The purple tapes

>> If I was an A&R man would I have signed them on the strength of this? <<

As well as the tracks on this release, the original Purple Tape contained the 8 tracks that were subsequently released as "Come On Pilgrim" . The presence of one of the best 5 albums of all time was probably what swung it

Matthew

The tracks for 'Come on Pligrim' must have been either re-recorded or re-mastered as the sound quality is different again. I agree with you on it being a top 5 album! The interesting thing about the 'purple tapes' is that one of the tracks 'the well' did not resurface until 'bossa nova'!

Its my understanding that Come On Pilgrim was literally the original $1000 demo recording -- e.g. allmusic.com says "Amazingly, Pixies' 1987 debut EP Come on Pilgrim was compiled from the quickly, inexpensively made demo tape — paid for by Black Francis' dad — the band made at Boston's legendary Fort Apache studio soon after they formed. 4AD was so taken with the tape that they released eight of the songs as this mini-album"

Of course "Come on Pilgrim" as released on vinyl would have sounded different from the cassette tape which got them signed but I'm pretty sure its the same recordings and would have sounded very similar. This re-issue is probably diffferent again but not substantially so I guess.

Anyway I would have signed them after the first 8 bars of Caribou. One of those "I can still rememeber where I was when I first heard it records".

Matthew

PS The b-sides compilation is worth getting if you don't already have it. See http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/p/pixies/complete-bsides.shtml

I will look into the b-sides thing, sounds good. I must say I am really amazed that the two records are from the same source without any tinkering. Perhaps they nailed the sound as they went along. I think 'Come on Pilgrim' is not only a great album but the recording mirrors their live performance. A truely great band that made Nirvana sound like an over rated bar band.