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Topic ClosedShould Zappa's Läther be listed as 1977 release?
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Evolver View Drop Down
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Points: 5482 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 14 2012 at 14:01
A little Googling comes up with some info.  It appears a test pressing on WB Discreet was run with a small number of albums.  These were never released, although some may have gotten around via WB personnel.  The Edison records were bootlegs, either cut from a copy of the test pressing, or from Zappa's radio broadcast.
 
Other, less reliable sources say the Edison LPs were a "personal pressing" (whatever that means).
 
Because of his contract with WB, Zappa could not have legally released the album at that time, lending credence to the bootleg label.
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Points: 10964 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2012 at 01:45
^ If it's true that there were some copies made from the Discreet label, then would that not be enough for it to have been considered "released" by our standards today of something being released on bandcamp, even though only 5 people may have heard it?

I agree, having further inquired at zappa.com, I did not realize the Edison records copies were bootlegs. My bad.
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Points: 1199 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2012 at 02:10
Originally posted by darkshade darkshade wrote:

^ If it's true that there were some copies made from the Discreet label, then would that not be enough for it to have been considered "released" by our standards today of something being released on bandcamp, even though only 5 people may have heard it?

We shouldn't hold a 1977 album by 2012 standards. If you release something on Bandcamp today, it's available for everybody around the world, even though only a few people have heard of it. If you press five copies of an LP and don't even release them publicly, it's only available for the five people who managed to secure a copy.
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Points: 5482 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2012 at 09:04
Originally posted by darkshade darkshade wrote:

^ If it's true that there were some copies made from the Discreet label, then would that not be enough for it to have been considered "released" by our standards today of something being released on bandcamp, even though only 5 people may have heard it?
 
Test pressings are not made for official release.  They are made for the label, band and affiliates to listen, and decide if the record is ready for release.  Hence the term "test pressing".   Zappa's intentions notwithstanding, the album wasn't officially released until 1996.
 
I think it would do the site a disservice if we list the earlier date.  Since a few Discreet copies are said to exist, a note can be added to the album listing saying so. Mentioning Zappa's radio broadcast, with a plea to bootleg the album also could lend some clarity to the issue.


Edited by Evolver - December 15 2012 at 09:09
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