Faust

6-13-08 Faust

Let’s hear it for the finest German experimental band!

CD 71 MINUTES OF - THE LAST ALBUM RECOMMENDED ReRF1CD

1988? 13 TRKS 70's recordings

CD BBC SESSIONS + ReR US ReRF 5

2000? 8 TRKS 70's recordings

CD FAUST (#1) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-9259

1971 3 TRKS Clear cover ('03 issue) kami sleeve

LP FAUST (#1) POLYDOR DE 2310 142

1972 3 TRKS CLEAR VINYL, DE COVER

LP FAUST (#1) 80’s re-issue RECOMMENDED RR ONE

1972 3 TRKS CLEAR VINYL, UK cvr, re-issue

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN DE 87739 IT

1973 8 TRKS DE original issue

CDx2 FAUST IV (Deluxe edition) VIRGIN UK CDVR 2004

1973 16 TRKS (9 x bonus tracks) ('06 issue)

LP FAUST TAPES (#3) VIRGIN UK VC 501

1973 2 TRKS UK original issue

LP FAUST TAPES (#3) RECOMMENDED RR SIX

1973 2 TRKS '80 re-issue

CD OUTSIDE THE DREAM SYNDICATE (with Tony Conrad) TABLE OF T 5283

1973 3 TRKS ('93 issue) (1 x bonus track)

LP OUTSIDE THE DREAM SYNDICATE (with Tony Conrad) CAROLINE UK C 1501

1973 2 TRKS UK original issue

LP RETURN OF A LEGEND white RECOMMENDED RR 25

1986 6 TRKS white vinyl

LP SO FAR (#2) POLYDOR DE 2310 196

1972 9 TRKS booklet (inserts)

CD SO FAR (#2) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-9260

1972 9 TRKS ('03 issue) kami sleeve

LP SO FAR (#2) re-issue RECOMMENDED RR TWO

1972 9 TRKS 80’s re-issue

This is only the core of my collection – I have many variant issues (and singles) of the first four Faust albums. I got into them for a simple economic reason: In 1973, it was possible to find a copy of “The Faust Tapes” for under $1. That’s right.

It’s very wonderful, brash and unpredictable music – it sounded perfect to my 15-year-old ears. Almost nobody else has ever heard of this band? Even better.

I asked my brother (who lived in Germany at the time) to go out into the town and see if he could find me a clear vinyl copy of their debut album – no problem. In 1975, it was easily my most prized possession. I love the first four Faust albums to death.

Because of Faust, I also got into Slapp Happy, Anthony Moore and Peter Blegvad, as Faust members appeared on all of those folks’ albums.

But they never came to America at that time, they broke up after “Faust IV” etc. - My youthful dreams had yet again been crushed. They reformed many years later – but the zeitgeist had already left the building. I am amazed at how many Faust CD’s there would seem to be in 2008!