Ahoy there maties! Here be treasure far greater than ye olde doubloons, fair wenches, and Jamaican spiced rum. Perhaps ye've heard tell of two mythic 7-inch records -- one by The Ramones (the California Sun EP), the other by some blokes by the name of The Replacements (I'll Be You). Now many a landlubber hath said that such things are no longer possible to find, whether by lawful purchase, pillage, or plunder. Them landlubbers be wrong.
Take a gander at this map here, ya scurvy dogs. Just past this sea monster here and this island a' singing harpies lies a smooth passage through The Internet. Destination: Insound.com. For Insound hath made a proclamation that they'll be reissuing a batch o' these prized 7-inches, limited to 1,000 total. Aye, ye slavering fiends, they'll have the original artwork and be pressed on premium vinyl. They're available for pre-order right now, and if me pirate senses serve me right, they'll be shippin' out even before the June 9 release date.
This be a fine treasure, there's no doubtin' that. California Sun's been out of print for over 30 years, havin' been originally released in 1976. Collectors be salivating over this one, for it contains both ye olde title track, but also "I Don't Want to Walk Around With You," which were recorded live at The Roxy in 1976, and yon B-side, "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." The Replacements release is no less of a pearl. From the 1989 studio album Don't Tell a Soul, this previously out-of-print lil' gem has the non-LP track "Date to Church" with a guest appearance by the fabled Tom Waits. Arrrr, Tom Waits. Pass the rum, ye blubberin' infidels, and set course -- Insound, ho!
