ZIPPER Reissue (2023, Permanent) Noble Records Exclusive Whiskey/Cig Smoke Vinyl

$

45

ZIPPER, self-titled LP, 1975. Sealed, mint condition.

This is a 2023 vinyl reissue by Permanent Records (catalog #PERM-050), on "whiskey and cigarette smoke" colored variant pressed exclusively for Noble Records in Matthews, North Carolina. Hype sticker and Noble Records Exclusive sticker are on the shrink wrap. 

Zipper was formed by Fred Cole in Portland in 1974, with Lorry Erk, Greg Shadoan, and Jim Roos. This is their only record ever recorded.

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Fred Cole and his spouse, Kathleeen "Toody" Conner met in Portland years before as teens when Fred's former band, The Weeds, literally stalled out there en route to Canada. The two married in 1967, started a family, and briefly resided in the Canadian Yukon before returning to Portland as the war in Vietnam wound down. Once settle, the couple opened a music equipment shop called Captain Whizeagle and with it, an independent record label called Whizeagle Records. Zipper's album, along with several subsequent records by Cole's bands, were released on the Whizeagle label. 

Fred and Toody eventually started making music together in 1978 as The Rats, and truly established themselves in 1987 under the name Dead Moon. The spark that almost caught for Cole in 1966 finally ignited with Dead Moon, and recognition spread through hard work, dedication, heavy touring, and raw musical charisma. Dead Moon melded The Weeds' young garage-based sound with a fervent punk rock energy tinged with a rockabilly twang and swagger. The couple made records together, worked like hell, and found audiences touring around the country and abroad. The survival of this ZIPPER record was a byproduct of their self-determination and grit; the only reissues prior to Permanent Records' were on German and Russian labels circa 1991-94, driven by demand among fans there who identified with these elder rockers going strong while indie acts rose and fell like flashes in the pan. 

The Coles were together 50 years as a couple and more than half of that as band mates. Fred passed away in 2017. There's a good documentary of Dead Moon that tells more of their story. The Zipper story however, is embodied in this rare psych rock record. If it moves you and you feel like channeling some of Cole's brilliance, you can pick up the model guitar he was known to play, a Guild S200 Thunderbird, for around $1k (Guild's reissue even less).

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So check out the labels, check out the music, and if you want to own a bit of history from a Vegas kid who laid down his first tracks in 1964, a punk progenitor and self-made rock & roller who dedicated his life to his craft as well as his lover, consider sending an offer on this unique and historic reissue.

Thanks for checking out this listing.

Tracklist:

Bullets

Born Yesterday

The Same Old Song

Face Of Stone

Ballbustin' Woman

Scars

Rollin' And Tumblin'

Worry Kills A Woman

Let It Freeze

Behind The Door

Racing For A Dollar