# LPs with messages in the dead wax **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 19, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259 "2003-05-19T19:37:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2003, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/1 "2003-05-19T19:37:28Z")
As a follow-up to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=184943), here are some of my favorite inscriptions found in the “dead wax” area (the runout groove between the main grooves and the label) of vinyl LPs and singles: Eno: _Another Green World_: (B) **Remember those quiet evenings** Eno: _Before and After Science_: (A) **Gone before to that unknown and silent shore** / (B) **Arcane benefits of creed** [note the anagram] Eno: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”/“I’ll Come Running (To Tie Your Shoes)” 45: (A) **E=MC2** / (B) **Dedicated to R. Saariko’s shoes and I. MacDonald’s polish** Robert Fripp: _Exposure_: (A) **1981 is the year of the Fripp** / (B) **The aim is freedom conscience and truth** Robert Fripp: _God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners_: (A) **New music is not a style, it is a quality** / (B) **Art is the capacity to re-expereince one’s innocence** Robert Fripp: _League of Gentlemen_: (B) **The next step is Discipline** Go-Go’s: _Vacation_: (A) **Is this record a pencil or a beer can?** Gryphon: _Raindance_: (B) **Totally illogical captain** Robin Hitchcock: _Groovy Decay_: (A) **Happy birthday, Toots** / (B) **I’ll be happy once** Joy Division: _Still_: (A) **The chicken won’t stop** / (B) [drawing of chicken tracks] / © [more chicken tracks] / (D) **The chicken stops here** Joy Division: “Transmission” 12": (A) **I’ve seen the real atrocities** / (B) **Buried in the sand** Joy Division: “Love Will Tear Us Apart” 12": (A) **Don’t disillusion me** / (B) **I’ve only got record shops left** Lene Lovich: _Flex_: (A) **Lene is the leader!** / (B) \*\*Les is more! \*\* ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/2 "2003-05-20T11:33:25Z")
Of course [great minds think alike.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=127141) Check that thread for some more submissions. Another odd thing is that some LPs have names scratched in the inner groove (the Beatles’ _Let It Be_ says “Wally”). I take it these are the names of studio engineers? Also I’ve got a couple albums with little pictures scratched in: Joy Division’s _Closer_ has a little alien head, and Parliament’s _Mother Ship Connection_ has a flower. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/3 "2003-05-20T18:22:12Z")
At the end of _The Who Sell Out_ LP, there’s a scratchy repeating message that says, **“Check record.”** It’s also on the CD version but, of course, the message has little meaning there (aside for notalgia for vinyl). ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/4 "2003-05-20T19:46:06Z")
Kate Bush always used to put something there too, and on each 45 as well. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/5 "2003-05-20T20:07:27Z")
Grateful Dead - “Terrapin Station.” “Hey, Jerry, where do you keep your guitar?” ---
**Author:** ![Payton\_s\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@Payton\_s\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payton_s_Servant)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/6 "2003-05-21T00:08:14Z")
One of **Led Zeppelin** ’s albums had the phrase, "_Do what thou wilt shall be the law of the land."_ which many people took as a clear sign that the members of **Zeppelin** , especially Jimmy Page had given their souls over to the Great Horned One. The quote was something that Aleister Crowley had said and since Page had bought and was living in Crowleys castle and was reported to be actively studying if not practicing black magic , people immediately jumped to ridiculous and misguided conclusions. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/7 "2003-05-21T01:47:14Z")
On W.A.S.P.'s debut LP: “We Are Sexual Perverts” There were others in my collection but that’s the only one I remember… ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/8 "2003-05-21T04:00:29Z")
My Joy Division 12" of Love Will Tear Us Apart and Transmission have nothing, bummer. Unknown Pleasures has “Step… FACT 10 INSIDE! - This Is The Way” plus the ubiquitous “A Porky Prime Cut” which is on everyting from Motörhead’s Blue 4 song EP from the April/May '77 session, to Sisters Of Mercy, to Alien Sex Fiend, to Cabaret Voltaire’s Micro-Phonies (“The Stuff You Call The Rubbish” in Porky-like writing on Side One). Other notable master notations in my collection are Foon Mastering and TownHouse. No, I’m not going through my rock records, there are too many potential embarrassments. **Pixies - Surfer Rosa** Nudism - With an ‘F’ **Jane’s Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual** 69 (Both Sides) **Dead Kennedys - Give Me Covenience Or Give Me Death** The Skull Is The 'Smiling Face" Of The Eighties - Dolphins Make Better Anarchists Than People Do **Sisters Of Mercy - MR 021 (Alice - Floorshow 12")** For Spiggy (Foreign Field) - JM Westen Nights Neues - Jesus Loves The Sisters…Mein Irischkind. Wo Weilest Du? **Love And Rockets - Seventh Dream Of Teenage Heaven** turn to the west (Side Two only) **The Chameleons - Script Of The Bridge** Who, Why, What, Where, When, How? - We Live, We Love, We Die … **Skinny Puppy - Chainsaw 12"** Weve (sic) Got The Taste Sheppard Washes The Blood - Ich Bien Shooshek Love Affair RPM Copa Business Diamond \*\*Skinny Puppy - Cleanse Fold And Manipulate \*\* Ich Bin Scheiss! (this side) **Faith No More - We Care A Lot** Light Fuse…Get Away! - Do Not Drive Or Operate Heavy Equipment While Under The Influence Of… That’s all folks! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2003, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lps-with-messages-in-the-dead-wax/176259/9 "2003-05-21T07:28:21Z")
> [@](#): > > At the end of The Who Sell Out LP, there’s a scratchy repeating message that says, “Check record.” It’s also on the CD version but, of course, the message has little meaning there (aside for notalgia for vinyl). Actually, the voice is saying “Track Records”, the name of the Who’s UK record label at the time. On a related note, about 30 seconds after the end of the last song on _An American Prayer_, Jim Morrison’s posthumously released poetry album, Morrison can be heard saying “One more thing. Thank you, oh Lord, for the blinding white light.”