After acquiring the first AXIS record a few months ago I realised
that I had all 4 first releases. This realisation didn’t last very long and
somehow I got side tracked. I’ve just figured it out again and got very excited
(I’m easy to please!).
The first releases of 4AD weren’t actually under the name of
4AD. Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent were given a budget from the independent label
Beggars Banquet and told to start a new label. Ivo and Peter started calling
this new label AXIS. The first four releases were made under this label name
until they realised there was another record label already called AXIS. The
record label they may have been in trouble with could be the Axis label from
Australia, a budget label that seemed to mostly deal with EMI re-issues.
Realising that they couldn’t keep the label name AXIS, Ivo
Watts-Russell and Peter Kent changed the label name to 4AD.
But four releases had already been produced with the label
name as AXIS.
AXIS 1 – The Fast Set – Junction One
AXIS 2 – Bearz – She’s My Girl
AXIS 3 – Bauhaus – Dark Entries
AXIS 4 – Shox – No Turning Back
The first release with the catalogue number AXIS 1 was by a
band called The Fast Set and their 7” single Junction One. This was written by David
Knight and could be the same person who was involved with Shock Headed Peters
and also Danielle Dax later in the decade.
This single seems to sell around the £35 mark, but can sell
for over £50. It’s difficult to find this in good condition as the sleeve was made
from very thin paper.
The second release was by a band called Bearz with a 7”
single called She’s My Girl.
This single on average fetches around £17, but rarely goes for
above £19, although that doesn’t stop traders trying. It looks as though it was
also released in Italy on the WEA label, with a promo version released as well.
Both of these I am yet to confirm
The third release was a lot more successful. The band was
Bauhaus and the single called Dark Entries. This wasn’t Bauhaus’ first single
as they had released a single before with the label Small Wonder. The success of
this single was so great a further 5 versions of this single were subsequently released.
I will have a look at all 6 versions soon.
This is a great release to try and get hold of, as traders
don’t always know which version is worth more than another, and versions of
Dark Entries turn up all the time and are quite common. This version, however,
can easily be worth £18 and can fetch up to £35. But some traders will also try
their luck, this trader is asking £80!
The fourth and final release from AXIS was from a band
called Shox, with their 7” single No Turning Back. This release is also
difficult to get in good condition as the sleeve is white, which always dates
very easily with printed media. For some reason this seems to fetch a good
price, around £22, and can fetch over £48. I’m not sure why this is. This
single may have got re-released by Beggars Banquet, again I’m yet to confirm
this
The AXIS releases have “A”XIS on side A and “B”XIS on side B
So there you go. The complete AXIS releases. Out of these
the Bauhaus Dark Entries single is the most interesting as it got re-released a
further 5 times. I was struggling to get all six versions, but if the last one
I purchased this last week arrives, I should have all six to show you. Watch
this space….
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