postcard records 81-5 : josef k - chance meeting/pictures

postcard records 81-5 
josef k
chance meeting / pictures
1981


image: ©japanese forms

A bit hard to believe that I've had these legendary Postcard Records discs for over 30 years now and that they're still all in almost pristine condition. I'm also glad that I've kept them as they are true artifacts of a byegone era... and from a period where the very idea of an MP3 would have been considered as nothing but pure science fiction or the figment of someone's deranged imagination. How times change.
I've already posted photos of most of the Postcard singles at Flickr but they were done some time ago and I thought they deserved a re-post and of a better quality as the original posts aren't really that good. Anyhow, although far from "propfessional" this series of shots, not in any particular order, looks far better than those I posted back in 2005-2007. Expect some more soon. japanese forms

postcard records badge(s)

This post is in reply to a recent comment (about this badge) made by a visitor... A visitor (Brian Hull?) who correctly pointed out that the badge in the above link was neither an original nor an "official" Postcard Records one. So here are a couple of examples of the original, official badges. One with a black background and one with a blue background. The black one is still intact, and in mint condition, whereas the blue has unfortunately developed some sort of stain... I imagine some rainwater infiltrated it when I wore it (for years) on my denim, Levis jacket back in the day. Unlike the denim jacket, which wouldn't possibly fit me nowadays, I've kept these badges for what must now be at least 30 years. Authentic and true artefacts of the wonderful but too short Postcard era. japanese forms

what presence ! - rock photography by harry popadopoulos

If you're living in Glasgow or if you'll be visiting the city between 17th December 2011 - 25th
 February 2012 be sure to catch the exhibition of Harry Popadopoulos' photos being held at Street Level Photoworks situated in the Trongate part of the city. Features photographs of Aztec Camera, Edwyn Collins, Orange Juice -in their heyday, Postcard Records era- as well as lots of other very fine rock photography.




Many thanks to Nancy ( a Flickr friend in New York) for informing me about this exhibition.

from the darklands

from the darklands, originally uploaded by japanese forms.

As usual, I haven't been updating this blog very much lately... Surprising because I really have a lot of items that I should add to it... Anyhow, here's at least one post for now... A ticket stub from a Jesus and Mary Chain concert that I went to see in 1987, in Antwerp, Belgium. Hopefully I'll add some more stuff in the coming weeks...

edwyn collins : hope and despair (tape)

image: ©japanese forms.

Tape cassette of Edwyn Collins' great 1989 'Hope and Despair' album. I've hade this (as well as the vinyl version) ever since it came out; cassettes were great (for then) in car listening pleasure and I used to buy lots of them. Still have numerous tapes: you can check some of them out here. japanese forms

the vaselines : sex with an X

image: ©japanese forms.

the vaselines : sex with an X
45 rpm single / sub pop (2010)
sp 901

photo: wattie cheung
design: jeff kleinsmith

Sorry, folks but I've been severly neglecting this blog and have not been updating it enough. I really must take some time out and post and update more often. Anyhow, post featured here involves the latest single by The Vaselines -who also released an album with the same title: Sex With An X, on SubPop late last year. I must admit that I wouldn't have bought this if I hadn't come across it in a small independent record store the other day; a store that opened (hip, hip hooray!) just a few weeks ago apparently and that I'd never been to. Sounds like the usual Vaselines stuff of yesteryear to me... Which doesn't mean that it's bad but I rather tend to steer clear of bands that reform decades after breaking up. For followers, fans and faithful only. That's why I bought it; I suppose. Nice cover art. japanese forms

postcard records tribute (flyer)

image ©japanese forms

Flyer for a Postcard Records Tribute Night held at Mono (Glasgow) in October 2007.

postcard records (badge)

Postcard Records -
Badge / Button


First version of a series of badges featuring Postcard Records designs.
japanese forms





photo: ©japanese forms



sound of young scotland at flickr

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sound of young scotland josef k japanese forms postcard records orange juice fire engines

orange juice - coals to newcastle (guardian preview)

