A Reggae label, part of the Trojan group, active from 1969-74. Explosion singles were numbered in the EX-2000s. The label appeared in five different versions during the five years of its existence, switching between them from time to time for some reason. Its very first single had a red-and-white version of the 'lava' label; with some blue coloration added (1) this saw duty from EX-2002 to EX-2018 (Jun 1970). The 'solar flare' type (2) was used from EX-2019 to EX-2034. EX-2035 saw a return to the 'lava' type, but it lasted only as far EX-2042, and the end of 1970. In 1971, with EX-2043, a plain yellow label (3) was adopted. This yellow label lasted throughout 1971 and 1972, the last single to feature it being EX-2076. The 'lava' label returned for the first eight months of 1973, on EX-2077 to EX-2084; the 'solar flare' made a fleeting reappearance for EX-2085 to EX-2089; and finally the plain label, this time coloured white (4) made a comeback for the last two singles on the label, EX-2090 and EX-2091. That said, different pressings of certain singles can be found with different labels. The text 'Made in England' appeared on records from May 1971 onwards, starting with EX-2049, but EX-2074 lacked it and it disappered from EX-2077 until the label was discontinued. Explosion's singles were a mixed bag, as the company didn't concentrate upon the records of any one producer. The 'solar flare' labels state that manufacture and distribution was by Trojan, but as that company didn't have its own pressing plant it was responsible for manufacture only in the sense that it got it done. The actual pressing appears to have been generally done by Orlake - the smooth outer ring / rough inner of the label's surface, as shown in the last two scans above, is usually a good indication, and the separation of the components of the matrix numbers on the run-off by '+' signs is another clue. Thanks to Robert Bowes for the third scan.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.