A Record Collector's Guide

Seaweed was another solid entry in the Sub Pop family.  They were both a little punkier and a little poppier than many of their peers.  The sound worked.  They put out a good amount of vinyl during their career.  They had lots of singles of their own, as well as a ton of compilation appearances.  I have tried to limit the compilation entries here to the ones that contained tracks that did not appear on albums.  Some definitely warranted mentioning, though.

Inside/Stargirl b/w Re-think/Love Gut

Leopard Gecko LG-007, released 1989

Leopard Gecko had a short run (eight releases, I believe).  Amongst its handful of 7" releases were Seaweed's first two singles.  This stuff's a little raw.  Some of it isn't bad, but it is far from my favorite material the band put out.  Mailings from the label said the first 350 copies of this one were on blue-green marble vinyl.  They do not specify whether there were 1000 or 1500 total pressed.  If I had to guess, I would say there were 1500 total.  The rest of the copies were on translucent black vinyl.  The blue-green marble copy of this record is one of the toughest Seaweed records to find.

Just a Smirk b/w Installing

Leopard Gecko LG-009, released 1990

Another Leopard Gecko 7".  They were still developing.  1500 copies pressed of this one, with the first 500 on clear light green vinyl.  Most of the rest are on semi-translucent black vinyl.  However, there is also a version on yellow vinyl.  The exact number of these is unconfirmed, but the number on the one copy that has surfaced recently (1263) suggests that at least the last 250 copies were yellow.  The backs of the sleeves are hand numbered.

Deertrap b/w Carousel

K Records IPU-16, released 1990

Seaweed jumped over to K for this single, in order to participate in the label's International Pop Underground series.  These two tracks fit with the previous six on the Leopard Gecko singles...how convenient that they then packaged seven of the eight songs on those first three singles together to make an album!  This is a very easy record to find.  Translucent black vinyl.

V/A - Three's Company

Simple Machines SMR-002, released 1990

Includes the Seaweed track "Patchwork"

When Seaweed went on tour with Superchunk and Geek (Jenny Toomey's pre-Tsunami band), the bands decided to put out a joint 7".  The single is a joint release between Simple Machines, Leopard Gecko, and Merge, but Simple Machines got the catalogue number, so I am calling it theirs.  The insert is bigger than the sleeve, so it kind of sticks out all over the place.  Translucent black vinyl.

V/A - Estrus Lunch Bucket 3x7" Box Set

Estrus ESBX1, released 1990

Includes the Seaweed track "Bewitched"

Estrus gets in on the fun - they had a few of these vinyl box sets (also released on cd).  The Lunch Bucket was the first.  Contains three 7"'s, featuring 12 bands.  The singles had catalogue numbers of ES-76, ES-77, and ES-78, and (as far as I know) were all on translucent black vinyl.  I would not be surprised if a color vinyl version existed, as the later Estrus box sets all had color versions, but I have never seen one for the Lunch Bucket.  The Seaweed track (on the third 7") is a Beat Happening cover.  The boxes were hand-numbered out of 1500, and came with trading cards for each of the 12 bands within.  The box also has a handle stapled to the top.  Apparently, there were an additional 125 copies or so that were named instead of numbered.  The value here is speculative - I have not been watching to see how much it fetches these days.

Inserts	Trading Cards	Trading Cards

V/A - Estrus Half Rack 3x7" Box Set

Estrus ESBX3, released 1991

Includes the Seaweed track "Foggy Eyes"

Another Estrus box set, another Beat Happening cover by Seaweed.  They also did this one on the Simple Machines Fortune Cookie Prize comp.  This one definitely had a color vinyl version, but I don't know for certain what color(s) those were.  The vinyl box set has two different tracks from the cd version, as the Mummies and Phantom Surfers didn't belive in cd technology.  Comes with a coaster and a matchbook.

Inserts

Bill b/w Pumpkin

Sub Pop SP141, released April 1990

Sub Pop SP40/199 - 12" (Germany)

Seaweed's first Sub Pop single.  This one appeared on both green marble and turquoise (or aqua) marble vinyl.  There is some confusion in the record trading community as to which is which.  The lighter one is the green.  Both colors are fairly easy to find, but the green one is slightly more common.  Sub Pop says the first 2000 were on turquoise.  There are some green variations that have bits of other colors mixed in - I have one with some pink in it.  The b-side of this record is a song by Wwax, and it is truly excellent.  The 12" contains an extra track - a remix of "Squint."

Test Pressing
12" Test Insert	12" Test Pressing

Measure b/w Turnout

Sub Pop SP168, released October 1992

Sub Pop SP57/219 - 12"/CDS (Germany)

The second Sub Pop single from Seaweed.  Seaweed was peaking at this point.  They were putting out some solid music.  This single was available on orange vinyl (most common) and clear vinyl (slightly less common).  Sub Pop says the first 2000 were on orange.  There is also a version that is a pink marble or salmon color, but it is very rare.  It looks like the orange one, but is definitely distinct.  The 12" contains an extra track - a demo version of "Taxing."

Orange vs. Pink

SP57/219 12"

Go Your Own Way b/w Losing Skin (remix)/She Cracked

Sub Pop SP123/304 (Germany), released 1993

This was the only single that came out in conjunction with the band's Four album.  It is an excellent cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic, "Go Your Own Way."  The song also appeared on the soundtrack to "Clerks."  Released in Germany, this 7" was on grey vinyl.  If you hold it up to the light, you can see a fair amount of marbling in the vinyl.

V/A - Self Multilation Volume Three

Hippy Knight Records CREEP 012, released 1993

Includes the Seaweed track "Selfish (live)"

Seaweed continues the ever-increasing run of compilation appearances.  This one was Australian, and is on purple vinyl.

V/A - Jabberjaw No. 4

Mammoth MR0080, released 1994

Includes the Seaweed track "My Letters"

More comps.  More Seaweed covers.  This one is a great Fastbacks song.  Translucent black vinyl.  This 7" (sleeve and all) was also subsequently included in the Jabberjaw No. 5 "Good to the Last Drop" box set, which is a bit more expensive to procure.

V/A - West x North-South 5x7" Box Set

Vagrant VR316 - VR320, released 1995

Includes the Seaweed track "Sing Through Me"

This is a great compilation.  Major shining moments for many of the bands within.  Face to Face's cover of the Descendents' Bikeage is excellent.  The songs by Tilt and Alcohol Funnycar on here are great as well.  The existence of the set in cd form drove down the value of the vinyl slightly, but it is still a great collector's piece.

Free Drug Zone b/w Losing Skin (live)

Hollywood 575836-7, released 1996

This single was released to promote Seaweed's lone major label album (Spanaway).  Green vinyl, released in the UK.  It comes in a foldover paper sleeve, but the back of the sleeve only covers the bottom half of the record.