Safari Records was a British

independent record label An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small and medium-sized enterprise, small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels ...

based in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, England, and operating between 1977 and 1985. Safari Records was formed early in 1977 by Tony Edwards (former co-manager of

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally for ...

), Andreas Budde (the son of German music publisher Rolf Budde) and John Craig who previously ran

Purple Purple is a color similar in appearance to violet light. In the RYB color model historically used in the arts, purple is a secondary color created by combining red and blue pigments. In the CMYK color model used in modern printing, purple is ...

and

Oyster Records Oyster is the common name for a number of different families of salt-water bivalve molluscs that live in marine or brackish habitats. In some species, the valves are highly calcified, and many are somewhat irregular in shape. Many, but not ...

. With the label's founders living in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

and

respectively, the plan was to develop a pan-European record company that would release pop records. Licensing deals were struck with

Teldec Teldec (Telefunken-Decca Schallplatten GmbH) is a German record label in Hamburg, Germany. Today the label is a property of Warner Music Group. History Teldec was a producer of (first) shellac and (later) vinyl records. The Teldec manufacturing ...

in Germany and

Disques Vogue Disques Vogue was a jazz record company founded in France by Léon Cabat and Charles Delaunay in 1947, the year after the American Vogue label ceased. They originally specialized in jazz, featuring American performers such as Sidney Bechet, ...

in France, in the UK its product was pressed and distributed by Pye and later by

Spartan Records Spartan Records was founded by John T. Frazier in Seattle, Washington in January 2007. It is currently home to the bands Schematic, Barren Womb, Ourlives, Shy, Low, and several others. Prior to founding Spartan, Frazier was the director of mar ...

.''Craig, John''
The History of Safari
Safari-records.co.uk Most notable of the label's acts were Wayne County, The Boys, Toyah and the South Africa's first multiracial band

Juluka Juluka was a South African band formed by Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu. means "sweat" in Zulu, and was the name of a bull owned by Mchunu. The band was closely associated with the mass movement against apartheid. History At the age of 14 ...

Select discography

* Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, "Fuck Off" (7", 1977) * Tyrone Ashley, ''Looks Like Love Is Here To Stay'' (12", 1977) * The Chanter Sisters, ''Ready For Love'' (LP, 1977) * Glenn Hughes, ''Play Me Out'' (LP, 1977) * ELF, ''Trying To Burn The Sun'' (LP, 1977) * Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, ''Storm The Gates Of Heaven'' (LP, 1978) * Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, ''Man Enough To Be A Woman'' (LP, 1978) * The Chanter Sisters, "Can't Stop Dancing" / "Back On The Road" (7"/12", 1978) * Toyah, '' Sheep Farming In Barnet'' (1979) * Glenn Hughes, "I Found A Woman" (7", 1979) * Toyah, "

Victims Of The Riddle "Victims of the Riddle" is a song by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released as the band's debut single in 1979 by Safari Records. The song later featured on the band's album '' Sheep Farming in Barnet''. Backgro ...

" (7", 1979) * Teenbeats, " I Can't Control Myself" (7", 1979) * Wayne County & the Electric Chairs, "Berlin" (7", 1979) * Yobs, "The Rub-A-Dum-Dum"/"Another Christmas" (7", 1979) * The Boys "You Better Move On" / "Schoolgirls" (7", 1980) * Various, Uppers on the South Downs - Mod revival Compilation - UPP1 - Feat. The Teenbeats, The Same, Missing Persons, The South Coast Ska Stars (12", 1980) * Toyah, "Bird In Flight" / "Tribal Look" (7", 1980) * Toyah, ''

The Blue Meaning ''The Blue Meaning'' is the second studio album by the English new wave band Toyah, fronted by Toyah Willcox, released in 1980 by Safari Records. It reached the Top 40 on the UK Albums Chart. Background The album was recorded at the Parkgate ...

'', (LP, 1980) * Toyah, '' Toyah! Toyah! Toyah!'' (LP, 1980) * The Boys, ''Boys Only'' (LP, 1980) * The Boys, ''To Hell With The Boys'' (LP, 1980) *

Gary Holton Gary Frederick Holton (22 September 1952 – 25 October 1985) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and actor. He was the frontman of the band Heavy Metal Kids (1972–1977), worked with Casino Steel (1981–1984), and played the part of ...

