A Flash from the Past
In March 2020, following the World Health Organisation’s declaration of COVID-19 as a global public health emergency, the UK entered its first nationwide lockdown. At the time, we were fortunate that Riverfish Studio was already fully equipped for digital working. As restrictions gradually eased and limited studio work became possible again, we received a call quite unexpectedly from Tot Taylor.
We had previously heard that Tot and his partner Tina (aka Virna Lindt) lived in Cornwall, not far from Penzance, following a coincidental re-introduction through our good friend Chris Lapsa. Tot had previously visited the studio some years earlier and got back in touch during the lockdown period, with an interest in recording and mixing material from his back catalogue — including works by Virna Lindt and Mari Wilson — alongside new recordings of his own.
As soon as it was safe to do so, Tot travelled to Riverfish Studio to work with Joe. The studio space comfortably accommodated the recommended social-distancing measures at the time, with doors and windows open where possible and a fastidious cleaning process in place throughout. It was a warm summer in Cornwall, and we all felt grateful for the opportunity — and the space — to be able to work again.
A Shared History
Joe first met Tot in the early 1980s while working as an assistant engineer at Music Works studio just off the Holloway Road, owned by Jo Julian and Al Taylor. Tot was interested in the young band that Joe was a member of and took a punt on a couple of tracks. This was in fact, Joe’s first release, “Shake Shake”, it reached number one in the indie charts and was followed by “Yellow Ditty”. Both tracks were released in 1982 by Tot Taylor’s influential label The Compact Organisation as part of “A Young Person’s Guide to Compact”.
Founded in London in 1981, The Compact Organisation was the brainchild of Tot Taylor — a chic, stylised label inspired by New York’s ZE Records. Its distinctive roster included Virna Lindt, Mari Wilson, Shake/Shake, Miss Cynthia Scott and The Beautiful Americans, among others.
Many of these releases were later brought together in a limited-edition compilation, featuring early singles, key album tracks and rare recordings — including non-album singles by Virna Lindt and a live recording by Mari Wilson from a Compact showcase in London in October 1981.
Tot Taylor now runs the label The Campus, where his catalogue and new releases can be found on Bandcamp:
https://thecampus.bandcamp.com/music
