As summer winds down, and I have to go back to my day job, we’ve got a few really exciting things happening:
1. Kris Kristofferson 2xLP Tribute Kickstarter
2. This Frontier Needs Heroes “2012” 8” pyramid shaped picture disc
3. R. Stevie Saturday Singles Series


The Rising Cost of Livin’ High and Lovin’ Hard: A 2xLP Tribute to Kris Kristofferson:
Kris Kristofferson’s music might not be quite as well known as his buddies Waylon, Willie, and Johnny, (who he was in a super-group, The Highwaymen, with) but amongst songwriters in the know, he is just as highly respected. Rhodes Scholar, helicopter pilot, songwriter, janitor, actor, heartthrob, and all-around Renaissance Man. His history is just as legendary as any of his outlaw country counterparts.

And now, PIAPTK Records wants to pay homage to this living legend and his songwriting through a new double LP full of amazing artists putting their own personal spin on his classic tales of ne’er-do-wells, miscreants, ladies men, hard luck heroes, and misunderstood every-men battling the devil. We contacted all of the friends and artists that we have worked with over the years, and within months, we had over 27 incredible submissions.
Unfortunately, we need your help to release this amazing double album. PIAPTK Records has released 95 records over the last 6 years. However, in the next several months, PIAPTK will be dramatically decreasing releases as it’s proprietor gets ready to move his wife and 2 year old daughter into a motor home to hit the road and take travel jobs for the foreseeable future. Therefore, we have neither the money, nor the storage space required to produce a double LP. 

In addition, in order to produce a tribute album, one most pay mechanical royalties to the songwriter. While some small labels/independent artists do not pay these royalties on small run releases, we, at PIAPTK, have always felt it important to compensate the writers of the songs that our artists love enough to record. We feel especially dutiful to compensate Kris. However, these royalties are no small sum. $.11 per song, per copy produced (not sold), plus a registration fee for each song. Another problem with vinyl compilations is the problem of artist copies. The artists have donated their time and recording expense to make these recordings, but at the industry-standard artist copy distribution (10%), each artist will only receive 2 copies (not even enough for everyone in the band to receive one, in many cases!)

So, with 24 songs times 500 copies times $.10 each, a run of 500 double albums is $1100 just in royalties. Mastering, plating, pressing, printing of covers, shipping, etc of a double LP is close to $6,000. Meaning that all in all, this project will cost $7,100. Many of the artists involved have contributed to the cause, but we still need a LOT of help to make this happen.

We are asking, no…, begging, for you to help us make this project that we believe so deeply in, a reality. While we really need $6,000, we are setting the first bar at $4,000. Anything above and beyond that will be used to make the record better, the packaging better, and to fund additional artist copies. 

Preview ALL of the tracks at: http://soundcloud.com/piaptk-kristofferson-trib/sets/rising-cost-of-livin-high-and
The Rising Cost of Livin’ High and Lovin’ Hard: A Tribute to Kris Kristofferson:
Wooden Wand feat. The Scrivener – Tell Me One More Time
Little Wings - I May Smoke Too Much
Simon Joyner - Help Me Make It Through The Night
Golden Boots – Best of All Possible Worlds
Calvin Johnson, Sandman The Rappin' Cowboy, Timezone Lafontaine, and Andras Jones – The Highwayman
Turner Cody – Sam’s Song
Karl Blau - Here Comes That Rainbow Again
The Blank Tapes – Other Side of Nowhere
The Gifted Children – Enough For You
Assateague – Josie
RFK Heise – Stranger
Ohian – Year 2000 + 7&5
Wckr Spgt – Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down
The Gift Machine – The Taker
The Great Lakes – Nobody Wins
New Science Projects – The Pilgrim: Chapter 33
Amo Joy! – Don’t Let The Bastards Get You Down
Miniature and Presidential – Bottle to the Bottom
The Ocean Floor – For the Good Times
Daring Ear – Silver Tongued Devil and I
Southerly – Same Old Song
Matt Hopper – Jody and the Kid
The Black Swans – Moment of Forever
Good Saints – Breakdown
Bob Simpson – Jesus Was A Capricorn
Receive Special letterpressed covers, test pressings, exclusive colored vinyl, lathe cuts with bonus tracks, t-shirts, etc!  CONTRIBUTE HERE: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/piaptk/a-2xlp-tribute-to-kris-kristofferson



2. This Frontier Needs Heroes “2012”
A one-sided, pyramid shaped, picture disc with a ode to the impending (or not) apocalypse. Originally released by the band as a run of lathecuts.com-cut picnic plates, PIAPTK liked the song so much we asked them if we could do the re-release. Comes with a glow-in-the-dark silkscreened insert.
Will be released (arrive on your doorstep) on Sept 21, so that you will have exactly three months to enjoy it before the world ends (or doesn't).


3. R. Stevie Moore Saturday Singles Singles Series – 
Starting this Saturday, and Every(ish) Saturday thereafter, for as long as we and Stevie feel inclined, PIAPTK will be opening up preorders for a new R. Stevie Moore clear, square, lathe cut single in a hand-set letterpressed cover. The preorders will last for 24 hours.  We will then make only that many records (plus artist copies) and the single will be out of print forever. To sign up to the PIAPTK Stevie email list (separate list that will only contain Stevie-related emails) to remind ya, click here: http://eepurl.com/o2vLD .
 
Thank you as always for your support! Mike