Need a beginning collector's guide to Faust...

[danieldust]

This German band's discography seems pretty confusing with all the various reissues. Some of their albums are fascinating works of art before you even play them. I'm interested in collecting some of their LPs. Can anyone give me or direct me to something that explains the differences in the various issues of their albums?

[brain_spo0n]

seems like the centerpiece of their main body of work is "Faust IV"

I'd start with that one. There have been a few reissues it seems, so owning it on vinyl won't cost an arm+leg.

"So Far" is interesting (less accessible than IV) and available from the 4 men w/ beards label. The first track, "It's a Rainy day Sunshine Girl" is one of my favorite songs.

The first (self-titled) is a great collector's item, I guess. I can't really listen to it, honestly. the "Faust Tapes" release (not an album) is a lot more interesting and has also been reissued.

[brain_spo0n]

also, start using Discogs.com! It is a fantastic and fun tool for music collectors.

[danieldust]

Thanks, brain_spo0n. I actually have had IV on CD for a while and just got So Far on CD as well. I am surprised that I like So Far as much as I do. I really dig Faust's unique cover designs. I was snooping around at Popsike.com today, trying to get an idea of how much an original copy of the debut album with the clear sleeve, clear vinyl and silver label would set me back. Let's just say I'll probably have to settle for a reissue. I see that there was apparently a cardboard sleeve version of the debut on Polydor, which I would assume came before it was reissued with the clear sleeve again on Recommended. This is the kind of info I'm looking for, but I guess no one's going to spo0n feed it to me, so I'll continue to check out Discogs, eBay etc. I was really hoping there was a Faust website somewhere with detailed info on the variations of each album, but it's rarely that easy in record collecting.

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

Hi,

it's my opinion that Faust are one of the greatest bands in history - to me, way more significant than the Beatles. The first side of the debut Faust album has more musical ideas than many bands have in their entire career - I can remember the first time I heard it, my mouth was hanging open and I thought something in my brain was going to give out.

I've owned all the pressings of the first album and the one that not only sounds the best but offers best value for money is the second Polydor pressing (black vinyl, white card sleeve). Try and get a UK one if you can. The Recommended reissue looks good but doesn't sound as good as the clear Polydor. The current clear pressing is just terrible - flat and dull - it's for decorative purposes only.

I've not found a lot of difference between the Recommended and Polydor presses of the second album. The first Polydor comes with a black envelope with nine rather ugly prints representing (quite literally in some cases) each of the tracks. Personally I'd recommend Recommended in this case because it's cheaper.

With the Faust Tapes, again my choice is Recommended - I've got the one with the plastic bag sleeve although I'm quite fond of the Bridget Riley sleeve. There's little difference between the SQ of the two and bearing in mind the source (which wasn't intended for release) it doesn't matter. Get whichever one looks better.

I'm not sure if Faust IV has been issued by anyone other than Virgin but the CD sounds particularly bad - maybe the later CD was remastered but the original one is compressed. I'd expect the original Virgin LP is better than the reissue but I've not compared them. TBH I don't think IV was their greatest work, "Krautrock" was a good start but it goes downhill a bit from there.

That's the end of the classic period although Recommended did release something called The Last Faust Album which is worth owning. Their album with Tony Conrad is very, very minimal and IMO not worth the inflated price it sells for - it's not bad but I can think of better things to spend £60 on.

I've not heard all of their later releases - I found Rien and You Know pretty hard going when I heard them 15 years ago.

The one modern Faust record I wholeheartedly recommend is a double album they did with Nurse With Wound called Disconnected. Listening to that for the first time was almost as much a revelation as when I heard the debut album. I think it's still available and for me was the best album of 2007, hands down.



HTH


JT

[danieldust]

Awesome! Thanks for the input. I am sure your statement that Faust were more significant than the Beatles will ruffle some feathers, but it could make for some interesting discussion.

I very much appreciate your comments on the first album. It's very helpful to know that the new reissues don't sound any good. I really do want that whole clear package though, so I'll probably aim for the Recommended issue, if I can get it.

[danieldust]

Ok, so what's the story on the Faust Tapes covers on Virgin? I see what appear to be original pressings on the short-lived black & white Virgin label with two different covers, one with a large diamond shape created out of wavy lines and one just covered in very small type. Were they released simultaneously? Are there any other differences?

And I just bought the Recommended issue of the debut LP on Ebay!

[Mark E Smith's Dentist]

There was only one Virgin issue of the Faust Tapes, what you're referring to is the two sides of the sleeve. The writing was on the conventional front ie, the side where the record came out on the right. The Bridget Riley "Op Art" picture was on the "back".

I only said Faust meant more to me than the Beatles.

The Shaggs were better than the Beatles though - Frank Zappa said it so it must be true!



JT

[danieldust]

The writing was on the conventional front ie, the side where the record came out on the right. The Bridget Riley "Op Art" picture was on the "back".

Ah! Thanks for that clarification. It's so hard to see these kinds of things on the internet!