Purple Records Promos

Most collectors are familiar with the Purple Records label, and the original pressings continue to attract interest. This unusual promotional release is worth a mention. The label was launched in America as part of Capitol Records there, and they came up with this nice promotional item to send out to DJs and journalists in 1971 as part of the push. It contained three 7″ singles by the artists Buddy Bohn, Curtiss / Maldoon and Rupert Hine.

Each was pressed on purple coloured vinyl, and housed in a triple folded with a card cover insert.  You may or may not have been lucky enough to get a pair of purple socks along with it, which tied in with the trade adverts Capitol ran for the launch. Look it was the early 70s man!

The work would be handled by a PR company, and we do not know how widespread the mailing would have been, but could imagine something like 1,000 were pressed.  If anyone can tell us please get in touch.

A really smart little collectable anyway, and my thanks to Pericle Formenti for sending me these snaps from his own copy.  There is more about the formation and start of Purple Records in the Machine Head biography due out from Easy On The Eye books.