An unusual one. Boxa was formed towards the end of 1975 by reigning light-heavyweight boxing champion John Conteh, composer Tim Hollier, and general manager of Alaska Records (q.v.) Ron O' Shea. It received its only mention in 'Music Week' in the issue of the 22nd of November, which said that the company had been set up initially in order to release John Conteh's single 'The Boxer' b/w 'Dance The Boxer' (KO-1; 11/75). It was hoped that during the course of his sporting travels around the world Conteh would be able to act as a talent spotter for the label. A single by his 17-year-old brother Michael was in the pipeline, and other releases were planned. Hollier was quoted as saying that the aim of Boxa was to provide actors, entertainers and sportsmen with suitable material and record them; there should be no more versions of 'My Way' by such people. Michael Conteh's single 'Michael And The Disco Queen' b/w 'Big Machine' (KO-2; 12/75) duly appeared, but it proved to be Boxa's only other release. Neither of the singles troubled the Chart compilers. Demo copies were distinguished by a medium-sized black letter 'A' at four o'clock (2); the scan appears here by courtesy of Alan Phillips of the 45cat site. Boxa was handled by President, with additional distribution by Lugton and H.R. Taylor after the usual President manner of the time. Tim Hollier went on to be involved with the short-lived LRP label (q.v.) towards the end of the decade.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.