S/D -- The Numero Group

The Pups' reissues were five or so years after MTV Unplugged, and I don't think they were on London anymore at that point (or even a band, really). I remember hearing a story back then that they won access to heir tapes because Ginn erroneously sued them, and lost the case, and in doing so lost ownership of their tapes, but I kind of think that was just hearsay.

Gina/SST is such a mess. When I did my Black Flag book a few years back, it was near-impossible to get people to talk on record about his business activities. He's litigious, for sure.

Keith Morris has some things to say about that

http://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=RkHomVPQNU4

Hahahaha

Keith gave me some of the best quotes on Ginn, especially about the failed Ginn-led Flag reunion circa Rollins' West Memphis Three album.

The Pups' reissues were five or so years after MTV Unplugged, and I don't think they were on London anymore at that point (or even a band, really)

They still owed a record to London, or presumably must have, since Curt's band at the time changed their name to the Meat Puppets to release Golden Lies (and the You Love Me EP beforehand). This was just after the reissues, which were handled by Derrick way more than Curt (Cris was in the midst of his troubles at this stage).

Keith talked so much shit about Ginn from stage when I saw Flag, hilarious

Anyone else here who ordered the HD set still waiting on email confirmation? I ordered two days ago, and they look my money (my banks says so) but all I have is an order number via the website's account section - the actual item field is empty, and there's no download available (other say they've got theirs?). I've asked their Twitter but responses to others have been... terse. Doesn't give me a lot of confidence, even taking into account they're a small operation.

no email confirmation yet but this happened with their CD sale as well, and the traffic broke the website for a little while. wait and see, I guess? not ideal, I know.

i ordered it last night and got an email

Very excited for this. Especially the alternate Land Speed Record -- it drives me nuts that on CD everything is smooshed together onto 2 tracks. And a better performance and recording! I've had a decent reissue of Everything Comes Apart from the 90s that sounds better than most of the SST stuff. Still hold out hope that they'll rescue those SST albums.

xp well dammit now I'm a teensy bit concerned

Me too. Did they take your money as well?

probably, haven't checked. also not sure if the DL works yet, I'll try at home later.

I am comforted by the fact that there are order numbers in my account, though.

No email here as well and, like you said, same for the sale. It's in the system, I'm sure we're fine (went for the silver, can't wait to get this. hope that Terry K. gets his due in the booklet).

Went for the CDs with the 7" here (I'm sure the vinyl set is gorgeous but I couldn't justify it on aesthetic grounds alone). Hope they get things sorted over the next few days.

the vinyl is sold out right? how many copies did they press?

Just the silver vinyl. Black vinyl still up on the site and white vinyl going to retail

there were 500 silver sets iirc

gotcha. ha, that's awesome they pressed silver vinyl - it's so hard to describe but i always thought Bob's guitar sound was "silvery" - something about the stereo splitting & combination of the MXR distortion & using 2 harmonizers with one pitched flat & the other pitched sharp, creating that beautiful natural chorus sound.

What's the Pop-Up store like? How deep are the discounts/selection etc.? They're doing it here next week and need justification for re-arranging my schedule to attend.

i got the bedhead box for like $20 last year, it was kind of a fun vibe but a little crowded. don't torpedo your whole day but i'd go like.... 30 minutes out of my way

"cliff hanger for the next project" https://huskerdu.bandcamp.com/album/extra-circus

(I didn't know it was going to be released separately)

Was able to go. Discounts and selection not quite as deep as I'd like, but got there early and landed some neat stuff. Got the last sealed Syl Johnson box they had out for $50, and got some other soul comps.

In a bit of news, the counter guy said the Husker sets should start shipping next week.

Enjoying the Happy Rhodes compilation they put out - an ILX search reveals Tim F and JBR are fans. Post-Kate Bushh singer/songwriter Dream Pop is a nook I don't mind them exploring more!

Anyone listen to that exotica box?

Love the exotica box

Agree on the exotica box. Great to hear different takes on this music that don't involve the usual suspects.

Only five tracks in to the Happy Rhodes comp and it's fantastic so far.

Really reminding me of North Sea Radio Orchestra at times although obviously any resemblance is the other way round.

