A cool blast from the past...
Back in time with original vintage bootleg cassettes - but good!
Using original tapes, re-recorded with the best-quality shows and unique material, these cassettes are a great alternative listen and very collectable.
Cassettes currently available...
On A Friday (Radiohead)
Abingdon School & Shindig Demos
C90: Two sets of original material recorded by Radiohead whilst at school in 1986 and early studio sessions from 1990. 26 tracks including "Frigile Friend", "Climbing Up a Bloody Great Hill" and Upside Down.
Mixed quality to be sure, but by no means all bad and certainly worth catching up with Radiohead's formative years.
First Tapes (Manic Hedgehog Demos)
C46: Replica cassette of On a Friday's professionally-recorded demos. 5 good tracks as the band come to life. This really is as close to the real thing as you can get - created using the real cassette as a template.
Tracks are "I can't", thinking about you", "nothing touches me", phillipa chicken" and "you"
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Japan
C60 of Japan's earliest recordings. Made by the band on a portable cassette recorder during a practice session. Some of the13 tracks are later developed for the Adolescent Sex album released the following year, but there are many unique songs that never surfaced again including "Mementoes of Your Love", Diamonds Make You Feel Like a Woman"; "Body Rhythm", "Going Round" and "Stepping Out".
The sound quality is okay, not great, but very listenable and it's a must for all Japan fans.
Live at the BBC
C90: Superb compilation of Japan at the Beeb. The best live recording of the band in 1981 at the Hammersmith Apollo recorded for BBC In Concert programme, complete with DJ intro, and the band's appearances on the Old Grey Whistle Test. Includes Mick Karn with Angie Bowie on OGWT and 2 acoustic tracks by a solo David Sylvian on BBC2 Riverside programme in 1982 (shape of things to come).
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OMD
Excellent soundboard recording of influential synth-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark during an early european tour. Great full show including early material and cover version of Velvet's "Waiting for the Man"
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alex.relaxandswing@gmail.com
Postage is £3 for up to 3 tapes (£6 international)
/// More cassettes coming soon ///
