies, particularly through his publishing and production connections. Before Fly Records was launched, Platz's collaborations with producers including Denny Cordell, Gus Dudgeon, Rodger Bain, Don Paul, Johnny Worth and Tony Visconti had been associated with commercially successful and influential recordings. These included Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and several important singles by The Move, such as "Flowers in the Rain", "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" and "Blackberry Way". The recordings were released through larger labels including Deram and Regal Zonophone, giving Platz a foundation from which to establish a label of his own. Fly's first release was T. Rex's "Ride a White Swan", produced by Tony Visconti. The single established a close association between the label and Marc Bolan's band, and the relationship reached its commercial high point when T. Rex's Electric Warrior became Fly's first number-one album on the UK Albums Chart in 1971. The label's catalogue during its initial period was deliberately eclectic rather than restricted to one genre or audience. Alongside T. Rex, Fly released or presented work by artists including Vivian Stanshall, Third World War, John Kongos, Georgia Brown, John Keating and John Williams. Some releases were intended for the singles and albums charts, while others supported developing artists or acts connected to Platz's wider publishing enterprise. Fly also experimented with ways to bring older catalogue material back into the market. In 1972 it issued four three-track singles under the Magni-Fly concept, combining and reintroducing selected recordings from the company's earlier catalogue. The programme helped return older songs, including "A Whiter Shade of Pale", to the UK singles market. Another 1972 initiative, branded Toofas, offered double albums at approximately the price of a single album. The campaign benefited from renewed interest in catalogue recordings and helped albums such as Procol Harum's debut reach the UK Albums Chart years after their original release. The label's first phase changed after key personnel and artists departed. Malcolm Jones, who had managed Fly after moving from EMI, left the organisation; Denny Cordell relocated to the United States and established Shelter Records; and Marc Bolan moved to EMI, where he received his own imprint. Tony Visconti also moved with the Bolan relationship. In response, Fly's operating team relaunched the business as Cube Records, using a new logo that visually enclosed the Fly name. Fly Records was consequently shelved as an active label in its original form while the organisation pursued new artists and releases under the Cube identity. Fly was revived in 1988 as an independent outlet for projects connected with Platz's publishing interests. By that point Platz had incorporated the label into Onward Music Ltd., while Bucks Music Ltd. remained the central publishing business. The revived label's first signing was Babayaga, a band fronted by Hamish MacColl, brother of Kirsty MacColl, with recording engineer Matt Wallis also involved. After David Platz died in 1994, his son Simon Platz continued the archive and catalogue work through Bucks Music Group and Onward's activities. The later Fly operation has focused substantially on locating, preserving and issuing recordings from the associated production and publishing archives, including tapes previously believed to be lost and material from unfinished or unreleased projects. Releases may appear directly through Fly Records or through licensing partners. The label is therefore historically significant both for its early-1970s chart catalogue and for its continuing role in the preservation and exploitation of recordings connected with the Platz publishing network.

Fly Records was founded in Britain in 1970 by independent music publisher David Platz. Its creation followed several years in which Platz worked with record producers and financed or arranged independent productions that were then licensed to major record companies. This earlier network included Denny Cordell, Gus Dudgeon, Rodger Bain, Don Paul, Johnny Worth and Tony Visconti. The resulting recordings included major or influential work by Procol Harum and The Move, giving Platz experience in both commercial release-making and artist development before he operated under his own label name. Malcolm Jones became Fly's manager after leaving university and working at EMI, where he had managed the Harvest imprint. Fly's debut release was T. Rex's Ride a White Swan, produced by Visconti. The record began the label's best-known association and was followed by T. Rex's Electric Warrior, which became the label's first UK number-one album in 1971. The label maintained a broad repertoire policy. Rather than focusing on a single musical style, it issued material ranging from commercially oriented rock and pop to projects intended to build the visibility of new or publishing-connected artists. Early Fly releases included work by Vivian Stanshall, Third World War, John Kongos, Georgia Brown, John Keating and John Williams. In 1972 Fly turned significant attention to its catalogue. Four three-track Magni-Fly singles brought older recordings back into circulation and helped songs such as Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale return to the UK singles chart. The Toofas campaign used double albums sold at roughly single-album prices. Among the albums benefiting from renewed catalogue interest was Procol Harum's debut, which entered the UK Albums Chart several years after its initial release. The label's structure changed after a series of departures. Jones left Fly, Cordell moved to the United States and formed Shelter Records, and Marc Bolan moved to EMI with a personal imprint. Visconti also moved away from Fly in connection with the Bolan relationship. The remaining team relaunched the business as Cube Records, represented by a logo that placed the Fly name inside a cube. Fly Records consequently ceased to function as the main label identity for a period. In 1988 the Fly name was revived as an independent outlet for projects associated with Platz's publishing activities. Platz had incorporated Fly into Onward Music Ltd., while Bucks Music Ltd. remained his principal publishing company. The revived label's first signing was Babayaga, associated with Hamish MacColl and recording engineer Matt Wallis. After Platz died in 1994, his son Simon continued the work of exploring and issuing material from the related archives through Bucks Music Group and associated companies. This later activity has included the recovery of master tapes believed lost, as well as releases of unreleased or unfinished projects. Fly's historical identity consequently combines an influential early-1970s independent label, a catalogue-marketing innovator and a later archival outlet connected to the Platz publishing network.

