RayOn Sleeve


Glitterhouse Sleeve

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".  

Summary:

RayOn

Glitterhouse

Glitterhouse

Sub Pop
1st Press

Sub Pop
2nd Press

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 which 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.

Summary:

Glitterhouse	Sub Pop Blue	Sub Pop Pink Marble
Sub Pop Black	Insert (Front)	Insert (Back)

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.  These versions of the other three songs were never released domestically.  A different version of "Don't Wanna Play" did come out on the Colorado Krew III 7" compilation.

Summary:

Glitterhouse


Sub Pop

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 on the same disc with Glue by Sub Pop.

Summary:

Glitterhouse	Pink Marble	Red Marble
Grey Marble	Black	Glitterhouse CD

Glue...the last Fluid release on either Glitterhouse or Sub Pop.  The EP was later combined with Roadmouth (minus two 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.  Other colors may exist.  The cd came out on Sub Pop as a combination of Glue and Roadmouth (minus three tracks from Roadmouth).  

Summary:

Rumors: Grey vinyl version.

Glitterhouse	Purple Marble	Mint Green Marble
Black	CD - Japan

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 (thanks to Jason for the yellow pic).  

Summary:

Test Pressing: Green marble vinyl, white labels

Test Press	Test Press Insert

Vinyl

CD Sticker

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 apparently 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 find 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.  

Summary:

Vinyl

CD - Japan