Fast Product

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Fast Product was an independent record label, established in Edinburgh, Scotland by Bob Last in December 1977.

They are probably best remembered for issuing the first records by the original Human League, Gang of Four, The Mekons, 2.3 and Scars. Equally vital was their release of three 'ear comics': Earcom One featuring The Prats, The Flowers, The Blank Students and Graph; Earcom Two featuring The Thursdays, Basczax and Joy Division; and Earcom Three featuring DAF, Stupid Babies, Noh Mercy, The Middle Class and From Chorley.

Fast Product also produced 'subversive commodities' that problematised pop music (hence their early monikers - 'difficult fun' and 'mutant pop') and politicised their youthful buyers into a consciousness of taking control of the means of expression, getting confident and reappropriating the means of production. Often packaging their 'products' with a caustic yet subtle sideswipe at consumerism (the image of a wall of gold discs on the cover of the Mekons first single etc), Fast Product showed how all aspects of the record business, from musicianship to design to distribution, could be taken out of the hands of the major labels.

Fast Product's activities have been taken as a blueprint for a 'living culture'. The label, along with various other UK indies, was referenced by the Clash in the line, "When lightening hits Small Wonder/It's Fast Rough Factory Trade", from Hitsville UK, the band's homage to UK indies.

Bob Last went on to establish the Pop Aural label with such acts as The Flowers, Boots For Dancing and The Fire Engines.

[edit] Discography

Albums

  • FAST 11 V/A - The First Year Plan LP (Compilation of single releases, licensed to EMI, so also has cat no EMC 3312)

Singles

  • FAST 1 The Mekons - Never Been In A Riot / 32 Weeks / Heart & Soul 7"
  • FAST 2 2.3 - Where To Now? / All Time Low 7"
  • FAST 4 The Human League - Being Boiled / Circus Of Death 7"
  • FAST 5 Gang of Four - Damaged Goods / Love Like Anthrax / Armalite Rifle 7"
  • FAST 7 The Mekons - Where Were You? / I'll Have To Dance Then (On My Own) 7"
  • FAST 8 Scars - Adult/ery / Horrorshow 7"
  • FAST 9a V/A - Earcom One 12" (The Prats, Flowers, Blank Students & including pink flexi of Jo Callis)
  • FAST 9b V/A - Earcom Two 12" (2 Joy Division tracks, plus The Thursdays & Basczax)
  • FAST 9c V/A - Earcom Three 7" (Double 7" pack including most notably DAF)
  • FAST 10 The Human League - The Dignity of Labour 12" (Some with free flexi-disc)
  • FAST 12 Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles / Man With The Dogs 7"

Other

  • FAST 3 Fast Product The Quality Of Life No.1 (Zine issued March 1978)
  • FAST 6 Fast Product The Quality Of Life No.2 (Zine issued April 1979)

[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vinylnet Record Label Discographies.

[edit] See also

Fast Product[1] is also a Chicago rock trio inspired by the label.

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