Pink Box Records - A brief history
The Beginning
Pink Box was set up as a hobby business by record collecting fans Sue and Chris Garland in 1994, not as a record label but to sell rock and indie records at record fairs around Central England. The name Pink Box coming from the record storage boxes.
Frustrated by the lack of national coverage to bands from the East Midlands we decided to release a record on our own label (without any idea of what we were doing). Costs were obtained for recording time and vinyl pressing and it was on the recommendation of Cordelia Recording Studio owner/engineer Alan Jenkins that Kyoka were approached for what was to become the first release.
Pink001
Kyoka - Throw It Away/Empty
Kyoka was formed by three friends Karla Wentworth, Steve Duffy and Hannah Tounsend in or around Market Bosworth, Leicestershire. They were later supplemented by college friends James McGee and Peter Halverson. Recorded in the Summer 1998 and released on limited edition white vinyl 7" in hand numbered picture sleeves (meant to be only 500 but pressing plant overran and the additional copies were stamped promo and set out for review).
The record received extensive airplay on student radio in mainland Europe and as far away as Australia but little or none in the UK. Two good reviews in Kerrang! and a couple of fanzines were the only coverage in the written press.
This was further frustrated by the band departing to various destinations making gigs/promotion nonexistent.
For a long time this looked as though it would be the only Pink Box release.
A small handful of CD-R copies were sent out to interested radio stations including the additional tracks 'Do you want me too?' and 'Dirty'.
Pink002T
Ist - The Adult Tree EP
Thinking that we would not be releasing any more records we were approached by Kenton Hall's girlfriend with a view to guiding him towards possibly recording some demos.
Various members of Kyoka were dug up from their various hiding places to help Kenton with the recordings. Five tracks were recorded the four that were to make up the Adult Tree along with a version of 'Moment of release'. The songs were felt to be too good to be left as demos and it was decided that Pink Box would reawaken and release a 12" picture disc.
Ist in name only was formed by Kenton, with Pete Halverson and James McGee (from Kyoka) and Mark Robbins who Kenton had met whilst working in a pub in Belper.
When James and Pete failed to show up for a gig in Derby Mark and Kenton were left looking for a replacement guitarist and drummer. These were both found at the Musician Pub in Leicester in the form of Chris Ilett and Flash.
With both the music master and art work already at the pressing plant a phone call came from Kenton asking if the newly formed band could redo the music. After only a couple of rehearsals and a few weeks together the Adult Tree was rerecorded with the new band.
The Adult Tree
Features:
Amnesia Cocktail
Disadvantaged Kiss
Little Insects
Winter Coat & Whisky
Released on 12" picture disc (featuring the infamous naked lady in a tree) strictly limited to 500 copies and 100 CD copies. 50 of the CD copies, in hand sprayed card sleeves were sent out in press packs along with lyric sheets, the balance in jewel cases with naked lady photo insert (completely sold out at the bands first gig at the Railway Inn, Belper). Approx 50 copies of a CD-R featuring the original recordings are out there somewhere.
Pink003 (Pink Box 2002:1)
Ist - Freudian Corduroy
After considerably more rehearsal time than The Adult Tree had, during which time Chris morphed into Jack Bomb, ist started work on their debut LP. The demos were recorded in Leicester and the album proper in Nottingham.
The album was predominately financed by family and friend 'investors'. Three or four tracks from the session were never finished and exist in various states of completion. The band then set off on an extensive tour of the UK to promote the album.
Available on CD only from stockists listed on ist's web site.
Pink004 (Pink Box 2002:2)
Ist - The Unusual Suspects EP
Recorded back in Leicester in December 2002 and intended as a family and friends Xmas CD.
The Unusual Suspects
Features:
Damn I wish I was your lover (yes it is a cover of Sophie B Hawkins)
Goodbye cruel world (Sung by Jack Bomb)
Psycho (Cover of an old country song which had for a long time finished the bands live set)
This is where we came in (New acoustic version)
Saint Francis cross (A new track that was due to for the next album but didn't fit in)
CD-R only very limited copies.
Pink005
Ist - Similarly Inclined/Tonto
Ist spent 2003 constantly touring, early in 2004 Pink Box finally had enough funds to give Freudian Corduroy one last push by releasing a single. We had wanted to release 'Boyfriend' but the band were adamant that they didn't want to be labelled as just a foul mouthed punk band!. Similarly inclined was eventually chosen from the album because of its musical follow through to the next album. The flip was meant to be a recording of 'Goodbye Cruel World' however during the recording the version of 'Tonto' came out on top.
Released on limited edition heavy weight 7" black vinyl with numbered sleeve. The band individually numbered a 100 copies each (and Sue did the last hundred), the first 40 of each 100 contain one piece of a jig-saw featuring the individual band member, number 400-440 contained a piece from a picture of Kirsty.
