Vinyl records, love them or hate them, but I still have a soft spot for those black ‘groovy’ discs: the singles, extended plays, and long players… But there’s one odd format which for no particular reason I like perhaps most and that’s the 10 inch, a sort of ‘inbetweenie’!
Which brings us to record labels’ gimmicks, such us EPIC with their 1980 NU-DISK series. In their own words: WHAT A CHEAP WAY TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!
Well, at least they were honest about it…
Those NU-DISK platters were 10 inches with (at first) 4 songs each, which to be honest isn’t that much, but then again, the keyword was CHEAP, right?!
The first four were by Cheap Trick, New Musik, Propaganda, and The Continentals of which only the first one is still around (perhaps due to their CHEAP name?!)
The other three UK bands threw in the towel many years ago, but actually their music included some really neat New Wave/Powerpop tunes and therefore deserve to be heard again.
No need to say much about Cheap Trick I guess as they’re pretty well known, except for the info regarding their four tracks is misleading!
On the A side “Day Tripper” isn’t live, but was actually recorded in the studio, the crowd noise is apparently from their 1978 US Tour and “Can’t Hold On” is from the 1978 Budokan shows.
“Such a Good Girl” was recorded in 1979 and “Take Me I’m Yours” from 1980.
Another gimmick, this 10 inch was released in two versions, with different pictures of the band members on the Sides…
New Musik (Tony Mansfield, Clive Gates, Tony Hibbert, Phil Towner, & Cliff Venner) was an English new wave pop band from South London, active from 1977 to 1982. They started out as End Of The World and became New Musik in 1977, originally with musicians who also played in the Nick Straker Band. They released three albums between 1980 - 1982.
Propaganda (Gary Finch, Graham Seviro, Julian Macqueen, & Milo Lewis), UK band formed in ca. 1980. Some members were previously in The Passengers together. They released only one album…
The Continentals (Bill Holliday, Tom Doherty, & Alan Harris) came from London and were managed by Doug Smith, then manager of Motorhead. They released only 2 singles and this 10 inch… Bill Holliday and Tom Doherty also co-produced and wrote tracks for the well known UK Rockabilly group Whirlwind.
In 1980 EPIC even released a NU-DISK Colony sampler with one track each of the above bands.
Later artists that got the NU-DISK treatment were Gary Glitter (Glitter And Gold, 6 tracks), Rick Nelson (Four You, 4 tracks), Shakin’ Stevens (Shakin’ Stevens, 4 tracks), and The Clash (Black Market Clash, 9 tracks).
It was all in vain, sales were disappointing & NU-DISK ended up on the scrapheap…
Link: https://pixeldrain.com/u/HEA6A2B5
ReplyDeleteQuestion: Did/Do you have any 10" records? If so, any favorites??
I'll start first: I still have a 1982 platter by The Cure: A Single, with 2 fantastic live versions of A Forest & Killing An Arab...
Another one is the double(!) 1973 Christmas At The Patti with Dave Edmunds, Help Yourself, Ducks Deluxe, a.o.
Over to you!
I remember Nu Disk well. I loved and still love Nu Musik, and the Cheap Trick 10" had a bonus 7" with it too, if memory serves me correctly ('Everythng Will Work Out If You Let It)'. My favourite, and most playd, 10" of all time is Klark Kent's self titled debut (https://www.discogs.com/master/176357-Klark-Kent-Klark-Kent) aka Stewart Copeland from The Police. Thanks for this. SPx
DeleteYou're welcome SleepyPete! Klark Kent's self titled debut.., cool!
DeleteKoen, there is another 10" by the Cure called "Half An Octopus". The Cheap Trick Nu-Disk had different members of the band pictured on the center label, and of course there was a special release for Japan with an Obi strip. There was one more Nu-Disk released in 1980 exclusively in Japan. Strangely enough it was a Spanish singer named Miguel Bosé.
DeleteThanks Jonder, I wasn't aware of "Half An Octopus". I did notice Miguel Bosé but as it was a Japan only release and musically so different, I took the liberty of ignoring it ;-)
DeleteBRavo Art!~ Needed to be done as I have posted most of them but not known about it Thanks and Happy 2026!
ReplyDeleteAll good man, keep the music posts coming!