Orange Juice -
Coals To Newcastle (Boxset)
Released today.
Domino

photo: ©domino

You can listen to 18 tracks from the Orange Juice boxset -released today 8th. of November- at the Guardian online. Follow this link.
japanese forms





sound of young scotland at flickr

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sound of young scotland josef k japanese forms postcard records orange juice fire engines

aidan john moffat : ten short songs for modern lovers

©japanese forms.

aidan john moffat
ten shorts songs for modern lovers
7" mini vinyl LP (10-tracks on a 45 rpm single format)
limited to 1000 copies
chemikal underground (2010)
chem147

artwork / design : aidan john moffat
photography : unknown

Excellent new single (or ultra-mini LP) from former Arab Strap vocalist, Aidan John Moffat. Ten tracks in total, all of which fit onto two sides of a 45rpm 7” single. With a total running time of around nine minutes the ten songslargely deal with issues surrounding love, romance and sex. All delivered in Moffat's own inimitable style. Comes in a superb 60s style ep sleeve. one2zero

Available from Chemikal Underground in a limited edition of 1000 copies.

Download version also available.

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teenage fanclub - star sign 12" promo

teenage fanclub
star sign
12-inch ep
promotional copy

image © japanese forms

I obtained this disc under the same circumstances as the previous TFC promo of The King album. Actually, I have two copies of this one (I don't know why); both are still in mint condition. As with most Creation Records promo discs from that era it comes in a plain white generic Creation promo sleeve which sports the label logo on the front and the mention: A Creation Records Product. Printed on the back of the sleeve it has: Promotional Copy Only and the label's address. Band name, track titles and catalogue number are printed on one side only of the white label. I don't know if there are many of these about but I imagine it must be on the wishlist of any true TFC collector. one2zero


this side: star sign / heavy metal
other side: like a virgin / star sign (demo version)
creation records (1991)
cre 105 tp

Teenage Fanclub have just released a brand new album.

Teenage Fanclub - Wiki

orange juice - coals to newcastle (boxset)

Orange Juice -
Reissue Programme (2)
Coals To Newcastle (Boxset)
Domino

photo: ©domino


Back in business, after a long Summer hiatus at SoYS, I'm pleased to announce that the Orange Juice boxset on Domino will be released on the 8th. of November. You can pre-order a copy here (UK) or here (US) and check out exactly what it contains.
A fabulous boxset by the looks it and probably as lovingly made and packaged as was the case with "The Glasgow School, " the Josef K "Entemology" compilation, and the Fire Engines' "Teenage Codex Premonition" album. Certainly an absolute must have for any OJ fan. japanese forms

What I previously had to say about this great initiative by Domino on this post.
Special thanks to Fastnbulbous for letting me know about the boxset release.

sound of young scotland on flickr

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sound of young scotland josef k japanese forms postcard records orange juice fire engines

the boy hairdressers - golden shower ep

japanese forms.

A bit of a rarity this 3-track EP by The Boy Hairdressers on Stephan Pastel's 53rd & 3rd label, I imagine. From the ashes of this band rose the mighty and fabulous Teenage Fanclub. Jim Lambie, world-renowned contemporary visual artist, was also a member of this short-lived outfit.

The Boy Hairdressers
Golden Shower
53rd & 3rd (1987)
AGARR 12T

Tracklist:

- Golden Shower

- Tidalwave

- The Assumption As An Elevator

the jesus and mary chain - darklands ep

© japanese forms.

From the time when The Jesus and Mary Chain were at their very best. Seems like only yesterday when I bought this but it was actually released all of 23 years ago! The "Darklands" song, as with the eponymously named album, has a much more melodic sound than that of their previous singles but it's just as good as anything else the released in those halycon years as far as I'm concerned. I really like the artwork as well which includes photographs from videos by Tim Broad and John Maybury and design by Helen Backhouse. one2zero

the jesus and mary chain
darklands ep (10" vinyl)
darklands/ rider / here it comes again / on the wall (porta studio demo)
blanco y negro (1987)
neg 29te

wikipedia / myspace / JAMC

teenage fanclub - the ballad of john & yoko

teenage fanclub - the ballad of john & yoko, originally uploaded by japanese forms.

