Jimmie's Chicken Shack - High EP

I can honestly say that JCS is my favorite band of all time, with that being said this vinyl single is kept in a sealed plastic sleeve, only coming out on the rarest of occasions.  The picture on the cover was actually found in a garbage can, and was also used for the rare Spitburger Lottery album. (which was part of the 2 for 1 album) The vinyl itself is white and beautiful, and differs from the CD single of this song (which I also happen to own) which is red.  The vinyl version also has a side B, which is Bongjam, and the back photo is identical to the one on the ...Pushing the Salmanilla Envelope album.  High

I also have the vinyl single for Do Right, with B side Trash.

88 Fingers Louie EPs

I am going to kill two birds with one stone, and talk about two 45's by the Chicago based band, 88 Fingers Louie.  The first one I am going to talk about was actually their first release from 1993, titled Go Away! It contained 4 tracks such as Intellectual Lover, and In the John, and has the best B side label ever. (see photo below)

The second one I want to talk about is The Teacher Gets It. This one was released in 1997, and I want to say this was after they broke up and got back together, but I am not sure. Dom is still the drummer on this one so it could have been released before one of the big breakups, they broke up and got back together a lot, so if you know for sure, let me know.  This record has 3 song including Under the Covers and Song X, and was released on Fat Wreck Chords. (as was Go Away!)

All of the songs featured on these records (as well as other songs from other EPs) all ended up coming out on a CD compilation called The Dom Years, referring to their drummer Dom Vallone, and after he left, Glenn Porter (from Alkaline Trio) stepped in on the drums. (well, until another breakup, then John Carroll took over, but knowing that is irrelevant when talking about these releases)

John K. Samson - Provincial Road 222

The Weakerthan's frontman released this EP in 2010, and it is his third solo EP.  Shortly after this 7' came out, John released a full length album just titled Provincial.  This record contains three songs including Stop Error and The Last And.  Epitaph Records sold this in black and white vinyl, for some reason, I chose the black.

Offspring - Self Esteem EP

Ah, Self Esteem.....What a great song, this was one of the singles from their breakout album Smash.  The record itself is marbled blue vinyl, side A, of course, being Self Esteem, and side B has Burn it Up, from the Ignition album, and Jennifer Lost the War, from their self titled debut. I could tell you where I got it from, but that's not really important, is it?

NOFX - 7" of the Month Club

In 2005 NOFX started their '7" of the month club,' which lasted 12 months.  Joining the club meant that each month they would send you a limited edition 7" of newly recorded original songs, and some covers. (although over the course of the year the records came out later and later) Each record would contain fan designed art, part of a 24-piece joke, and the back of the cover would be part of a drawing that when you put all 12 together would make a large drawing of the band.  I picked these up at various places, including record stores, interpunk.com, and ebay, but I do not have #6, for some reason that one is the hardest to find.

                                               February 2005:

                                                   March 2005:

                                                  April 2005:

                                                   May 2005:

                                                    June 2005:

 August 2005:

   September 2005:

October 2005:

                                                November 2005:

                                               December 2005:

       January 2006 also came as a picture disc, this is the second pressing:

                         This is side A of #12 (the rare picture disc):

                                                     and side B:

If you put them all together, you get the band photo (keep in mind i do not own #6):

Jackson - All the Way EP

I first heard this song on the Warped Tour 2003 compilation, and it took me 3 years to find their album.  Shortly after I found the CD, I stumbled upon this 7" on interpunk.com.  Not long after they released that album (and this single) their drummer left to join Saves the Day.  Basically the only original member of the band is the lead singer, who also happens to play in other bands such as Foo Fighters, and Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies. After the departure of the other two members, they changed their name to Jackson United. (mostly because Jackson was too generic to be noticed, like I said, it took me 3 years to find that album) One quirk about this record is that both sides say All the Way, even though side B is Long Shadow, a song that didn't appear on the 5 song CD.

Alkaline Trio - Time to Waste EP

So I am going to start off by saying that I have no idea where I got this one, but I do know some fun facts about it. Time to Waste was the first single off of the Crimson album, and the 7" (which you see here) had Don't Say You Won't as it's B side, but the CD single had We can never break up, which was from the Master of Horrors soundtrack.  Both of these B sides we also featured on Remains, which was a compilation album that Alkaline Trio put out, and that was featured in a previous blog of mine.

