Anyone DJ’ing back in the day will often notice the word ‘Porky’ etched into the innermost rings on many pieces of vinyl.
I often thought this was a joke, but only when browsing Discogs years ago did I become aware of who this pseudonym was referring to.
This moniker belonged to George Peckham, a legendary British lacquer-cutting and mastering engineer affectionately known as “Porky” (as in “a Porky prime cut”).
He had a remarkable career spanning iconic artists such as Genesis, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and Whitehouse – leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.
He began his journey as a trainee at Apple Studios in 1968; his distinctive signature can be discovered in the deadwax/runout grooves of numerous UK-pressed rock, punk, post-punk, and new-wave records.
Porky’s enigmatic and humorous messages often grace these etchings, adding an intriguing dimension to the vinyl experience.
Anyway, his signature can be found on many classic dance music vinyls. And if you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the fella watch these great YouTube videos.
They’re a good watch as he mastered everything, not just rock. And it’s fascinating seeing what’s behind the vinyl mastering process. He is a mastering legend and probably one of the best in the business.
