Cliff Bergdahl (here pictured on the left following a recent meeting near the BBC in London with Plankton partner Keith Dixon on a rather dodgy selfie!) is a man that has had a long long association with Plankton Records. Simon Law, the founder and still partner in Plankton played with Cliff in his Really Free Band in the 1970s touring churches, schools and prisons across the UK.
In 1985, long after Simon had left Really Free and set up his own band Sea Stone and then launched Plankton Records, Cliff and the Really Free Band released their first Plankton title – a cassette called ‘Reverence’. Since then, Cliff (as both the leader of Really Free Band and also as a solo artist) has released several titles through Plankton, the last being ‘The Cry of Urgency” in 1996 (CD available from this website’s on-line store and also a digital release on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide)
Forward 20 years to now and Cliff is back with at least 2 projects to be released with Plankton Records in the next year. “The first release”, stated Cliff, “is a real family affair as it includes three generations of our family. It’s a four song EP that features myself and Char my wife, our kids – who are all great singers and musicians, and my grand children who provide some great vocals too!”
“The second release is going to be a re-release of a Really Free project. I’ve had it remastered and it sounds great! I’m also working on a third project too at the moment but it’s too early to say how and when that will appear. I need to talk that through further with Keith at Plankton”.
So, 2016 (possibly into early 2017) will see an EP and an album released through Plankton involving different areas, and eras, of Cliff’s long musical journey and career. Watch this website for more details.
We can today confirm the first details of the next Plankton release. It will be the debut album from THE DARN FUNK ORCHESTRA called “Soul Food”. The album will feature 12 original tracks, all composed by band leader, singer and drummer James ‘Jimmy’ Darn (1 track with two co-writers) and it will be available on CD (from this website and via Amazon in the UK) and on all major digital download and streaming sites Worldwide.
The only detail left to be 100% confirmed is the actual release date of the album as we await confirmation of delivery date from the plant etc. The target release date is Friday January 29
I’ve been reminded this week by my Linked-In page that I (this is Keith Dixon posting this item) became a Partner in Plankton Records in January 1991! My, how times flies! So, on this momentous (ha ha ha) occasion I thought I share a few thoughts and memories of the last 25 years.
Plankton Records was launched in 1978 by Simon Law (who remains the other Partner with me to this day). I got to know Simon in the late 80s. We both lived close to each other in the East London borough of Newham (where I still live) and the band I was working with (as sound man, roadie and ‘manager’) which at that time was called “Against The Tide” played a few local gigs and festivals with Simon’s band “Fresh Claim”. Simon then talked to us about releasing some music on his record label and in 1990, by which time the band had changed some personnel and changed their name, the “Medals” cassette 6 song EP ‘Blue Blood’ was released (‘Blue Blood’ is to be made available on all major digital music download and streaming sites Worldwide at some point this year). I then started working as a self-employed painter and decorator and was employed by Simon to decorated several rooms in his house, which included the Plankton Records head office in, what would normally have been, the front bedroom. As time went on I spent less time decorating and more time sitting and working with Simon in the office and then Simon suggested I became a partner – Hey presto! A dream fulfilled – I’d always wanted to work in the ‘music industry’ (how glamorous does that sound!).
In 1991, my first year, I got to sing some backing vocals on a recording we did of kids songs for Scripture Union (called ‘Newshounds’ – available on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide!) in Studio 2 at ICC studios in Eastbourne (for whom I would later work for for one year in the mid 2000’s) and we released our first CD (Marc Catley & Geoff Mann’s “The Off The End OF The Pier Show” – CD available from this website’s store and also on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide!) which was very exciting but in all truth I had very little involvement in as Marc Catley had sorted it all out and presented us with stock at the Greenbelt festival, where Plankton Records ran the Musician’s Advice Tent on the Fringe until the Fringe was unfortunately axed!
In 1992 we released the “Generation” album for Ben Okafor on CD and cassette. This was very exciting for me as Ben, at that time, was fairly well known within the UK CCM scene and was unique in so much as he was mainly a reggae artist. It was ,and still is a fantastic album and I was actively involved in the song selection and also designed the lettering used on the front of the album and also designing and setting all of the artwork. Ben launched the album at a packed Big Top appearance at Greenbelt that year and it received to great acclaim by both reviewers and fans.
Many more events, gigs, missions and releases of all kinds followed during the 90s. We produced a company T-shirt (see pic) and in 1995, when CDs were still a new and expensive format for independent artists, I organised the compiling and release of the 20 track “Greenbelt Fringe ’95” CD which featured 20 artists that appeared on that year’s Fringe programme. It proved a very popular idea and sold really well.
Then in 2000, following Simon completing a degree at Oak Hill College, he fulfilled a long held ambition and was ordained as an Anglican curate. I found myself a job working with a company supplying kid’s music to major UK High Street stores. So, apart from releasing a teaching cassette in 2001 for some old friends in Cardiff (Gary Smith and Nigel James’ “Big Ideas”) Plankton very much went into mothballs for several years.
Then in 2006 I decided I wanted to re-activate Plankton and with Simon still available to help with accounts and book keeping when needed, and still performing recording with “Fresh Claim”, I took the reigns as effectively a one man operation. In the first year we released two albums with Ben Okafor – a remastered and extended version of his classic 1992 ‘Generation’ album and a wonderful acoustic album ‘Acoustic Close’ (CDs of both albums available from this website’s store and also on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide!) as well as a CD for the dynamic “Mohabir Sisters” who were 5 actual sisters who mixed gospel and soul beautifully, with some brilliant vocal harmonies (‘Feel The Power’ CD available from this website’s store and also on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide!).
