Not Available

An Unknown Chapter of Pop History

Do you know the story of the gangsta rapper whose record label dropped him precisely because he really was a gangster? Or the story of the brilliant artist who actually went mad because he couldn’t bring his vision to life? Or the Rolling Stones song that was so shocking it was never supposed to be released? Have you heard of invisible records, or of the incredibly cheesy 1980s rock band formed by cult horror director John Carpenter? If you’re interested in this kind of thing, »Not Available« is just the book for you!

Daniel Decker presents anecdotes, myths, research, and lies. Stories of failure and clichés about evil record companies standing in the way of true art, or using outrageous contracts to prevent and provoke the creation of new works alike. An entertaining fact machine for amusing trivia conversations at your local gathering of music fanatics.

»Not Available« explores in detail the great and somewhat lesser lost works of music history. Featured artists include: Beatles, Beach Boys, Katy Perry, Faust, 50 Cent, Kraftwerk, Weezer, Die Tödliche Doris, Beastie Boys, Prince, Neil Young, The Who, Frank Sinatra, Boards of Canada, Kesha, Sisters of Mercy, Pink Floyd, Charli XCX, Beck and many more.

The book is supplemented by what is probably the most comprehensive discography of unreleased albums, featuring more than 300 titles.

»Sometimes, the most tragic thing that can happen to an album that has never been released is its actual release. More often than not, it becomes clear that the idea of hearing something unheard is far better than the (bitter) reality. In an age in which everything, including ourselves, must be available at all times, there is something magical about unavailability. It’s like vegetables in a supermarket that aren’t currently being sold. Naturally, we develop an irresistible craving for asparagus as soon as the season ends. And among older music fans – Hi Boomer! – the fetish for exclusivity is indulged. Whether it’s knowledge of a previously unreleased album or a rare bootleg, it’s the discovery that makes it appealing, in an era when algorithms push supposedly suitable listening suggestions into our playlists.« (From the foreword)

Table of Contents

Foreword

WHEN THE MARKET AND RECORD LABELS DECIDE WHAT GETS RELEASED

• Sonny & Cher / Wicked Lester / Kiss / Adam Ant / Bee Gees / JoJo / Dave Davies / Frank Zappa / The Lady of Rage … • (A) Katy Perry and Fingerprints: The Rocky Road to Superstardom • 50 Cent’s Power of the Dollar: Nine Shots from the Streets to the Skyline

CONTRACTS AND LEGAL DISPUTES

• Bob Dylan / Monty Python / Todd Rundgren / Lou Reed / Van Morrison / John Lennon / Kesha … • The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson: Christmas and Sweet Madness • SSV-NSMABAAOTWMODAACOTIATW: The Sisters of Mercy’s Big »Fuck You« to Their Record Label

THE UNRELEASED ALBUM AS A BLUEPRINT

• Nirvana / Steve Albini / Bruce Springsteen / Cowboy Junkies … • Techno Pop: The Slow Disintegration of Kraftwerk • Get Back: How the End of the Beatles Began

FAILING TO LIVE UP TO ONE’S OWN EXPECTATIONS

• Pete Townshend / Robin Gibb / Ryan Adams … • Weezer’s Songs from the Black Hole: From Space Rock Opera to Soul-Baring Confession • SMiLE: Brian Wilson’s Frozen Smile

THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE ALBUM AS AN ARTISTIC CONCEPT

• Padeluun / Rocko Schamoni / Traveling Wilburys / John Cage / Wu-Tang Clan / Jean-Michel Jarre … • Die Tödliche Doris: The Invisible LP and Its Materialization • Song Reader: Beck’s Album Without Recordings

ALBUMS THAT WERE NEVER INTENDED FOR RELEASE

• Boards of Canada / The Residents / The Beatles / Frank Sinatra … • Beastie Boys’ Country Mike’s Greatest Hits: The Independent Life of an Alter Ego • Waiting Out the Eighties: John Carpenter’s Real Horror Story

MISUNDERSTANDINGS THAT TAKE ON A LIFE OF THEIR OWN, RESPECT FOR THE DEAD, LACK OF PERMISSION, THEFT, LOSS, CENSORSHIP

• Kraftwerk / ABBA / Sufjan Stevens / Kaas / Deftones / Slut / Green Day / Jimi Hendrix / Die Ärzte / Wizo / Schleim-Keim …

UNRELEASED HITS: SONGS & SINGLES

• The Doors / The Rolling Stones / Michael Jackson / Judas Priest / The KLF / Britney Spears …

AND YET IT TURNS: ALBUMS THAT WERE EVENTUALLY RELEASED AFTER ALL

• John Coltrane / Diana Ross / Death / Television Personalities / Fehlfarben / Carambolage / Brian Eno / The Cult / Q-Tip / J Dilla / Brigitte Bardot & Serge Gainsbourg …

THE MANY UNRELEASED ALBUMS BY PRINCE, NEIL YOUNG AND THE WHO

• The Vault: Prince’s Treasure Trove of Recordings • Dreams in Chrome: Neil Young’s Unreleased Albums • In Search of the Universal Note: The Who’s Unreleased Albums

DISCOGRAPHY OF UNRELEASED ALBUMS