Plankton Records. From the beginning …
In 1977 the rock band SEA STONE, featuring young guitarist/singer/song writer Simon Law, had recorded and were ready to release their debut album, but no record label could be found to release their uncompromising Christian message to the world! So, Simon decided to take action by setting up his own label and Plankton Records was born (so named because we are the smallest fish in the great sea of record labels). In 1978, 1,000 vinyl LPs of the album Mirrored Dreams were pressed and released into the world (this LP has become a much sought after collector’s item with mint condition copies known to have changed hands for £140.00 plus!) and after making a profit from the sales of the LP the money was ploughed back into the business.
Plankton Records, and its sister music publishing arm Sea Dream Music (see about Sea Dream Music page) which Simon had previously set up, were brought together under the ‘umbrella’ name of SANDCASTLE PRODUCTIONS.
Many other Christian artists have had releases on the label, most of whom we’ve come into contact with through Plankton’s presence at the Greenbelt Arts Festival for whom we ran the sadly missed Musician’s Advice Tent on the Fringe for a number of years. Keith Dixon became a partner in 1991 after having initially come into contact with Plankton Records when the band Medals, for whom he looked after the live sound and management/administration, released a cassette mini-album Blue Blood through the label. Simon and Keith ran the record label whilst working together for the Christian charity The Wavelength Trust were they worked in churches, schools and prisons across the UK, sharing about their faith and Simon performing both solo and with his band (when available).
In 1996, following a long time of working together, Simon and Keith went their separate ways work-wise as Simon fulfilled a long held desire and was ordained as a curate in the Church of England. Keith started working in the studio of the children’s audio company CYP Limited. With these new jobs and vocations, the output of releases from Plankton inevitably slowed until they actually stopped.
Then in 2006, following a five year hiatus, with Simon’s full blessing Keith decided to get Plankton Records active and working again in his spare time and he started with new CD projects with people such as old Plankton friend Ben Okafor, new band Mohabir Sisters and of course Simon’s long time band Fresh Claim who kept performing wherever and whenever the opportunity arose which included the annual Greenbelt Festival where Simon was still helping with managing one of the venues at the festival and playing with his band Fresh Claim whenever and wherever the opportunity arises!
Keith then set up the first Plankton Records website with news & information and an on-line shop that at last made our releases available on-line to answer the demand of people from all around the world who have frequently emailed him frustrated that they couldn’t get hold of Plankton products anywhere.
Keith has now placed a wide selection of our most recent and classic releases (including some titles no longer being available on a ‘physical’ format) onto all of the major digital music download and streaming sites worldwide, so Plankton’s music can be downloaded and listened to on your computer, tablet, phone or MP3 player anywhere in the world!
Because of his experiences in getting Plankton’s music available digitally worldwide and all of the hurdles and administration he overcame and the knowledge he acquired, Keith set up and now also runs a digital music aggregation service called DOXMEDIA (Check out their website www.doxmedia.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter) and in mid 2014 he also launched a new venture called DOX MUSIC SERVICES through which Keith can offer his experience, knowledge and skills regarding aspects of music copyright, registration, recording, manufacturing and distribution to writers, artists and creatives on a consultancy basis (Check out the website www.doxmusic.co.uk or follow them on Facebook or Twitter).
Keith still looks after all of the day to day running of Plankton Records in addition to his other ventures. Simon is also still a partner and he is a busy Vicar in Essex and whilst now not involved in the day to day running of the label he is still very much around in an advisory role and also oversees the accounts!
2018 was a landmark year for Plankton as it marks the label’s 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Simon returned to the studio for the first time since 2007 to record his first ever solo recording! ‘The Haven’ was released as a Worldwide digital single in October 2018 ahead of it’s inclusion as the closing track on a new compilation album ‘Plankton. The Second 20 Years. B 6th May 1978’ which was released in November 2018. This album was a companion compilation to the First 20 Years album that was released in 1998. Both albums were also packaged together as a 2CD slipcase set (and digital release) under the title ‘Plankton. B 6th May 1978. Forty Years. 1978 – 2018’. And to close off the celebrations a special 40th Anniversary Celebration Gig was staged in East London in November. Four Plankton Records artists played as part of the special evening and a strictly limited edition Plankton 40th Anniversary T-shirt was unveiled.
