cut-outs
 

I'm surprised that cut-outs are still in use for unsold media. When I purchase an used album, either being a lp vinyl or cd, there are the accurances of purchasing media with these so-called cut-outs. At first I used to frown of the ideal of purchasing an album with a cut-out, but as I've gotten older I've come to the conclusion that it adds distintiveness to my collection. Not that I want every lp/cd a cut-out, but it adds character to my collection. I can see in the near future that the recording industy will persuade the record labels to use this to their full advantage as to inforce all used media to use this pratice as to detour music buyers to purchase new products, because record companies and artists don't make any earnings on used media. In addition, I can see them trying to inforce a fee/tax for used media. New music isn't moving to fast off the shelves-it's cheaper to buy used.

Some of my fondess memories were buying used, cut-outs, and discounted items. Some of my favorite LPs and CDs I own I only bought for a dollar or two.

• Switched on Bach by (then) Walter Carlos (used)
• Music from England, Japan, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina and Mexico by John Williams (used)
• The David Grisman Quintet by The David Grisman Quintet (factory sealed)
• Easy Way Down by Snowpony (rewrapped used)
• Stratosphere by Duster (rewrapped used)

My answer will have to be in a couple of parts, but I have a number of these floating around in my collection, focusing on original copies (DJ/Promo copies would double up the list!).

Starting with some 60's legends...

Love - Da Capo
Clip Cut on the lower Right Hand corner
Elektra, 1967, #81, I think. (an edition made before Warners bought the label).

The Arrows featuring Davie Allen - Cycledelic Sounds
Small Bullet on the top left corner
Tower, 1967, no chart action

The Standells - Anthology of Legendary Recordings Vol. 1
Clip Cut on the top Right Hand corner
AVI, 1981, and I don't think Vol. 2 was made despite the mention of the plans in the liners. Soon, Rhino would jump the band back up in Cult Rock circles. Still, this had the better notes!

The Pretty Things - The Vintage Years
CLASSIC Sire collection, a part of a series that was raved by critics and fans, but still not bought up in high numbers.
SMALL Clip Cut lower right hand corner
1976, no chart action.
Sire was Distributed through ABC at that time, very shortly before Warners got it.
(Note: I have a Troggs collection, but that's a Promo copy as stamped on the front cover)

Eric Burdon and the New Animals - Winds of Change
Bullet Hole, lower left hand corner
MGM, 1967, #44 US

Herman's Hermits - Blaze
Bullet Hole, Lower Left Hand Corner
MGM, 1967, #77 US (Debuted only two weeks after Burdon's Psych Out!)

The Rascals - Freedom Suite
"Saw Cut" Right side near center
Atlantic, 1969, #17 (Quick rise and fall, though)
Note: includes the original drawings...stick to the classic music, guys, seriously!
Note 2: I once had a Cut Out of Mary Hopkin's Postcard that debuted in The US charts in the same week as this! (#24)

Jimi Hendrix - Soundtrack Recordings from the Film Jimi Hendrix
Block Cut Top Right Hand Corner
Reprise, 1973, #89 US (UK #37)
The music is great as always, but I'm sure the record company did not have a good time trying to sell it despite some classic performances. Still, as some of the fidelity was pretty bad on a few of the cuts, I don't think that fans flocked to the stores to get it. As the film is on DVD, this does not need to be on CD. Seriously a product of the time but with timeless music.

Three Swan Song albums fit my list here...

Detective
Saw Cut lower left
#139, features the classic song that should have been a single, "Got Enough Love," but sadly not much else despite some great playing.

Dave Edmunds - Repeat When Necessary
Saw Cut Left Side
#54 US, features his classic version of "Girl's Talk"

Dave Edmunds - Twangin'
(Used to have this Early-Mid 80's, Cut Out, but left the collection long ago...another used is with me today)
#48 US, good set! The version of "Almost Saturday Night" was featured on American Bandstand's Rate-a-Record segment!

I wonder how many Yes fans here bought the Tormato album as a cut out?

Certainly no dismissing of the album, but I would like to know too. It was a Cut Out regular when I was a kid looking through the bins. That and Drama.

Some Todd Rundgren and Utopia!

Utopia - Deface the Music
1980, #65
Small hole, bottom right corner
The great but sadly ill-fated Beatles tribute that was the follow-up to the very successful Adventures in Utopia. Was a C-O regular by around '82.

Utopia - Swing to the Right
1982, #102
Saw Cut, top left corner
Of it's time, but still good 80's Utopia. "One World" I'm sure is still a fan favorite, but "Last Dollar on Earth" still connects well today. Bought both Deface and Swing as C-O's around 83, and re-added them to my collection after missing them for about a couple of decades...again C-O pressings!

Todd Rundgren - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
1983, #66
Small hole, top left corner
A fine album, and should be remembered more than just having "Bang on the Drum All Day."

Rhino Records Re-issue:
Todd Rundgren - Hermit of Mink Hollow
Corner Cut, top right
Although I don't know if this is a Promo, I am convinced that this was one of the few cases in my collection of the Re-Issue getting the Cut Out treatment.
(Note: The orginal '78 pressing was one of his most successful, BB peak at #38 US)