We really liked ‘Savages’ when it came into the shop on CD, then we received an email from one of our customers asking why we didn’t try to put it out on vinyl. It was a good point. Several emails later and we were on the road to releasing it. It’s taken a few months to straighten everything out but things are now falling into place and we hope to have the LP out by the end of March.

If you haven’t heard The Webb Sisters before, check out the video below:

What can I say about this album? It’s simply one of my favourite albums. I’d take it to a desert island.

We’ve released the last two Richmond Fontaine albums on LP and it’s been amazing to work with one of my favourite bands on these. When the chance to put out Post To Wire arose, I grabbed it with both hands. When singer Willy Vlautin told me that he had two songs that were recorded in the album sessions that never made it but needed a home, I was overjoyed. – Matt Jarrett, Diverse Records.

Those two songs are included on a 7″ with the album and can also be downloaded using the code provided. Here’s what Willy said about the tracks:

Don’t Go Back There

Don’t Go Back There has always been one of my favorite Richmond Fontaine songs. To be honest I can’t remember exactly why it didn’t make Post to Wire, but it was recorded in the same sessions. We were going for a big country soul feel. Paul’s intro pedal steel line still kills me, and there’s a desperate urgency to the lyrics I’ve always liked. It’s a song we always come back to and I’m happier than hell it’s finally found a home.

The Alibi

In the old days we used to play a couple of pedal steel instrumentals at every gig. One was called Hector’s Hideaway – Hector being the patron saint of Richmond Fontaine. The other was The Alibi. The Alibi is an old school Tiki bar in our home town of Portland. During that time (2003) Paul and I were spending a lot of time there. It has an amazing neon sign outside, and inside it’s so dark you need a flashlight to get around. I brought the basic melody to practice and the band put it in a flashy suit. This was also recorded during the same sessions, but in the end The Alibi felt like RF’s old country rave up side, and not like the stuff that made Post to Wire.

Post To Wire is due to me released at the end of February.

Danny & The Champs – ‘Hearts & Arrows’: Nearly done. Test pressing approved, artwork sent off, the ‘go’ button has been pressed. Released 14th Feb.

Richmond Fontaine – ‘Post To Wire’: Artwork just finished. Test Pressing approved. Pretty much ready to sign off. Should be out mid-February.

The Webb Sisters – ‘Savages’: Just getting started. Sourcing sound files and artwork but everything going relatively smoothly so far so hopefully out mid-March.

Cowboy Junkies – ‘The Wilderness’: Expecting sound files any day and artwork is being done as I type. Hoping to be on time for an end of March release to coincide with the CD.

An afternoon and early evening of vinyl and hi-fi topped off with a live set from Danny George Wilson of Danny & The Champions Of The World.

Sonata will be bringing turntables and hi-fi systems along for you to play records and Rega will be setting up their Reference system. There will be no better place to hear your favourite LP! The Chord Company will be along for the ride, selling their wares and Diverse Vinyl will have a pop up shop selling the best in new and audiophile vinyl. All this kicks off at 2pm.

At 5pm we’ll have a playback of Danny’s new LP ‘Hearts & Arrows which is released on vinyl through Diverse Records on 14th February. Danny will take to the stage at 7pm to play some songs from that very album.

The upstairs room we’ll be using has a bar so we can all relax with a social pint or two which listening to quality music. They serve food downstairs too if you get peckish.

If you’re a Facebook-y person, feel free to go HERE and register your attendance.

For those who are wondering, it’s pressed at Pallas in Germany.

There’ll be more news very shortly on the Danny & The Champions Of The World release plus a little launch party down in London and more details about the long overdue vinyl release of Richmond Fontaine’s ‘Post To Wire’.

In the meantime though, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

News on our imminent Carrie Rodriguez release and a host of new stuff for the year new is coming soon.