Kassner Music client Cherry Red Records has acquired Sweet N Sour Songs, the publishing arm of London-based late 70s/80s independent label Safari Records, as part of a wider deal that also sees Cherry Red take control of Safari’s master recordings.
Safari Records was most notable for its extended chart success with Toyah, including the top 10 hits “It’s A Mystery” (UK #4), “I Want To Be Free” (UK #8) and “Thunder In The Mountains” (UK #4). Her 1981 album “Anthem” soared to number 2 and remained in the charts for a full year, achieving Gold status.
Other popular Safari artists included reggae band Weapon Of Peace, Scottish new wave act Those French Girls and perhaps most memorably Wayne County (later Jayne County), an American performer, musician and actor who was at the forefront of punk with The Electric Chairs and had success with tracks such as “Eddie And Sheena”, “Thunder When She Walks” and the single that launched the label, “F**k Off”.
The Sweet N Sour catalogue contains the publishing rights to all of the Safari hits and will be administered worldwide by Kassner Music. All Safari/Sweet n Sour tracks are available for one-stop clearance.
You can listen to “I Want To Be Free” by Toyah and “Eddie & Sheena” by The Electric Chairs here