''Phonography'' is the first official album by American multi-instrumentalist R. Stevie Moore, released in 1976 on the artist's private Vital Records "label". Its initial vinyl pressing was limited to 100 copies. The album mostly consists of selections from his self-released albums ''Stevie Moore Often'' (1975) and ''Stevie Moore Returns'' (1976), all recorded on 1/4 track 7½ ips reel-to-reel stereo tape decks. A 7-inch EP was issued in 1977 called ''Four from Phonography'', which was the debut release by Moore's uncle Harry Palmer's H.P. Music label. The album attracted a following among New York's

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

and new wave circles. One contemporary review in New York's ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' magazine called the album "an outrageous collection of musical brain spewage" and "a true slash of genius". ''Phonography'' ultimately became the best-known album of Moore's career. In 1996, the album was included in the ''Rolling Stone'' book ''Alt-Rock-A-Rama'' as being among "The Fifty Most Significant Indie Records". In 2011, ''The Wire''s Matthew Ingram noted the album for anticipating "lo-fi, DIY,

Hypnagogic Pop Hypnagogic pop (often abbreviated as h-pop) is pop or psychedelic music that evokes cultural memory and nostalgia for the popular entertainment of the past (principally the 1980s). It emerged in the mid to late 2000s as American lo-fi and noise ...

and more".

Reissues

The album was reissued in a larger general pressing on H.P. Music in late 1978 with a different front cover image. In 1998, it was reissued on CD by

Flamingo Records Flamingos or flamingoes are a type of wading bird in the family Phoenicopteridae, which is the only extant family in the order Phoenicopteriformes. There are four flamingo species distributed throughout the Americas (including the Caribbea ...

and included 8 non-LP bonus tracks, as well as many photos and an informative interview/essay by Dennis Diken. Another remaster was issued on CD in 2009 by

Chris Cutler Chris Cutler (born 4 January 1947) is an English percussionist, composer, lyricist and music theorist. Best known for his work with English avant-rock group Henry Cow, Cutler was also a member and drummer of other bands, including Art Bears, ...

Recommended Records Recommended Records (RēR) is a British independent record label and distribution network founded by Chris Cutler with Nick Hobbs in March 1978. RēR features largely "Rock in Opposition" and related music, but it also distributes selected mus ...

without the bonus tracks, but with a new booklet of images and data. In 2010 a newer remaster was reissued on deluxe high-grade vinyl by

Sundazed Sundazed Music is an American independent record label based in Coxsackie, New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s. In 2000, Sundazed had a staff of 15 and two mixing studios, including a vintage audio ...

Records.

Track listing

Track sources are provided by Moore.

Reissues

Track listing

References

External links