The Fluid released six LPs and EPs between 1986 and 1993. The way in which those albums were released was a little screwy. Between the U.S. and Germany (Sub Pop and Glitterhouse), sleeves changed, track listings changed, hairstyles changed...all of these albums are worth your time, though.
The Fluid's first album. It was first released on a Colorado label called RayOn, which was specifically assembled to put this record out. It was picked up by the German label Glitterhouse, given one of the ugliest album covers in human history, and re-released with an extra track, "Graveyard Tramps." This was once a ridiculously difficult album to find. It took me three years pre-internet. Now, it shows up for auction every few months. It represented a significant moment in record producing history...the Fluid was Glitterhouse's first link to a Sub Pop band (even though they weren't one yet). Glitterhouse and Sub Pop maintained a relationship for many years.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| RayOn RAY0001 - Black | 25-35 |
| Glitterhouse GR0022 - Black | 20-25 |
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Fluid Album #2. The Glitterhouse version came first for this one, all on black vinyl. The Fluid then signed to Sub Pop back in the label's very early days. There are a number of sources that cite the Afghan Whigs as the first non-Seattle Sub Pop signing, but it was the Fluid. Fo' real. Anyway, Sub Pop took the album, replaced four of the tracks (all of the replacement songs were available on the Freak Magnet EP), changed the sleeve, and put it out in 1988. The first pressing was on blue vinyl and limited to 500 copies. Later versions were on pink marble and black. On the sleeves for the later pressings, the shaded areas appear to be darker. It's significant enough to where I can eyeball the difference easily in a record store. The first pressing came with Sub Pop's first catalogue, a double-sided full page detailing SP10 through SP19.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| Glitterhouse GR0026 | 18-20 |
| SP16 Blue (500) | 18-20 |
| SP16 Pink Marble | 15 |
| SP16 Black | 10-12 |
 Insert - Side 1 |
 Insert - Side 2 |
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This release only came out on Glitterhouse, all on black vinyl. Four of the tracks were released on the Sub Pop version of Clear Black Paper. The versions of the other three songs found on this EP were never released in the U.S. A different version of "Don't Wanna Play" did come out on the Colorado Krew III 7" compilation.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| Glitterhouse GR0041 | 12-15 |
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Released concurrently on Sub Pop and Glitterhouse in 1989. The sleeve was the same for both except for the coloring. The Glitterhouse one had an olive green tint, while the Sub Pop one was more pink. As with all others, the Glitterhouse version was on black vinyl. The Sub Pop version...not so much. A member of the band told me that the first pressing was of equal numbers of pink marble and red marble copies, and believed it was a total press run of 1000. The grey marble and black copies were later pressings. Other colors may exist. The only cd version of the full Roadmouth album was on Glitterhouse. Most of the album was later released in cd form along with the Glue EP by Sub Pop.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| Glitterhouse GR0055 - Black | 15-20 |
| Sub Pop SP36 - 1st Press - Pink Marble (500) | 15-20 |
| Sub Pop SP36 - 1st Press - Red Marble (500)k | 15-20 |
| Sub Pop SP36 - Grey Marble | 15-20 |
| Sub Pop SP36 - Black | 35-45 |
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Glue...the last Fluid release on either Glitterhouse or Sub Pop. The EP was later combined with Roadmouth (minus three songs) for a Sub Pop cd release. Glitterhouse copies of Glue were all on black vinyl. The first Sub Pop pressing was on purple vinyl, limited to 1000 copies. Later pressings were on mint green and black vinyl. I have been told by a reliable source that a grey version also exists, but I have never seen one. Other colors may exist.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| Glitterhouse GR0094 | 12-15 |
| Sub Pop - 1st press - Purple Marble (1000) | 15-20 |
| Sub Pop - Mint Green Marble | 15 |
| Sub Pop - Black | 10 |
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This C/Z comp is what it sounds like...a bunch of bands covering the Buzzcocks. Included for completeness. Plus, I found the test pressing. Exists on black and yellow vinyl.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| C/Z CZ042 Yellow | 15-20 |
| C/Z CZ042 Black | 12-15 |
 Test Pressing |
 Test Pressing Insert |
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| Test Pressing | Green marble vinyl, plain white labels |
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| Credits | Jason: yellow vinyl image |
The Fluid made the jump to the majors in 1993, probably a year or two too late. Purplemetalflakemusic, the longtime publishing name of the band's songs, was the title of their Hollywood Records debut (and, sadly, swan song). I consider this to be their best album. I think it was not promoted well at all, despite four promo singles (three cds, one 7") being released. There were three or four songs on the album that were quite commercially accessible, but they were not the ones that were chosen as singles. I digress. Hollywood put out a vinyl version of the album on purple vinyl that is somewhat difficult to come by. I got it years ago at a random store in Tokyo. It sold for over $50 on eBay in 2007. I found this surprising. I think $20-25 is a much more likely selling price if you want to track it down.
Some (all?) of the U.S. cds came with a limited edition purple metal flake sticker. The Japanese version of the cd had a bonus track ("Cell"), which also appears on the Spot the Loon EP and the Pill promo cd.
| Version | Approximate value ($) |
|---|---|
| Hollywood HR-61445-1 | 15-45 |
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