Matt Monro Forum

Richard,
I know you probably know the answer to this by now, but others might not and might be interested.
In a post from last year you asked if anyone knew where the Top Pop Club records were sold, well, I recently was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these, that includes Matt's songs, and it looks as though they were not sold in any shops, but sent by post to members of this record club.
The record label in Society, and the record is in excellent shape.
On the back cover it gives the following information..
"The Top Pop Club is an organisation formed to give its members the newest and most popular music of the day on an easy to keep long playing record, with the advantage of a personal service and easier prices.
Each month we are recording the top ten songs on the Hit Parade by popular groups or stars , and sending them to our members everywhere.
Of course, you know this - but do your friends? When they come to hear your records, show them this and tell them that they too can enjoy the same privileges as you just by writing to the address below.
55 Great Western Road, London W9 "

An interesting peek back into how we enjoyed our popular music from not too long ago!
Marian

You're probably right Marian, The problem is that 'Society' is a bit of an odd label.

Society was a label which was part of ARC (Allied Record Companies) who sold records all over the place so it's also possible that these discs were sold in shops too, but wouldn't have been sold in just one. ARC were distributors too and besides ARC and Society ran SAGA records and a few others.

Interestingly The tape archive of SAGA/ARC (Also known as the Marcel Rodd tapes - he was the owner) is now stored by the British Library, but there are NO tapes for any Top Pop Club International Discs. I suspect that the tapes were not seen as anything worth keeping and were junked.

I have however been able to make a very clean transfer from one of Michele's copies of the disc which sounds pretty close to the master so all is not lost and may mean that these tracks appear on "The Rarer Monro" when we get around to it!

In a similar vein the tapes for "Strange Lady In Town" were probably also junked when the company that ran Solitaire (And many other labels) ceased trading (In 1969 according to companies house).

Richard

I wonder who occupies 55 Great Western Road, now ?

I looked on Google maps Robert, and from the street scene it looks like it is now part of a busy fly-over!
Marian.

Yes I did the same Marian, either that or their are modern built flats in it's place.

Richard

It's only Five miutes away from us and the entire area is changing rapidly.