(c’78-’83) Thumb was a small independent label based out of 83 Waltham Avenue, Guildford and owned by Tony Leach, who was in Headwaiter. Their LPs and singles shared the same TR-000 numerical series.

Their first release was TR-001, a various artists LP entitled ‘Who Invited Them?’ in ’78 that featured four Guildford bands: Headwaiter, House, Poker, and the Jackie Lynton H.D. Band. The Jackie Lynton H.D. Band were also responsible the labels next two releases. The LP, ‘Till We’re Blue In The Face’ (TR-002) in ’79, which was released in two version, the more collectable featuring blue vinyl. This LP release was accompanied by TR-003, the bands 7″ titled ‘Dan (The Hedgehog Song)’, and Thumbs’ only single. The ‘B’ side, ‘Farting With The Famous’, was co-written by Rick Parfitt, of Status Quo.

Reading based Mainline’s ‘Where We Are Now’ (TR-004) came out in ’81, apparently selling 500 copies in New South Wales, Australia and making it a local No.1. Interestingly we can find no record of a TR-005. In ’83, two years after Mainline’s LP, Thumb put out the Jackie Lynton Band’s ‘White Line’ (TR-006), which they had recorded at Jacob Studios.

The label’s next and final release came in 2010. This was label creator and owner Tony Leach’s own pop balladry LP “Reunion” (TR-007). This project saw Leach, who regrettably left this realm in 2015, and fellow ex-Headwaiter member Sev Lewkowicz get together again. Lewkowicz as well as producing, engineering and mixing the album contributed keyboards, electric guitar, bass, and backing vocals. They also roped in Lesley Broughton (backing vocals), Arthur Bainbridge (drums), and Dick Middleton (electric guitar) – but only on track 8.

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