Sainsbury’s launches record label….Today!

3rd November 2017

“Sainsbury’s customers can now pick up some exclusive, freshly pressed vinyl alongside their freshly pressed fruit juices.” That’s right, the supermarket launches its on record label called Own Label

Sainsbury’s might ‘only’ be a supermarket but vinyl fans will already have seen vinyl for sale in amongst the groceries. Now, the company has announced that it is to launch its own record label…with pop combo Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley at the fore.

The company prefigured its label announcement with a smattering of boasting, “Following Sainsbury’s huge success in the vinyl revival, with one in every 20 vinyl records sold in the UK now purchased in a Sainsbury’s store,” that figure surprised the hell out of me. Apparently the company has shifted 300,000 vinyl LPs since the format launch in March 2016. The retailer’s best-selling album to date is Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, with over 12,000 units sold. Anyway, back to the quote, “…from Friday 3rd November, the supermarket will launch two vinyl compilation albums from its new Own Label imprint, via Universal and Warner Music. The records will be available in over 160 Sainsbury’s superstores around the country.”

The label will begin with two 20 track double album compilations. The first is title Hi Fidelity – A Taste Of Stereo Sound with the second Coming into Los Angeles – A Taste of West Coast. The music is both 60s and 70 in tone including the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens and Elton John.

Sainsbury’s appears to have put some thought behind the label productions. As it stated, “The artwork was inspired by the most iconic product designs to come out of Sainsbury’s in-house design studio, led by Peter Dixon between 1962 and 1977.”

Sainsbury’s has a history of design innovation

Stanley added, “Growing up, one thing I loved about the record shopping experience was the number of high street shops where you could buy new releases — not only Virgin or Our Price but Woolworths, Boots, WH Smith’s.

Bob Stanley holding the new Own Label LP releases

“The opportunity to put new compilations in branches of Sainsbury’s was irresistible to me.”

When vinyl could be found next to the Pick’n’Mix.

The tracklistings include:

Coming Into Los Angeles – A Taste of West Coast

1. The Mamas & The Papas Dedicated To The One I Love
2. Love – Andmoreagain
3. The Monkees – As We Go Along
4. Buffalo Springfield – The Hour Of Not Quite Rain
5. Tim Buckley – Song To The Siren
6. Judee Sill – The Kiss
7. The Byrds – Full Circle
8. Flying Burrito Brothers – Wild Horses
9. Arlo Guthrie – Coming Into Los Angeles
10. Linda Perhacs – Chimacum Rain
11. Fleetwood Mac – You Make Loving Fun
12. America – Ventura Highway
13. Little Feat – Long Distance Love
14. Linda Ronstadt – Desperado
15. Michelle Phillips – The Aching Kind
16. Rickie Lee Jones – Chuck Es In Love
17. Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes
18. Nicolette Larson – Lotta Love
19. JD Souther – Faithless Love
20. Gene Clark – Lady Of The North

Hi Fidelity – A Taste of Stereo Sound

1. Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells
2. Yes – Wonderous Stories
3. Moody Blues – Question
4. Roxy Music – Avalon
5. Tangerine Dream – Sequence C
6. Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken
7. Al Stewart – Year Of The Cat
8. Andrew Gold – Lonely Boy
9. John Martyn – Solid Air
10. Elton John – Song For Guy
11. Van Der Graaf – Generator Theme 1
12. Bryan Ferry – This Is Tomorrow
13. Joe Walsh – Life’s Been Good
14. Mike Deville – Spanish Stroll
15. Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
16. 10CC – I’m Not In Love
17. Commodores – Easy
18. Gallagher and Lyle – Showdown
19. Giorgio Moroder – Chase
20. Brian Eno – Another Green World