Fast Product

Fast Product was an independent record label, established in Edinburgh by Bob Last, his partner, Hilary Morrison and Tim Pearce in December 1977. Its first release was also the first single by the Mekons, released on 20 January 1978.

The label issued the first records by a number of early and influential post-punk bands from Northern England, including the original Human League, Gang of Four and the Mekons. Fast Product also released the first singles by the Scottish punk bands Scars and The Flowers. The label also released compilations of various new bands called 'ear comics' or Earcom. Many of the label's releases were also produced by Bob Last with Morrison producing photographs and visuals for the record sleeves.

Fast Product's releases challenged pop music conventions (hence the label's early monikers: "difficult fun" and "mutant pop"), and through its releases and marketing invoked a DIY punk spirit and generally socialist political outlook.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel[]

Along with Postcard in Glasgow, Fast Product was a pioneer label in the storied history of Scottish indie, which was an important part of Peel's shows over the decades from the late 1970s. Fast Product co-founder Bob Last had been manager of JP favourites the Rezillos.

According to available tracklistings on this site, Peel played at least 11 of Fast Product's 12 vinyl releases (made up of 11 singles, including EPs, and one compilation LP, licensed to EMI). At present, the only exception is the Scottish label's second single (FAST 2), "Where To Now?" / "All Time Low" by 2.3, although his positive comments on 13 October 1978 suggest that this may well have also received airtime.

The DJ was also happy to book Fast Product bands for sessions, as the Edinburgh label quickly made waves with a string of acclaimed debut singles by celebrated northern English outfits including Mekons, Human League and Gang Of Four, as well as 'Earcom' compilation EPs featuring mainly Scottish talent - but also Joy Division. In addition, Fast Product was responsible for the British release of US punk classic 'California Uber Alles' by the Dead Kennedys, which entered annual Peel show Festive Fifty charts for three straight years from 1979.

Although Fast Product was short-lived, Peel would continue to follow the fortunes of some of its former bands after they signed to major labels, especially the Mekons and Gang Of Four.

As well as managing chart acts Human League and Heaven 17, Fast Product head Bob Last would go to establish the Pop Aural indie label, which released Peel session bands such as Boots For Dancing, Flowers and Fire Engines.

Sessions[]

(Fast Product artists, including those who appeared only on compilations, who recorded Peel sessions. List includes sessions when the artists were not on Fast Product.)

Blank Students: (1 session, 1981)
Flowers: (1 session, 1979)
Gang Of Four: (3 sessions, 1979-81)
Human League: (1 session, 1978)
Joy Division: (2 sessions, 1979)
Mekons: (6 sessions, 1978-87)
Prats: (1 session, 1979)
Scars: (2 sessions, 1980-81)

Festive Fifty[]

(The list below covers Festive Fifty entries on Fast Product; it does not include entries by Fast Product artists on other labels.)

1979 Festive Fifty: Mekons: Where Were You? #41 / Dead Kennedys: California Uber Alles #33^[1]
1980 Festive Fifty: Dead Kennedys: California Uber Alles #31
1981 Festive Fifty: Dead Kennedys: California Uber Alles #42

Mentions[]

(For Peel plays of single-artist releases on Fast Product, see artist pages for Mekons, Human League, Gang Of Four, Scars, Flowers, Dead Kennedys.)

13 October 1978: (JP: “Now Fast Records have established a fairly wonderful track so far I think, with Mekons, 2.3 and the Human League, and their latest release features Gang Of Four, and all three tracks from the thing are excellent, so I shall play you them all.”)
- Gang Of Four: Damaged Goods / Armalite Rifle / Love Like Anthrax (single) Fast Product
04 June 1979: Flowers: Criminal Waste (12" - Earcom 1) Fast Product (JP: "I was looking at something called 'Dialectics Meets Disco' in the Melody Maker, and I see that Bob Last, who's the brains behind Fast Records...sells little plastic bags full of old photos from the Sunday supplements, orange peel, and empty cake packets as 'an ironic criticism/celebration of consumer society'. Well, it seems like a rather wonderful way of making money, so if any of you would like any paper bags filled with old orange peel, I'm sure I could rustle up something for you. Limited edition, of course, called 'Jack's Return Home'. Send your money to me now. (Don't do that, I'm not supposed to say that on the radio.)")
11 September 1979: (JP wonders aloud when Earcom 2 will be released on Fast Records ... the one that went on to feature Joy Division.)
12 December 1979: Flowers: Life After Dark (single) Fast Product (JP: "More Fast product… It comes with a useful press handout, which as it says at the top, most people just chuck them straight in the bin. They've actually put neat little dotted lines that you can fold along and turn it into a dart and fling it into the bin without even leaving your chair. Quite useful really. In fact, I shall do that while I'm listening to this next record.")
24 March 1981: (From John's comments after the Joy Division record, it seems that Bob Last (owner of labels Fast Product and Pop Aural) was a studio guest.)