We're here for the reissue. https://t.co/WX6AvwJYYi

— Numero Group (@numerogroup) August 29, 2018

Forthcoming "Switched-On Eugene" compilation documents a mid-80s cassette label from my hometown:

https://www.discogs.com/label/98558-Eugene-Electronic-Music-Collective

the comp is very good, put together by Doug from Yoga records who also did the "I Am The Center" comp for LITA

http://www.numerogroup.com/products/switched-on-eugene

wide variety of approaches, some Heart of Space type stuff, some minimal synth, some experimental.

cool, thanks for the head's up! I Am the Center is currently on the platter, it's a constant go-to

"basement beehive" is worthy of standing next to "one kiss can lead to another" - praise doesn't come higher than that

I love the Cleopatra label comp, garage-y takes on pretty much every 60's pop genre.

rushomancy otm re: "basement beehive", super bad-ass stuff

quite a bit stranger than "one kiss can lead to another" imo but just as good

i love the cover of the switched on eugene comp

done by local artist Paul Ollswang, RIP

http://www.ollswang.com/

quite a bit stranger than "one kiss can lead to another" imo but just as good

― the late great

i don't know how to gauge "strangeness", particularly on comps - i mean "one kiss" did bring "egyptian shumba" to the internet's attention

Very sad that their subscription service is over. Found out about tons of great music through that, and getting a load of records in the mail meant I was also exposed to some stuff I'd never have bought. Newsletter saying that their streams are up and their music frequently pops up on TV shows now is reassuring for Numero's survival I guess. They've gotta do what they've gotta do, but as I said, for me it's sad.

Sixteen years ago we set out on a journey to compile lost and forgotten recordings on silver discs, packaged in stylish slipcases with overstuffed booklets. In that time we pressed nearly a million CDs, wallpapering many a music cave with our colorful spines. We set a new standard for the format, won a few awards, and somehow managed to squeeze out deluxe 11 and 16 disc sets when the rest of the industry was slimming their entire catalogs down for the truck stop market. It was a great ride, but today we announce that our time in the compact disc trench is largely over. In 2019 we’ve pressed exactly two titles on CD, and there are no plans in the foreseeable future to make any more.

http://www.numerogroup.com/d/satans-cd-sale-6-cds-6-decades-of-music-through-august-6th

Wow - 6 bucks is worth it just for the liner booklet in many of those cases, will def be stocking up

Some of the 2-CD sets, like the Girl Group one, are only 6 bucks. Pretty good deal.

bummed they aren't doing CDs anymore — i guess I'm the only one buying 'em! Big archival sets work better on CD imo and are so much cheaper ...

Glad I picked up Purple Snow when I did, looks like the CD set is no longer available.

Technicolor Paradise is not offered in the sale, but CD hounds ought to pick that one up as well, before it also goes out of print.

fuck, I don't get paid until Thursday

tyler I agree, theres something about the cd format that suits big sets like that, and the price difference between a 2 or 3 CD set and a 4 or 6 LP box is usually insane. The last 12 months I've been having a great time snapping up 2ndhand copies of all the CD box sets that I coveted over the last 10-15 years for peanuts.

yeah, and numero at least put some care/thought into their CD design. maybe they don't look quite as cool on your shelf as the LPs, but they're still cool.

their 24-carat black CD has a handsome all-black embossed slipcase iirc
http://www.numerogroup.com/d/24-carat-black-gone-the-promises-of-yesterday

I'd say a reissue label like The Numero Group saying they are done pressing cds is a another sign that the format is really getting near the end.

Pretty much. Although Numero's stuff is pretty niche, so I imagine justifying the expenses (packaging etc.) going into their CDs isn't something other reissue labels have to consider. OTOH, I have noticed that other Boutique American Indie Reissue Labels recent CD titles are frequently 'unofficial' limited editions, as in they do initial press run, and that's it.

What's weird is that I assumed some of these more niche labels might be the ones to keep CDs going a little longer, but I guess this is another step along the inevitable path of the format's forced death. As tyler points out, it'll be a shame when big archival sets are only on super expensive vinyl packages.