Waverley - Biography

Biography - Waverley

UK

this is a very brief first attempt only; please feel free to expand & improve:

The Waverley Record label was started in 1959 after Thomas Bryce Laing, managing director of Geo. Jeffrey Ltd. of Edinburgh, opened one of the back rooms up as a recording studio equipped with a two-track recorder, etc, possibly as an extension of the furniture shop’s business in selling radiograms and early stereograms, which were substantial articles of furniture, and in order to encourage the growth of interest in that side of Jeffrey’s business - a three-to-four foot high, four-to-six foot wide and two foot six deep radiogram could quite easily cost a family 5-10% of their annual income, and more than that in the long run, if bought “on the never-never” (via hire purchase).

By September 1962 this back room had become craighall recording studio at Geo. Jeffrey Ltd.’s premises at 68 Craighall Road, Edinburgh, and the Waverley Record label was well established.

In 1966 Waverley Records or Geo. Jeffrey Ltd. contracted to supply the Gramophone Company Ltd. (or E.M.I. Ltd.) recordings of Scottish music, which relationship continued through to 1981 and E.M.I.’s closure of their MOR (middle of the road or easy listening) dept; though Waverley's back catalogue seems to have continued to be available to E.M.I.’s by-then 100%-owned Music for Pleasure label.

It's unclear whether the Gramophone Company / E.M.I. bought the Waverley label, together with its catalogue, or a substantial shareholding in it or in Geo. Jeffrey Ltd, negotiated to pay a lump sum in respect of licencing fees, or extended a loan, or similar, to provide the capital for the upgrading of Craighall Recording Studio’s facilities.

Waverley Records or the Waverley Record label continues to function in the CD (& now mp3) age, apparently being handled by Ross Records of Aberdeen.

corrections, expansions, further historical detail & elaboration welcome! - pp.

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