Operation Twilight

Operation Twilight
Parent company
Founded1982
Founder
StatusDefunct
Distributor(s)Rough Trade
Genre
Country of originUnited Kingdom
LocationLondon

Operation Twilight was a British record label, the UK branch of Belgian label Les Disques du Crépuscule. It was run by Patrick Moore, who now writes as Philip Hoare.

Moore was working for Rough Trade Records at the time, and described the genesis of Operation Twilight thus: "Geoff Travis [Rough Trade] and Michel Duval [Crépuscule] cooked up a plan in January 1982 where I would start up the UK equivalent of Les Disques du Crépuscule. Michel had a sort of James Bond idea about it — it would be the James Bond version of Crépuscule — Operation Twilight."[1]

Operation Twilight closed in 1983, though most of the artists - including Paul Haig, Antena, Tuxedomoon, Thick Pigeon - would continue to release records on Les Disques du Crépuscule. The label is also noteworthy for launching the career of the Pale Fountains.

Discography

This discography includes unreleased items that nevertheless were given a catalogue number.[2]

No. Artist Title Format Date Notes
OPT 001 Tuxedomoon Divine LP 1982-05-14
OPT 002 Antena The Boy from Ipanema / Spiral Staircase 7" 1982-06 Also 7" (TWI 073) and 12" (TWI 074) on Crépuscule, RAD 16 on Crépuscule Section Française[3]
OPT 003 Paul Haig Running Away / Time 7" 1982-05-21 UK Independent Chart #19.[4] Also 7" (TWI 088) and 12" (TWI 089) on Crépuscule in Belgium, TWA-82501 on Crépuscule America
OPT 004 Virginia Astley LP Initial contracts were drawn up but never signed. Even so, the release frequently appeared on release schedules.
OPT 005 The French Impressionists 7" A later 12" was released on Crépuscule in Belgium.
OPT 006 Howard Devoto Heart Beats Up Love book Unreleased collection of Magazine lyrics
OPT 007 The Twilight Set badges 1983 Paul Haig, Antena, The Lost Jockey, Tuxedomoon, The Pale Fountains, Matisse
OPT 008 Paul Haig Justice 7", 12" Reached test pressing stage; cancelled due to deal with Island
OPT 009 The Pale Fountains (There's Always) Something On My Mind / Just A Girl[5] 7" 1982-07 Also Crépuscule 12" TWI 118 (with different sleeve and extra track)[6]
OPT 010 Antena 12"
OPT 011 The Lost Jockey Professor Slack / Rise & Fall / Animal Behaviour / Crude Din 10" Re-released 1983 by Battersea Records as 12"
OPT 012 R.O.L. Blue For You 12" Paul Haig recording released as flexidisc with Masterbag #13 (8–21 July 1982); released on Crépuscule/Interference as TWI 106/INT-01
OPT 013 Robots toy robots with projectile heads Promotional pack
OPT 014 Paul Haig LP Allocated catalogue number, but by this time Haig was recording Rhythm of Life for Island.
OPT 015 The Pale Fountains Thank You 7", 12" Later released by Virgin
OPT 016 Mikado Romance / Ce Garcon-La 7" 1983-01 Originally released 1982-10 as Crépuscule TWI 104
OPT 017 Twilight Star badge Logo badge
OPT 018 Ralf Dörper Erazerhead (Assault / Erazerhead / Lorelei / Im Himmel) 12" 1983-02
OPT 019 Propaganda Diziplin 12" cover of "Discipline" by Throbbing Gristle, Rough Trade opposed its release
OPT 020 Thick Pigeon / The French Impressionists Santa Baby / Jingle Bell Rock 7" 1982-12 split Christmas single
OPT 021 Andy Warhol Interview cassette unreleased due to copyright issues
OPT 022 Various artists Antelopes and Alligators
OPT 023 23 Skidoo The Culling Is Coming LP 1983-02 Also Crépuscule TWI 123
OPT 024 April Showers While the City Sleeps 7" Recorded, artwork designed, never pressed

References

  1. ^ "The Pale Fountains | Biography | Les Disques du Crépuscule". Lesdisquesducrepuscule.com. 26 April 1982. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Operation Twilight: Main Discography". Home.wxs.nl. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Antena - The Boy From Ipanema (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  4. ^ Lazell, Barry (1998) Indie Hits 1980-1989, Cherry Red Books, ISBN 0-9517206-9-4, p. 107
  5. ^ "Pale Fountains, The - (There's Always) Something On My Mind (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Pale Fountains, The - (There's Always) Something On My Mind (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs. 4 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2020.