Can anyone tell me why certain records that were in print, suddenly go out of print? Is it purely financial? Why doesnt the record company start printing stuff again? Specifically, T+G. It just seems weird, and frustrating as a vinyl collector. Im sure this has been a topic before...maybe
-Ian

i'm no expert but could it be supply and demand?

Good question. The answer is quite simple: record companies, bands, yes, even merchants, hate you. Personally. Why else would we be hindered from buying such classics as Crazy Rhythms, ALBUM:Generic Flipper, Time Fades Away, and to a lesser extent, Sebadoh III?

They don't like you, and in fact, they've never liked you. Deal with it.







. . . . or maybe yeah, supply and demand. That sounds right.

BadComrade wrote:You try selling 1000 more copies of a Storm & Stress LP and then come back with an answer to your own question.

Ha! Yes, every record label has their good yet 'non-selling' release.... probably the Rome LP for Thrill Jockey.... Repulse Kava LP for Ajax as I remember.... Most times you order a good amount of record covers for a certain price break, even if you do not press that many records.... you will then have covers ready for future pressings. Once you have used up all your printed art/covers, the next repress will be super expensive as you will have to pay for new printing/covers as well.... and then you have to decide if ordering a large number for the price break is worth it at that point... Many smaller labels just do not have the kind of money to spend on something that may sit in boxes for years.... it can get very expensive to stock and warehouse so many titles.

I remember hearing a similar story with the Portraits of Past LP. It sold so poorly that the record label just threw out all of their copies. Years later, by word of mouth probably because the band was broken up, there was a huge renewed interest in the band, and the record label had to buy all new cover art and press a bunch of new copies to meet the demand.

Theres actually a CD coming out soon of the discography.

Hah, I bet they cant help but feel a little foolish though.

- Chet

A friend ran an indie label some years back that released Brainbombs, Monoshock, Liquorball, and a bunch of other post-punk psych bands. He closed shop but kept his inventory.

Renewed interest in the bands led to distributors calling him for his back catalog. He is happy to fulfill current orders.

Throw away nothing, indie label owners!

dabrasha wrote:A friend ran an indie label some years back that released Brainbombs, Monoshock, Liquorball, and a bunch of other post-punk psych bands. He closed shop but kept his inventory.

Blackjack was a very good record label of Oakland.

i ran a piddly little label in high school and one the artists is now on troubleman unlimted, load, rrr, and all this stuff. my noise group did a split cassette with his, but i had to toss out all the remaining copies after they got damaged by smoke from a fire at my folks house. bye-bye, ebay fodder.

I was just posting b/c I recently picked up a copy of Dirty Three's Ocean Songs and iin it was the T+G/Merge/Quarterstick mail order catalog from 1998 and I started drooling about what it would be like to be able to order anything from there for the prices of 9 and 12 for lps. Grrrrrrrr......Polvo and Jesus Lizard...

It's like that, so that the companies can make money.

Out of print records usually sell for more.


For example.

Mindless Self Indugence - Tight (when released, $12)
Mindless Self Indulgence - Tight (now, >$100)