Looking back when I first drew up my want lists whilst sitting in school lessons, I never thought I would be able to add these records into my collection. I had a rubbish part time job working in a pub, working as many hours as I could. I would stare at the clock working out how many hours I would need to work before I would have enough to pick up the next record on my want list.
A few years later, 1,000 emails later, 5 jobs later I got a package from Florida, inside it contained not just one colour, but both colours versions of the Youth of Today – Break down the walls on Wishingwell. It’s hard to describe the feeling when you get a package like that. I’m sure ever collector has that moment when that dream package turns up, that just leaves you in disbelief.
Why are these colour Versions so hard to find???
Here’s the legendary story behind the mythical record.
Legend has it there are around 150 on blue vinyl and 150 on red vinyl made. But I think oringally around 200 – 250 where made of each colour. Wishingwell gave 100 of each colour to the band to sell on tour. Before the band could sell anything the tour van that was broken into and everything was stolen. Assuming the thieves weren’t hardcore fans or record collectors sent back in time, then the records were all lost or broken or dumped on the side of the road.
So what happened to rest of the records? Well.. Wishingwell sold the rest to a few record stores in local California area. To add insult to injury, one of the record store owners – maybe an anti straightedge record shop owner nailed the colour vinyl press to his back porch to watch them curl up over time.
Therefore it is my beliefs that there are around 150 – 125 left of each colour now.
After digging through some flyers, I found this Youth of Today record release flyer, for the Break down the release show! As a guess this might of been the flyer for the show where the Youth of Today records were stolen?
The Back and Yellow sleeve press?
(Ripped this photo from the interent)
Not a lot is known about this record. I’m going out on a limb on this one, but after reading though lots fanzine here’s my “hypotheses” on the record. Shorty after Wishingwell released the break down the wall’s 12” Ray Cappo and Patt Dubar fell out. To sum it up Ray thought Wishingwell ripped them off and tried to give Patt Dubar a bad name. Anyway after all the moaning from Ray, I’m guessing wihsingwell just released a 2nd press of the break down the walls “on the sly” And thus the black and yellow sleeve was made. I’m probably wrong, but unless someone else tells me what happened that’s my guess.
