The Last Magician Of Rational Thought

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The Last Magician Of Rational Thought - cut from the back cover - view of the cover notes
The Last Magician Of Rational Thought - Cover (Front)


This is the fourth of Palazzograssi's bootleg production.
The first release was Silence Is Platinum, the second one
was the Victims Of Circumstance 7" single and the third
was to be Reverberation Across The Nation, which first got
postponed, but then never saw the light of day.

Back cover with a number above 1526

Release Notes

  • Label: Palazzograssi Records Inc.
  • Catalogue#: PG04
  • Format: 7" Vinyl Single
  • Release Date: 1988


General remarks

  • Pressed on white vinyl. The records play at 33rpm.
  • According to the back cover notes this EP is limited
    to 1526 copies, although copies with higher numbers
    have also been seen, see the image on the right.
  • The labels are either plain white or black. The black ones
    have the bootleg title spread with "The Last Magician" and "A"
    on Side 1 and "Of Rational Thought" and "B" on the b-side.
  • A-side ROGI: "PG04-A", B-side ROGI: "PG04-B"
  • The back cover image is a modified version of the Floodland
    back coverart. The lettering and the faces of Andrew Eldritch
    and Patricia Morrison were removed, the image cut and the
    contrast increased, See images down below.


Sources


A very interesting article on how the tracks for this bootleg were chosen and produced
by the Phantom Twins is available in the HEAVYLEATHER blog bootlegs archive under
The Sisters Of Mercy – The Last Magician Of Rational Thought.


Track List

SIDE A SIDE B
A1   No Time To Cry    3:46                   B1   A Rock And A Hard Place          3:44
A2   First And Last And Always          3:26 B2   Walk Away    3:22


Varieties

A number of varietes exist which can basically be described as:

The Standard Versions

  • white sleeves with red text, numbering on the back, plain white labels on white vinyl
  • white sleeves with red text, numbering on the back, black labels on white vinyl
  • white sleeves with green text, numbering on the back, plain white labels on white vinyl
  • white sleeves with green text, numbering on the back, black labels on white vinyl

These are the numbered copies of the common limited edition of 1,500.

  • the 26 refers to copies coming in silver gatefold sleeves with green text numbered with the letters from A - Z
  • these are all accompanied by white vinyl singles with plain white labels
  • the letter A exists twice


Pictures of Standard Versions

White sleeve with red print version
Cover and vinyl with black label
Back cover and vinyl with black label
Silver gatefold sleeve, green print
Common gatefold version (complete view)
White sleeve with green print


Special Edition

Apart from the above issues, a Special Edition of some 26 further copies was released. These have white gatefold covers with red print. The vinyl is white with
plain white labels. They are numbered from A - Z on the back and the inside of
the gatefold cover is silver.

Special Edition - white gatefold sleeve, red print
Special Edition with white vinyl
Special Edition - The inside is silver.


Unreleased Editions & Testproofs

  • The second set of the standard versions (white cover in red and green print, accordingly, with black-labelled vinyl), i.e. the numbers 002 (red text edition)
    and 602 (green text edition), were not released.
  • A second gatefold edition of 26 numbered from A - Z similar to the released version but with Palazzograssi in black instead of green letters on the back cover was produced as for private distribution but never got that far. The accompanying vinyls have plain white labels. The covers are glossy silver gatefold sleeves with green print.
  • More or less logically, a set of promos was produced as well. The sleeves are gatefold ones in silver with green text but without any numbering on the back.
    The issue came with white labels on white vinyl and has been kept for private
    use only. We have no information on how many of these exist.
  • One unique issue exists which has a white textured card cover with black outline text. This copy is neither numbered and nor has it the usual Palazzograssi print on the back. See the picture on the right.
  • Furthermore, some glossy blue testproof covers were produced of which only
    very few exist. Allegedly, the accompanying vinyls have white labels with some
    black print on them. However, so far we have not been able to find any photographic evidence for the latter. Although only few were made, the existing ones are marked with the letters starting from A towards Z.
  • Finally, there are some glossy silver covers with green print which served as testproofs for the original gatefold version while those covers themselves are
    not gatefold. There is no vinyl attached to these testproofs. However, just like
    with the blue testproofs, only few were printed and marked with the letters starting
    from A towards Z.


Additional Pictures

- Please click into the files for larger´views -

Unique issue with b/w textured card sleeve
Back cover without numbering or text
Silver Gatefold Edition with Insert showing the standard red print cover version and black labelled vinyl


Glossy testproof covers - front
Glossy testproof covers - back


Simulating the creation of the back coverart

Floodland - Cover Artwork (front)
Floodland back cover artwork -
The lettering and the faces are covered
with black ink
Floodland back cover artwork -
The image with a strong filter of contraste
The Last Magician Of Rational Thought - Cover (back)