Alkaline Trio - We've Had Enough EP

The first time I laid eyes on this picture disc was at The Exclusive Company in Oshkosh, probably in 2004. I didn't actually buy the album then, which haunted me for years, especially when I found out that there was a demo of Blue in the Face.  Those of you that have seen me play at open mics have probably seen me do the acoustic version. (which is actually the version on the Good Mourning album) But other than the demo, the record itself has very dark, beautiful artwork.  I did find this online and could not pass on it again, I am glad it's in my collection.

Oh yeah, here is the music video for We've Had Enough.

+44 - Cliff Diving EP

Back in 2005 when Blink 182 went on definite hiatus, all of the band members started their own side projects, Tom had Angels and Airwaves, and Mark and Travis went on to start +44.  They only released one album, but man was it a good one.  The album was called When Your Heart Stops Beating, and prior to it being released, the band put out two vinyl singles, one of which I just so happen to own.  The Cliff Diving single was hot pink, and had an instrumental version on side B.  Another interesting thing about it is that the sleeve it came in was just plain white, which is sort of uncommon now-a-days.

Emery - Cutthroat Collapse EP

So this is a neat addition to any record collector's (or Emery fan's) collection, it's not really rare, in fact, I think you can still buy it on tooth and nail's website.  I got mine with the preorder of Emery's fifth album, In Shallow Seas we Sail (which has the same image on it).  Side A is Cutthroat Collapse, the first track off of In Shallow Seas we Sail, while side B is Open Hands, Closed Eyes, which is a song that didn't appear on the album. On a side note, a record needle has never touched this EP.

Tsunami Bomb - Prologue EP

One of my all time favorite bands, Tsunami Bomb released this as a promotional single for "The Definitive Act" album released in 2004.  It is white vinyl, and contains two songs featured on the album, Safety Song, and My Machete.  This record has never been played as I have no reason to play it, both songs are on the CD that I also have.

Anti-Flag - Emigre EP

This EP was a promotion for their "For Blood and Empire" album, which was released in 2006.  The single itself sounds like this.  It has two songs on the B side, one is a demo of What do you think of Western Civilization, and a live version of Die for your Government.  I don't think these records are that rare, I have seen a few floating around.  This is what is looks like:

Weezer - Beverly Hills picture disc

This is a single of Beverly Hills from the Make Believe album released in 2005.  I never cared for this song, but this record is pretty sweet looking, so I had to buy it (that must be the collector in me).  The front has a group of people sitting on the grass with the band, in front of a sweet building.  I don't know if there is any significance of who these people are, or if this was from a special show, I guess I should have researched that, haha.  Side B, which is a live track of the song Butterfly (which was from the Pinkerton album, for those of you keeping score) and features a back view of the band, which I think is a pretty sweet idea for the back side of a single.  I am pretty sure I got this at The Exclusive Company in Oshkosh, which, as I have mentioned before, is a pretty sweet place to buy records.

p.s. How many times did I use the word "sweet" in this post?  haha

Thrice/Thursday - Split EP

This EP was used as a promotional tool, you can tell because it has "upcoming album dates" written on the record.  The record itself is clear with a blueish-greenish tint to it, and has never been listened to because these are two bands that I already loved, and had their CDs.  The songs on this EP are For the Workforce, Drowning and Under a Killing Moon.

Billy Joel Singles

Due to the number of singles I have by Billy Joel, and because they were released in the vinyl era making them look identical for the most part, I figured I would just do them all at once.  Nothing really out of the ordinary really, in fact, if you grew up during this time you might of had a few of these.

Keeping the Faith (both sides) (with sleeve)

You're only Human / Surprises (with sleeve)

Uptown Girl / Careless Talk

Modern Woman / Sleeping with the Television On (with sleeve)

This Is the Time (both sides) (with sleeve)

Tell Her about It / Easy Money (with sleeve)

Piano Man / You're my Home

Big Shot / Root Beer Rag

Only the Good Die Young / She's always a Woman

Honesty / Sometimes a Fantasy

A Matter of Trust / Getting Closer

Tell Her about It / Easy Money

Only the Good Die Young / My Life

52nd Street / My Life

Goodnight Saigon (both sides)

An Innocent Man / I'll Cry Instead

You May be Right / She's got a Way

We Didn't Start the Fire / House of Blue Light

I go to Extremes / When in Rome

The River of Dreams / No Mans Land

Ben Folds Five - Army

I think this is a pretty cool record, I have only seen one copy and I scooped it up.  It was the single for Army which was off of the "Reinhold Messner" album, but it also has two unreleased tracks that I was unaware of.  Thanks to the power of the internet, I have the power to be the middle man between you and these songs.  The two unreleased tracks are Leather Jacket and Birds, and to my knowledge have never been re-released on any other album.

