Sunday, March 16, 2014

Jim Shepard/Vertical Slit/V-3 Megapost

This seems to be the most popular stuff I put up here, so once again, EVERYTHING Jim Shepard related that I have.

...This is aside from the Ego Summit album, which you can find pretty much anywhere online, and the 'Jim Shepard and Friends' sampler which didn't really catch my interest and the collab with Charles Ciccerella (I think that's how you spell it) because, I dunno, it didn't catch my interest either I guess. Also, I've only got the first 3 discs of the 'Matter Dominates Spirit' tribute release, but the last disc is (I believe) the same as 'V-3 Next Album'. I couldn't find 4 or 5. BUT, there's a whole bunch of stuff you probably can't find anywhere else. So check it out. And, if you have anything I don't have here, feel free to send it my way.

For those who don't know...Jim Shepard was a Columbus, OH musician active in the pre-punk scene all the way through the mid-90's when he tragically hung himself. The closest he got to 'success' was an album released by American Records with his group V-3 called 'Photograph Burns.' This is probably a good place to start with his music, as most of the songs are very catchy and easy to digest. His other work can be...to say the least...NOT so easy to listen to.

He also had a habit of releasing things in tiny runs (or not at all) and dropping them off at pawn shops and flea markets for future generations of indie rockers to find. That being said, a lot of his work is still out of print and hasn't even found its way to the internet. This is probably only a small fraction of what he REALLY recorded, but, it's the best there is for now. For the record, my favorites are 'Photograph Burns,' 'Picking Through the Wreckage,' 'Motorcycle Movie,' 'V-3 Next Album' 'Negotiate Nothing' and 'Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp' probably almost in that order, if I had to pick, y'know, six.

By the way, if you want artwork, go to rateyourmusic.com because they have most of the covers. I can't be bothered to upload them all as, clearly, this is a HUGE amount of music.

If you represent a label who will be re-releasing some of this stuff, please contact me and I will remove links. Til then, however, most of this stuff is impossible to hear, which is sad.

Jim Shepard solo:

'Amsterdam'

'Evil Love Deeper'

Evil Twin'

'The Hollywood Hills Are Alive and Well' 7" (Jim covers Kim Fowley)

'Motorcycle Movie'

'Picking Through the Wreckage with a Stick'

'Folk City Aztec Drama' Vols. 1 and 2

'V-3: Next Album'

'Earth Muffin' 7"

V-3:

'Launchpad Explosion' 7"

'Negotiate Nothing'

'Psychic Dance Hall'

'Pimping in the 90's'

'Live '97'

'Photograph Burns'

'Live at WNUR Chicago'

Vertical Slit:

'Basement 2215'

'Your Wife is Licking My Strobe Light and Grinning'

'..And Beyond'

'Slit and Pre-Slit'

'Twisted Steel and the Tits of Angels'

'Under the Blood Red Lava Lamp'

'Matter Dominates Spirit' tribute:

Disc 1

Disc 2

Disc 3

I HOPE YOU ARE HAPPY, GUYS.


11 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh my. Oh my. This is the stuff of legend. This is an epic archive. I barely knew about him until just a few months ago. A true legend if you may. I'm not sure if it was a scavenger hunt for even *more* ohio underground madness or just a check on Pere Ubu, but I discovered Jim and his body of work. How did I miss this? Many, many thanks for this Columbus icon of the underground.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lo-fi-loss-jim-shepard-dead-19981020

Unknown said...

Oh my. Oh my. This is the stuff of legend. This is an epic archive. I barely knew about him until just a few months ago. A true legend if you may. I'm not sure if it was a scavenger hunt for even *more* ohio underground madness or just a check on Pere Ubu, but I discovered Jim and his body of work. How did I miss this? Many, many thanks for this Columbus icon of the underground.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lo-fi-loss-jim-shepard-dead-19981020

Bizarro Jerry said...

Glad you are enjoying! Jim is gone but not forgotten. It looks like his ex-wife and son are re-releasing some of classic albums pretty soon here. Also, go into Lost Weekend Records in Columbus on the right day and you can hear some great stories about Jim from guys who've played with him.

skatkat said...

Just discovered this! So good

Jeffrey Goodman said...

I was recently going through a collection of 7" records I had amassed in the late 60's through the 70's and came across a record titled Urban Imprint 3 that a fellow I used to know gave to me when I was in high school. His name was Jim Shepard and I met him because he worked at a record store near my house in the East part of Columbus, OH. It was called Record And Tape Outlet and was located on Alum Creek Drive.

Jim was a really nice guy who turned me on to a lot of music I wouldn't have paid any attention to as I was a big Prog Rock fan at that point. However he caused me to reevaluate my tastes by introducing me to bands like Pere Ubu, Rubber City Rebels and even Devo who at the time I sort of thought of as a novelty act. There were many others, as well!

I hadn't thought about Jim for many years but finding that Vertical Slit record made me curious to see if I could find any information about him. I'm very sorry to hear that he is no longer alive as if I could I'd look him up and thank him again for the great education he laid on me almost 40 years ago. he was one of the first really cool people I ever met and I'm sorry I lost touch with him.

Unknown said...

thank you for your effort & your spent time.

dafito said...

Can't say how much I appreciate this -
working on a "Very Short Introduction to Jim Shepard" mixtape for an
art exhibition just now and without this I'd be lost.
Thanks a mill'

Unknown said...

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone knows of any audio or video interviews with Jim? I've been looking online but having absolutely no luck!

Unknown said...

Cool Jim Shepard mixtape on youtube. https://youtu.be/2Oku52OeII4

Double Dubz said...

thankyou

Stathis said...

Hello,
Can you, please re-up Folk City Aztec Drama' Vols. 1 and 2
Best Regards
Stathis