The first record label of Tony Kostrzewa's York-based Red Rhino Records. Red Rhino started out in 1977 as a shop, and added its own record label and distribution facility a couple of years later. The first two singles came out on the Double R Records label, with numbering in a RED-0 series. 'Saturday Night' b/w 'Not Another Love Song' by The Odds (RED-1) came out in November 1979 and qualified Double R for a place on this site; The Akrylykz's 'Spyderman' b/w 'Smart Boy' (RED-2) followed in January 1980. After that the label's name was changed to Red Rhino. Red Rhino went on to enjoy considerable success as an independent company almost until the end of the '80s. Its distribution arm became part of The Cartel, an association of independent distributors, and its record operation was responsible for more than 100 releases, including the first album and two singles by Pulp and the first recordings by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry and Skeletal Family. Catalogue numbers of singles reached RED-92 in 1988, but financial problems led to Red Rhino closing down at the end of that year. Thanks to Klepsie of the 45Cat site for alerting me to the fact that Double R started off in the '70s, and to Nicholas Hough for providing the scan.
Copyright 2022 Robert Lyons.