Looks like a straight reissue, no bonus tracks or what have you... not even "hear the wind blow". Amazon track listing could of course just be wrong, but there's no other real info about it yet!
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:04 (four years ago) link
this better not be some sketchy Amazon boot
― sleeve, Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:06 (four years ago) link
It's Prime and ships from and sold by Amazon so that's a good sign.
― Spencer Chow, Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:12 (four years ago) link
ha, i don't think i knew that "hear the wind blow" isn't on some versions ...
― tylerw, Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:12 (four years ago) link
it's not on the vinyl version, it was a CD bonus track originally
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:29 (four years ago) link
^^ yeah it was a B-side
― sleeve, Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:37 (four years ago) link
I thought Hear the Wind Blow was only ever on the Early Recordings CD... they could add Soul Giver and Freight Train, those b-sides never appeared on CD before I don't think?
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 3 October 2019 17:43 (four years ago) link
oh yes you are correct, was thinking abt Freight Train
the version of Soul Giver on that 12" is the same as on Happy Nightmare Baby iirc
― sleeve, Thursday, 3 October 2019 18:11 (four years ago) link
hrmmmm
I’m Kendra Smith’s manager - while we are in discussions, nothing has been approved yet. This had better not be real, just yet.— Pat Thomas (@PatThomas1964) October 3, 2019
― tylerw, Thursday, 3 October 2019 20:27 (four years ago) link
I must admit I'm glad to know that she has a manager
― sleeve, Thursday, 3 October 2019 20:39 (four years ago) link
haha, yeah, seems unlikely, but that guy is legit, I think.
― tylerw, Thursday, 3 October 2019 20:48 (four years ago) link
normally I'd be suspicious if the artist themselves said nothing about a reissue, but with Opal I'd be more suspicious if they did.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 3 October 2019 20:51 (four years ago) link
haha, yeah, seems unlikely, but that guy is legit, I think
I didn't know he was handling Kendra's stuff, but Pat is definitely legit.
― Elvis Telecom, Friday, 4 October 2019 22:55 (four years ago) link
I played Early Recordings for the first time in maybe ten years and I have to say I remember liking it more than I do. I think in my old age I actually prefer Happy Nightmare Baby. I don't remember all the lousy slide playing on this album! Total respect and admiration for Roback as a guitarist but Kendra remains the draw for me. And I still love the Rainy Day album more than all the Opal and Mazzy Star albums combined.
That said, if a reissue of Early Recordings materializes, I'll probably buy it, as my copy of this is beat to hell.
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 9 October 2019 19:14 (four years ago) link
This is now in stock...
― Spencer Chow, Saturday, 2 November 2019 17:42 (four years ago) link
here's the latest from pat thomas:
I had to have this release postponed until the record company recognizes Kendra’s % of ownership - records are sitting in warehouse awaiting legitimacy- should be soon, I hope— Pat Thomas (@PatThomas1964) November 2, 2019
― tylerw, Saturday, 2 November 2019 18:18 (four years ago) link
thanks Tyler
― Book Doula (sleeve), Saturday, 2 November 2019 21:07 (four years ago) link
I believe Amazon is already shipping these (it says shipped from and sold by Amazon - delivery by tomorrow). I'd order it but I already have the earlier CD.
― Spencer Chow, Sunday, 3 November 2019 17:11 (four years ago) link
yeah i don't really know, haha.
― tylerw, Sunday, 3 November 2019 17:36 (four years ago) link
I wonder what source was used to master the thing... did they just take the CD version and master it for vinyl, lopping off "Hear the Wind Blow"?
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Sunday, 3 November 2019 17:50 (four years ago) link
This is a CD.
― Spencer Chow, Monday, 4 November 2019 06:00 (four years ago) link
The new CD comes with the original CD bonus track "Hear the Wind Blow" plus four additional bonus tracks: "I Called Erin," "Don't Stop the Train," "Sailing Boats" and an alternate version of "Empty Bottles." It sounds great (i.e. not compressed), and the bonus tracks are wonderful. I have been waiting for a legit reissue for a long, long time (25+ years) since I refused to pay collector prices, ha (and yes, I did download MP3s to tide me over). "Empty Box Blues" goes through my head *all the time*. For the record, Rainy Day's cover of "Flying on the Ground is Wrong" is one of my favorite tracks ever recorded by anyone.
― ernestp, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 00:48 (four years ago) link
Rainy Day reissue next, I hope? That album kills Early Recordings (and I have always really liked Early Recordings)
Anyway, I bought this.
― Paul Ponzi, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 00:56 (four years ago) link
xpost - thanks for the report! I think I've only seen "Sailing Boats" on 'Early Recordings 2'.
Ordering this now.
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 01:01 (four years ago) link
And yes, fingers crossed for 'Rainy Day'.
