Sound on Sound

Idiot Records was founded in the late Seventies during the Punk era. Except for Paul Tornado’s 'Van Agt Casanova and the legendary Suzannes, it soon turned into a typical singer/songwriter label. Sound on Sound was the label’s eighth release and the first in a series of 10 inch albums.

8-track album. Originally released in 1980 and distributed by RCA. Click on album cover to enter the iTunes Music Store.

- - -

Johan Visser was pointed out to Fay’s music by Rik Zaal, who together with Jan Donkers, Wim Noordhoek and Rogier Proper (at that time) made a show called “De Suite” for VPRO radio, where Johan worked as music producer.

When he met Fay for the first time, hoping to release some of her songs, she had just returned from England where she had recorded for Chrysalis Records. It took some effort on his behalf to convince her that the demo recordings from her home studio sounded better and more ʻpersonalʼ than the extremely professional recordings she played for him. After a careful selection from dozens of demos, Sound on Sound was released only a few months later.

Jona Lewie (hit singles 'Youʼll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties', 'Stop the Cavalry', and a song notorious for having been refused by the Eurovision Song Contest, 'Hallelujah, Europa') had just produced a single for Jan Rotʼs band, Ratata. Before producing Fayʼs first single Party Time, he wrote the following liner notes for Sound on Sound:

“When Johan Visser played me some tapes he intended to release on his record label, I couldn't help being amazed by Fay's music. It is still difficult to believe that so many different and varied ideas are from one and the same person. It is also difficult to believe that her work was recorded entirely on Revoxes because of the many dimensions incorporated into each track, quite apart from the sound and quality which are exellent. Fayʼs music was an experience to listen to and I think the talent that caused it will reach many people before long.”

- - -

1) Original album cover

2) inner sleeve

3) Album cover when re-released via WEA