Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence - 2004 vinyl & 2000 CDR RARE OOP
£
474
$
628
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Description
Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence - 2004 first reissue vinyl (2004) AND original CDR release (2000), plus bonus live CDR and cuttings sent from Mark T. Smith of the band.
OK Explosions In The Sky fans, this might just be be your motherlode. An original CDR version of ‘How Strange, Innocence’ on Sad Loud America from 2000, a CDR of a live show at Emo’s, TX sent to me with press clippings by Mark T. Smith, and most importantly: an unplayed copy of the first, extremely limited edition vinyl press of ‘HSI’ on Ruined Potential Records from 2004.
The history:
I struck up an online correspondence with Mark T. Smith of EITS in ’00, at a time when they had recorded ‘How Strange Innocence’ and were looking for a label to release their second album, which they were currently working on. Mark was good enough to send me one of the original CDR releases of HSI and a CDR of a recent live performance at Emo’s on 20th June 2000 alongside local press cuttings, which I then used to send cassette tape (!) copies of onto UK labels. I recall that Fierce Panda Records were particularly keen to get them to do a 7”, but I’m not sure any of EITS’ songs at the time would fit the format. There was also talk of interest from 4AD, but not long after they got hooked up with the excellent Bella Union label.
I got to meet the band on their first UK tour in 2002 and they were total gents. We caught up again a couple of times in 2004 and they were good enough to sell me a vinyl copy of HSI that they had self-released in a hand-numbered edition of 300 copies, each with a fold out picture sleeve and a printed insert by their good friend Esteban Rey. The one I'm selling here is one of the rarer ones that came in a grey sleeve and has the transparent sheet with another of Esteban's illustrations on. It’s a beautiful item.
Our paths diverged not that long thereafter as they quickly blew up and started doing film soundtracks, while my boring ass life continued without much fanfare.
Since that time I have held onto both copies of HSI, though to be honest I never liked that album half as much as the live material they sent me, which went onto form the bulk of their stellar second LP, ‘Those Who Tell The Truth…”. Today, I realise that I’ve never played the LP of HSI, so am presenting it for sale in unplayed Near Mint condition. The original CDR of HSI has unfortunately deteriorated and my CD player reckons it’s pretty much unplayable, but I’ll include that as well the original CDR of live tracks and press cuttings Mark T. Smith sent me alongside them, which for some reason still plays absolutely fine.
20 years on since its original release, it feels fitting to pass these items onto a fan who will really appreciate them as a package. Check out the pictures of this unique slice of history that I’ll be passing on and feel free to drop me a line with any questions or if you would like to see any more photos.
Please note that I have listed this item for sale on other sites and reserve the right to end this auction at any time. Do contact me if you would prefer to communicate about this outside of eBay.
The blurb:
The members of Explosions In The Sky played their first show, at the University of Texas’ student radio station, on July 4, 1999, under the short-lived moniker, Breaker Morant. A year later, they recorded their first album, How Strange, Innocence, over the course of two days, and made 300 CDR copies to sell at shows and give to friends in their hometown of Austin, TX.
Following their third album, The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the band released a single vinyl pressing of How Strange, Innocence as the debut release on a friend’s short-lived local imprint, Ruined Potential Records. Sold exclusively on a 2004 North American tour [and a short burst of UK dates], the sole pressing of 300 sold out immediately, quickly becoming an urban legend for fans.
Label:
Ruined Potential Records – FTK 01
Format:
2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Released:
2004
Grading:
NM (never played)
Cover jacket: NM / grey edition incl. transparent sheet / Hand-numbered #117 of 300.
Tracklist:
A1 A Song For Our Fathers
A2 Snow And Lights
B1 Magic Hours
B2 Look Into The Air
C1 Glittering Blackness
C2 Time Stops
D1 Remember Me As A Time Of Day
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