• 1994

  Archive stewardship passes to the next generation

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After David Platz's death, Simon Platz continues the exploration and release of associated archive material.

• 1988

  Fly Records is revived

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label returns as an independent outlet for projects related to Platz's publishing interests.

• 1972

  Magni-Fly and Toofas catalogue campaigns

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  Fly promotes catalogue recordings through three-track singles and discounted double albums.

• 1972

  Operations move to the Cube Records identity

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After important personnel and artist departures, the label is relaunched as Cube Records.

• 1971

  Electric Warrior reaches number one

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  T. Rex's Electric Warrior becomes Fly's first UK number-one album.

• 1970

  Fly Records is established

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  David Platz establishes Fly Records after earlier success producing and licensing recordings through other labels.

• 1970

  First release: Ride a White Swan

  [1]Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  T. Rex's Ride a White Swan, produced by Tony Visconti, becomes Fly's first release.

An eclectic British independent label combining chart-oriented releases with artist development, publishing-linked projects, catalogue exploitation and archival reissues.

• Rock recordings · 1970

  T. Rex recordings

  T. Rex formed Fly Records' most visible early artist relationship. The label's first release was Ride a White Swan, produced by Tony Visconti, and the association continued through Electric Warrior, which became Fly's first UK number-one album. The catalogue helped establish Fly as a significant independent presence in the early-1970s British market.

• Catalogue singles · 1972

  Magni-Fly singles

  Magni-Fly was a 1972 catalogue programme built around four three-track singles. It reintroduced selected recordings from the company's earlier production and publishing network, including Procol Harum material, to the singles market. The initiative demonstrated Fly's interest in extending the commercial life of established recordings rather than relying only on new releases.

• Catalogue albums · 1972

  Toofas albums

  Toofas was a 1972 album campaign offering double albums at approximately the price of a single album. The format was used to make catalogue material more accessible and helped older releases, including Procol Harum's debut album, gain renewed chart exposure years after their original issue.

• Archive releases · 1988

  Archival and unreleased recordings

  Following the revival of Fly and the later archive work associated with Simon Platz and Bucks Music Group, the label became an outlet for recordings recovered from the wider Platz production and publishing archive. These projects have included tapes thought to be lost and material from unfinished, unreleased or forgotten sessions, issued directly or through licensing arrangements.

• 1972Magni-Fly

  United Kingdom

  Fly issued four three-track singles designed to revive selected recordings from its back catalogue, including material associated with Procol Harum.

  Outcome. The campaign helped older recordings return to the UK singles market.

  Source
• 1972Toofas

  United Kingdom

  The Toofas programme marketed double albums at roughly the price of a single album, using value pricing to stimulate demand for catalogue titles.

  Outcome. The campaign found market acceptance and contributed to renewed chart exposure for albums such as Procol Harum's debut.

  Source

• 1988

  Revive Fly as a publishing-linked independent outletStrategy

  Background

  After Fly's period under the Cube identity, David Platz incorporated the label into Onward Music Ltd. while retaining Bucks Music as the core publishing business.

  Action taken

  Fly Records was restored for projects related to Platz's publishing interests, beginning with the signing of Babayaga.

  Aftermath

  The revived label later supported the exploration and release of recordings from the wider associated archive.

  Source

• 1972

  Relaunch the label as Cube RecordsStrategy

  Background

  The original Fly operation lost key personnel and its leading artist relationship when Malcolm Jones, Denny Cordell and Marc Bolan departed in the same period.

  Action taken

  The remaining team introduced Cube Records and stopped using Fly as the principal active label identity.

  Aftermath

  Fly was later revived in 1988 for publishing-related and archival projects.

  Source

1. 1Fly Recordsen.wikipedia.org