Ben Folds - Landed

During one of my many trips to Milwaukee, I stumbled upon this 7" while wandering around Atomic Records. This store does not exist anymore, but it was one of my favorite record stores.  This particular record I remember buying, it was in a stack by the register, and my friend Bender and I both picked up a copy for about 3 bucks each.  Obviously one side is Landed, the first single from the Songs for Silverman album, the B side is a Dr. Dre song called Bitches Ain't Shit, here is the original.  This single came out in 2005 prior to the Songs for Silverman album.

mewithoutYou - [A-->B] Life

So this record is not "rare" or "limited edition" or anything like that, but it is simply awesome.  This is by far my personal favorite mewithoutYou record, and was their first on Tooth and Nail records.  Once in a great while artists will come around that will just blow your mind, and make you wonder how anybody can be that talented, and these guys are in that category, just listen to Silencer.  As I mentioned earlier, the CD was released by Tooth and Nail, but the vinyl was pressed by a group called Gilead Media out of Oshkosh, WI, how cool is that!  With all of the mewithoutYou records I own, the artwork is bigger on the vinyl sleeve than the CD, and the detail is just phenomenal, it really adds to the whole experience.  One of my other personal favorites is Gentlemen. (which is also the first mewithoutYou song I ever heard)

Useless I.D. - Dead's Not Punk

Alright Cool Cats, Useless ID is a band from all the way over there in Israel, and this is their first release.  It is a vinyl only release, and I have heard that there were only 1000 pressed.  No matter how many were pressed you can tell it looks very amateur. Their later releases were put out by Kung-Fu Records, but this one is on Yo-Yo Records which is in Germany.  This album is pretty good, but given the fact that it is analog, I could not find a music clip, so here is a song about drinking.

Here is another song by them that is probably in my top 30 list of favorite songs.

Nirvana - Bleach

For those of you who know me, you know that Nirvana has been a huge influence on me, and is still one of my all time favorite bands.  This is their first album, and as you can see, this record is unopened.  I bought it at the Exclusive Company in Oshkosh a long time ago. It is the original pressing, which is very difficult to come by nowadays, most Nirvana records you will find today are either 180 gram vinyl or colored vinyl, so this bad boy is rare.  This just might be the first record I ever bought, for a while it was hanging on my wall on display before it made it's way into my "collection." The recording itself is pretty raw and dark (have a listen to School) and it a cult favorite among some Nirvana fans.

...on a unrelated note, I found this song which was an unlisted track on the No Alternative compilation, it has been called Verse Chorus Verse, Laundry Room, and Sappy.  No one really knows what the song's actual name is.  I love the way Kurt's voice sounds in it, maybe that's why I wanted to be a singer.

NOFX - The Decline

In keeping with the "rock opera" genre I started yesterday, let's talk about the 18 minute song that inspired Green Day's "opera" songs, according to the band.  The Decline was released in 1999 on CD and vinyl, and the first 155 copies on vinyl were rumored to be clear, though I have never actually seen a clear one.  The CD's were actally clear as well, I would show a picture of this, but I sold my copy a while ago.  The B side of this record is a version of Clams have feelings too, I guess I'm not sure what else to say about it other than have a listen.
The Decline

Green Day - Jesus of Suburbia

Let's go back in time... I was riding with my friend Elliott in his car, and he had a burnt copy of the new Green Day album (which at the time was American Idiot) and he played me this song, and I was in love.  You see, this album was critically acclaimed because it was considered to be a "rock opera," and to have a punk song last that long was pretty epic.  I have been listening to Green Day since about 1994, and in my opinion, each new album they put out seemed "softer" or "more poppy" than the last. So I was pretty pleased to here such a good album that had depth and maturity.  Whatever, let's talk about the record, it is a 10" record, which is slightly smaller than a normal size LP. It is the same size as the old 78s, but plays at 33 1/3 RPMs. Side B has the Jesus of Suburbia "rock opera" on it, while side A has a live version of St. Jimmy.  Here is my opinion again, but there was another "opera" song called Homecoming, which I think should have been on the other side.  Perhaps I am just biased because these are my two favorite songs from the album, but whatever. The vinyl is solid yellow, but if you hold it up the the light you can see swirls in the vinyl... I actually just noticed it, and it looks pretty cool.

