the thread for internet-only archival indie / DIY / postpunk CDs

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A few years back, I bought a CD from CD Baby that contained most of the material recorded by Cowboys International and originally released by Virgin. (They were a Bowie-esque band with close links to PiL and pretty great, IMO.) Recently, I received e-mail notice of a "download-only" live 1981 album by the Blue Orchids, available at blueorchids.net, which is a nice addition to the CD EP of theirs which can only be bought through the website. And just last week, I ordered (also from CD Baby) a great compilation of music by the Transmitters (a UK band with a kind of Glaxo Babies / Pop Group sound) which contained something I'd never thought I'd find on CD, the "Ugly Man" 12" originally released by the Mark Perry- / Miles Copeland-run Step Forward label in 1979 or so. I also know that one can by the Riff Raff (Chiswick label punky stuff by Billy Bragg and friends, prior to his solo career) through his website. Of course, I've got a copy of the great triple CD "Chills Secret Box" too.

But all of these things have got me wondering what other amazing stuff I *don't* know about simply because I haven't searched for the band in question via Google. Any other sterling examples? I especially like that Rough Trade kinda stuff . . .

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Sunday, 28 January 2007 05:42 (eighteen years ago)

http://cdbaby.com/cd/variantcause

― xhuxk (xhuck), Sunday, 28 January 2007 06:18 (eighteen years ago)

Have you tried any of the hyped2death comps? Might be up your alley.

― Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Sunday, 28 January 2007 08:40 (eighteen years ago)

Actually you probably won't believe me but I've heard stuff from all of those bands Dee mentions. I used to have a Transmitters 12" even. But none of what he names particularly grabbed me, although Blue Orchids definitely had their own moments of brilliance now and then.

― Lick The Strobelight Lollipops (Bimble...), Sunday, 28 January 2007 08:43 (eighteen years ago)

I'm going to be doing this soon. Details to come.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Sunday, 28 January 2007 08:46 (eighteen years ago)

*bookmarks thread*

― sleeve (sleeve), Sunday, 28 January 2007 20:57 (eighteen years ago)

The best thing Mt. Eerie released, in my opinion, was Seven New Songs of Mt. Eerie, which was originally sold on tour in Europe. There were only 196 copies made, but he himself has made it available for free here.

― Zachary S (Zach S), Sunday, 28 January 2007 21:12 (eighteen years ago)

First of all, I'm a *she*, not a he. But anyway, sure I've heard the Hyped2Death stuff. I was looking mainly for stuff that's on CD but hasn't gone through normal channels and probably wasn't promoted in any meaningful sense, but still exists and can only be found through the band's website or some similarly must-be-stumbled-upon place. So, any more?

― Dee Xtrovert (dee dee), Sunday, 28 January 2007 23:47 (eighteen years ago)

you know about the Pop Group Archive, yeah? That's more of a fan sampler of rare stuff, but still...

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 29 January 2007 00:19 (eighteen years ago)

Anyway, I need all of these kthxbye.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 29 January 2007 00:43 (eighteen years ago)

Nervous Gender stuff. I haven't heard any of it, though.

― These Robust Cookies (Robust Cookies), Monday, 29 January 2007 06:32 (eighteen years ago)

you know about the Pop Group Archive, yeah? That's more of a fan sampler of rare stuff, but still...

where is this?

― nicholas de jong (nicholas de jong), Monday, 29 January 2007 07:54 (eighteen years ago)

http://www.wedigdixon.com/public_html/pop_group/juke/index.php

also good stuff at

http://postpunkjunk.com/?p=128

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 29 January 2007 08:12 (eighteen years ago)

sorry that's the Pop Group JUKEBOX, not "Archive".

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 29 January 2007 08:12 (eighteen years ago)

If you want a list of illegal mp3 blogs like postpunkjunk and the Pop Group jukebox, there's dozens (thousands!)...what's interesting to me is when people do it legit.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 29 January 2007 14:30 (eighteen years ago)

I know, I was just answering the question. Plus most of those tracks are unreleased live or demo versions.

There are some really cool videos on the Virgin Prunes' site, fwiw.

― sleeve (sleeve), Monday, 29 January 2007 17:01 (eighteen years ago)

four years pass...

Awaiting the next Messthetics volume, anything else good out recently or upcoming in this area?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 2 May 2011 02:53 (fourteen years ago)

there was an mp3 of Rico Conning playing solo guitar to a drum machine on the Lines page of the Acute website but it doesn't seem to exist anymore. anybody have it?

― ur reading from a season in hell but u don't know what it's abt (missingNO), Monday, 2 May 2011 03:07 (fourteen years ago)

Did you see the Astronauts first LP vinyl reissue? Nicely done. And the John Bender LPs. The Jellies 12"? And keep an eye out for the Tronics LP, as well as a Disco Zombies collection.

Though a lot of the reissuing energies these days seems to be devoted either to less arty punk singles or to minimal wave stuff. Some of which is even good....

Back to the original question--you can order a bunch of great stuff from Twin Tone (Yung Wu, Jonathan Richman, Big Hits of Mid-America vol. 3) that isn't in stores. Never in stores, or even as downloads, I think. And maybe made one by one?

― Michael Train, Monday, 2 May 2011 03:30 (fourteen years ago)

And that Riff Raff cd mentioned above is highly worth tracking down. "Little Girls Know" is particularly great.

― Michael Train, Monday, 2 May 2011 03:33 (fourteen years ago)

And the LP of Martin Newell's Songs for a Fallow Land tape? Cleaners from Venus guy, mid-80s.

The Slugfuckers LP that compiles their two singles.

The problem with all these things, of course, is that the runs are so small as to be almost as elusive as the originals.

― Michael Train, Monday, 2 May 2011 03:38 (fourteen years ago)

New Messthetics out now: http://beta.forcedexposure.com/Catalog/MSS.108CD.html

― Michael Train, Saturday, 7 May 2011 20:59 (fourteen years ago)

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