I think this post has to be a tribute to Andy, one of the four (maybe it's only three now, if Guy has — quite understandably — got bored) loyal readers of these pages. Hi!
Andy has himself given a detailed account of how he became Luna's record label for a day when he pressed and distributed 500 copies of this single. So read that first and foremost. Here's something I wrote myself a few years earlier, after I interviewed him for the Book:
Andy, self-effacing and shy to a fault, keeps at arm's length from the band members. It was only under pressure from other list members in 1997 that he first made contact with Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna, Dean & Britta). He has some amusing anecdotes about an awkward visit, involving a vinyl sofa, to Dean's apartment in New York, and an answering machine message from Dean that he has kept ever since. The early fruits of this contact included a 7" Luna single, Dear Paulina, which Andy put out in a limited edition of 500 copies aimed at members of the fan community, after Dean gave him the track (from the soundtrack of the film Thursday).Only once has a band member asked for a small change to Andy's site, and they appear both happy with his many contributions and grateful for the ongoing interest of the wider fan community. They asked him to manage the official Galaxie 500 MySpace page: Andy agreed only reluctantly and after repeated entreaties, such is his contempt for MySpace in general. He also contributed a video from his collection of off-air recordings to the recent Galaxie 500 DVD release. It was, said Andy, "nice to feel wanted".
I interviewed Andy because I think the website and email list he's run for 16 years now — yep, you read that right, 16 years — is a model of its kind, let alone a fantastic testament to his dedication and persistence. The favourite band that I discovered through these resources is only the cherry on top of the icing on top of the cake.
Three years ago, Andy forecast the end of the fan site. Happily he stood firm in refutation of his own prediction. (And here's an opposing point of view, if you're interested.)
All the signs are that Andy's enthusiasm remains undimmed. So I tip my hat to you, sir!
The clip from the film where Dear Paulina is played has been removed from YouTube since Andy wrote his account. I watched it once. It was distinctly unpleasant and still unsettling in that why-am-watching-this-to-the-end way. In its lieu I offer you this much more perverse instance of vinyl p0rn.
No, I wasn't sufficiently on the ball to get hold of a copy of this single when it came out in 1999. But happily Andy discovered 13 more copies down the back of the sofa a couple of years ago. I got my order in sharpish, and the record arrived on my birthday!
MusicBrainz entry for this single
Head Full of Wishes entry for this single
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