Related books

Saydisc and the literary muse

In the early 1970s, Saydisc's Matchbox label released various LPs that complemented recently published books on aspects of the blues. One Saydisc release was issued with an integral booklet and, much later in the history, several CD/cassette releases were jointly issued with booklets specially for use in UK primary and secondary education. Other items include a dramatisation based on a classic diaristic work plus records of poets reading their previously-published poetry. And let's not forget Kenneth Williams, reading from a anthology of parlour poetry!
The list below is ordered by record release date (and or catalogue number sequence), not in the order of book publication.

ET-1400 - Memphis Minnie: 1941-1949 (31 January 1968)

ET-1403 - Memphis Minnie: 1934-1941 (1969, Saydisc matrix is SDL 165)

Both records were limited editions of 99 copies, pressed via Saydisc (although the matrix on the first is an unhelpful HOS 007 and HOS 008 rather than the more usual Saydisc "SDL" matrix number). Both LPs complemented Pete Moody's November 1967 self-published booklet Memphis Minnie. See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

No catalogue number - Big Maceo with Tampa Red: In Chicago 1941-1946 (1970, Saydisc matrix is SDL 174)

Limited edition of 99 copies, pressed via Saydisc. The LP complements Pete Moody's March 1968 self-published booklet Big Maceo. See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

SDR 191 - Peetie Wheatstraw: The Devil's Son-in-Law (1930-36) (1970)
SDR 192 - Peetie Wheatstraw: The High Sheriff from Hell (1936-38) (1970)

The Matchbox release of The Devil's Son-in-Law could be viewed as ironic in context, because a book of that name by Paul Garon was published by November Books the following year. Both LPs, despite already existing, could easily be used to illustrate Garon's book.
A further book was planned by David Peel and an essay, Oooh, well, well, well, it's The Peetie Wheatstraw Stomps, published in the US only, by Belltower Books, in 1972. The proposed book was intended to directly support both Matchbox LPs plus another LP currently available on the Blues Classics label, all of which are named in the essay.
See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information on both books.

SDR 213 - Little Brother Montgomery: 1930-1969 (1971)
SDM 223 - Little Brother Montgomery: Home Again (1972)

Although not directly referencing the 1970 Blues Paperbacks book, Deep South Piano, by Carl Gert zur Heide, the timing for releasing two LPs by the book's subject, Little Brother Montgomery, seems to have been either serendipitous or, more likely, thoroughly deliberate. See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

SDX 219 - Antarctica: A Portrait in Wildlife and Natural Sound (1971)

This lavish LP was the only Saydisc release to be housed in a gatefold sleeve design in the company's first 24 years, and it included a 24-page booklet, published by Saydisc Specialized Recordings Ltd. The photos and text were by Edwin Mickleburgh, with photos from the British Antarctic Survey 1968-1971.

SDM 224 - The Legacy of Tommy Johnson (1972)

This LP was compiled by David Evans to accompany his book, Tommy Johnson, (November Books, 1971). See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

SDM 225 - Big Road Blues (1972) - NOT ISSUED.

White label test pressings exist with sleeve notes prepared and cover photo chosen. The book, however, was swallowed up in the publishing company's demise in 1972 and was not eventually published until 1982, by which time it had been updated with a further nine years of research. See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

SDM 226 - Blues from the Delta (1972)

This was compiled by William Ferris, Jr. (as per book, or Bill Ferris, according to the sleeve notes) to illustrate his book of the same name (November Books, 1971). See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

SDL 268 - Frank Mansell: Cotswold Ballads (1975)

Mansell reads some of his poetry from his book of the same name, with some translated into songs, sung by Celia Carroll and Peter Tatham, with musical accompaniment. The original publication was by The Wittantree Press, 1969.
he copy of the book held by the author in the photograph on the rear of the sleeve is the 1974 reprint by Gloucestershire publishers, Richard Courtauld (the yellow jacket).

SDL 280 - Tish Stubbs & Tim Richards: Invitation to North America (1977)

Although this book was published by Collins in 1979 and had an accompanying LP released by Transatlantic (MTRA 2011), several of the songs covered in the book had previously been recorded on the above Saydisc LP, these being Callerforney, When That I Was Weary, Paul Jones, Wolfe and Saunders and I Wish That the Wars Were All Over.

Original hardback

SDL 294 - Parlour Poetry with Kenneth Williams (1978)

The pieces chosen for this LP were from Michael R. Turner's collection, Parlour Poetry, published in hardback by Michael Joseph (1967, with similar jacket to LP design) and paperback by Pan Books (1974). The sleeve notes and sleeve illustration are also by Turner.

