You got me squinting at my copy of Excitable Boy. Did I buy it the first day it came out? I have no idea what the hand-scribbled, barely legible numbers/letters inscribed on the vinyl mean -- CE-118 PRE and GE-118 B-3 PRCW. Have I got something special? Should I put it on ebay????
The "variant" press?
There is a S#%tload of threads to sift through, finding an answer. Perhaps someone can provide a explanation to the my question.
Where in line does the "variant" stand from a "1st press"? I'm not clear on the lineage of the "variant."
Recent buy is this promo copy of Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy". One of those artists I just never got around to listening to. I've found a "stamper" level(at least one worthy of consideration, since I don't have 5 others to compare)
https://www.discogs.com/Warren-Zevon-Excitable-Boy/release/6684772
Was there an actual record pressing facility in Compton Ca? California long timers may have an answer to this.
Interesting find, as I see the matrix ending with the "W" indicating a Compton, Ca issue. Compton is a neighboring city to my hometown Long Beach. I can't find definitive info indicating an actual LP pressing facility that was in Compton.
This album has an all star supporting cast
Fantastic album, also audio rig show off worthy.
Where in line does the "variant" stand from a "1st press"? I'm not clear on the lineage of the "variant."
Recent buy is this promo copy of Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy". One of those artists I just never got around to listening to. I've found a "stamper" level(at least one worthy of consideration, since I don't have 5 others to compare)
https://www.discogs.com/Warren-Zevon-Excitable-Boy/release/6684772
Was there an actual record pressing facility in Compton Ca? California long timers may have an answer to this.
Interesting find, as I see the matrix ending with the "W" indicating a Compton, Ca issue. Compton is a neighboring city to my hometown Long Beach. I can't find definitive info indicating an actual LP pressing facility that was in Compton.
This album has an all star supporting cast
- Karla Bonoff – harmony vocals on "Accidentally Like a Martyr"
- Jackson Browne – guitar, harmony and backing vocals
- Luis Damian – jarana on "Veracruz"
- Kenny Edwards – bass guitar on "Veracruz", "Tenderness on the Block" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money"
- John McVie - bass on "Werewolves of London"
- Mick Fleetwood – drums on "Werewolves of London"
- The Gentlemen Boys (Jackson Browne, Jorge Calderón, Kenny Edwards, J. D. Souther and Waddy Wachtel) – backing and harmony vocals
- Arthur Gerst – Mexican harp
- Bob Glaub – bass guitar on "Roland the Headless Gunner", "Excitable Boy" and "Nighttime in the Switching Yard"
- Jim Horn – recorder on "Veracruz"; saxophone on "Excitable Boy"
- Greg Ladanyi – bells on "Nighttime in the Switching Yard"
- Rick Marotta – drums on "Veracruz" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money"
- Jeff Porcaro – drums and percussion on "Nighttime in the Switching Yard"
- Linda Ronstadt – backing and harmony vocals on "Excitable Boy"
- Leland Sklar – bass guitar on "Johnny Strikes Up The Band" and "Accidentally Like a Martyr"
- J.D. Souther – backing and harmony vocals
- Manuel Vasquez – requinto on "Veracruz"
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar, synthesizer, harmony and backing vocals
- Jennifer Warnes – harmony vocals on "Excitable Boy"
Fantastic album, also audio rig show off worthy.
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Great record. I think I have a couple early pressings including a promo. I’ll have to look. As to your question of variants, I see this a fair amount with respect to small variations in credits and the like that otherwise don’t involve a different mastering. I think it shows that the notion of "first pressing" without more info, doesn’t tell us much especially for records that were widely distributed and manufactured at a lot of different plants in the US and elsewhere. PS: this gent, who goes by the handle W.B. wrote a lot of information about old pressing plants and here's what he said in another forum about the one in Compton. |
The lineup of musicians is most impressive. A handful of these guys are on practically every radio hit during the 70's. The only other superstar missing is David Lindley on slide or weird guitar thingy. Whatever variant indicates, the SQ grabs your attention along with the music. Always fun to score albums like this. "this gent, who goes by the handle W.B. wrote a lot of information about old pressing plants and here's what he said in another forum about the one in Compton." Yes, that's about the depth of other stuff I've been able to pull up. Disappointing no in depth on this Compton facility. I guess Gangsta rap isn't the only thing straight outta Compton. Anyone a Huell Howser PBS fan? This would have made a great episode topic. |
@edcyn- quite welcome, but I’m just a piker. There are people out there who devote their lives to this- I’m just scratching the surface on this one. I actually like to do research, and get pleasure from the process of trying to puzzle things out. The best sources are often people who were there-- but as time goes on, even the late ’70s is a long time ago now, figuring that any person mature enough to own or run a company would have been say, 40, would put them in their eighties now. If a subject intrigues me enough, and I can find people like that-- who were there, know what was happening and are willing to talk to me, it makes for some fun work in terms of writing it up. |
Those musicians (along with some others, such as drummer Russ Kunkel and guitarist/singers Danny Kortchmar and Andrew Gold) formed the 1970’s Los Angeles Rock ’n’ Roll equivalent of the 1960’s Wrecking Crew. Musicians bought the albums they played on just to hear THEM. Kunkel, Sklar, Kortchmar, and Wachtel came up with the name The Section, making a few Rock/Jazz "fusion" albums in the 70’s, and are currently back at it. |