, "Ruby (Don't Take Your Love To Town)" (7", 1980) * Toyah, "Ieya" (7", 1980) * Toyah, "Danced" (7", 1980) * Genocide, ''Images Of Delusion'' (7", 1980) * Toyah, "It's A Mystery" (7" 1981) * Toyah, " I Want To Be Free" (7", 1981) * Toyah, ''

Anthem An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Originally, and in music theory and religious contexts, it also refers more particularly to sho ...

'' (LP, 1981) * Weapon Of Peace, ''Weapon Of Peace'' (LP, 1981) * Weapon Of Peace, "Jah Love"/"Suspicion"/"West Park" (12", 1981) * Toyah, "Stand Proud" (Flexi, S/Sided) 1981 * Toyah, ''Four From Toyah'' (7", 1981) * Purple Hearts, "My Life's A Jigsaw" (7", 1981) * Toyah, "Thunder In The Mountains" (7", 1981) * Weapon Of Peace, "Jah Love" (7", 1981) * Those French Girls, "Close-Up" (7", 1981) * Toyah, "Brave New World" (7", 1982) * Toyah, "Ieya" (7", 1982) * Toyah, '' The Changeling'' (LP, 1982) *

Jayne County Jayne County (born Wayne Rogers) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, record producer, and visual artist whose career has spanned six decades. Under the name Wayne County (inspired by Wayne County, Michigan), she was the vocalist of infl ...

/ Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, ''The Best Of...''(LP, Compilation, 1982) * Wayne County & The Electric Chairs, "Berlin"(extended version)/"Midnight Pal"/ Waiting For The Marines(12 Inch Pink Vinyl,1982) *

, ''Scatterlings'' (LP, 1982) * Those French Girls, "Sorry Sorry" (7"/12", 1982) * Those French Girls, ''Those French Girls'' (LP, 1982) * Cimarons, "Big Girls Don't Cry" (7", 1982) * Toyah, "Be Proud Be Loud (Be Heard)" (7", 1982) * Toyah, '' Warrior Rock'' (LP, 1982) * Juluka, "Umbaqanga Music" (7", 1982) * English Evenings, "What's The Matter With Helen?" (7", 1983) * Tony Ashton & Lynda Hayes, " Resurrection Shuffle" (7", 1983) * Toyah, "Rebel Run" (7", 1983) * Weapon Of Peace, ''Rainbow Rhythm'' (LP, 1983) * Wayne County & The Electric Chairs-"Fuck Off"/"Toilet Love" (7" Picture Disc 1983) * Juluka, "Scatterlings Of Africa" (7", 1983) * Kitty Grant, "Glad To Know You" (7"/12", 1983) * Toyah, "Rebel Run" (12", 1983) * Toyah, "The Vow" (7", 1983) * Kitty Grant, ''Glad To Know You'' (12", EP 1983) *

Alan Price Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician who first found prominence as the original keyboardist of the English rock band the Animals. He left the band in 1965 to form the Alan Price Set; his hit singles with and without the group ...

, "Clair De Lune" (7", 1984) * English Evenings, "Tear You Down" (7"/12", 1984) * Richard Hartley & Michael Reed Orchestra, "The Music Of Torvill & Dean" (7", 12", 1984) * English Evenings, "I Will Return" (7", 1985) * Jimmy Tarbuck, "Again" (7", 1985) * La Bouche, "Electric Voice Dance" (7", 1985) * Roger Glover And Guests, "Love Is All (Butterfly Ball)" (7", 1985) * The Mr. Men Musical: Little Miss Shy & Mr. Quiet - The Way You Are (7", 45 RPM Side 1 1985) * The Mr. Men Musical: Mr. Happy - Home For Christmas (7", 45 RPM Side 2 1985) * Party Time With Mr. Men (LP, 1985)Safari Records
at Discogs.

References

External links

Safari Records.
Home page. {{Authority control Record labels established in 1977 Record labels disestablished in 1985 British independent record labels Indie rock record labels

Select discography

See also

References

External links