The Abstracts "Hey, Let's Go Now!" on CD

[Duceditor]

In Nov 2011, after almost 45 years 'in the vault', the complete studio recordings of the mid-60s Long Island band The Abstracts became available for the first time in an up-scale, limited to 500 copies, vinyl pressing entitled "Hey, Let's Go Now!" As a member of the band I had the pleasure of working with Break-A-Way Records in making sure this release was everything that long-time fans had always wished for.

The acceptance of the record was wonderful, introducing The Abstracts to an entirely new generation. As Ugly Things magazine succinctly put it... "Abstractmania? Who knew?" And England's Record Collector chose the album as a pick of the month commenting that it was "brimming with energy and verve."

In the months following the LP's release the band members and Break-A-Way Records itself were inundated with requests for a CD version. It is thus a particular pleasure to be able to report that such is finally a reality!

The CD includes the same photo-filled insert (12 pages!) about the history of the band. And although I have yet to receive a copy (It is in the Luftpost as I write this) I expect the CD will have the same superb sound quality as the LP -- the sonics of which were like a time machine, returning the musicians who had created it back to Columbia's famed Studio B where five of the tracks were recorded way back in 1964.





If you were one of the many Abstracts fans who were awaiting this release I expect this is all really good news. And if you are a `60s Garageband music lover unfamiliar with The Abstracts' music beyond their classic "Always Always" here, finally, is your chance. :)

-Don

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[Duceditor]

I just received the first copy of "Hey, Let's Go Now!" to reach these shores. (Break-A-Way Records, our producer, is in Erndtebrück, Germany.) And once again Break-A-Way lived up to their reputation. The mastering is superb as is the entire package. Putting the disc onto the stereo with the volume up is like re-entering the studio where the recordings were made and again hearing the mix up close. Frankly it gave me shivers!​

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So many thanks to all the Break-A-Way team. Especially to company founder and head Wolfgang Völkel! Thanks to such as you the sound of the sixties lives still! All hail rock and roll!​

-Don Sucher​

 

[bosshoss]

This gives me shivers. I can't wait to hear the new record...

 

[Duceditor]

This gives me shivers. I can't wait to hear the new record...

Wow! You have one rare record there bosshoss! I don't even think all the band members still have a copy. How did you ever find it?

-Don

 

[MopTopMike]

I've got a copy of the 45!

 

[Duceditor]

Wow MTM, we really do have some amazing collections (and collectors!) in our midst.​

Okay, here is one I bet neither of you have.... (hee hee!) Mind you I have no idea if this has any collector's value. But rare, that it certainly is!​

There were to my knowledge only five of these ever made, and this (again, to my knowledge) is the sole one remaining. -A two sided lacquer of The Abstracts' initial (May 1964) recording of Always Always/Gone Away​

So rare are these tracks that this was the sole available source for the record. And thus this very lacquer was placed on a fine, radial arm equipped, turntable and a high resolution .wav file was created from it and sent to Break-A-Way Records' engineers in Germany to be digitally mastered for use on the LP and subsequent CD.​

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:)​

-Don​

 

[bosshoss]

Wow! You have one rare record there bosshoss! I don't even think all the band members still have a copy. How did you ever find it?

-Don

I'm not sure, it was about 8-10 years ago and I have forgotten where I got it. But I have a strong feeling that it may have been a purchase from Tim Warren's collection (compiler of Back From The Grave and Garage Punk Unknowns, and head of Crypt Records). It's great, a killer 45!

 

[Duceditor]

Thank you. The creators were (and are) a great bunch of guys. :)