A Record Collector's Guide

Hepcat - Singles

Nigel b/w Club Meditation

Laughing Pussy BB-102, released 1990

The inaugural Hepcat 7" was high on my want list for a long time.  It was released by Joey Altruda on his Laughing Pussy label way back in 1990.  This is generally a very difficult record to find.  A few copies have surfaced over the last couple of years, but there was a several-year dry spell.  As a result, the price can fluctuate quite a bit.  I still have yet to see it sell for as much as I paid for it (grrr...).  The versions of the tracks featured on this 7" were exclusive until the remastered version of Out of Nowhere came out in 2004.  A different version of Nigel was included on the Right on Time album, but Club Meditation was always exclusive to the 7".

I always thought this record existed solely on black vinyl.  It is rare enough in that format.  However, after I posted this discography, someone clued me in to another version on clear vinyl.  That message board discussion also led to the revelation that there were only 25 copies made on clear vinyl, and most of those were given to the band.  I cannot confirm that part, but I can vouch for the fact that the clear vinyl version is excessively scarce.  That said, the stars seem to have aligned, and I was able to get myself a copy.  This one is either a record collector's dream and nightmare.  Thanks to Lawless for the heads up.  The value listed below is entirely speculative.

Bobby & Joe b/w Dollar Dance

BYO 039, released 1996

I have always loved "Bobby & Joe".  It's a fun song.  Both tracks on this single are straight off of the Scientific album.  The 7" is on black vinyl and is relatively easy to find.

No Worries EP

Hellcat 1008-7, released 1998

The No Worries 7" EP is the Hepcat equivalent of the Pietasters' Out All Night 7" - both were four-track European 7"s on the same semi-opaque white vinyl.  The EP contains the album version of the title track plus three live tracks ("Nigel," "Positive," and "the Secret").  It was readily available for a number of years, but has become slightly more scarce over the last couple of years.

Buju Banton/Hepcat Split 12"

Mighty Dread b/w The Region

Epitaph EPIT 21039-1DJ, released 2000

This was a weird split European (UK?) 12".  It is a promo, but it has the look of a test pressing.  I have seen copies on which the titles are handwritten in pen on the labels, and others on which typed labels are affixed to the blank white labels.  It doesn't really fit any of the Epitaph numbering conventions.  Then again, Epitaph Europe has always seemed to kind of do its own thing.  Not terribly hard to find, but it usually appears in European stores.  The Hepcat track is the version found on the Push 'N Shove album.  Black vinyl.