A rather rare bloom, like its namesake. According to 'Music Week' of the 26th of January 1980, Orchid was set up by ex-Chappell director Roland Rennie, who was at that time head of a company called RSR Entertainments; it had just signed Sue Cuss to a long-term deal and her first single under the deal was due out that week. An earlier article in the American trade magazine 'Record World' for the 3rd of March 1979 had said that RSR had been formed by Rennie in partnership with David Shaw and Paul Robinson, and that it intended to be involved in record production, publishing, management, films, books and leisure projects - it described itself as a 'Total concept organization'. Many of its aims seem to have foundered, but its Orchid label did release five singles in 1979/80, the first of which was 'My Love Ain't Loving Me None' b/w 'Simple Song' by the Reg Webb Band (OR-100; 11/79). Manufacture and distribution were by Pye. The Reg Webb Band recorded an LP, 'I Ain't Signing Nothin'', which is notable for being the first record to feature soon-to-be star Nik Kershaw (on guitar and vocals), but RSR ran into terminal money troubles before it could be issued - it eventually saw the light of day in the Netherlands, on Ariola (201 177), as 'I Ain't Signin' Nothin''. Rumour has it that Kershaw joined too late to feature on the single. A record by Bonnie Parker and the Acme Attractions, 'Eve Of Destruction', was issued on an Orchid label in 1981, but presumably this was different species of Orchid - the label design and catalogue number series were different, and it was a product of the SRT studios.
Copyright 2006 Robert Lyons.