UK Local Compilations

"'In the past couple of years, as can scarce have escaped your notice, something of a revolution has occurred in the making and marketing of records, with dozens of small labels springing up which are independent of the established record industry in every respect, save that of pressing. … And not only individual bands have issued singles, EPs and the occasional LP, but cities, towns and districts have spawned worthwhile local anthologies. Witness, dearly beloved, Brighton’s “Vaultage 78”, the Manchester area collections on Object and TJM, a potpourri of South Yorkshire bands on “New Wave From the Heart”, and rumours of impending compilations from Leeds and Sheffield.' (John Peel, 1979, “Street To Street – A Liverpool Compilation” sleevenotes)"

As a huge supporter of independent releases from the UK regions outside London, Peel was keen to give support to the torrent of local anthologies released in the wake of “Vaultage 78”. As well as providing airtime on his shows, this included writing the sleevenotes for the 1979 “Street To Street” collection from Liverpool (see above), and help for the City Walls LP from Southampton, as detailed in Richard Williams’ book “A Curry With John Peel” (2019).

Taking an overview, the DJ described the 1979 LP “Avon Calling, The Bristol Collection' as "the compilation by which all others should now be judged... truly superb and not a bad track on it".

The aim of this page is to list known Peel plays of such provincial v/a (various artist) compilations from UK areas without separate pages on this site. For other local indie collections, see pages for Scotland, Wales; Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Coventry, Isle Of Wight, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Norwich and Sheffield. Listings of plays of non-UK regional anthologies appear on related country pages.

Plays By Peel
(LP – Hicks From The Sticks) Rockburgh
 * Northern England
 * 31 March 1980: Airkraft: Move In Rhythm
 * 31 March 1980: Expelaires: Sympathy (Don't Be Taken In)
 * 31 March 1980: Clock DVA: You're Without Sound
 * 31 March 1980: Music For Pleasure: The Human Factor
 * 01 April 1980: Nightmares In Wax: Shangri-La
 * 01 April 1980: Ada Wilson & Keeping Dark: Head In The Clouds
 * 01 April 1980: Modern Eon: Choreography
 * 01 April 1980: Medium Medium: Them Or Me
 * 03 April 1980: I'm So Hollow: I Don't Know
 * 03 April 1980: Wah! Heat: Hey Disco Joe
 * 03 April 1980: Stranger Than Fiction: Immortal In Mirrors
 * 03 April 1980: Distributors: TV Me

(LP - South Specific) Brain Boosters
 * Portsmouth
 * 01 September 1980: Renaldo & The Loaf: A Medical Man
 * 04 September 1980: Dance Attack (X): Not Instrumental (It's A Dance Attack)

(See City Walls page.)
 * Southampton

(LP - New Wave From The Heart) Planet
 * South Yorkshire
 * 27 March 1979: Prams: Night Fever