If the rumors swirling online (and by online I mean one eBay seller’s word) are to be true, not many copies of this record exist. That is to say, not many copies of this record — which was manufactured in the United Kingdom and paired with a cover imported from Germany — exist. Originally these UK editions came with an insert that could have been mistaken for a promotional one-sheet. “It appears the reason for this album going totally unnoticed was the lack of promotion and the band’s decision not to tour. It simply sunk without a trace, with only tiny numbers sold or even pressed.” Now the UK-pressed original is a hugely collectable and saught-after album. Matrix numbers for the UK copy are 2310204 A // 420 1 1 1 & [2344037] 2310204 B // 1 420 1 1 2. The bracketed numbers are lightly struck through and the correct side figures as scripted. All other characters are punched Roman Polydor style matrixes.
“This is a piece for the serious prog-rock and Krautrock collector. With backing by Faust, this was produced by Uwe Nettelbeck at the legendary Wumme Studios in Germany.” Perhaps this is another reason why the German issue of this album (Polydor Germany record and Polydoor Germany cover) are so much more common than the UK edition. “The female vocals are by Dagmar Krause who has an almost unique vocal style, and the material is reasonably easy on the ear, less avant grade than when the main two members moved to England and teamed up with Henry Cow. The Faust backing sound will be familiar to fans and the songs are quite varied, they have a quirky style that will be familiar on the Virgin-era Faust albums.”
This is a straight-from-vinyl rip. So for those of you who like to hear the difference between a German and UK pressing might appreciate this. For those of you who are simply Slapp Happy fans, or Faust fans, that it is a straight-from-vinyl rip might not mean much to you. Still…it’s pretty hard to find. Enjoy!
Oh, and before you ask…no, I don’t own this extremely scarce and valuable record. I did — for about three hours — and then I gave it to a friend for his birthday. Because he said a UK pressing was his number-one most-wanted record of all time. And, well, that’s just the kind of friend I am.
Slapp Happy
Sort Of
(Polydor UK, 1972)
MediaFire DL Link
01. Just A Conversation
02. Paradise Express
03. I Got Evil
04. Little Girl’s World
05. Tutankhamun
06. Mono Plane
07. Blue Flower
08. I’m All Alone
09. Who’s Gonna Help Me Now?
10. Small Hands Of Stone
11. Sort Of
12. Heading For Kyoto
