Record Label
UK label; also appears as "*Pye*" only. For all unofficial / bootleg copies of this label, please use [[label:455637]] Pye Records was a British record label whose best known artists included [[artist:The Kinks]], [[artist:The Searchers]], [[artist:Donovan]], [[artist:Sandie Shaw]], and [[artist:Petula Clark]]. The Pye Company originally sold televisions and radios and entered the record business when it bought [[label:30832]] Records in 1953. In 1955, Pye acquired [[label:Polygon]] Records, a label that had been established by Petula Clark's father to control distribution of her recordings, and merged it with Nixa Records to form [[label:196211]]. In 1959, the name was changed to Pye Records and [[label:266182]] acquired 50% of the label. ATV bought the other half of the business in 1966. Two subsidiaries were created during the sixties: [[label:57969]] and [[label:43698]]. They were replaced by [[label:38695]] in the seventies. Pye also had several series and sub-labels, such as [[label:Pye International]] and [[label:Pye Jazz]]. Pye established an American presence in 1969, opening a headquarters in New York City with tape manufacturing by GRT and record distribution through ATV Records. Although a few hits were garnered, the venture was not a success and Pye closed its North American operation in 1976. From September 1980, the rights to the name Pye expired and the label was renamed to [[label:PRT Records]]. The label returned in 2024, based in Scotland, when broadcaster and record producer Tony Currie acquired the company name. Pye UK 7"s belong to - the 7N.15000 series (September 1955 - November 1965) and - the 7N.17000 series (November 1965 - November 1970) and - the 7N.45000 series (November 1970 - June 1977) and - the 7N.46000 series (June 1970 - June 1979); Pye UK EPs belong to the NEP 24000 series (1959-1968), Pye UK 12"s belong to the 7NL 45000 and 7NL 46000 series (1977-1979) Pye UK LPs belong to - the NPL 18000 series (mono, 1957-1970) and the NSPL 18000 series (stereo, 1970-1980) and - the NSPL 41000 series (1971-1977).