Metamorphosis Exploration: Real Gone To Reissue Cult Classics From The Deviants and Klaus Nomi
Real Gone Music has made waves with their recent LP releases that bring long out-of-print titles back into print. For their next pair of welcome reissues – due June 14 – the label presents color vinyl editions of two classic examples of counterculture music: The Deviants’ #3 from 1969 and Klaus Nomi’s self-titled album from 1981.
Klaus Nomi made a name for himself in the late ’70s as part of the performance art scene in New York’s East Village. His larger-than-life persona and out-of-this-world imagery was matched only by his impressive vocal range and unwavering dedication to his art. He eventually caught the attention of David Bowie and was featured on Bowie’s 1979 Staurday Night Live appearance, accentuating an already quirky rendition of “The Man Who Sold The World.” Soon, he landed a deal with RCA and delivered two albums. His debut is considered his best and demonstrates the breadth of Nomi’s diverse musical influences. There’s his signature “The Nomi Song,” along with off-the-wall, operatic cover versions of “The Twist” and “Lightnin’ Strikes,” plus selections from Henry Purcell, and an aria from Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Samson and Delilah.” The result is a breathtakingly bizarre collection that’s nonetheless compelling nearly forty years since its original release. Now, Klaus Nomi arrives on vinyl for the fist time since the ’80s. The album is pressed on black and white “cabaret smoke” vinyl and features the original album art and inner sleeve. The edition is strictly limited to 1,000 copies, though, so place those pre-orders soon.
On the same day, Real Gone will release The Deviants #3, a truly madcap collection of tracks that’s not too far removed from early Mothers of Invention material, but with a grounding in fuzz-rock and spacey jams. Led by Mick Farren, The Deviants are remembered as one of the U.K. underground’s most raw-sounding groups. Deviants #3 was the classic line-up’s final effort which saw the band incorporating further blues-rock influences while retaining their oddball charm. Though the group splintered following #3, the album is considered by some as their masterpiece. Now, the cult classic arrives on black and white “nun’s habit” color vinyl, complete with restored gatefold art. Like the Nomi title before, The Deviants #3 is limited to 1,000 copies, so secure your copy now with the links below!
So if the strange and obscure float your boat, do your ears a favor and grab a copy of Klaus Nomi and The Deviants #3. Both color vinyl reissues arrive on June 14 from Real Gone Music. You can order yours using the Amazon links below!
Klaus Nomi, Klaus Nomi (originally RCA Victor LP PL 37556, 1981 — reissued Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
Side One:
1. Keys of Life
2. Lightning Strikes
3. The Twist
4. Nomi Song
5. You Don’t Own Me
Side Two:
1. The Cold Song
2. Wasting My Time
3. Total Eclipse
4. Nomi Chant
5. Samson and Delilah (Aria)
The Deviats, The Deviants #3 (originally Transatlantic Records LP TRA 204, 1969 — reissued Real Gone Music, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada) (orders will be taken soon)
Side One:
1. Billy the Monster
2. Broken Biscuits
3. First Line (Seven the Row)
4. The People Suite
5. Rumbling B(l)ack Transit Blues
Side Two:
1. Death of a Dream Machine
2. Playtime
3. Black George Does It with His Tongue
4. The Junior Narco Rangers (If We Gotta Get Raleigh from Chicago, We’re Gonna)
5. Let’s Drink to the People
6. Metamorphosis Exploration
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I cherish my 1981 Japanese vinyl record of Klaus’s first album. Still one of the most extraordinary things I’ve heard, and the front cover image always provokes comments such as ‘Who is THAT?’ from folks.
A few typos in your article, by the way 🙂