DeleteI have a number of 10" (or 25 cm) records but the best in terms of packaging has to be the Magic Cube flexi 2 sided 60's punk/psych 10" not to mention the sleeve forming an actual cardboard cube ! The music is great too but as you can imagine a 10" flexi doesn't sound that good in the tradition of bootleg garage comps. I do possess the Christmas at the Patti and Cheap Trick Nu-Disk 10" which by the way came with a bonus single featuring the song Everything Works.
ReplyDeleteHonourable mention to various old Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens 50's and 60's 10", the Mitch Ryder Wheels of Steel comp (including all his great 60's hits) on PRT, the Tex Rubinowitz Hot Rod Man 10" on Big Beat, recently mentioned I, Ludicrous Preposterous Tales 10" on Rodney, Rodney!, the Standells unissued Live Ones 10" (including a good take on Gloria) on Sundazed, 2019 Robyn Hitchcock & Andy Partridge Planet England 10" on Ape House and last but not least the Flamin' Groovies goofy Sneakers 10" on Skydog which must have felt out of place in 1968 San Francisco.
J from Europe (hopefully not invaded by Trump anytime soon).
Oh boy, that's quite a list, I think I even had Tex Rubinowitz Hot Rod Man 10"... I never knew about FLAMIN' GROOVIES I'll Have A... Bucket Of Brains 10", shit!
DeleteJ is referring to "Sneakers", the 1968 self-released debut 10" from the Flamin Groovies (which Skydog reissued in 1975).
Delete"Bucket of Brains" was recently reissued on 10" for Record Store Day.
https://www.discogs.com/release/3203498-The-Flamin-Groovies-Sneakers
Oops, thanks Jonder, I sit corrected..., had no idea of "Sneakers"!
DeleteKoen, did you ever have this one from 1977? It was only released in the Netherlands...
Deletehttps://www.discogs.com/release/6505125-Shakin-Stevens-And-The-Sunsets-Cmon-Memphis
YES! And I remember being a bit disappointed as 6 songs of it had already been released on a single and ep. Worse, all songs sounded a bit 'flat' and Rockabilly Earthquake was just a bit of screaming by Shaky... Best track was the Flamin' Groovies cover: Evil Hearted Ada.
DeleteAll these songs and loads of others (demos?) were released by various dubious companies under all kinds of titles in the hope of cashing in when Shaky suddenly became successful...
I have about 200 10" s and my favorites include Buy Off The Bar = 2nd Peel Session / Virgin Prunes - Heresie / The Fall - Slates / Nigeria's Request Programme / Force Seven play High Life Blues / Catchy Rhythms from Nigeria / Musiques des chasseurs de têtes / Guillotine compilation / Crispy Ambulance FAC32 / Yvette Horner - Championne du Monde d'Accordéon / Vivaldi 4 Jaargetijden 1960 / Burroughs, Corbain / Short Circuit / NV Groep 65 / Caribbean Calypso /Marie Cecile Moerdijk Sings / Sir Victor Uwaifo Big Sound
ReplyDeleteAlthough this was not a contest, you obviously are the winner here! This should be rewarded and if we ever meet one day I will personally sign this download for you as a sign of my appreciation!
DeleteRichard has mentioned the "Short Circuit" and "Guillotine" compilations on Virgin, and I know he has the "Catch A Wave" double 10"
ReplyDeleteSome copies of "Short Circuit" included a bonus 7" on pink vinyl
Chiswick put out several 10" singles and EPs ("I Want Candy" by the Count Bishops was released on 10", 7" and 6"!)
A&M got into it with the Dickies, the Reds, Nina Hagen, Shrink, Squeeze (10" in a 12" sleeve), and double 10"s of "Look Sharp" and "Reggata de Blanc"
Rough Trade had The Fall and Virgin Prunes ("A New Form of Beauty" parts 1-4: a 7", 10", 12" and a cassette)
Armageddon had Method Actors and Pylon
Stiff did Wreckless Eric, John Otway, Jona Lewie, Tracey Ullman
Bronze did Girlschool and Motorhead
IRS had Oingo Boingo and Klark Kent
Killing Joke put out several on their Malicious Damage label
Epic also released a John Cooper Clarke 10" on clear vinyl with a triangular label
I have a blue vinyl 10" of "Hula Love" by the lovely Pearl Harbour
And of course there are the On-U Sound dubplates...
