Zoom Records (Scotland)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Zoom Records" Scotland – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Zoom Records was a short-lived record label established in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded and funded by the successful music shop owner Bruce Findlay in the summer of 1977. After the first four single releases it secured a licensing deal with Arista Records. Findlay closed the label in 1980, to dedicate his time to managing one of the most successful bands who began there, Simple Minds.

History

Findlay was well known in the British music industry. He became the buyer for McDougall's record shop in Falkirk, run by his mother, then at stores in Edinburgh, London and Stirling. Findlay helped his brother found Brian's in Falkirk in 1967, then they expanded to open Bruce's in 1969, in Edinburgh's Rose Street. Bruce's Record Shops opened a store in Glasgow the following year, then Kirkcaldy, eventually becoming the largest independent record chain in Scotland, with thirteen stores.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]} Findlay organised the first Edinburgh Pop Festival in 1973, which featured among others the Incredible String Band, Can, Planxty, the Chieftains, John Martyn, Kevin Ayers, George Melly and Procol Harum. Guinness became majority shareholders of Bruce's in the late 70s and Findlay ceased involvement in 1980. The chain ceased trading in 1981, the Falkirk and Kirkcaldy branches continuing as Sleeves, under a management buyout.^[7][8]

Zoom signed many Scottish

The first single released by Zoom was "Robot Love" (with "For Adolfs Only" as B-side), by the Valves, on 30 August 1977, selling 15,000 copies.^{[citation needed]}

Simple Minds signed shortly after their formation, releasing their debut album, Life in a Day and first two singles "Life in a Day" and "Chelsea Girl". Their first three albums (Life in a Day, Real to Real Cacophony and Empires and Dance) were released by Zoom and licensed to Arista Records.

Findlay now manages Aberfeldy, and has been regular host/contributor to Radio Forth and BBC Radio Scotland.

Bands and releases

Ordered chronologically:

• "Robot Love" - The Valves (30 August 1977)
• "
  PVC2
  (August 1977)
• "Ain't No Surf in Portobello" - The Valves (December 1977)
• "Stuck with You" - Zones (17 February 1978)
• "Radio-active" - The Cheetahs (1979)

All the below licensed to Arista Records

• "Some Other Guy" - The Questions (1978)
• "Love Is Blind" - Nightshift (1978)
• "Can't Get Over You" - The Questions (1979)
• Life in a Day - Simple Minds (10 March 1979)
• "Chelsea Girl" - Simple Minds (1 June 1979)

Albums:

• Life in a Day - Simple Minds
• Real to Real Cacophony - Simple Minds
• Empires and Dance - Simple Minds

References

External links

• schoolhousemanagement.co.uk...a passion for music Homepage of Bruce Findlay, founder of Zoom
• The Cheetahs - Radio-Active
• I Found It At Bruces