Yours truly recently received a request for a complete Moon Records vinyl discography to help him out with tracking down some of the label's releases. Fortunately, I was able to pull a complete Moon discography with notes out of my archives (I don't have this electronically, just a paper copy--otherwise I would be tempted to post the whole thing). Please note that the first eight releases on Moon have two TOAST matrix numbers, rather than one MR (Moon Records) release number. This was due to the fact that these were all released on vinyl and each side needed its own number at the pressing plant (in those glorious analog days). In addition, since Moon was originally established in the early 80s as a label to release The Toasters' recordings (in true DIY fashion), it made sense to have such a reference. However, as the label and scene grew, it became a matter of pride to change the release numbers to MR.
Needless to say, since many of these vinyl releases had limited print runs, some of them are very hard, if not impossible, to find.
The Toasters
"The Beat" b/w "Brixton Beat"
TOAST 1/TOAST 2
7"
1983
Technically, this release is on Ice Bear Records--in deference to a band member's father who fronted the money for the single. Only 1,000 were pressed. I've never seen a copy of the single (I have the picture sleeve), though you can hear the tracks on the 1995 expanded CD re-release of Thrill Me Up.
East of Eden
"Mystic Mood" b/w "Sea of Happiness"
TOAST 3/TOAST 4
7"
1984
The first release with a proper Moon paper label, but it's not a ska record (d'oh!). East of Eden's sound was a downtown 80s blend of funk/disco/reggae/rock.
The Toasters
Recriminations EP
"Recriminations"/"Razor Cut" b/w "Run Rudy Run"/"Radiation Skank"
TOAST 5/TOAST 6
12"
1985
Also re-released in 1988 with new cover (not the one with cartoon versions of the band members in front of CBGBs) as MR005.
Kill Me
s/t
TOAST 7/TOAST 8
LP
1985
Funk rock band comprised of Buck's friends from Forbidden Planet, as well as a few of The Toasters.
Various Artists
NY Beat: Hit & Run
TOAST 9/TOAST 10
LP
1986
East of Eden
s/t
TOAST 11/TOAST 12
LP
1986
The Toasters/Beat Brigade
"Talk is Cheap" b/w "Try and Try"
TOAST 13/TOAST 14
split 7"
1987
Legal Gender/The Scene
"Overcast" b/w "Bruise Me"
TOAST 15/TOAST 16
split 7"
1987
Legal Gender changed their name to The NY Citizens soon after this single was released.
Second Step
"Do You Know This Man?" b/w "2 Men in Suits"
TOAST 17 b/w TOAST 18
7"
1987
The Toasters
Skaboom
MT11
LP
1988
Not a Moon Records release--at the time, the label didn't have the funds to press it--so Skaboom was picked up and released by Moving Target, a subsidiary of Celluloid.
The NY Citizens
On the Move
MR017
LP
1988
The Boilers
Tap It
MR018
LP
1988
Tap It never saw the light of day in the US, as the masters were lost when Ska Records (UK), which licensed and released Tap It as Rockin' Steady in England, went belly up.
Various Artists
Ska Face: An All American Ska Compilation
MR019
LP
1988
The Toasters
Thrill Me Up
SKL8001
LP
1988
This is another non-Moon release that is vital to the Moon discography. For Thrill Me Up, Celluloid created a new ska imprint titled "Skaloid," which also released the first volume of Unicorn's Skankin' Around the World ska compilations.
Various Artists
NYC Ska Live
MR022
LP
1991
The Toasters
This Gun for Hire
MR023
LP
1990
The Fiascos/Otis Reem
"Goodfellas" b/w "The Sophomore"
MR049
split 7"
1994
The Scofflaws
"Spider on My Bed" and "Parish" b/w "Nude Beach Version"
MR051
7"
1995
Issued on blue vinyl at 33 1/3 rpm.
NY Ska Jazz Ensemble
"Jive Samba" b/w "Blow Wind Blow"
MR060
7"
1996
The Toasters
"Chuck Berry" b/w "Maxwell Smart"
MR063
7"
1996
The Bluebeats
"Hardest Working Man" b/w "Why Not?"
MR064
7"
1996
The Slackers
"Tonight" b/w "2-Face"
MR073
7"
1996
Let's Go Bowling
"You Take Me" b/w "Uncomfortable Sidekick"
MR074
7"
1996
The Pietasters
"Ocean" b/w "Crazy Monkey Lady"
MR075
7"
1996
Inspecter 7
"Agent 86" b/w "See Ya!"
MR089
7"
1996
Buford O'Sullivan
"I Can't Decide" b/w "I'll Do It Someday" and "Decade Revival Song"
MR095
7" EP (33 1/3 rpm not 45!)
1996
MU330
"Now" b/w "Jason"
MR096
7"
1997
Skavoovie & The Epitones
"Riverboat" b/w "Beardman Ska"
MR098
7"
1996
Dr. Ring Ding & The Senior Allstars
"No Reason for Season" b/w "Your Sympathy"
MR146
7"
1998
If you have anything to add or correct, please let me know...
* * * *
Jeremy Patton at Megalith has a fairly complete Moon Records discography that may be found here.
(Thanks for sharing this Jeremy!)
12 comments:
Thanks for posting this for me Steve. It's really interesting to see what is out there. Now I just have to track all those missing peices of wax down.
Dan
Sorry Steve! I got your email and honestly have been trying all different ways of exporting my spreadsheet to work correctly into the website. I have been keeping this file going for about 10 years now! Honestly! I had it posted a long time ago on the Toasters site, but have since taken it down. Everything in BOLD I own. I try to be as detailed as possible in all sorts of OCD manners :) I still have lots to go through and correct and sort out, but it's a very very good starting point.
http://megalithrecords.com/Moon-Ska-Records-Releases-List
Feel free to post this link on the front page!
Otis Reem! Those guys were great..Sure was happy they were around when I found myself living in Greensboro, NC in 95.
Dan:
Good luck trying to find all of these releases. Some of them (particularly the early singles) I've never seen. Gemm (www.gemm.com) is a pretty good resource and things do show up on eBay every now and then..
Happy hunting!
Steve X
Jeremy:
Thanks for your comments (I did use your spreadsheet to check some of the releases--I found it via a Google search).
Best,
Steve
Brendan:
The Otis Reem/The Fiascos single was put together in part by Drew Sentivan (guitarist for The Fiascos)--he was interning for Moon and as part of his internship he was responsible for dealing with the printing plant on the production of this release.
Drew later went on to be Moon's music video production guy and directed several videos, including The Toasters' "I Wasn't Going to Call You Anyway," and "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down."
Steve X
BTW Steve,
On my list I have posted, everything in BOLD I own ;) If it's NOT in bold, then I need it!
Also, I'll start going through my files and see what I have in print and in digital format from Moon days...
Jeremy:
Hey--this isn't the forum to try and track down all the Moon releases you need to complete your own collection and fulfill your obsessive-compulsive desires! ;-)
And the picture of your eye creeps me out, like you are looking at me through my computer screen... STOP looking at me!
I need SOME privacy! ;-p
Thanks for your comments, as always!
Steve McGarrett
I finally tracked down a copy of the Beat Up 7" and 2 copies of the East of Eden 7"!
Wow. Those are very rare. Where did you find them?
ebay. the Beat Up single and one of the east of eden singles are in perfect condition. the sleeve on the other east of eden single is kinda tattered and messed up but the record is fine, so that's the copy I play.
Excellent. You just have to keep looking and eventually it will be offered for sale...
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