Rough Trade Records To Release 7” Singles Box Set

To celebrate label’s formative years, on 20 June, Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1 covers the influential indie label’s early releases between 1978 and 1980 featuring Augustus Pablo, The Raincoats, Cabaret Voltaire, Swell Maps and more, with Rough Trade 45s: Volume 2 covering 1980-1993 due to release later in 2025.

Boasting eight classic 45s that followed the label’s formation out of the original Rough Trade shop in West London in 1978, Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1 features the likes of Augustus Pablo, The Raincoats and Young Marble Giants, several of its key, early seven-inch singles.

The eight singles, which have been recreated especially for this edition, were handpicked by Rough Trade Records co-MDs, Jeannette Lee and Geoff Travis, who were key players in the DIY nexus that formed around the first Rough Trade shop in the late 1970s.”There wasn’t much commercial thinking behind starting a label out of the first Rough Trade shop, not much planning,” recalls Geoff Travis of Rough Trade Records’ beginnings. ”We were just doing things out of love, really.”

Accompanying the singles, a new long-form conversation between the pair serves as the sleeve notes for the release, which is illustrated with exclusive archive photography sourced in collaboration with many of the era’s greatest photographers, plus new quotes from the artists themselves and notable fans also feature.

Reflecting this passion behind its foundation, rather than a dry definitive history of the label’s early years, the boxset represents a personal and musical history, as inspired by Rough Trade’s recent 45th anniversary, Geoff and Jeannette have selected tracks that represent moments of true creative spark from the time. ”I used to shop at Rough Trade before I joined the label, and everyone knew it was the place to go to find interesting music,” explains Jeannette Lee of the memories that influenced their track selection, ”Geoff and I just sat down and the tracks just came to us like that! We’re celebrating 45-plus years of the label, and we could easily have picked 45 seven-inches. There have been so many good singles!”

So many, in fact, that a second volume of 45s will follow later this year on 26 September, covering the years 1980 to 1993. It is set to include music from the likes of Mazzy Star, Scritti Politti, Jonathan Richman, The Sundays, and more. Full details will be confirmed soon.

Each copy of Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1 will be individually numbered, while the run is limited to just 1000 copies worldwide.

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Pre-order Rough Trade 45s: Volume 1 HERE.

Tracklisting – 

Augustus Pablo – Pablo Meets Mr Bassie
B-side Mr Bassie Special!
RT002 (1978)

Stiff Little Fingers – Alternative Ulster
B-side 78 Revolutions A Minute (78RPM)
RT004 (1978)

Subway Sect – Ambition
B-side Different Story
RT007 (1978)

Swell Maps – Read About Seymour
B-sides Ripped & Torn and Black Velvet
RT010 (1978)

The Raincoats – Fairytale In The Supermarket
B-sides In Love & Adventures Close To Home
RT013 (1979)

Cabaret Voltaire-Nag Nag Nag
B-side Is That Me (Finding Someone At The Door Again?)
RT018 (1979)

The Pop Group – We Are All Prostitutes
B-side Amnesty International Report On British Army Torture Of Irish Prisoners
RT023 (1979)

Young Marble Giants – Final Day
Second track on A side – Radio Silents
B-side Cakewalking
RT043 (1980)