T Records

T Records was a United Kingdom record-label imprint associated exclusively with the Thompson Twins during the group’s early recording career. It provided the release identity for the band’s first two albums and a sequence of related singles before the imprint was absorbed into Arista Records. The label therefore functioned less as a broad catalog business than as a dedicated vehicle for establishing and presenting one group’s early work. Before the imprint was used, the Thompson Twins had independently issued two 7-inch singles: “Squares And Triangles,” catalogued as RANK1, and “She’s in Love With Mystery,” catalogued as LATE1. These recordings were subsequently reissued through T Records in 1981. The reissues connected the group’s earlier independent output with the label’s initial commercial identity and helped establish a recognizable catalog around the band. The imprint’s first principal album was A Product Of..., identified by the catalog number TELP1. Its production credits included John Hade, Mike Howlett, Dennis Bovell, and the Thompson Twins. The album combined the group’s early experimental and pop-oriented material, including “When I See You,” “Politics,” “Slave Trade,” “Make Believe,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” and the title track. Several songs from the album were also issued as T Records singles, including “Perfect Game,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” and “Make Believe (Let’s Pretend).” The second album, Set, carried the catalog number TELP2 and was produced by Steve Lillywhite. It included “In the Name of Love,” “Living in Europe,” “Bouncing,” “Tok Tok,” “Runaway,” and “Fool’s Gold.” The album was packaged with a free 7-inch record catalogued as RANK2. That bonus release included “Squares and Triangles,” “Weather Station,” and “Modern Plumbing”; the latter two tracks were associated with Tom Bailey and the Blankets respectively, rather than representing a conventional Thompson Twins album sequence. T Records also issued a number of 7-inch and 12-inch singles. “In the Name of Love,” released in January 1982, was issued in standard and extended formats, while “Runaway” appeared with a free live 7-inch and with extended remixes on 12-inch. The catalog demonstrates the imprint’s role in supporting both album promotion and alternate, extended, or live versions of the band’s material. After the release of the second album, T Records was absorbed into Arista Records. The Thompson Twins continued their recording career under Arista and other imprints, while the T Records name was not generally retained for later United Kingdom reissues. In other markets, the albums and singles were likewise released through Arista Records or alternative label identities. T Records is consequently best understood as a historical imprint tied to the Thompson Twins’ formative period, rather than as an independently diversified record company.

T Records emerged as the United Kingdom imprint used for the Thompson Twins’ earliest formally organized catalog. The band had previously released two independently issued 7-inch singles, “Squares And Triangles” and “She’s in Love With Mystery.” In 1981, “Squares And Triangles” was reissued through T Records, alongside the label’s development of a catalog centered on the group. The imprint’s first album release was A Product Of..., catalogued as TELP1. The record brought together material produced by John Hade, Mike Howlett, Dennis Bovell, and the Thompson Twins themselves. Its associated singles included “Perfect Game,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” and “Make Believe (Let’s Pretend),” with both 7-inch and, for selected titles, 12-inch versions. These releases show that T Records supported standard single promotion as well as extended mixes intended for club or specialist listening. The second principal album was Set, catalogued as TELP2 and produced by Steve Lillywhite. Its track list included “In the Name of Love,” “Living in Europe,” “Bouncing,” “Tok Tok,” “Runaway,” “Another Fantasy,” “Fool’s Gold,” and “Blind.” The package included a free 7-inch record, RANK2, containing “Squares and Triangles,” “Weather Station,” and “Modern Plumbing.” Additional T Records releases included “In the Name of Love,” issued in January 1982, and “Runaway,” which appeared with a free live record and extended-remix formats. Following the second album, the imprint was absorbed into Arista Records. The Thompson Twins continued releasing music through Arista and other imprints, but T Records no longer served as the group’s continuing UK label identity. Later UK reissues did not use the T Records imprint, and releases in other territories were also handled through Arista or different label arrangements. Its historical importance is therefore concentrated in the Thompson Twins’ first two albums, their early single catalog, and the transition from independent beginnings to a larger record-company structure.

• 1982

  Set and In the Name of Love

  [1]T Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The label released the second album, Set, and issued “In the Name of Love” in January, including an extended 12-inch version.

• 1981

  Early independent singles reissued

  [1]T Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The Thompson Twins’ earlier independent 7-inch releases, including “Squares And Triangles,” were reissued under the T Records imprint.

• 1981

  A Product Of... released

  [1]T Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  T Records issued the Thompson Twins’ first principal album on the imprint, with production credited to John Hade, Mike Howlett, Dennis Bovell, and the band.

• 1981

  Initial T Records singles issued

  [1]T Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  The imprint released “Perfect Game,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” and “Make Believe (Let’s Pretend)” in 7-inch and, for selected titles, 12-inch formats.

• Imprint absorbed into Arista Records

  [1]T Recordsen.wikipedia.org

  After the second album, T Records was absorbed into Arista Records, and the Thompson Twins continued releasing material through Arista and other imprints.

A dedicated UK imprint for the Thompson Twins’ early albums, singles, reissues, live recordings, and extended mixes.

• Album

  A Product Of...

  The first principal T Records album by the Thompson Twins, catalogued as TELP1. Its production credits include John Hade, Mike Howlett, Dennis Bovell, and the Thompson Twins. The record includes “When I See You,” “Politics,” “Slave Trade,” “Make Believe,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” “Anything Is Good Enough,” and the title track. Several songs were also developed as T Records single releases.

• Album

  Set

  The second T Records album by the Thompson Twins, catalogued as TELP2 and produced by Steve Lillywhite. Its material includes “In the Name of Love,” “Living in Europe,” “Bouncing,” “Tok Tok,” “Runaway,” “Another Fantasy,” “Fool’s Gold,” and “Blind.” The original package included a free 7-inch record catalogued as RANK2.

• Singles and remixes

  T Records singles

  The imprint’s single catalog included “Perfect Game,” “Animal Laugh (Oumma Aularesso),” “Make Believe (Let’s Pretend),” “In the Name of Love,” and “Runaway.” Releases appeared on 7-inch and 12-inch formats, with extended mixes, remixes, live recordings, and additional B-sides used to support the Thompson Twins’ early albums.

• Absorption into Arista RecordsM&A

  Background

  Following the release of the Thompson Twins’ second album on the imprint, the T Records label identity was brought into Arista Records’ structure.

  Action taken

  T Records ceased functioning as the group’s continuing standalone UK imprint, while the Thompson Twins continued releasing albums and singles through Arista Records and other imprints.

  Aftermath

  Later UK reissues did not use the T Records name, and releases in other territories were issued through Arista or alternative label identities.

  Source

1. 1T Recordsen.wikipedia.org