It looks like the year is off to a nice start as I was able to knock off one more MAJOR record from my "don't even bother" KBD want list. The original first pressing of Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown has been the one record that I couldn't just let it lie or settle for a later press.
I think it has to be the radically different cover along with the hot pink labels that just makes this one irreplaceable. I feel I was actually pretty lucky to score one in this great of condition. You start heading into the late 1970's for punk and hardcore records, finding one not beat to hell or played out is pretty tough. It wasn't like kids were playing it once and filing it away upright in a poly sleeve.
This copy just has one ever so slight crease on the bottom left corner, but other than that looks and plays great. (The sleeve is not yellowing - that's my lighting situation here in this Canadian winter.)
Comparing it to the only other copy of Nervous Breakdown I own, you can see how different the layout is along with the complete redesign of the labels as well.
Now that I finally have this one in my collection, I am psyched to have all the original pressings of the Black Flag 7"s including Six Pack with the original red labels, Louie Louie on Posh Boy, TV Party with color SST/Unicorn sleeve, Jealous Again with the HEAVY brown cardboard sleeve and red labels and the Keep It In The Family promo.
I guess that is one cool aspect of record collecting. There's something for everyone - even within the genre or group! Marcus posted an amazing article last week on all the different colored Black Flag albums that took him years to complete. While I admire and salute his tenacity and dedication, it is nothing I would even attempt because I dig original first press shit above all else. He may think this collection is BORING. You know what? It's all good. We love this stuff.