SDX 309 - Timothy Davies: Kilvert's Diary (1980)

This LP is a dramatisation, with music, of the book, Kilvert's Diary, edited by William Plover. The Sleeve notes state that the book is published by Jonathan Cape Ltd., which published a new edition of the three volume, hardback, boxed set in 1977. However, an abridged Penguin TV tie-in paperback edition* was current at time of recording (the 1978 reprint) and both book and record share a similar basic jacket image, this being a (slightly different) photograph of Timothy Davies as Francis Kilvert from the 1977-1978 BBC TV series (18 fifteen-minute episodes). I'll add an image of the then contemporary hardback box set as soon as I can source a decent enough image.
*The abridged one-volume version was first published by Johnathan Cape in 1944.

SDL 316 - Forest Talk (1981)

Various readings on this live recording come from previously-published works. Winifred Foley's poems, Washin' Day and Big Ambitions are from No Pipe Dreams for Father (The Forest Bookshop, 1977), whilst The Hat is from A Child in the Forest (BBC Publications, 1974). All the Keith Morgan selections are from The 'Azards O' Chimmuck Szwippin' (The Forest Bookshop, 1978).

SDL 320 - Norman Goodland: My Old Chap (1981)

Readings of his own Wessex verse from the anthology of the same name (Southern Collectors Publications, 1979). The photo used on the LP sleeve was taken during the same photo session as one used for Goodland's book, Country Craftiness (Paul Cave Publications, 1981), which is also name-checked in Goodland's sleeve notes.
Image coming just as soon as a copy turns up somewhere. Until one turns up, here's a clip of Norman Goodland from Southern TV, recorded the same year as the LP.

MSEX 2001/2002 - Songsters & Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records Vol. 1 (1984)
MSEX 2003/2004 - Songsters & Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records Vol. 2 (1984)

Both of the above 2-LP sets were issued to complement Paul Oliver's 1984 publication, Songsters & Saints: Vocal Traditions on Race Records, Cambridge University Press. See Blues from the Avon Delta: the Matchbox Blues Story for further information.

CD-KS 1001/CKS 1001 - Listen to This! (Key Stage 1) (1995)

This was a specially-produced teaching pack for schools, comprising an A4-sized booklet of teaching notes with either a CD or cassette of musical examples for use in teaching, both bundled in a PVC 'blister pack'. The booklet was written by education consultant, Christine Richards. The booklet was later given a makeover (possibly in 2001) to make it a bit more colourful (I'll add as and if an image comes to light).
The creasing visible right and left, bottom, shows that this copy was bundled with the CD rather than the cassette.

CD-KS 1002/CKS 1002 - Listen to This! (Key Stage 2) (1995)

Details as per Listen to This! (Key Stage 1) above. The booklet jacket is a lot more blue than the photo would suggest. The booklet was later given a makeover (possibly in 2001) to make it a bit more colourful (I'll add as and if an image comes to light).
As per previous illustration, he creasing shows that this copy was bundled with the CD.

CD-KS 1003/CKS 1003 - Listen to This! (Key Stage 3) (1995)

Details as per Listen to This! (Key Stage 1) above. The booklet jacket is a lot more green than the photo would suggest. The booklet was later given a makeover (possibly in 2001) to make it a bit more colourful (I'll add as and if an image comes to light).

CD-KS 1004/CKS 1004 - Percussion Around the World (1995?)

This was a specially-produced teaching pack for schools, comprising a booklet of teaching notes (by Christine Richards?), wall chart and CD or cassette of musical examples for use in teaching. Hopefully, images and further details to come once I've managed to find a copy.

CD-SDLC 424 - Free Sampler of Saydisc and Amon Ra Albums (1997)

Saydisc's 1997, A5-sized catalogue included a CD of excerpts, mounted on the inner cover. 10,000 copies were printed and distributed to customers and trade. The CD was numbered amongst the normal SD catalogue sequence.

CD-KS 1005 - Religions of the World (2001)

This was a specially-produced teaching pack for schools, comprising an A4-sized booklet of teaching notes and wall chart with a CD of musical examples for use in teaching mounted on the inside cover. The booklet was written by Christine Richards. The book was published by Saydisc, whilst the wallchart was published by PCET Publishing.

CDSDL441 - Gef Lucena: South Moon Riding (2016)

This was an A5-sized book of Gef Lucena's verse with CD of same mounted on the inner cover.

CDSDL454 - Gef Lucena: Forest Bathing (2020)

Promotional and review copies of the above-numbered CD were accompanied by an attractive A4-sized songbook, which was given the overall set number of SBK453. As per CDSDL441, the CD was mounted on the inner cover. Trivia: my copy arrived on either 29 or 30 June (the days seem to merge, what with Covid-19 and all that).
Otherwise the book and CD had to be purchased separately because major retailers would have refused to stock the book/CD bundle because of the complexities of CDs incurring VAT and books not (plus numerous variations in other territories).
The commercially released version of the book, minus CD, was assigned SBK455.