Faust

8-25-09 Faust

I have been a fan of the German band Faust for at least 35 years. They were one of the first – and, for me, most uncompromising – of the German bands that I got into. My collection is somewhat fanatic, with me collection every available variant. Not present in this list is Faust working with Slapp Happy or Slapp Happy members like Anthony Moore. And, sorry, I can’t get excited about the ‘new’ versions of Faust.

CD FAUST [1st] UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-9259

1971 3 TRKS Clear cover ('03 issue) kami sleeve

CD FAUST [1st] POLYDOR JPN POCP-2155

1971 3 TRKS Screened jewel box cover ('91 issue)

LP FAUST [1st] POLYDOR UK 2310 142

1971 3 TRKS black vinyl

LP FAUST [1st] POLYDOR DE 2310 142

1971 3 TRKS CLEAR VINYL, German COVER

LP FAUST [1st] POLYDOR DE 2310 142

1971 3 TRKS CLEAR VINYL, British COVER

LP FAUST [1st] re-issue RECOMMENDED RR ONE

1971 3 TRKS CLEAR VINYL, UK cover, 80’s re-issue

LP FAUST [1st] POLYDOR JPN 23MM 0236

1971 3 TRKS re-issue, insert; black vinyl

7" SO FAR / IT'S A BIT OF A PAIN POLYDOR UK 2001 299

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD SO FAR (kami) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-9260

1972 9 TRKS ('03 issue) kami sleeve

CD SO FAR POLYDOR JPN POCP-2156

1972 9 TRKS ('91 issue)

LP SO FAR POLYDOR DE 2310 196

1972 9 TRKS booklet (inserts)

LP SO FAR re-issue RECOMMENDED RR TWO

1972 9 TRKS re-issue

LP SO FAR POLYDOR JPN 23MM 0126

1972 9 TRKS re-issue, booklet

LP FAUST TAPES re-issue RECOMMENDED RR SIX

1973 2 TRKS '80 issue

LP FAUST TAPES VIRGIN UK VC 501

1973 2 TRKS UK original issue, Bridget Riley cover art

LP OUTSIDE THE DREAM SYNDICATE CAROLINE UK C 1501

1973 2 TRKS Tony Conrad with Faust; UK original issue

CD OUTSIDE THE DREAM SYNDICATE TABLE OF T 5283

1973 3 TRKS ('93 issue) (1 x bonus track)

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN DE 87739 IT

1973 8 TRKS DE original issue

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN UK V 2004

1973 8 TRKS UK original issue

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN FR 840 019

1973 8 TRKS French pressing

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN NZ? V 2004

1973 8 TRKS NZ or AUS pressing, possibly?

LP FAUST IV VIRGIN ES 87 739 I

1973 8 TRKS Spanish pressing

CDx2 FAUST IV (Deluxe edition) VIRGIN UK CDVR 2004

1973 16 TRKS ('06 issue)(9 x bonus tracks)

7" EXTRACTS from 'FAUST PARTY' RECOMMENDED RR 1.5

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" FAUST PARTY 3 RECOMMENDED RR 6.5

1980 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP RETURN OF A LEGEND RECOMMENDED RR 25

1986 6 TRKS black vinyl

LP RETURN OF A LEGEND RECOMMENDED RR 25

1986 6 TRKS white vinyl

CD 71 MINUTES OF - THE LAST ALBUM RECOMMENDED ReRF1CD

1988? 13 TRKS 70's recordings

CD BBC SESSIONS + ReR US ReRF 5

2000? 8 TRKS 70's recordings

And there has always been a problem with the CD mastering of “The Faust Tapes”. Before there were computer program to “de-tick” CD masters being made from vinyl records – the original CD on Recommended of “The Faust Tapes” came out sounding much worse than any of my many LP versions! I wrote to the company and complained. They actually wrote back, castigating me by saying “Tons of care had been taken when mastering that album!” That CD sounded BAD and I will STILL not own it (I mean, turntable rumble and all?) Maybe that’s why I have stayed away from the expensive Faust CD boxed sets. I can just imagine how pleased I would be if I forked over a decent sum for the “Wumme Years” CD boxed set…to find that they’ve used that old master they made in the 80’s for “The Faust Tapes”?

It is admirable that Recommended Records in England continued issuing singles into the late 70’s & early 80’s – “Faust Party” et al. But that stuff isn’t tight like the first four albums. So, are you reading this wondering what I am raving on about? It’s simple: go and get some LP’s or CD’s of any of the first 4 x Faust albums and listen. Absolutely nothing on Earth sounded like those records when they came out. NOTHING.

This music is loud & electric at a time when very little other loud / electric music was even being recorded. There albums were recorded with and mastered with distortion, feedback…in other words, they recorded exactly how the music sounded when it was being played by the musicians, a miracle for 1971-3.

In 2003, the Japanese made replica album covers for the first two 2 x Faust albums, so you might want to try and find those editions. In 2006, Virgin UK via EMI UK made a 2CD set of “Faust IV” that had a truly decent mastering on “Faust IV” – finally! Sorry, but I do not know of a decent CD version of album #3, “The Faust Tapes”. The best LP of it is the original Virgin UK LP, cat. # VC 501.

This music definitely changed my path, in how I proceeded through the 70’s. It showed me that anything was possible. It was possible to have music recorded loud! It was possible to capture genius / spontaneous electric performances! Vive Faust!