A bit of a rarity, I imagine but I've no idea how many copies of this were initally pressed. A one-sided single with a photo of John & Yoko on the flipside label and the band members and Don Fleming's names etched into the plastic.

teenage fanclub
the ballad of john & yoko
paperhouse records (1990)
paper 005

teenage fanclub - the king (cd & promo tape)

image © japanese forms.

teenage fanclub : the king
crecd 096 : creation records (1991)
+
creation records promo cassette for the same album

Album deleted on the first day of release. (wiki)
I really liked Teenage Fanclub back when this was released -their debut album and singles were quite fabulous. Working in record distribution I got the promo tape a couple of weeks before the official album was released. I, of course, immediately snapped up a cd copy the day it arrived in the warehouse. Next day the album was withdrawn from sale due to some sort of contractual problem or whatever (see wiki link above). It's a bit of a collector's item, I imagine, but I'm sure that there must be quite a few copies about. As for me, I haven't bought anything by the band since around 1995 but I've got almost everything issued by them prior to that. So, expect more "Teenage Fanclub" posts because I have quite a decent collection of their earlier releases. That includes their before-they-became-TFC 12" Boy Hairdressers EP! one2zero

Teenage Fanclub have just released a brand new album.

Teenage Fanclub - Wiki

arab strap - there is no ending 7" single

© japanese forms.

arab strap
there is no ending / the first big weekend (four tet mix)
7" single (sleeve and label detail)
chemikal underground (2006)
chem094

Sound of Young Scotland - Flickr Group

Label detail from Arab Strap's penultimate single on Chemikal Underground. The label will be releasing a vinyl retrospective of the band's early years in May 2010. See here for more details. one2zero

fire engines - discord / candyskin

image ©japanese forms
the fire engines
discord / candyskin (back)
45 rpm single
domino records 2006
rug218

See the front cover version of this single by nmarie here, and my front cover version here.

See lots more images at the Sound of Young Scotland - Flickr Group

arab strap - dream sequence 7" single

arab strap
dream sequence / dead air
chemikal underground - 2005
chem081

photo: ©japanese forms 2010

sound of young scotland @ flickr

The third-last official release by Arab Strap on Chemikal Underground in 2005. Another great track from the fabulous album: The Last Romance; an album more upbeat, as the band put it, but, like the tracks on this single, yet more tunes dealing in some of the darker aspects of relationships. Comes in a similar sleeve to the Speed-Date 45 with matching graphics and typeface. Artwork by Rik Lee. (japanese forms)



Chemikal Underground will be releasing a comprehensive box-set of all their early material sometime in April 2010. See here for more details.

wikipedia / aidan moffat / malcolm middleton

chemikal underground

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arab strap - speed-date 7" ep

arab strap
speed date (filthy version) / preface: set the scene / the girl i loved before i fucked
chemikal underground - 2005
chem086

photo: ©japanese forms 2010

sound of young scotland @ flickr

Antepenultimate official release from what was one of my favourite Scottish indie bands of fairly recent years. Arab Strap saw the light of day in 1995 and almost immediately became one of the most influential bands on the late 1990s Glasgow music scene. Over the ten-year period that Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton played together, before finally splitting in 2006 to go there separate ways, the band released numerous songs that were no more than a celebration of a sexually empty, drug-and alcohol-dependent life. Indeed, right from the start and throughout their career a lot of their lyrics were sung not only in their native Scots tongue but continued to focus exclusively on drink, drugs and sexual misery. They were brilliant ! Now, as solo performers, both continue to make some fine discs that are certainly worth checking out. This ep, like most of what they released, is an absolute gem and a must have for any fan of the band. Artwork by Rik Lee. More Arab Strap stuff up soon. (japanese forms)

Chemikal Underground will be releasing a comprehensive box-set of all their early material sometime in April 2010. See here for more details.