And since the 40th anniversary celebrations as we enter into the next 20 years we have continued working with Nine Beats Collective releasing remixes of several tracks and a brilliant and beautiful EP fronted by Heatherlyn and also a new album from Stuart Elwin. And Keith Dixon has become a radio presenter (apparently not called DJs anymore!) presenting a weekly show on UK radio station Flame CCR called “The Plankton Playlist” which features music from our vast and varied 40+ year back catalogue
And finally, for those of you who’d like to know everything about the record label, here is the complete list of all of our releases, starting with the most recent and working all the back to how it all began!
Complete Discography
CD= Compact Disc. Digital= Available as digital music. MC= Cassette. 7″= 7″ vinyl. LP= 12″ vinyl
CD-website shop = CD available to buy from this website (See shop or discography pages/sections).
Digital-all sites = Available from ALL leading music download and streaming sites Worldwide (including iTunes and Amazon)
| ARTIST | TITLE | Released | Cat No | Availability | ||||
| Stuart Elwin | Dreamscape | 2020 | PCDN 176 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Stuart Elwin | The Tongue Is A Fire | 2020 | PLANCD027 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Heatherlyn ft. Nine Beats Collective | Dance of the Deep – EP | 2020 | PCDN 177 | Digital – all sites
& Bandcamp |
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| Nine Beats Collective ft. Eric Leroy Wilson | Call ‘Em Out (Euro Remix) – single | 2020 | PLANCD26 | Digital – all sites
& Bandcamp |
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| Kosi EA All Stars | Kosi (All Stars Remix) – single | 2020 | PLANCD025 | Digital-all sites | ||||
| Nine Beats Collective ft. Barry Taylor | Wild World (Euro Remix) – single | 2019 | PLANCD024 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Various Artists | Plankton. B 6th May 1978. Forty Years 1978 – 2018 – double album | 2018 | PCDN 175 (2xCD, digital) | CD-website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Various Artists | Plankton. The Second 20 Years. B 6th May 1978 – album | 2018 | PCDN 174 (CD, digital) | CD-website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Simon Law | The Haven -Single | 2018 | PLANCD 023 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Bergdahl & Fielding | Family Celebrations – EP | 2018 | PLANCD 016 (CD, digital) | CD-website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Echo | Soul Proprietor – album | 2017 | PCDN 173 (CD, digital) | CD-website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Nine Beats Collective | Nine Beats to the Bar – album | 2017 | PKN 172 (Dbl Vinyl) | Vinyl -website shop
& Bandcamp |
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| Nine Beats Collective | Nine Beats to the Bar – album | 2017 | PCDN 172 (CD, digital) | CD – website shop
& Bandcamp Digital – all sites |
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| Nine Beats Collective ft. Rev Vince Anderson | #blessed – single | 2017 | PLANCD022 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Nine Beats Collective ft. Ambassada | Kosi – single | 2017 | PLANCD021 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Nine Beats Collective ft. Heatherlyn | What Can Love Create?- single | 2017 | PLANCD020 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Nine Beats Collective ft. Mikael R Andreasen | Nine Beats to the Bar – single | 2017 | PLANCD019 | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Ian Ventress | Mama – single | 2016 | PLANCD018 (Digital) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Matt JR Hurley | Raising Questions – EP | 2016 | PCDN 171 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Matt JR Hurley | Pebbles – single | 2016 | PLANCD017 (Digital) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| The Darn Funk Orchestra | Soul Food – album | 2016 | PCDN 170 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all stores |
||||
| Echo | You’re All I Need to Get By – EP | 2015 | PLANCD015 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Claire Grace | Fall deeper – single | 2015 | PLANCD014 (Digital) | Digital – all stores | ||||
| Disciplemakers | Harvest Fields – EP | 2015 | PLANCD013 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Vivienne Neville, Liz Clarke, Jackie Morris Bates, Mary-Kathryn | What a Friend We Have – album | 2014 | PCDN 169 (Digital) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Liz Clarke | Destiny – album | 2014 | PCDN 168 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Vivienne Neville, Liz Clarke, Jackie Morris Bates, Mary-Kathryn | What a Friend We Have in Jesus – single | 2014 | PLANCD012 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Echo | Bought Not Souled – album | 2014 | PCDN 167 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Ben Okafor | Mandela – single | 2013 | PLANCD779 (Digital) | Digital – all stores | ||||
