In May 1976 Billboard, reporting on sales which Tempest is disappointed by, mentions that the Polydor deal is up for renewal in October of that year. Roy isn’t “displeased” with Polydor though, as the whole industry is suffering.
From late 1976 it’s clear that Polydor were out and Pye were in. Records such as Womble Stories, The Two Ronnies (REB 257) and Dreamsville (REC 275) all state that they are manufactured and distributed by Pye.
The Two Ron’s cassette has an RMC catalogue number, but Dreamsville sports a Pye style ZCM. Clearly there was an RMC catalogue number already allocated to those releases already in preparation. Afterwards cassettes return to a leading ZC for the next 700 or releases.
Meanwhile in records 7” size, Softly Softly March (RESL 35) and Fiddlers’ Rally (RESL 36), which date from October and December 1976, are the first of a long run of blue Pye Records labels. Now the singles’ label would be branded Records & Tapes too. In fact this label design would continue till 1984. On the picture sleeves,
Over on the BEEB side the label was also switched to paper with a new red colour and updated logo.