After the revolution of technology, there is little we cannot buy online today in terms of music. Thus it is hard to imagine that there are some music albums that simply cannot be bought from any type of store anymore. In the past, albums were released on audio cassettes, vinyl records and CDs. If there were not enough fans to buy them, the distributing labels would cease their production, as it was deemed unprofitable. Here are the top 8 music albums you cannot buy unless you find a rare willing seller.
1. The Beatles At the Hollywood Bowl – The Beatles
The Beatles is one of the most prolific music bands in history. Unfortunately, if you want to listen to their live performances, you won’t find such albums on any shelves at music stores. There was only one album of their live performances that took place at the Hollywood Bowl in 1964 and 1965. The Beatles At the Hollywood Bowl was released ten years later because initially the recordings were considered to have a bad sound quality. However, when The Beatles catalogue was converted to CD, this particular album did not make it to the new technology. At the moment, there is no way to get your hands on live material from this spectacular band.
2. Come, Come to the Sunset Tree – The Mountain Goats
Another album that never made it to CD form is Come, Come to the Sunset Tree by The Mountain Goats, an indie rock band. The album included demo versions of the songs of The Sunset Tree, one of the band’s most acclaimed record. Furthermore, each copy featured an unique painting in different colors made by John Darnielle, The Mountain Goats’ front man. Most of the demos are recorded on acoustic guitar and thus sound quite differently from their other versions. The album emphasized the childhood of Darnielle, as well as his struggle of coping with his stepfather.
3. Time Fades Away – Neil Young
Neil Young’s first live record was named Time Fades Away, but the singer wasn’t fond of it and thus let it become lost. A multiple Grammy Awards winner, Neil Young has released 40 studio albums in his forty-five year career. His first performance ever was unique, as he sung an entire new album to an audience that was listening to it for the first time. Time Fades Away sounds quite similar to the Harvest album.
4. Scream Bloody Gore – Death
Scream Bloody Gore is considered to be the most prolific album of the death metal genre. The album recorded by Death was released in 1987 and includes ten tracks as well as two bonus ones. Forbes named it the album that makes the difference between true death metal fans and the ones that are only trying to follow a trend, as it is offensive, brutal and extreme. Highly praised by both fans and critics, Scream Bloody Gore is the proof that even if an album stands as a pinnacle for its genre it is not completely safe.
5. Musick To Play In The Dark Vol. 1 and 2 – Coil
These albums by Coil included experimental tracks that were seen by the band as “moon music” due to their dreamlike tone. Coil was formed in 1982 by John Balance and Peter Christopherson, two British musicians, who wrote music for various genres. In 1983 they did four live performances, followed by a small gig only fifteen years later in 1999, in Germany.
6. The Big Problem Does Not Equal The Solution, The Solution Equals Let It Be – Crispin Glover
Crispin Glover is mostly known for his quirky, bizarre roles in movies such as Back To The Future. Few of you might also know that he released an album in 1989, which is as crazy as his performances. He recorded the songs when he took breaks from his acting career. The best record on the album is undoubtedly Never Say Never To Always, but other songs do not make much sense. Still, it is an interesting and unique piece of art.
7. Buckingham Nicks – Buckingham Nicks
Another album that cannot be bought anywhere is Buckingham Nicks by the band with the same name. It was released in 1973, and since then it hasn’t been re-commercialized. One reason for this is that the label which distributed the album, Anthem, was shut down many years ago. Buckingham Nicks is essential to any fan of Fleetwood Mac, and the two artists, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks have been performing live certain songs every now and then. However, the album was never released in digital format.
8. The Black Album – Prince
And lastly, there is the mysterious case of The Black Album by Prince. Many believed that this was the artist’s attempt to reconnect with the African-American audience, who couldn’t perfectly relate to his pop music. The album was supposed to be black and have no text whatsoever. Even though it was considered by his fans a brilliant piece of the funk genre, The Black Album was replaced with Lovesexy in 1987, and it was finally released in a limited edition in 1994 by Warner Bros Records.