My favorite of all is the "Archive Series" on Independent Project Records. Each with a different package design. Savage Republic, For Against, Abecedarians, The Dentists, and others. Wish I had them all! https://www.discogs.com/label/222532-Archive-Series-2
That's a massive list, thanks Jonder! I had the Wreckless Eric and Jona Lewie 10"...
DeleteColored, shaped, and scented 10" records! (I'm a bit obsessive)
DeleteWreckless Eric's debut 10" was available on brown vinyl or a marbled mint green.
Virgin released "Love And Loneliness" by The Motors as a 10" on six different colors of vinyl.
I wish I had this compilation of Swiss punk singles, released as an octagonal shaped 10" on pink, yellow, white or green vinyl!
https://www.discogs.com/release/1479391-Various-Rough-Mixes-From-Switzerland
And this 10" compilation from 1982 on pink vinyl had a scratch & sniff sleeve -- but Discogs doesn't say what it smelled like!
https://www.discogs.com/release/2557373-Various-The-Young-And-The-Free
There is a bell-shaped 10" of the Bluebells single "Cath" (on either blue or yellow vinyl), and this shaped King Kurt 10" picture disc on Stiff:
https://www.discogs.com/release/32534574-King-Kurt-Destination-Zululand
Finally, THIS one is a shaped AND SCENTED picture disc!
https://www.discogs.com/release/4497178-Rufus-Chaka-Khan-Do-You-Love-What-You-Feel
I admit defeat Jonder, you have out-obsessed me!
DeleteJonder, I have only mentioned a few of my favs, Gang Green / Tupelo Chain Sex /Psychic TV - L W R / 7 Zuma 7 / Band of Holy Joy / This Mortal Coil / Echoboy /Coldcut - Cloned Again / Klute / Mira Claix / Mind over Rhythm / Autechre / primate records / Richie Hawtin DE9 / Soulfood cklp001 / chants madagascar / chants bamoun / hugh tracey series / Die Skatkis van Afrikaanse Muziek / chants turquie / musique d'afghanistan / Saliha - Sag Najaak Sag / turkmen music / the sound of the gulf coast / tidal / stack / redskins / Billy Hancock - Rockabilly Fever / Vince Taylor / Stark Raving Mad / Hawkwind - independent days / Lee Perry - Jungle / Peter Tosh - Johnny B Goode / Françoise Hardy / the manish boys - davy jones and that is from the first half of the first row
DeleteOMG Richard, tonight I won't be able to sleep...
Delete... got some 78 rpm 10'' like this
ReplyDeletehttps://mega.nz/file/fd0kSLIB#KxcpGv20wHN5EVMLg8fP_Ml7BtyJQJlGvjYZd6rbKOE
https://www.discogs.com/de/release/31627849-Bill-Haley-And-His-Comets-Rock-Around-The-Clock
but most of them are german Schlagermusik
Hermann
Thanks Hermann, of course the 78 rpm are also 10". Thanks for the download!
DeleteSome more 10"/25 cm I have out of which a couple have been mentioned:
DeleteBeach Bitches - Monkey Fuck, Cpt Beefheart - Music in C Minor, Chesterfield Kings - Trippin' Out, Crusaders - Middle Age Rampage+She Beats Me Up (great garage from OZ), Del-Vetts (on Sundazed), DMZ - The First Time, Dèche dans Face, Dovers - We're not just Anybody, Everyday Things, Tav Falco Panther Burns - Red Devil, Feends - 7 Scorchin' Tunes, Hellacopters - Disappointment Blues, Jekylls - The Last Pterodactyl Wild Quest, Killing Joke - Ha, Knaves - Leave me Alone, Maggots - This Condition is Incurable, MC5 - Looking at You/Borderline (early single tracks)/Power Trip, Thee Mysterious Asthmatic Avenger - My Mother Killed Rock n' roll (in 1979) (crazy local one-man band), NY Dolls - New York Tapes 72/73, Nomads - Raw and Rare, the Others - So far out, Pirates - A Fistfull of Dubloons, Pretty Things - Defecting Grey, Real Kids - Foggy Notion (early VU covers & Sleeve parody), Vince Taylor - Early Sides, Thanes - Thanes of Cawdor/A Night in Great King Street, Unrelated Segments, Vice Barons - Friends in Low Places, Les Vierges - Aux Mains des Mongolo Boppers (psychobilly), Wreckless Eric (purple vinyl !), Yardbirds - the Single Hits, Short Circuit comp, Storming the Citadel - 1+2 (Oz comp), Stupid Movies for Stupid People by Stupid Bands (French bands covering film themes), Trashy and Catchy my Dear Watson+Wild and Groovy my dear Watson (90's French garage comps), Unexpected Flying Objects comp (Flying Revolverblatt label), Watch for me Girl a Tribute to DMZ comp, The World of the Zombies (Zombies covers).
