Dindisc was a UK record label, an imprint of Virgin Records but operating semi-independently, which issued new releases from mid-1979 through early 1982. It is no longer active, but CD reissues on Virgin still mention the label and have Dindisc catalogue numbers. The imprint was founded and run by Carol Wilson, who had previously discovered Sting and signed him to Virgin's music publishing company. Talking about the signing of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark to Dindisc, she later said: "OMD were a perfect fit for what I had in mind for DinDisc — they had a serious, artistic side with real depth, as well as a commercial, pop side. That duality was reflected in all the early DinDisc signings, like Martha and the Muffins, and then the Monochrome Set." Many of the company's sleeves were designed by the in-housedesignerPeter Saville. Saville had started at Factory Records, but came to Wilson's attention when she signed Factory band OMD; she had been particularly interested by Saville's thermographic paper sleeve for the Factory release of "Electricity". Saville delivered the artwork for the Dindisc release of "Electricity" and asked Wilson if Dindisc needed an art director. Saville and Ben Kelly won a Designers and Art Directors Award for their work on the albumOrchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. The label's first release was "Where's the Boy for Me" by the Rezillos, released in September 1979. The label's most notable chart successes included Martha and the Muffins' "Echo Beach" and several early singles by OMD, including "Enola Gay", "Souvenir", "Joan of Arc" and "Maid of Orleans ", all of which hitthe UKtop 10 in 1980/81. The label ceased operations after the release of Hot Gossip's "I Don't Depend on You" in February 1982, after Wilson failed to obtain a shareholding. The Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark single "Maid of Orleans " had the final number in catalogue sequence, but was actually released a few weeks earlier, in January 1982. The dissolution of Dindisc led to Saville and Brett Wickens establishing their own studio, Peter Saville Associates..
