Heartbeat Productions - Europeans

During this time I had gathered together a 12/2 mixing desk, an assorted collection of dubious microphones & a trusty old Revox, and spent most evenings at these venues double mic-ing the PA, resulting in very noisey live recordings, some of which still sound a little startling even today.

Through this I met up with Social Security, who must have been one of the hardest working bands on the local circuit - we agreed to make a four track EP of their most popular songs - Heartbeat Records was born.

During 1978 the 12/2 desk was moved into Stepping Out Studios where many of the local bands rehearsed, and over a couple of nights the tracks were laid and ready to go to cut.

(It should at this point be noted that I had absolutely no idea of how to make a record! - only after many inquisitive phone calls did it all become clear & somewhat daunting.)

A partnership was formed between myself & local record shop owner (& guitar hero) Tony Dodd. The EP was pressed & attracted favourable criticism - John Peel referring to it as "charmingly rustic" - we were all pleased by that.

After the initial first 1000 had sold, Tony pulled out of the partnership - Heartbeat was on its' own.

My days of playing Folk Clubs & fooling around in R&B bands were long gone, the sudden surge in Bristol music had made the label such an obvious step and it had to be kept going. The Cortinas had signed to a Step Forward, a new label New Bristol had signed The Pigs, & oddly enough some bands weren't interested in making records.

Despite that I passionately believed in putting Bristol music on the map, so a chance meeting with new band Europeans lead to the release of Heartbeats' second single.

Recording the Europeans proved to be a great bonus for me as the band knew one David Lord, and wished to record at his Crescent Studios which at the time were a four track at his flat in Bath some seven miles east of Bristol. This would begin a long and very fruitful relationship with David & the Studio.

The sessions turned out the tremendous song Europeans, which went on to be the A side of their single, a great start that gained the band much critical acclaim, leading to them signing with Rialto Records who were having hits with The Korgis & The Regents.