| Vivienne Neville & Liz Clarke | Mary Did You Know? – single | 2012 | PLANCD011 (Digital) | Digital – all stores | ||||
| Vivienne Neville & Liz Clarke | Emmanuel – album | 2011 | PCDN 166 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
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| Liz Clarke | I Think About Jesus – single | 2011 | PLANCD010 (Digital) | Digital – all stores | ||||
| Vivienne Neville | Angels – single | 2011 | PLANCD009 (Digital) | Digital – all sites |
| Liz Clarke | Path of Dreams – album | 2011 | PCDN 165 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Vivienne Neville & Liz Clarke | Advent – EP | 2010 | PLANCD008 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Vivienne Neville | Veiled in Mystery – album | 2010 | PCDN 164 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Viv Neville | Holy One – EP | 2008 | PLANCD008 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Various | Volume One – EP | 2008 | IMCD001 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Ben Okafor | Child of Biafra – album | 2007 | PCDN 163 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Fresh Claim | Backdated Claims / Songs from the Rock Communion – double album | 2007 | PCDN 162 (CD) | CD – website shop | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Backdated Claims – album | 2007 | PCDN 162 (Digital) | Digital – all site | ||||
| Ben Okafor | Acoustic Close-Up – album | 2006 | PCDN 161 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all site |
||||
| Mohabir Sisters | Feel the Power – album | 2006 | PCDN 160 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Ben Okafor | Generation (Expanded & Remastered) – album | 2006 | PCDN 159 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Ignite Youth Ministry | The Basics – album | 2001 | PCN 158 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Nigel James | The Right Track – album | 2000 | PCN 157 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Ben Okafor | Coffee with Lazarus – album | 2000 | PCDN 156 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital -all sites |
||||
| Drottnar | Spiritual Battle – album | 2000 | PCDN 155 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital -all sites |
||||
| Nigel James | Big Ideas With… – album | 1998 | PCN 154 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Various | Plankton. The First 20 Years – album | 1998 | PCDN 153 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Ben Okafor | See Me Now – EP | 1998 | PLANCD006(CD,Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Stuart Elwin | Living in the Dark – album | 1998 | PCN 152 (MC, Digital) | Digital – all sites
MC – email for details |
||||
| Fresh Claim | Songs from the Rock Communion – album | 1997 | PCN 151 (MC, Digital) | Digital – all sites
MC – website shop |
||||
| Marc Catley & The Flaming Methodists | Char – album | 1996 | PCDN 150 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Various | Guar-A-Gig Live! – album | 1996 | PCDN 149 (CD, MC) | CD – website shop
MC – email for details |
||||
| Cliff Bergdahl | The Cry of Urgency | 1996 | PCDN 148 (CD, Digital, MC) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites MC – email for details |
||||
| Various | Grenbelt Fringe ’95 – album | 1995 | PCDN 147 (CD) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Broken – mini album | 1995 | PCDN 146 (CD, Digital, MC) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites MC – email for details |
||||
| The Newshounds | Newshounds – album | 1995 | PCN 145 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all sites
MC – website shop (part of double MC pack) |
||||
| Paley’s Watch | November – album | 1994 | PCDN 144 (CD) | CD – website shop | ||||
| Marc Catley & the Flaming Methodists | No Tomorrow – album | 1994 | PCN 143 (MC) | MC – email for details | ||||
| Fresh Claim & Friends | The Rock Communion – album | 1994 | PCN 142 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Stuart Elwin | Discerning Reality – album | 1994 | PCN 141 (MC) | MC – email for details | ||||
| True Addiction | Volume 1 – EP | 1994 | PLANC005 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Outstanding Claims – album | 1993 | PCN 140 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all sites
MC- website shop |
||||
| Marc Catley & Band | Hot Air For Jesus – album | 1993 | PCN 139 (MC) | MC- email for details | ||||
| Out of Darkness | The Celebration Club Sessions – album | 1993 | PCDN 138 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Ben Okafor | Generation – album | 1992 | PCDN 137
(CD, MC) |
CD – Deleted
MC – email for details |
||||
| Solid Air | Every Time Now – album | 1992 | PCDN 136 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Marc Catley | Make the Tea – album | 1992 | PCDN 135 (CD, Digital, MC) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites MC – email for details |
