Discos Hammer

Según informó la revista especializada en música Music Week en su edición del 30 de junio de 1979, el productor discográfico Des Dolan lanzaría el sello Hammer Records en julio de ese mismo año. Los directores Des Dolan y Simon Cohen ya habían firmado un contrato de distribución de dos años con el sello Pye . Ya tenían tres lanzamientos programados: The Many Sides Of Mike 'Stand' Douglas de Mike 'Stand' Douglas, Golden Greats de Fats Domino y Golden Greats de Chuck Berry . Su primer sencillo fue "Roll This and That" de The Mumps on Rock, una banda de new wave neoyorquina. ^{[ 7 ]}

Ese año, Stavely Makepeace lanzó su sencillo producido por Rob Woodward, "Songs of Yesterday" con "Storm" en la cara B, en Hammer HS 304. ^{[ 8 ] [ 9 ]}

The September 15 issue of Music Week Reported that Hammer had picked up on two Everest Records productions, a Johnny Cash self-titled album, released on HMB 7001, and Jerry Lee Lewis self-titled album, released on Hammer HMB 7002.^[10] It was also reported in the same issue that Hammer had an early Mary O'Hara album in the new releases. On the way was an early Bob Marley & the Wailers LP that had been licensed from Beverley's Records in Jamaica, and an Elvis Presley record that had been recorded at a 1961 press conference.^[11] In the same issue, it was also reported in Dooley's Diary that Hank Mizell was to sign a long-term contract with the label.^[12]

In October, 1979, by arrangement with Hammer Records, a Patrick Doolan produced single "Standing Waiting" bw "Women" by Yancey was released on Octane HS 302.^[13][14][15]

A DJ who had purchased two records by The Platters and Bobby Vee which were six track maxi singles voiced dissatisfaction with them which appeared in the Opinion section of the October 13 issue of Music Week. The claim was that they sounded so different from the originals the DJ had in their possession. The suggestion was that the sleeve should say if they were re-recordings or not.^[16] There was a follow up on this in the October 27 issue of the magazine by DJ Dave White of Dynamite Disco in Whitton, Middlesex. In his opinion the Hammer series was superb, and the records in the series that went down the best were the Johnny and the Hurricanes and Jerry Lee Lewis releases. He said, "For us, it is satisfying and sufficient just to be able to dance to the records. So in one or two cases they are not the original recordings — so what?"^[17]

It was announced in the December 8, 1979 issue of Music Week that Hammer Records have moved to 35/37 Wardour Street, London W1.^[18]

Looking for new talent in 1980, the label already had Hank Mizell, a US rockabilly artist in the fold. According to the January 26, 1980 issue of Music Week, he was busy writing and rehearsing new material for his first release. Director Des Dolan was looking for artists in the rock, pop and soul genres who wrote their own material who looked exciting and gigged regularly. They were also open to one off deals for singles and albums.^[19]

Según informó Music Week en su edición del 8 de marzo de 1980, el director musical Des Dolan había regresado de Estados Unidos la semana anterior, donde había participado en varias reuniones con sellos discográficos de rock and roll. Se hablaba de una alta demanda previa al lanzamiento del álbum de Fats Domino y Chuck Berry, Giants Of Rock & Roll, que se publicaría el 11 de abril. ^{[ 20 ]}

En la edición del 26 de abril de 1980 de Music Week se informó que Denny Laine, ex guitarrista de Wings, lanzaría su primer disco en solitario. La canción, "Japanese Tears", se publicaría el 2 de abril bajo el sello Scratch Records y, debido a un acuerdo con Hammer, el disco sería distribuido por Pye Records. ^{[ 21 ]}

Según la edición del 19 de mayo de 1980 de Music Week , la banda de R&B de Deptford, Rubber Johnny, había firmado con Hammer Records. Tenían previsto lanzar un sencillo en junio y un álbum en septiembre. ^{[ 22 ]}