Rotor was - indeed, it still is - a Welsh label, owned by Mervyn Read and based in Swansea. Its only vinyl release was a Swansea City F.C. tribute single by Roger Evans, entitled, 'Swansea City' (PRO-001; 5/'79). Other titles were recorded and an album was planned, but the label ran into legal and contractual difficulties. Rotor was relying on sales of the album to generate money which would finance further releases, so when the album was shelved the company was unable to issue any more records. Initially the company was called, 'Propeller', and indeed labels with that name on them were printed for the Roger Evans single (2). However, it turned out that Pete Townsend had that name in mind as an outlet for his own releases; as an acquaintance of Read's he offered to cover any costs that Propeller had accrued if Read would agree to change his company's name. Read was willing to oblige, so he cast around for an alternative and 'Rotor' - which as near to Propeller as he could get - was born. The single's prefix, PRO, is a reminder of its origins. Thanks to solid promotion throughout South Wales, and to appearances by Evans and his backing group, the Special Acoustic Band, at the Swansea City football ground, the single sold more than ten thousand copies. It was remixed and re-released, on CD, in 2000; at the time of writing (2006) copies were available from 91, Gorseinon Rd, Penllergaer, Swansea, SA4 1AB. Happy to say, there are plans for more releases on the reborn Rotor label.
(Thanks to Mervyn Read for the above information and for the Propeller label.)
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.