||||
| Marc Catley | The Peel of Hope – album | 1992 | PCN 777 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | In Times of Rain – mini album | 1992 | PCN 134 (MC) | Digital – all sites
MC – email for details |
||||
| Marc Catley & Geoff Mann | Fine Difference – album | 1992 | PCDN 133 (CD, Digital) | CD – website shop
Digital – all sites |
||||
| Playing for Keeps | Positive Alternative – album | 1992 | SD006 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Soapbox – EP | 1991 | PCN 132 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all songs | ||||
| Trevor Speaks | To Eric – mini album | 1991 | PCN 131 (Digital, MC) | Digital -all sites
MC – email for details |
||||
| Mar Catley & Geoff Mann | The Off the End of the Pier Show – album | 1991 | PCDN 130
(CD, digital, MC) |
CD – Deleted
Digital – all sites MC – email for details |
||||
| Various | Light Factory – album | 1991 | PCN 129 (MC) | MC- website shop (part of double MC pack) | ||||
| Medals | The Demo Tape – EP | 1991 | SD005 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Medals | Blue Blood | 1990 | PCN 128 (MC) | MC – email for details | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Don’t Wanna Be Like – single | 1989 | SD004 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Hud’s Continental – mini album | 1989 | PCN 127 (MC) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Solid Air | Pride & Pain – album | 1989 | PCN 126 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Catch 22 | Acoustic Energy – EP | 1989 | SD003 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | No Claims Bonus (Live) – album | 1988 | PCN 125 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Zipcodes | Sold Sight Unseen – album | 1988 | PCN 124 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Marc Catley & Geoff Mann | In Difference – album | 1988 | PCN 123 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Catch 22 | The Cry From Within | 1988 | PCN 122 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Fresh Claim | Odd One Out – mini album | 1987 | PCN 121 (MC) | Digital – all sites
MC – email for details |
||||
| Ruth Turner / Cheryl Mead | Living In The Love – album | 1987 | PCN 120 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Really Free Band | Never Surrender – album | 1987 | PKN 119 (LP) | LP – email for details | ||||
| Hampshire Primary School Choir | Sing a New Song – single | 1987 | PLANK 004 (7″) | 7″ – email for details | ||||
| Pete Ward | Distance Grows – EP | 1986 | PCN 118 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Catch 22 | The Single – single | 1986 | PLANK 003 (7″) | 7″ – email for details | ||||
| Solid Air | Way Past Bedtime – album | 1986 | PCN 117 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Various | Light Factory / Bus Stops – album | 1986 | PCN 116 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Marc Catley | Classical Acoustic Rock – album | 1985 | PCN 115 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| The Crimeless Criminals | Soul Inspiring – EP | 1985 | PCN 114 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Really Free Band | Jesus Our Love – EP | 1985 | PCN 113 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Really Free Band | Reverence – EP | 1985 | PCN 112 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Pete Ward | Unusual Shade – EP | 1985 | PCN 111 (Digital, MC) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Catch 22 | The Demo – EP | 1985 | SD002 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Various | Greenbelt Fringe ’84 – album | 1984 | PCN 110 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| W6 Theatre Co | Wenzani – album | 1984 | PCN 109 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Intransit | Out of the Dark – EP | 1984 | PCN 108 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Solid Air | It Ain’t Gonna Happen – album | 1984 | PCN 107 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Bahumutsi | Umongikazi (The Nurse) / The Hungry Earth – album | 1983 | PCN 106 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Pete Ward | Between the Eyes – EP | 1983 | PCN 105 (CD) | Digital – all sites | ||||
| Steve Swallow | So Long Held Back – EP | 1983 | PCN 104 (MC) | Never released | ||||
| Pete Ward | Ron Goes to Town – EP | 1983 | PCN 103 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Sea Stone | The Rejected Statistic | 1983 | PCN 102 (MC) | Never released | ||||
| Pete Ward | Barber St Two Track – EP | 1982 | SD001 (MC) | Deleted | ||||
| Sea Stone | Against the Tide – EP | 1982 | PLANK 002 (7″) | 7″ – email for details | ||||
| Sea Stone | Summer Fever – Single | 1980 | PLANK 001 (7″) | 7″ – email for details | ||||
| Sea Stone | Mirrored Dreams – Album | 1978 | PKN 101
(Digital, LP) |
Digital – all sites |