Jesus of Suburbia
Homecoming (I know it's not on this record, but I like it...so there!)
To get the best experience, I suggest listening to the whole album.

Since by Man - We Sing the Body Electric

For those of you who know their classical music, since by man is a title of one of the movements in Handel's Messiah, (which was my last post) but this band has nothing to do with Handel.  Since by Man (often written as ¡sincebyman!) is a hardcore band from Milwaukee, and was one of the projects formed after the band Managra broke up, (Managra guitarist Eric Alonso was the bass player for Since by Man) If you want to here what Managra sounds like click here!  We Sing the Body Electric was released in 2002 (although the record has a copyright date of 2003) on Revelation Records, and the LP was actually pressed by Revelation, which isn't that common.  I also noticed that the numbering on the vinyl itself was hand carved into the wax, which makes it that much cooler.  I can give you a taste of what the record sounds like, but I will advise you to turn down the volume, as this one starts out with a lot of screaming.  Click here to hear "Push the Panic"

Handel's Messiah

Happy Easter Everyone! In honor of Jesus rising from the dead, I figured I would show off my Messiah 3-record set.  This was recorded in 1958 featuring The London Philharmonic Choir, and The London Philharmonic Orchestra, and supposedly is the first Messiah recording ever.  It was recorded over eight 3-hour recording sessions at St. Mary Magdalene Church, in Paddington.  The director was Walter Susskind, and it was recorded and mixed by Dr. Eric Beurman.  I think I picked this up in a thrift store for under 5 bucks, and it is just a pleasure to listen to.  It is one of those records that crackles when you drop the needle on it, but still has that decent sound quality to it.  It is one of those albums that I would run out with if my house was on fire.

Motion City Soundtrack/Trampled by Turtles (Split)

I recently found this at record store and freaked out, for many reasons.  First off, I was with my friend Elliott, and he introduced me to Trampled by Turtles.  Second, Motion City Soundtrack was covering my favorite song by them (and I love MCS).  Third, it was only 3 bucks!  This 7 inch features TbT (trampled by turtles) covering a MCS (motion city soundtrack) song, and vice versa.  "Wait so long" is basically a punk rock folk song, and you can listen to it here.  This song is really near and dear to me because when I first heard it I was dealing with a lot of emotions (and it was really cold outside) and this just seemed to capture any angst and frustration that I was feeling, and send it off into the cold, dark night.  You could say it gave me an "out with the old, and in with the new" feeling which is what I needed for some time.  Now after hearing this song and loving it, I have to admit I was a little disappointed when I heard the MCS version.  It's way to slow (listen for yourself MCS version) but the more I listen to it, the more I like it.  The other side is TbT covering a MCS song.  I can't really say a whole lot about this one because I am not familiar with the original, but feel free to judge them for me.  original version. cover version.  If you can't see the record, it is pressed on blue wax and smells just lovely.

Tsunami Bomb - The Ultimate Escape

Tsunami Bomb is one of my all time favorite bands, and they have some very cool vinyl out there.  This is a picture disc from their 2002 release.  It was pressed in limited quantities (I am not sure of the exact count) and sold on the Warped Tour.  Side A has the album cover art and the song listings, while side B has a picture of the band (at the time). I have seen a picture of someone holding an autographed copy of this record, but I think that if I got the opportunity to meet Emily in person, I would probably faint, or something equally as cool.

20 going on...

The Exception (45)

Ok, here is a fun one.  This was a band that my dad was in back in 1988 (that is when this was recorded) and they made a record!  When I was younger I remember having a whole box of these...I wonder what happened to them all.  I know you are all curious, yes, the two songs are originals, my father played bass and sang some 80's style background vocals.  Sadly, I do not have a digital version of this one, if you really want to hear it then you need to get in touch with me and we can have a record listening party because it is good stuff.