wikipedia / aidan moffat / malcolm middleton

chemikal underground

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jesus and mary chain - upside down

the jesus and mary chain
upside down / vegetable man
creation records - nov. 1984
cre012

photo: ©japanese forms 2010

sound of young scotland @ flickr

The great JAMC 'Upside Down' Creation Records single. I have two copies of this fabulous single but I've no idea just how many copies were originally pressed. the disc also came in several different-coloured sleeves, but again, I've no idea how many different colours were involved -I suppose some "trainspotter" out there would be able to inform us on this point. Anyhow, this aside, it ranks as one of the band's finest recordings in my book and a must have item for any JAMC collector. Fabulous cover version of Syd Barrett's Vegetable Man on the b-side.
Includes an insert for mail-order JAMC t-shirts for the ridiculous price, compared with today's standards, of £3,95. Postage included!(japanese forms)

wikipedia / myspace / JAMC

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orange juice - reissue programme

Orange Juice -
Reissue Programme
Albums due for release soon on Domino.

photo: ©japanese forms 2010


Well I've finally got round to posting another update to this blog and sincerely hope to post a few more over the next few weeks or so. I've also started unpacking lots of my vinyl; which has been in storage for almost three years now - so expect to to see some posts on some of those tasty cuts from Scotland's finest shortly. (japanese forms)

In this month's Uncut you can find an extensive feature and interview with Edwyn Collins and the other band members. The group looks back on life in the band, tell the Postcard story from their side, and talk about the various discs they released. Unfortunately we don't get to learn very much about the upcoming release of their back catalogue on Domino nor the dates of when the albums (boxset?) will be available. Not much news on the Domino website either I'm afraid. Anyhow, lets hope that the reissues will be as lovingly made and packaged as was the case with "The Glasgow School, " the Josef K "Entemology" compilation, and the Fire Engines' "Teenage Codex Premonition" album.

In the meantime, get yourself a copy of this month's Uncut. (japanese forms)

sound of young scotland on flickr

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sound of young scotland josef k japanese forms postcard records orange juice fire engines

captain america - flame on

image: © japanese forms

captain america
flame on
paperhouse records (1992)
paper 016cd
3-track ep

Second EP by the short-lived Captain America formed by Eugene Kelly after The Vaselines split in 1989. Kelly formed Captain America -with friends and members of BMX Bandits and Teenage Fanclub- in 1990 but was forced to change the name to Eugenius when Marvel Comics objected about the use of their copyright to the name. Wonder what C&A had to say about this artwork?

MySpace

Wiki

jesus and mary chain - far gone and out (holographic e.p.)

image: © japanese forms

the jesus and mary chain
far gone and out - CDEP
def american / blanco y negro
1992 - holographic edition

Well, three posts in almost as many days... Up this time is the MaryChain's holographic edition of their Far Gone & Out EP which was released way back in 1992. I must admit that my interest in the band was beginning to wane a bit but I did catch them in concert that year and they were great. This wasn't the last proper release that I bought by the band as they were still pretty good but after the 10" ep The Sound of Speed their releases weren't on the same level as most of the earlier recordings. the lst thing I bought by them would probably be the Stoned & Dethroned album and it's accompanying singles. Still,in their day, they were one of the best "Scottish" bands ever and this EP is rather splendid too. This is a U.S. edition of it. I've no idea if it's rare or not.

(Thanks to) Wikipedia / My Space / JAMC

captain america - e.p.

captain america - e.p., originally uploaded by japanese forms.

captain america
e.p.
paperhouse records (1991)
paper 014cd
4-track ep

First EP by the short-lived Captain America that Eugene Kelly formed after the demise of The Vaselines in 1989. Kelly formed Captain America -with friends and members of BMX Bandits and Teenage Fanclub- in 1990 but was forced to change the name when Marvel Comics objected about the use of their copyright to the name. A second Captain America EP, Flame On was released but to avoid being taken to court by Marvel the band, for their following recordings changed their name to Eugenius. The Vaselines (like so many other bands from yesteryear, sigh!) reformed in 2008 and are back on the tour circuit. their most recent performance being as support to Mudhoney in Edinburgh in October this year.

MySpace

Wiki