Probe Plus

Probe Plus is a record label based in Liverpool, England. It was founded by Geoff Davies, an enthusiastic promoter of small, unsigned bands, who describes the label as "Music to drive you to drink".

The label was started in May 1981, its first release being the self-titled debut EP by Ex Post Facto. For years the label was based in an office above the Probe Records shop in Rainford Gardens. Due to a change in building ownership both the shop and label were forced to move and Davies set up office in his house. After marrying Anne in 1999, they moved house and he continued to run the label from there.

Probe Plus has a number of bands to their name including Kelso, Dead Poppies and Marlowe. In 1990, the label released "Colours", the first single by No-Man, who later signed to One Little Indian and Epic/Sony.

The label is perhaps best known for Half Man Half Biscuit, who have been signed to the label since 1985. Davies signed the group on the basis of a tape they gave to him, saying "I thought that if the tape was half as good as the titles then I'd want to record this group". The band's debut album sold over 50,000 copies, enabling Davies to plough money back into the label.

Probe Plus were later home to a number of Welsh bands, including Fflaps who released a Welsh-language album on the label.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel

As noted by the official Probe Plus website, in the mid-1980s the Liverpool label cemented “a long and fruitful relationship with John Peel, who would go on to request sessions from thirteen of the label’s bands.”[1]

H is for... Half Man Half Biscuit

A keen supporter of music from his native Merseyside, the DJ was an early and hugely enthusiastic fan of Probe Plus mainstays Half Man Half Biscuit, who remained a staple of his show over two decades, as recounted on the 2012 John Peel Center video “H is for ... Half Man Half Biscuit”, featuring HMHB’s Nigel Blackwell and Geoff Davis of Probe Plus. The band remained with the label until the retirement of Geoff Davis in July 2021.[2]

Other Peel session artists on the Probe Plus roster included Levellers 5 and Calvin Party, both bands featuring John Donaldson, who returned to the Festive Fifty after Peel’s death as a solo artist under the name JD Meatyard.

Sessions

Probe Plus artists who recorded Peel sessions. List includes sessions when the artists were not on Probe Plus. According to the label's website, 13 Probe Plus bands recorded Peel sessions. Perhaps not included in this total were Anhrefn, whose "Dragons Revenge" was a co-release by Probe Plus and Crai.[3] Probe Plus also distributed other Peel session bands, including Personal Column (releases on Contrast Records).[4]

• Attila The Stockbroker: (2 sessions, 1982-83)
• Calvin Party: (4 sessions 1994-2004)
• Cook Da Books: (2 sessions, 1983-84)
• Jegsy Dodd: (1 session, 1985)
• Ex-Post Facto: (1 session, 1984)
• Fflaps: (2 sessions, 1988-90)
• Half Man Half Biscuit: (12 sessions, 1985-2004)
• High Five: (3 sessions, 1982-84)
• Levellers 5: (3 sessions, 1990-92)
• Marlowe: (1 session, 2003)
• Mel-O-Tones: (1 session, 1985)
• Tractors: (1 session, 1987)
• Walking Seeds: (4 sessions, 1987-90)

Festive Fifty

According to The Festive Fifty by Mark Whitby (1st edition, 2005, pg195), Probe Plus had the joint 16th most Festive Fifty entries of any label in Peel's lifetime (with 14, level with Cog-Sinister and Stiff), and the joint 15th highest number of separate tracks (14, level with Cog-Sinister and Duophonic). These totals may not be consistent with lists below. Please add more information if known.

The list below covers Festive Fifty entries on Probe Plus; it does not include entries by Probe Plus artists on other labels. Former Probe Plus artist Jegsy Dodd (with the Sons Of Harry Cross) had the 2005 Festive Fifty #1 (with the Original Sinners), with the track "Grumpy Old Men" (released by Piffle Records / Cherry Red).[5]

• Calvin Party: 1996 Festive Fifty: Lies, Lies & Government #33
• Half Man Half Biscuit: 1986 Festive Fifty: Trumpton Riots #14 / Dickie Davies' Eyes #39 // 1996 Festive Fifty: Paintball's Coming Home (Peel Session) #43 // 1998 Festive Fifty: Turn A Blind Eye #25 // 1999 Festive Fifty: Look Dad No Tunes #11 / 24 Hour Garage People (Peel Session) #30 // 2000 Festive Fifty: 24 Hour Garage People (LP version) #32 / Irk The Purists #37 // 2001 Festive Fifty: Bob Wilson Anchorman #13 / Vatican Broadside #16 // 2002 Festive Fifty: The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Is The Light Of An Oncoming Train) #14 / Breaking News #37 // 2003 Festive Fifty: Tending The Wrong Grave For 23 Years #07 / It Makes The Room Look Bigger #28

Post-Peel

• Calvin Party: 2004 Festive Fifty: Northern Song #41

• Half Man Half Biscuit: 2004 Festive Fifty: Joy Division Oven Gloves' (Peel Session) #08 // 2005 Festive Fifty: Joy Division Oven Gloves (LP version) #19 // 2007 Festive Fifty: National Shite Day #21 / Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show #35 // 2011 Festive Fifty: Joy In Leeuwarden (We Are Ready) #19 // 2014 Festive Fifty: 'The Unfortunate Gwatkin' #03 / Urge For Offal (Dandelion Radio) #24 // 2018 Festive Fifty: Every Time A Bell Rings #02 / Bladderwrack Allowance #14 / Harsh Times In Umberstone Covert #17 / Knobheads On Quiz Shows #47

• JD Meatyard: 2011 Festive Fifty: Olive Tree #11 // 2013 Festive Fifty Jesse James #6 / Blow It Out Your Arse #26 // 2014 Festive Fifty: Taking Over The Asylum #42

Links

• Wikipedia
• Discogs
• Official site