The Reds, Pinks and Purples

This one’s a bit of a throwback for the site, as I covered the original 7” that serves as the inspiration for this collection from The Reds, Pinks and Purples. The single slipped out in scant quantities on Swedish label I Dischi Del Barone, the official first release following the band’s debut album. The disc has since become something of a Discogs untouchable, the kind that pops through the wishlist feed with laughable prices. If you hurry, you can pick one up now for a cool $115 plus shipping. Thankfully the band, and Slumberland, are having none of that nonsense and have now reissued the four tracks that populated that 7” alongside some non-album singles from the period. Glenn has always been one to work things out over Bandcamp, and while the single gave a physical home to a handful of those early digital singles, quite a few others remained left off of this and the subsequent mini-album You Might Be Happy Someday.

In fact, this works as a pretty nice companion piece to their other mini-LP. Both capture RPP in a period of jangled melancholy that precedes the fogged comforts of his last two LPs. Both are drenched with the band’s perfect combination of Sarah singles comps, Felt, and Television Personalities. I’ll go to the mat with the declaration that there are no skippable Reds, Pinks and Purples tunes, and thus, a collection of non-album singles remains an instant purchase and just another classic on the shelf. If your collection lacks a physical of the I Should Have Helped You platter, then this is a necessary catch up. If you’re still just dipping toes into Glenn’s world, then this serves as good as any point to jump in, a completists collection that’s dotted with potential A-sides unjustly consigned to the digital crate.

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