Postcard Records (issue #1) YEAR: 1981 CREATED BY: Barb (on behalf of Postcard Records) LOCATION: Glasgow SIZE: A6 WHAT’S INSIDE…. This postcard-size fanzine (or bandzine) was published by Alan Horne’s Postcard Records (“the sound of young Scotland”) in 1981 and is mainly devoted to the label’s two most important bands. The zine’s “A Side” is all about Orange Juice (who were from Glasgow) and the “B Side” features Josef K (from Edinburgh), as well as telling the story of the label itself. The pop sensibility of bands like Orange Juice, Josef K and Postcard’s other artists (mixed up with influences like the Velvet Underground’s third album) created a distinctive strand of post-punk that evolved into indie rock and pop in the 1980s. Postcard’s releases featured distinctive artwork, posters and inserts that also influenced future indie labels like Sarah Records. The zine was put together by an American music junkie called Barb, who moved to the UK from LA in 1979 and ended up working for Postcard. It has a professional layout and includes excellent photos of both bands. Some lucky people who sent off for it received a copy that had been signed by various band members and others managed to get a free copy of Orange Juice’s highly collectable “Felicity” flexi disc, but I didn’t get either…. Click on the title above to see scans of all the zine’s pages…. my box of 1980s fanzines flickr