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 01:03 (four years ago) link
double wow! it was listed as a vinyl release on amazon initially
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 01:09 (four years ago) link
Ah, ok. I'm really glad it's not just some vinyl repackage.
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 6 November 2019 01:13 (four years ago) link
gahhhh OK thanks
― Book Doula (sleeve), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 03:04 (four years ago) link
can anyone give me a link to buy other than Amazon?
― Book Doula (sleeve), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 03:06 (four years ago) link
oh hell yeah looks like they did Happy Nightmare Baby as well
https://www.roughtrade.com/us/opal/happy-nightmare-baby
― Book Doula (sleeve), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 05:32 (four years ago) link
would kinda like to know who is behind these reissues
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 05:46 (four years ago) link
love Sailing Boats, can't wait to hear the others!
― ( X '____' )/ (zappi), Wednesday, 6 November 2019 08:49 (four years ago) link
Re: "who is behind these reissues" - in the credits, it says: "2019 reissue Frank Gironda- Lookout Mgt., Pat Thomas"
― ernestp, Thursday, 7 November 2019 12:15 (four years ago) link
OK, that's Mazzy Star's management company.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Thursday, 7 November 2019 14:40 (four years ago) link
Rainy Day reissue next, I hope?
Happy Nightmare Baby reissue now has a listing on Amazon US with a Nov 1 release date, still unavailable though:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X7CP219
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Sunday, 24 November 2019 18:08 (four years ago) link
Early Recordings reissue is still not listed on Discogs, so I assume there are no actual physical copies out there yet:
https://www.discogs.com/Opal-Early-Recordings/master/30242
― Book Doula (sleeve), Sunday, 24 November 2019 20:56 (four years ago) link
there are, I have one
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Sunday, 24 November 2019 22:44 (four years ago) link
ah cool!
― Book Doula (sleeve), Sunday, 24 November 2019 22:52 (four years ago) link
god damn it this appears to have vanished completely, still not listed on Discogs and unavailable anywhere (even Amazon)
f. hazel plz ILXmail me if you can rip yr copy?
so frustrating
― subway Stalinist (sleeve), Tuesday, 7 January 2020 01:25 (four years ago) link
The CD reissue of Happy Nightmare Baby also vanished, I assume the few copies Amazon got last year of Early Recordings were not meant to be sold, in reference to the tweet from Pat Thomas about the reissues being embargoed until the royalties for Kendra Smith get worked out.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Tuesday, 7 January 2020 17:10 (four years ago) link
haha, the saga continues ... the reissues are listed for preorder over here, but who knows: https://www.propermusic.com/label/s/sally-gardens.html
― tylerw, Tuesday, 7 January 2020 17:20 (four years ago) link
in the meantime, i recently came across a 1985 recording (with opening set by Hope Sandoval's first band): https://ia801509.us.archive.org/32/items/Opal1985-04-22TexasRecordsLosAngelesCA/Opal1985-04-22TexasRecordsLosAngelesCA.mp3?cnt=0
GOING HOME (opener)OPAL1985-04-22Texas Records L.A.(CA) USA
Going Home:1. Give You My Lovin' 3:532. The Scarecrow 4:323. 2:414. 2:09Total: 13:15
Opal:5. Lisa's Funeral 8:036. Rock Section 7:097. Blue Flower 4:588. Lullabye 6:039. She's A Diamond 3:3010. Fell From The Sun 4:4911. Soul Giver 9:24
― tylerw, Tuesday, 7 January 2020 17:22 (four years ago) link
thx for the webmail f. hazel, much appreciated!
― subway Stalinist (sleeve), Tuesday, 7 January 2020 17:46 (four years ago) link
thanks tylerw, a Kendra version of Blue Flower is pretty cool, and the fuzzed out Lullabye too! complete with dude creeping on Hope Sandoval after their set... Mazzy Star played Blue Flower and Rock Section when I saw them last February!
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 04:03 (four years ago) link
dear f. hazel, sorry to bother you but I have not seen a second email from you, just checking!
― let's talk about gecs baby (sleeve), Tuesday, 4 February 2020 18:49 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OsKEMrh_W0
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 00:03 (four years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWuUYFF31rQ
― an incoherent crustacean (MatthewK), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 00:29 (four years ago) link
via Ned on FB:
Pat Thomas just posted a note including this: "I manage Kendra. There will be some news soon about Opal reissues. Please do NOT ask me any more details about the release of Opal at this time. Roback made some magical music (with many of my close friends) - my favorite is the early Opal material."
― sleeve, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 01:47 (four years ago) link
Roback made some magical music
MAGICK POWER
― Jersey Al (Albert R. Broccoli), Wednesday, 26 February 2020 03:40 (four years ago) link
Just the most amazing song (and video)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6g1IvcwL5Y
― Spencer Chow, Wednesday, 26 February 2020 06:03 (four years ago) link