Browse by Artist: RODRIGUEZ

Artist:	RODRIGUEZ
Title:	Cold Fact
Label:	LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	LITA 036CD

"It's one of the lost classics of the '60s, a psychedelic masterpiece drenched in color and inspired by life, love, poverty, rebellion, and, of course, 'jumpers, coke, sweet mary jane.' The album is Cold Fact, and what's more intriguing is that its maker -- a shadowy figure known as Rodriguez -- was, for many years, lost too. A decade ago, he was rediscovered working on a Detroit building site, unaware that his defining album had become not only a cult classic, but for the people of South Africa, a beacon of revolution. Sixto Diaz Rodriguez was born in 1942 to Mexican immigrant parents in Detroit, Michigan. He recorded Cold Fact -- his debut album -- in 1969, and released it in March 1970. It's crushingly good stuff, filled with tales of bad drugs, lost love, and itchy-footed songs about life in late '60s inner-city America. 'Gun sales are soaring/Housewives find life boring/Divorce the only answer/Smoking causes cancer,' says the Dylan-esque 'Establishment Blues.' But the album sank without trace, thanks, in part, to some of Rodriguez's more idiosyncratic behavior, like performing at an industry showcase with his back to the audience throughout. As his music career became a memory, Rodriguez's legend was growing on the other side of the world. In South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Cold Fact had become a major word of mouth success, particularly among young people in the South African armed forces, who identified with its counter-cultural bent. But Rodriguez was an enigma -- not even the label knew where to find him -- and his demise became the subject of debate and conjecture. Some rumors said he'd died of a heroin overdose or burned to death on stage. Others said he had gone mental. But the tide began to turn in 1996, when journalist Craig Bartholemew set out to get to the bottom of the mystery. After many dead ends, he found Rodriguez alive, well, free and perfectly sane in Detroit. Rodriguez himself had no idea about his fame in South Africa (the album had gone multi-platinum), and embarked on a triumphant South African tour, filling 5,000 capacity venues across the country. Rodriguez was still largely unknown in the northern hemisphere until 2002, when 'Sugar Man,' the album's extraterrestrially wonderful lead track, was picked up by David Holmes. The DJ discovered the album in a New York record store, and included it on his Come Get It, I Got It compilation, re-recording the song with Rodriguez for his Free Association project a year later. Now, Light In The Attic is set to commit Cold Fact to CD for audiences in North America, UK, Europe, and Asia, who can finally find out why -- halfway across the world -- Rodriguez is spoken of in the same reverent tones as The Doors, Love and Jimi Hendrix." This first official reissue has been gloriously remastered and includes a deluxe, 36-page book with new essays, interviews with Rodriguez, and full lyrics.

Artist:	RODRIGUEZ
Title:	Cold Fact
Label:	LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
Format:	LP
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	LITA 036LP

LP version, 2012 repress. Deluxe 180 gram pressing, heavy jacket. "It's one of the lost classics of the '60s, a psychedelic masterpiece drenched in color and inspired by life, love, poverty, rebellion, and, of course, 'jumpers, coke, sweet mary jane.' The album is Cold Fact, and what's more intriguing is that its maker -- a shadowy figure known as Rodriguez -- was, for many years, lost too. He recorded Cold Fact -- his debut album -- in 1969, and released it in March 1970. It's crushingly good stuff, filled with tales of bad drugs, lost love, and itchy-footed songs about life in late '60s inner-city America."

Artist:	RODRIGUEZ
Title:	Coming From Reality
Label:	LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	LITA 038CD

"Back in 1971, Coming From Reality was Rodriguez's last gasp, the follow-up to Cold Fact and the final album he was allowed to record for the Sussex label. Unearthed once again by Light In The Attic Records, it's another treat for fans new and old, designed -- at the time -- as Rodriguez's vision of a perfect pop album. Coming From Reality found Rodriguez decamping from Detroit to London's Lansdowne Studios, where the album was recorded with some of the UK's top talent including Chris Spedding (Sex Pistols, Dusty Springfield, Harry Nilsson) and producer Steve Rowland (The Pretty Things, PJ Proby, and the man who discovered The Cure), who recalls Coming From Reality as his favorite ever recording project. Highlights include the super poppy 'To Whom It May Concern,' the 'Rocky Raccoon'-inspired 'A Most Disgusting Song' and period piece 'Heikki's Suburbia Bus Tour.' The CD reissue also includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks recorded in Detroit in 1972 with Cold Fact collaborators Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey, representing the last thing they ever did together." Includes 24-page booklet.

Artist:	RODRIGUEZ
Title:	Coming From Reality
Label:	LIGHT IN THE ATTIC
Format:	LP + 7"
Price:	$30.00
Catalog #:	LITA 038LP

Deluxe LP version with 56-page Light In The Attic Records zine. Features 180 gram vinyl, liner notes, lyrics and original gatefold art in die-cut tip-on jacket. Includes a bonus 45 of two previously unreleased tracks recorded circa '72 with producers Mike Theodore & Dennis Coffey. "Back in 1971, Coming From Reality was Rodriguez's last gasp, the follow-up to Cold Fact and the final album he was allowed to record for the Sussex label. Unearthed once again by Light In The Attic Records, it's another treat for fans new and old, designed -- at the time -- as Rodriguez's vision of a perfect pop album."

Previous Page Index of Artists Next Page