VERLAINES - OVER THE MOON [UNRELEASED CD, NEW ZEALAND, 1997]

This is the album where my Blogger ID comes from.

In 1997, Gail O'Hara was a copy editor for Spin magazine, and also wrote her own zine (called Chickfactor). She reviewed "Over the Moon" that year, giving it high praise; however, I could not find the disc anywhere.

Apparently, Sony New Zealand pressed up a few thousand copies, but I have no idea where they all went!!! So, I wrote a letter to Gail in NYC and basically asked, "I really, really want this CD -- how do I get my hands on it?"

Remember, this was before CD burning became mainstream, so getting a digital copy wasn't easy. Gail replied to my letter a few weeks later and wrote, "Why don't you send Graeme (Verlaines lead singer) $20 in a well-concealed envelope and see if he'll send you a copy." She even provided his address in New Zealand!

So, that's exactly what I did... I sent off $20 to Graeme in New Zealand and just 2-3 short weeks later a package arrived in the mail! I still can remember getting the package to this day. I never thought Graeme would reply, much less send a copy of this next-to-impossible to find recording!

And, to this day, this CD is almost unheard by anyone, including big Verlaines fans. I consider myself quite fortunate to have a copy. If you like their "Ready To Fly" or "Way Out Where" albums or sophisticated New Zealand pop/rock in general, this recording is very highly recommended.

01. Hanging By Strands
02. Bonfire
03. Sky-Blue Window
04. Jailhouse 4AM
05. Feather Fell
06. Perfect Day
07. When I Fall
08. Uncle Big Jaw's Late-Night Farewell
09. Dunderhead
10. Dawdling On the Bridge
11. Writing On the Wall
12. Reasons For Living
13. Coming Back To You

RAR