Magic Cube is actually a 9", not a 10" !
Some more:
Valses de la Belle Epoque, Zappy Max & Aimable et son Orchestre - Miam Miam Glou Glou (drinking songs), Les Plus Belles Valses de Vienne, Danses Ecossaises Traditionnelles, Raymond Devos 1 (60's standup), Judokadanse Surprise Party (sic), Tony Murena - Reine de Musette, Art Tatum Trio, Les Cosaques du Don (on Deutsche Grammophon), Mistinguett - les plus belles Années du Music-hall Vol.7, En passant par la Vendée avec les Amis de la Belle Maraichine.
J from Europe.
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have the Band of Holy Joy 10" and Hawkwind's Independent Days (mentioned by Richard); the live Killing Joke 10" (mentioned by J); two each from The Damned, The Pirates, The Bishops, Ten Bright Spikes, and The Grifters; Vic Godard, Lene Lovich, Pauline Murray, Keith LeBlanc, Little Annie, Little Axe, Adrian Belew, Joe "King" Carrasco, Lloyd Cole, Jamie James, Ian McCulloch, Paul Westerberg, 18th Dye, Basement 5, Come, Dislocation Dance, Gaye Bikers On Acid, Geraldine Fibbers, Girlschool, Green On Red, Lazy Cowgirls, Long Ryders, Los Lobos, Mekons, OMD, Prisonshake, Redd Kross, Shake (Jo Callis' band between leaving the Rezillos and joining the Human League); Sugarcubes, Surgery, That Petrol Emotion, Triffids, TV21, Whirlwind, Young Fresh Fellows, XTC, and some bands I never heard of. I think the one that started me off was "Girl At Her Volcano".
DeleteJ mentioned a sleeve parody. Here are two good ones:
https://www.discogs.com/master/889697-Paranoid-Visions-I-Will-Wallow
https://www.discogs.com/master/2600351-Fu-Manchu-My-Wave
I forgot that Fu Manchu did two more sleeve tributes (not really parodies) in addition to the Surf Punks:
Deletehttps://www.discogs.com/release/15230517-Fu-Manchu-Time-Is-Going-On-As-You-Crawl-Takin-It-To-The-Streets
https://www.discogs.com/release/26211401-Fu-Manchu-A-Million-Miles-Away
It looks like it's going to be a race between J from Europe and Richard, although Jonder is doing not that bad either... With my few pitiful 10"s I've been left way behind in clouds of despair and frustration, why oh why did I ever get rid of my vinyl...
ReplyDeleteSleeve parody/tribute... Perhaps a new possible subject for a post??
I stop the race right here. I only want to ask Jon to make a cd of the "bands he never heard off" My favorite tribute/parody sleeve must be Kollaps by E. Bauten
ReplyDeletehttps://www.discogs.com/master/7313-Einst%C3%BCrzende-Neubauten-Kollaps/image/SW1hZ2U6NzI5NDM5
Haha, I should have said that it was bands I hadn't heard of before I started collecting 10" records. I didn't want to type out the names. Here's one:
Delete"A Month In Bohemia Is Worth Two In The Bush" by Rip Strip & Fuckit (a name referencing another band name's that was borrowed from a song title).
In loving memory of E.Bauten:
https://www.discogs.com/master/43404-Liars-Theres-Always-Room-On-The-Broom/image/SW1hZ2U6MjcwNjQ1NDI=
That's nice one. and a trio from the original though Bauten to here. Rip Strip is also a trio reference. Ripping from the band rather than the Roland album
DeleteReading Discogs it says drummer Bruce is the same as Bruce from RR&P
and then...Columbia/Epic had a series of lower-priced lps to introduce new artists, usually one-album contracts. I recall the Producers, Sinceros, Vince Gill, the Tourists and a slew of others in the program.
ReplyDeleteHello Music Fans & Gum-chewers ! Love the Nu-Disk series - thanks for posting these tracks. I remember them arriving at WIUV FM at Castleton State College (Vermont). They received lots of playtime back then. Muddy Mike
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Mike!
Delete