I also spent over a year trying to get Plankton’s album available on the (at the time) new digital music sites, which were totally dominated by iTunes. It took a lot of research, time, energy and paperwork and it was a steep learning curve. It was because of all the contacts I’d made and everything I’d learned that I decide to launch the aggregation service DOXMEDIA (‘Dox’ was my nick name as a kid) which still running and growing to this day (check out the Doxmedia website, Facebook and Twitter pages), helping artists and their labels avoid all the hassle and trouble I’d experienced and to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for them to place their music on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide.
I’ve now been involved with around 40 releases on Plankton (albums, EPs and singles), almost 25 of which have been released since the 2006 re-launch and I have to say that I still get the same joy and excitement when a new release launches as I always did. And it still carries on. There’s a new album coming very soon for “Darn Funk Orchestra” and hopefully a new EP soon from a very old Plankton friend and I’m also talking with “Echo” about their second album. Here’s to many more!
It’s been a joy to work with all of the artists over the years (a big thank you to you all) and I hope to keep helping, supporting and encouraging artists through Plankton Records for a long time yet!
It’s been a little while since we posted news on our favourite soul band ECHO so here is some news of a recent gig and an upcoming radio appearance.
Throughout 2015 ECHO have played a series of intimate stripped back events in the Kenya Coffee House in Romford. For their last appearance there this year in November they were joined by the talented ‘B Naturals’. (The picture above is from the gig.) The two bands, together with the audience raised over £1000 for two charities. Well done to everyone and a big thanks to everyone who came and contributed so generously.
On Monday December 14, ECHO will be making turn to London’s Premier Radio and between 8.00-9.00am ECHO will be appearing on John Pantry’s Inspirational Breakfast Show. The band told us “We’ll be on for an hour, singing and playing live, chatting etc, come and join us!”
For a link to the breakfast show on Premier’s website, click here
We are pleased to announce that as of Friday 6th November the CD version of the beautiful Plankton Records Christmas album “Emmanuel” by Vivienne Neville & Liz Clarke is available from both this website and Amazon (in the UK) for only £5.99
This stunning atmospheric festive album won rave reviews from the critics and it was listed as one of the 12 best Christmas albums of the year in 2012 by a leading UK CCM website.
Vivienne and Liz have also done several Christmas tours performing the songs from “Emmanuel” to great acclaim from audiences.
Liz Clarke Moffatt, who has released several albums and singles on Plankton Records (the CDs of which are available from this website’s store), has started a crowd funding campaign with Sheffield based Rocket Fuel to fund the recording of her brand new album.
Liz says “My mission in life is to bless and inspire those who listen to my music and to bring encouragement and hope to as wide an audience as possible. I have a real passion to see people come into the presence of God through worship and I currently have an array of new songs which I am ready to record. I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to support and be a part of this journey with me.”
Liz informed us that no plans or timetable are in place but obviously she is looking to release the album during 2016.
Please take a look Liz’s artist campaign page and see the various ideas and options to help you think about supporting her new music click here
Whilst continuing with her music, Plankton Records artist VIVIENNE NEVILLE has been branching out in a few new areas recently, which includes becoming a DJ on two UK radio stations.
On Saturday at 10am (UK GMT) you can listen in to Vivienne on Eternal Radio. You can listen to this show by clicking here
On Sunday at 2pm and Thursday at 6pm (UK GMT) you can find Vivienne on Ignition Radio. You can listen to this show by clicking here
As well as fitting in her DJ work Vivienne has also set up an artist management agency in her native North East of England, which is called VJ Artist Management. Click here to go to their Facebook page
She’s a busy woman! You can check out Vivienne’s music on this website via our artist and discography sections
Echo are set to provide the highlight closing set at the upcoming KingsStock festival. Performing at 4.10pm on Sunday 23rd August on the main Impact stage, Echo will be final band to take any stage and the festival audience will be treated to their highly danceable mix of Motown and classic soul, with a lyrical twist. They’ll be sure to be performing their latest release “You’re All I Need To Get By” along with lots of other sing along classics.
This will be Echo’s third appearance at the festival and its one of their highlights of the year. As their Facebook page states “We love KingsStock!”
Also performing on the Impact stage, but on Saturday at 3.40pm is the DARN FUNK ORCHESTRA who are currently remixing their upcoming debut album “Soul Food” which is set for a Plankton Records release as soon as it is finished – Watch this space!
To see a video showing the full line up at this year’s festival, click here
Weekend and day tickets are available and will also be available ‘on the gate’. For full ticket details, click here
Our friends at top UK CCM website Cross Rhythms have posted a great review of the recently released ‘Harvest Fields’ EP by DiscipleMakers. The review mentioned all the members of the band and the reviewer also had good things to say about the label too with him first coming across us (the label) at a gig by Plankton band FRESH CLAIM that he attending some time ago!
The EP is available from all leading music download and streaming sites Worldwide, including iTunes and Amazon and a very limited number of CDs of the EP are available from this very site, click here
The website of Onward Christian Radio have just posted a brand new article about Plankton Records artist Vivienne Neville. It also includes a video interview recorded a few days ago which discusses what Vivienne is doing now to help other artists with the launch of her music artist management company and it also talks about her music too, both what is already available and future plans. Finally, there’s also their review of her brilliant “Veiled In Mystery” album.
The full article and interview are well worth taking a look at. Click here
Vivienne’s music is available on all major music download and streaming sites Worldwide and her CDs (both solo and with other artists) are available from this very website. Check out our discography page Click here
