Cheapskate Records
{{Short description|British record label}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox record label
| name = Cheapskate Records
| image =
| image_bg =
| parent =
| founded = 1979
| status = Defunct
| distributor = RCA (1980-82)
| genre =
| country = UK
}}
Cheapskate Records was a record label established by Slade bassist Jim Lea and his brother Frank Lea in 1979. It was active until 1982, however was later briefly revived for the release of three Slade singles in 1987–88. Aside from Slade, some of the artists on the label were The Dummies, The Ska-Dows, Sue Wilkinson, Roy Wood, Tich Turner's Escalator, Malcolm Roberts, Top Secret and The Glitter Band.{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/label/cheapskate |title=Cheapskate Label Discography - UK |publisher=45cat |access-date=14 May 2018}}
History
Cheapskate Records was originally created to release a one-off single by The Dummies,{{cite web|url=http://www.7tt77.co.uk/CHEAPSKATE.html |title=Cheapskate |publisher=7tt77.co.uk |access-date=14 May 2018}} a musical project formed by Jim Lea of Slade and his brother Frank. After recording a demo version of Slade's "When the Lights Are Out" in 1978, a major record label expressed interest in releasing the song, but insisted a proper recording be made. This was done in 1979,{{cite web|url=http://www.donpowellofficial.com/dons-1979-diary.html |title=Don's 1979 Diary - Don Powell Official Website |publisher=Donpowellofficial.com |access-date=14 May 2018}} however the label then opted not to release it,The New Slade Fan Club - Frank Lea interview - July–August 1980 newsletter prompting the Leas to form Cheapskate.{{cite web|url=http://www.jimleamusic.com/history.html |title=History |publisher=jimleamusic.com |date=16 November 2002 |access-date=14 May 2018}} Frank wanted to prove that any independent label, with the right promotion and distribution, could release a hit single and "When the Lights Are Out" surfaced in December 1979. The song achieved extensive radio play, but suffered from distribution problems.{{cite web|url=http://www.jimleamusic.com/qa-2017.html |title=Q&A 2017 |publisher=jimleamusic.com |access-date=14 May 2018}}
In 1980, the Leas decided to continue the label to release other artists' recordings, and Slade's manager Chas Chandler joined the team during this time.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3jj_AgAAQBAJ&q=%22cheapskate+records%22 |title=Look Wot I Dun: Don Powell of Slade - Don Powell, Lise Lyng Falkenberg - Google Books |date= 11 October 2013|isbn=9781783230006 |access-date=14 May 2018|last1=Powell |first1=Don |last2=Falkenberg |first2=Lise Lyng |publisher=Omnibus Press }} Frank Lea handled the label's business and management, while Jim was considered the "musical man" and Chandler the "money man".{{cite book |title=Slade, Feel the Noize!: an illustrated biography |last=Charlesworth |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Charlesworth |year=1984 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=0-7119-0538-X |page=94 }} The first release following the Dummies was the Ska-Dows' single "Apache", released in June 1980.{{cite news |first=Mike|last=Stand|title=Independent Bitz: Singles |newspaper=Smash Hits |pages=16 |date=26 June 1980}} The following single, "You Gotta Be a Hustler If You Wanna Get On" by Sue Wilkinson, was the label's first chart entry, reaching No. 25 in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18653/sue-wilkinson/ |title=SUE WILKINSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |access-date=14 May 2018}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dQJnCwAAQBAJ&q=%22cheapskate+records%22+lea&pg=PT137 |title=Feeling Like a Number One - Steve Binnie - Google Books |date= 6 January 2016|isbn=9781326525224 |access-date=14 May 2018|last1=Binnie |first1=Steve |publisher=Lulu.com }} The Dummies' "Didn't You Use to Use to Be You?" followed in August 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/cheap3 |title=The Dummies - Didn't You Use To Use To Be You? / Miles Out To Sea - Cheapskate - UK - CHEAP 3 |publisher=45cat |access-date=14 May 2018}} Like their debut, the single generated much airplay and was expected to become a big hit after being placed on BBC Radio 1's 'A' playlist,The New Slade Fan Club - News in brief - September–October 1980 newsletter but suffered distribution issues.Slade International Fan Club - Jim Lea interview - September–December 1986 newsletter
With Slade having suffered a period of low popularity since the mid-1970s, the band also signed to the label in 1980. Their debut on Cheapskate was the extended play Alive at Reading, recorded at the band's comeback gig at the 1980 Reading Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/cheap5 |title=Slade - Alive At Reading '80 - Cheapskate - UK |publisher=45cat |access-date=14 May 2018}} It reached No. 44 in the UK.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/30945/slade/ |title=Slade | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company |publisher=Officialcharts.com |access-date=14 May 2018}} The label also released the debut single of Roy Wood's Helicopters in October that year, although it failed to chart.{{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Roy+Wood%27s+Helicopters&titel=Rock+City&cat=s |title=Roy Wood's Helicopters - Rock City |publisher=austriancharts.at |date=20 June 2017 |access-date=14 May 2018}} The label's biggest charting success was Slade's "We'll Bring the House Down", which was released in January 1981 and reached No. 10.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=slade+we%27ll+bring+the+house+down+january+1981&pg=RA27-PA1979 |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music - Colin Larkin - Google Books |date=27 May 2011 |isbn=9780857125958 |access-date=14 May 2018|last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |publisher=Omnibus Press }} Cheapskate also released the band's album of the same name that year, which reached No. 25, along with the single "Wheels Ain't Coming Down", which peaked at No. 60.
In late 1981, disagreements between Chandler and Frank Lea resulted in Lea selling his share of the label and forming the independent Speed Records.{{cite book |title=Slade, Feel the Noize!: an illustrated biography |last=Charlesworth |first=Chris |author-link=Chris Charlesworth |year=1984 |publisher=Omnibus Press |location=London |isbn=0-7119-0538-X |page=89 }}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q58IAQAAMAAJ&q=%22cheapskate+records%22 |title=Young, Gifted and Black: The Story of Trojan Records - Michael De Koningh, Laurence Cane-Honeysett - Google Books |date=18 May 2010 |isbn=9781860744648 |access-date=14 May 2018|last1=Koningh |first1=Michael De |last2=Cane-Honeysett |first2=Laurence |publisher=Sanctuary }} Chandler continued Cheapskate until 1982, with the final release being The Glitter Band's "Heartbeat to Heartache", released in October 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.45cat.com/record/cheap101 |title=The Glitter Band - Heartbeat To Heartache / I Don't Want To See You Tonight - Cheapskate - UK - CHEAP 101 |publisher=45cat |access-date=14 May 2018}} The label was later briefly revived by the Leas in 1987-88 after RCA dropped Slade. It was used for the release of three of the band's singles; "You Boyz Make Big Noize" (UK No. 94), "We Won't Give In" (UK No. 121) and "Let's Dance".{{cite web|url=http://www.donpowellofficial.com/timeline.html |title=Timeline - Don Powell Official Website |publisher=Donpowellofficial.com |access-date=14 May 2018}}
See also
References
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Category:Record labels established in 1979