UK label; also appears as "Pye" only.
Label Code: LC 0315 / LC 00315
For all unofficial / bootleg copies of this label, please use Pye Records (2)
Pye Records was a British record label whose best known artists included The Kinks, The Searchers, Donovan, Sandie Shaw, and Petula Clark. The Pye Company originally sold televisions and radios and entered the record business when it bought Nixa Records in 1953. In 1955, Pye acquired Polygon Records, a label that had been established by Petula Clark's father to control distribution of her recordings, and merged it with Nixa Records to form Pye Nixa. In 1959, the name was changed to Pye Records and [Invalid Label] acquired 50% of the label. ATV bought the other half of the business in 1966. Two subsidiaries were created during the sixties: Pye Golden Guinea Records and Piccadilly. They were replaced by Dawn Records (2) in the seventies. Pye also had several series and sub-labels, such as Pye International and Pye Jazz.
Pye established an American presence in 1969, opening a headquarters in New York City with tape manufacturing by GRT and record distribution through ATV Records. Although a few hits were garnered, the venture was not a success and Pye closed its North American operation in 1976.
As of September, 1980 the rights to the name Pye expired and the label was renamed to PRT Records.
Pye UK 7"s belong to
- the 7N.15000 series (September 1955 - November 1965) and
- the 7N.17000 series (November 1965 - November 1970) and
- the 7N.45000 series (November 1970 - June 1977) and
- the 7N.46000 series (June 1970 - June 1979);
Pye UK EPs belong to the NEP 24000 series (1959-1968),
Pye UK 12"s belong to the 7NL 45000 and 7NL 46000 series (1977-1979)
Pye UK LPs belong to
- the NPL 18000 series (mono, 1957-1970) and the NSPL 18000 series (stereo, 1970-1980) and
- the NSPL 41000 series (1971-1977).
