Opal (2) – Happy Nightmare Baby

A true masterpiece that I bought on a whim back in the day from the old SST snail mail catalogue years. I'd think SST would reissue this if they were able to so there must be some legal constraints holding this up as they have in the past gone back and resurrected recordings that they still hold the rights to that were out of print; Screaming Trees and Saint Vitus come to mind. Hopefully someone in the future will do a repress and MOV would be a great candidate.

Finally, got a copy! It’s as good as everyone else says!

A fantastic album, Opal's Happy Nightmare Baby is one of the best neo-psych albums of the 80s. Start off track, Rocket Machine has a T.Rex vibe to it, and other songs recall the sounds of glam era Bowie, and the Velvet Underground. David Roback's guitar work is solid throughout, especially on tracks like She's a Diamond and the title track, Happy Nightmare Baby. Kendra Smith also does excellent work on bass guitar and vocals. Shortly after the release of this album, Smith would leave and be replaced by Hope Sandoval and the band would change their name to Mazzy Star. This album needs to be reissued, since The Rain Parade's album was reissued this past RSD, maybe this one will get reissued next year. One can only hope.

Please someone, Reissue this masterpiece. I will never pay the greedy gouging swine their flatulently inflated price for the originals.

A psych glam powerhouse that at one point brings to mind a more hazed out T Rex and late 60s psych at other points. If you are a fan of this lp and collect vinyl you owe it to yourself to pick one of these OGs up regardless if it gets reissued or not which we all know will happen at some point. Everything is getting a reissue these days but as we all know reissues are hit or miss quality wise, tend to have digital steps (don’t believe the play on words they use) and can NEVER be an original. Peace

A considerable amount of copies were sent to the UK for distribution before the release was withdrawn. These eventually ended up with companies that buy up unsold/return stock from wholesalers etc. There's no evidence at this stage that counterfeits are in circulation. I bought my own copies and some for resale.

If anyone from Music On Vinyl happens to read this, PLEASE reissue this masterpiece! Or at least SST should if they still own the rights.

I can guarantee you that all of these sealed copies for sale are counterfeits. Don't waste your money.

This has been becoming an increasingly rare CD, so if you're looking for it, you might as well brace yourself, pay the collector's price, and be glad to have it. Featuring the mysterious and alluring Kendra Smith (ex-Dream Syndicate) and the psychedelic-noir guitar textures of David Roback (ex-Rain Parade, future-Mazzy Star), this album's dark mix of Doors/Velvet Underground-esque songs and dense organ/guitar atmospherics is one of a kind, kind of the last glory of the so-called Paisley Underground.

Beautiful colour pressing of a classic '80s indie album, the missing link between Roback's Rain Parade and Mazzy Star. Sound is superb. Quiet vinyl.