Rare Portion Control - Surface and Be Seen - 12” EP with Inserts In Phaze 1982

$

40

Ultra-rare Portion Control's 1st 12" vinyl release on Pat Berminghams Inphaze label Original Inserts1982

This auction is for a copy of the Portion Control 12” EP ‘Surface And Be Seen’.  The cover and vinyl are in excellent condition.  Includes the original outer plastic sleeve and original inserts as shown on the item photos. The record is from my own collection - please let me know if you have any questions about it. The EP will be posted in a proper record mailer.

Details

Portion Control - Surface and Be Seen 

12” EP

45 RPM

In Phaze Records

Cat No. Por Con 006

UK 1982

Electronic, Electro, Industrial, Minimal Synth

 
Tracklist:
- Spinola (Blotch)
- Terror Leads To Better Days
- Simple As ABC
- Monstrous Bulk
- He Is A Barbarian

Cover - Card cover in excellent, clean condition.  Outer Cover (clear sleeve with orange lettering and markings) - some wear on the lettering - should read ‘a 5-track extended player’ -  all this is visible on the item photo. The inserts are clean and untouched.

Vinyl - Excellent condition/Unplayed

Sleeve - Excellent

Outer poly sleeve- good

History of Inphaze

Pat worked on the production with Mark Flunder (Elusive Diplomats, Television Personalities, The McTells, Moscovite Five etc)  and release of The Hertford Album - "Rupert Preaching at a Picnic" recorded in Nov 1980 on Naive Records financed by a local chain of east Herts record shops "Tracks". This release came about following an earlier compiliation cassette called "An Evening with Rupert". (50 copies)

This 12' limited vinyl was then released in May 1981, Pat saw some potential in a couple of the local Hertford bands who recorded on a 4-track in Digswell, Welwyn Garden City. Namely "The Marine Girls"(Tracey Thorn -Everything but The Girl. Massive attack), Portion Control and Bona Dish. He set up his own studio -"Shed sounds" and the "Inphaze label" and had these bands in to record sessions. The first 3 releases in cassette format and in limited quantities in July 1981 were Portion Controls -Gaining Momentum, Bona dish on C30 and The Marine Girls -Beach party which was picked up by Cherry Red and issued on 12" vinyl. Pat then progressed from cassette releases and included vinyl for Portion Control, The Marine Girls and The Legendary pink dots amongst others.

A brief history of the East Herts scene

The whole idea of a cassette label drew upon the DIY ethic of punk and evolved a few years later in to the C86 genre.

This was the true birth of Twee / indie pop and is evident by some of the outstanding and diverse bands featured on the releases mentioned.

From 1979 there was an explosion of local talented and original bands in the towns north of London, up the A10 into Hertfordshire and prior to the release of the Hertford Album, was a gem from the small market town of Buntingford called “Buntingford The Album”. There was a follow up 12” album in 1986 called "Buntingford Centre of the Universe"featuring Justin Sullivan & Robb Heaton from “New Model Army” under the alias of Crowman & Rokk Artthrobbe in the tracks by Hammer & Sickle. Only 500 copies were pressed.

In 1979 the record industry in the UK was controlled by major record labels whose A&R departments were hard to impress with so many bands trying to get in on the act. Most bands strived to get into the 4 and 8 track recording studios that were popping up everywhere and record a 3 or 4 track demo to send off to the A&R men. These demo’s would be received from the studios on a compact cassette along with the tape reel and with the technological advance in quality of sound and advent of the “Sony Walkman” and better tape to tape home duplicators it was easy and affordable for many bands to self-release their own products for the first time to sell at gigs and easy to play with cassette players everywhere.

And these demo’s would often get sent to the likes of the BBC’s “John Peel” who would get bands in for a BBC radio session which could then lead onto them being picked up by a main label.

Many 1000’s of talented bands that deserved recognition never got any further than their self released demo’s and their offerings and existence have been lost in the winds of time although a few musicians from those early days have gone on to bigger things.

These rare small label vinyl and cassette compilations and releases are historical audio documents of those captured and an important chapter in the development of the UK music scene that has gone on to influence many of todays musicians and bands throughout the world.

Here is an original copy of that first Inphaze 12" release which has the original inserts.

I've also included a full size scan of a review of the tape upon it's local release in a monthly local paper that was produced in an office above the Hertford "Tracks" record shop. the paper was initially printed in 400 copies and was called "The Hertford Independent Press". It always had 2 decent local music pages and reviews of local band releases and gigs, during what was a big local DIY music scene. A copy of this will be sent with the tape.

Delivery within the UK will be Royal Mail 1st Class Signed For 

Delivery to international locations will be Royal Mail Airmail with the option of adding, where available, Royal Mail Airsure with Track and Trace - Airsure adds £5 to the base postage rate but offers the buyer greater security.

This is an absolute grail for any serious Portion Control collector!  I believe you will be hard pressed to ever find a true original in this condition!

Please view the photos and feel free to ask any and all questions.

Please view the photos and e-mail me with any questions before you bid.  Please check out my other auctions for more great items.

SERIOUS BIDDERS ONLY!