Weightlifting
...new horizon, keep your eyes on those stars lighting a way...
Pictured below are two versions of the standard release of Weightlifting, the Trashcan Sinatras' fourth album. The left side depicts the UK version from Picnic Records; the right side is the US version from SpinART Records. Pretty much the same thing, yet there are subtle coloring differences (the clothesline photo on the cover and on the CD is bluer on the UK version; the group photo of the band has a greener hue on the UK version). The photos on the pages in the booklet are also switched around in a few instances.
The intriguing cover photo (by Martin Gray) is not manufactured or staged--it is an actual depiction of somebody's clothesline of various articles of clothing with Loch Ness in the background. The castle seen in the lower right is that of Castle Urquhart.
The intriguing cover photo (by Martin Gray) is not manufactured or staged--it is an actual depiction of somebody's clothesline of various articles of clothing with Loch Ness in the background. The castle seen in the lower right is that of Castle Urquhart.
Booklet front cover, UK version (left); Booklet front cover, US version (right)
Booklet back cover, UK version (left); Booklet back cover, US version (right)
|
|
These selected pages within the booklet (above) show the cloudy sky in the UK version (left), yet green grass on the US version (right)....
|
|
....and yet a subsequent section of the booklet (above) shows just the opposite.
Band photo in booklet, UK version
|
Band photo in booklet, US version
|
CD, UK version (left); CD, US version (right)
Back cover, UK version (left); Back cover, US version (right)
Spine, US version (top); Spine, UK version (bottom)
|
Here is the deluxe version of the Weightlifting album. It open up to reveal two discs, one being the regular audio album (plus two bonus acoustic tracks), the other being a DVD with special performances on the Nic Harcourt radio program Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW in Santa Monica, California.
This particular copy of the deluxe edition of Weightlifting is signed by the five principal members of the band, which they did to a limited number (several hundred?) of the albums. |
Front cover
|
Inside CD cover
Back cover
|
Inside booklet
|
Inside booklet
Japanese albums are always very stylish when accompanied by the obi strip the runs along the spine of the CD case, as this Japanese version of Weightlifting does. Unlike the other versions of this album, the CD itself does not have the inspired "clothesline across Loch Ness" motif. It does, however, have a booklet with critical reviews and lyrics--all in Japanese, of course.
The Japanese version of Weightlifting also has as a bonus "In Capitals" (sung by John Douglas), which is found on no other Trashcan album.
The Japanese version of Weightlifting also has as a bonus "In Capitals" (sung by John Douglas), which is found on no other Trashcan album.
Front cover
|
Back cover
|
CD
|
Booklet cover
|
Inside booklet
Inside booklet
|
Here is a rare version of the complete Weightlifting album, albeit a simply packaged promotional copy.
This promo CD has all twelve of the regular album songs, and is house in a simple white paper sleeve with no markings. |
|
Prior to the official release of the full album of Weightlifting (in 2004), the Trashcan Sinatras released an EP containing some of the songs that would eventually be on the final album--just to whet everyone's appetite. The CD and booklet are filled with odd drawings obviously taken from some sort of first aid / first responders guide.
Contained here are "All the Dark Horses", "Usually", and "Weightlifting", all of which would be released on the final Weightlifting album less than a year later. 
|
Front cover
Inside booklet (left) |
Back cover
|
Back of booklet
|
CD
|
Under the CD well
|
Pictured below is a rare promotional copy of the Trashcan Sinatras' song "Welcome Back", which is the opening track to Weightlifting. "Welcome Back" was released as the first single from the album.
CD
|
Back cover
|
Similar to the "Welcome Back" promotional CD single directly above, "All the Dark Horses" was also released as a CD to promote both it and the album Weightlifting from which it came. Nice thing about this CD--it also contains extra bonus tracks recorded at Fez in New York City which are also on the album of the same name (see Other TCS Recordings)
CD
|
Back cover
|
CD
|
This is another promotional CD single for "All the Dark Horses", but unlike the promo CD shown directly above, this is a single-track CD without any other bonus material.
I really like the silhouetted stencil-style lettering that is used here for the words to the song (also shown in the 10" vinyl version below). |
Front cover
|
Back cover
|
This item is cool if for no other reason than its a rare 10" vinyl record. It's also cool if for no other reason than the awesome photography of the silhouetted tree against the clouds and sky. Or for the very stylish stenciled font. But it's especially cool because of the song "All the Dark Horses" which is almost universally considered one of the Trashcan Sinatras best songs.
Front cover (with plastic sleeve)
|
Back cover (with plastic sleeve)
|
Front cover
|
Back cover
|
Side A
|
Side B
|
|
Another promotional CD single, this time for the title track to the Weightlifting album.
Back cover
Promotional sticker on CD case
|
Front cover
CD
|