By the time the single was ready in the Autumn of 2004 the constant touring was starting to cause stress within the band and Jack Bomb decided he wanted to leave to form a band of his own. The single was just being sent out to nationwide indie shops when Mark died.
Pink006
Ist - King Martha
It had looked like the end for ist but the wave of goodwill from a large majority of East Midlands bands encouraged Kenton and Flash to continue after an initial break. Joined by John McCourt and numerous guest musicians including Jack Bomb, King Martha was recorded in Leicester in the Spring of 2005 and released in front of a packed audience at The Summer Sundae Festival, Leicester.
Released on CD only (see ist's web site for numerous outlets)
2 track promo CD-R's featuring 'Here we go again' and 'Evelyn Harper' were sent out to radio stations.
Pink007
Yellowbelly - Blood Tainted Love/Guess Who's Loving You?
After years of what looked like ist ist ist, Pink Box finally got back to its aim of promoting something different.
Country pop band Yellowbelly featuring Beautiful South's session brassman Gaz Birtles, Dave Walton and James Lynch have been writing and performing since 1993 and despite numerous recordings this is their first commercially available release. Live and on recent recordings (that will hopefully be available in 2007) the band have added Mark 'Flash' Haynes on drums.
Available on limited edition 7" blood splattered vinyl.
Pink008
Ist - The Wreck Of Eddie Fitzpatrick/I Am Jesus (And You're Not)
With the major label's knocking on our door this is likely to be the last ist release on Pink Box.
Recorded in a barn on a farm just outside Coventry. This will be ist's first official release with the addition of Brett Richardson to the band (although he appeared as a guest on King Martha).
Available on limited edition 7" speckled vinyl.
Pink009
Kevin Hewick – Something To Do On The Bus/That Side Of Me
Chris first saw Kevin performing in the mid-nineties at the Abbey Park music festival in Leicester and purchased a copy of the Sorted Records festival only 4 track EP featuring Kevin and three other Sorted artists. Prior to this Kevin had been signed to both Factory and Cherry Red Records. This EP sparked the idea that would become Pink Box Records.
This is the first release from Kevin since his 'Helpline' album on Sorted in the nineties although he dueted with Kenton on the track 'Haunted' on ist's 'King Martha' album and has continued to gig extensively in the intervening years. Guest musicians include Gaz Birtles (The Swinging Laurels/Yellowbelly), Chris & Lucy Campbell (Pink Strip) and Flash.
This is the first PinkBox single to be released simultaneously on vinyl and as a download. The 7" will only be available at gigs and the download adds the tracks 'That side of you' and 'Greenbelt wanderer'.
Available as a limited edition 7" yellow vinyl.
Pink010
Toy Heroes – Are You Travelling Alone?/To Whom It May Concern
Formed around 2002 by Jud and Anna Jordan and in recent years joined by Woody on drums Toy Heroes have previously self-released the EP's '10AM' and 'Painful Painless'. This release is the first time the band has allowed label involvement.
The 7" is only going to be available at the 2007 Summer Sundae Weekender festival. The download EP adds the tracks 'Disco Queen' and 'The truth behind fake smiles'.
Available as a limited edition 7” blue vinyl.
Pink011 Stressbitch – 'Bitchin EP'
Our first ever download only release. Stressbitch were formed and are fronted by former Crazyhead member Porkbeast (co-incidentally the first time Chris saw Crazyhead was at the same Abbey Park Festival that he first saw Kevin Hewick) and joined for these recordings by Moses Presley, the Spaceman on the Bassman and Flash (in yet another side project). The 4 piece performed at the 2007 Hawkfest at Donnington Park where they self released a 2 track CD and this 4 track download EP finally getting it's release at the end of 2007 start of 2008. The tracks are 'Touch The Sun (White Goddess mix)', 'Bitchin', 'Catch My Soul' and 'Neon Flag'.
A very limited amount of 3 track promo CD-R exist.
Pink012 & Pinko13
Swinging Laurels – TBC
Watch this space as even we don't know what this newly reformed Laurels will be releasing. The band in various guises have of course previously guested on other PinkBox releases.
Pink014
Kevin Hewick – 'Keep Your Flipped Wigs On'
2007 was a bit of a rollercoaster year for Kevin with the sad death of his mother around the same time as his Pink009 release and then the death of Tony Wilson (the man that signed him to Factory Records in the 80's and at the time a great mentor) on the same weekend as Kevin's performance at the Summer Sundae Weekender Festival. These events, along with the interest generated in his first release for some time spurred Kevin on and a request to write some tracks for (what at the time was called) 'The School of Hard Rocks' musical resulted in this album. Some of the tracks are considerably rockier than some people have come to expect from Kevin. Recorded at Cordelia Studios in Leicester with Kevin playing all the guitars and bass and the only guest being Flash on drums. These past few months have been personally difficult for Kevin but musically fruitful so expect more recordings before the end of 2008.
Available on CD with the full album and bonus instrumental mixes or as a 13 track download.
