Fear Of Smell

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Here’s the second of the set that belong to Mark Grady and his girlfriend. This one’s Mark’s and has the Vermiform sticker with the Cooper Station address on it, which is before Sam and co. moved to Richmond and even later California. Here’s what Mark had to say about this:

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This cover comes courtesy of Mark Grady/Twistworthy, who put out several great records on Twistworthy Records and used to be the guy who I’d bother at Sound Exchange in Austin Texas during the years of 1997 and 1998. Here’s what he had to say about this platter:

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Trying out some larger images – 850 pixels wide – let me know if things break and I’ll try to fix em. This cover comes courtesy of Jon Boucher who didn’t have much to say about it. Strikes me that the collage work is very similar to my copy, with the giant spray painted “shit” on the back might be a relatively early offering – just after the spray paint and tinsel debacle that Sam wrote about. Also the lettering for the Fear of Smell bears a resemblance to Variation #37, although only in passing.

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“E.T…. Yes we thought it was a good idea!”

Another good copy, lots of stuff going on and bears a passing resemblance to Variation #81 in style and form.  The writing as well looks like the swoopy hand writing from what seems like a good half dozen submissions. Here’s what Hiroyuki had to say about it:

I got this copy at ebay. It has very simple E.T. drawing, and still looks funny. When the first pressing of Fear Of Smell was out, I’ve never seen them at any record store in Tokyo.

Green E.T. clearly phoned home to Japan. Which makes a lot of anime make a lot more sense. E.T. was some sort of anime character in real life! Just like the giant Gundam that got built outside of  Tokyo.. anime as a method of world cultural control, bow to your Pokemon masters now.

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“Ted you be fearin’ the smell?”

“Yo man, I be fearin’ that smell!”

This came from a Buy It Now auction that eventually went for a best offer of $98.  Here’s what the auctioneer had to write about it:

There are 2 pressings, 1000 hand drawn originals (a database http://fearofsmell.robotvsrobot.com of covers is available online!) and 1,441 second pressings with the same cover. 2,441 made total. This is the original copy with a hand drawn cover. Black vinyl with yellow label. Comes with insert. This is very rare and increasing in value and notoriety every day!!

Thanks for the plug and the correct information – it’s funny how many of the auctions out there try to blow one by the people – saying only five made with this cover, or the classic only five made total, then get no bids. $98 is a bit of a head scratcher, but hey, not my money and if I had it to spend and didn’t have a pretty decent copy of the comp, I’d spend it. Especially for a copy with an parka wearing “Ted”.

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Ahhh, just when you think the well has dried up, someone else is a kind soul and finds another copy and sends it in. Handwriting on this one looks like Variation #6, Variation #17 and Variation #47. Marker and crayon, gotta wonder if there was an attempt to draw something, then scribbled out, or just scribbled… or maybe that’s just me wondering.

Here’s what Samantha wrote about it, and I hope whatever Amoeba overcharged, you get paid back in karma and Internet fame. The good kind of Internet fame, not some scuzzy paparazzi upskirt shot while you’re drunk. Unless you think that’s good… then god speed.

The jacket is split, the vinyl is scuffed, the crayon/marker artwork sucks, and Amoeba [Hollywood] priced it as if there really were only five copies.. but it was missing from your blog so I thought I’d pick it up. Enjoy!

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Here’s another copy that looks somewhat like  Variation #67 and Variation #31. Here’s what Dave Brown said about his acquisition (and merger?):

Got it when it came out from a shop called Sound on Sound in Highland Park, NJ.

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Close Up – “We’re Going to Play in Our Underwear”

Dwayne Dixon sent in this copy, and here’s what he had to write about it:

I discovered your amazing site the other day and am finally getting a chance to send you photos of my FOS comp.  I’m pretty sure I got my copy from Charles Maggio while hanging out with him and Jon Hiltz in C’s basement.  I was really siked on this comp since it represented the diversity and intimacy of the early 90s punk scene in Jersey, NY, and Philly that I was deeply involved in.  The Sam & Joe freak-out was seriously the best track and while on tour with Policy of 3 and Shotmaker we’d scream “Where little dogs wear suits & ties!” randomly at  strangers.  Delightful.

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Here’s a tasty treat to finish off March, and the current NHL season where the Leafs are yet again fucked for life. From John Steinheimer:

This F.O.S. was given to me personally by Charles Maggio of Rorschach.

The record itself is a test pressing with a white label.

The front cover depicts a hockey goalie fending off a slap shot from centre ice.

The goalie’s jersey has “McP” on it.

The back cover depicts a graveyard with ascending zombie.

The side one label has a pair of television “rabbit ears” antenna.

“Only 5 made” gold sticker and a featuring John Woods! sticker.

Well, finally another one comes in, hopefully that means more are on the way folks – I don’t care if they’re plain as plain can be – like Pokemon, gotta collect (pictures) of them all. So, get your five minutes of fame, shortened for the Internet attention span.

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Well, for #69, I was hoping fate would smile on me and give me something sexual to deal with, instead I get a picture with some folks from the 50′s and Unity on it. Oh well. The rest of the bit transcribed:

the Paravine Liberation Organization Inc. strongly supports all involved with the production of fear of smell compilation, please send all soy by-products and empty plastic containers to your fucking own house.

This one comes from Justin, who was and is on the WITBAWDTSL board. Thanks!