Ep490: Saving Vinyl - Rescuing Australia's Last Record Press

Despite having no manufacturing experience, Nick Phillips (The Breadmakers, Corduroy Records) impulsively bought Australia's last vinyl pressing equipment, not only saving it from the scrap heap, but creating an Australian vinyl legacy and spirit that continues through today's modern pressing plants.

Topics Include:

• Introduction of Nick Phillips and his vinyl industry background.
• Early records on Mr Spaceman – label-mates with Cosmic Psychos
• How Nick impulsively bought a record factory in Sydney.
• Nick had no manufacturing experience before buying the equipment.
• The equipment cost approximately $6,000 in 1989-1990.
• Nick moved the vinyl pressing equipment to Melbourne.
• Finding an affordable factory space in McKinnon, Melbourne.
• The labor-intensive nature of hand-pressed vinyl record production.
• Description of the vinyl manufacturing process with electroplating.
• Need to import vinyl pellets from California after local supply ended.
• The machines were 1960s Swedish Alpha Toolex presses.
• Typical daily production of 500 albums or 800 seven-inches.
• Discussion of major artists pressed at Corduroy Records.
• Direct-to-acetate recordings as a significant part of operations.
• Sonic Youth's visit to record direct-to-acetate - "Melbourne Direct" record
• The White Stripes recording session that didn't go smoothly.
• How the White Stripes acetates were transferred to Third Man Records
• Corduroy's unusual business model of charging majors more.
• Employee requirement to run their own record labels.
• Nick's perspective on running a business more for passion.
• The origin of the Corduroy Records name.
• Why they added "& Detective Agency" to the business name.
• Their one failed detective case involving counterfeit Nike socks.
• Financial challenges of running the pressing plant.
• How EMI and other labels sued Corduroy for copyright infringement.
• The factory relocation costs that contributed to closing.
• Selling the equipment to Obese Records/future Zenith Records.
• How Hilltop Hoods went from customers to part-owners.
• The machines are still operating today at Zenith Records.
• Nick's band The Breadmakers has been active for 35 years.
• The Breadmakers' consistent 1960s R&B sound over decades.
• The new Breadmakers album "Lonesome Sundown."
• Nick's satisfaction at keeping vinyl alive in Australia.
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