An independent label from the Punk / New Wave era, owned by Pete Townshend. Eel Pie started out in 1970 as a studio and a production company, and moved into the field of publishing in 1977. Reportedly Townshend viewed the Punk phenomenon with a sympathetic eye, seeing in it much the same sort of anger which had fuelled some of The Who's work. Perhaps as a result, Eel Pie put out three singles, all in a Punk / New Wave vein, by The Skunks, No Sweat, and Straight Eight, all of them in 1978. The Straight Eight single shown above was the only one to have a picture of an eel pie on the label; the first two singles had labels of a simpler, plainer, design. Examples can be found on the 45cat site. The company still exists today, mainly as a vehicle for Townshend's own music.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.