How about the first 50 albums? What's missing . . .
Rough 5 Essential Logic “Beat Rhythm News”
Mostly reissued as part of the KilL Rock Stars 2xCD, but missing a great track, and with another spoiled by a horrid fade-out.
Rough 17 Normal & Robert Rental “Live At West Runton”
Rough 21 Swell Maps “Whatever Happens Next...”
The great missing Rough Trade artifact, in my opinion.
Rough 28 Lora Logic “Pedigree Charm”
Again, missing a crucial track, but otherwise all on the double CD.
Rough 37 various artists “Soweto”
Rough 41 Swell Maps “Collision Time”
Technically a compilation, so it’s not on CD as such, but all the tracks are.
Rough 46 Jazzateers “Jazzateers”
All tracks now part of the “I Shot The President” anthology CD on Marina Germany, except “First Blood”, mysteriously omitted, although liner notes imply the entire album is present on the CD.
Rough 50 Jah Shaka Revelation Songs
― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Monday, 17 April 2006 23:07 (twenty years ago)
Pretty good actually, but I don't think it sold at all. Rough Trade started issuing more reggae directly (it has always done manufacturing and distribution deals with reggae labels), but reggae was well in decline at this points (1983 on, for the most part.) So despite releases by greats like Horace Andy, Gregory Isaacs, Linton Kwesi Johnson and others, they were of second tier quality. I do like the Jah Shaka title, though - and it's interesting how much the next phase of Rough Trade mirrors the exact interests of current labels like Soul Jazz. (That is to say, not the hits-oriented Smiths / Woodentops / Slash-licensed stuff, but rather the Arthur Russell, Fats Comet / Cosmetic / Konk (etc) side of things.) Another post, I reckon.
― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 00:13 (twenty years ago)
Rough 21 Swell Maps “Whatever Happens Next...”
The great missing Rough Trade artifact, in my opinion.No, The Normal & Robert Rental, “Live At West Runton Pavilion” is
― TS: Mick Ralphs vs. Ariel Bender (Dada), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 08:20 (twenty years ago)
Collision Time reissued as Collision Time Revisited on Mute, no?
― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 08:27 (twenty years ago)
The track selection is somewhat different. "Revisited" was a total reworking of the original "Collision Time" - different art, different tracks (to a large extent.) The original "Collision Time" must be one of the rarer original RT albums.
― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Tuesday, 18 April 2006 15:16 (twenty years ago)