Y Kant Tori Read (album)

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Y Kant Tori Read

Studio album by Y Kant Tori Read
Released	June 1988
Recorded	1987
Genre	Synthpop
Length	48:44
Label	Atlantic
Producer(s)	Joe Chicarelli
All Music Guide (2/5) link Billboard Magazine "Bimbo Music"
Y Kant Tori Read chronology
	Y Kant Tori Read (1988)	The Big Picture (1988)

Y Kant Tori Read is the name of the 1980s synthpop band (and their self-titled debut album), formed by now-famous singer and songwriter Tori Amos. The band consisted of Tori, singer-pianist Kim Bullard, and future Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum, as well as long-time Amos collaborator guitarist Steve Caton and various studio musicians.

The band released an eponymous album in 1988 before splitting, and received miserable sales; it is now one of the most sought-after Tori Amos collectibles, fetching upwards of $1,000 in compact disc format in original longbox. At the height of Amos' career vinyl copies would often sell for between $300-500, but because of lack of interest, the decline of music collectables and the heavy pirating of the record, they now frequently sell for between $50-80. For information on the band itself visit Y Kant Tori Read.

Because of the scarcity of legitimate copies of the album it has been heavily bootlegged, so much so that an official FAQ on the topic was created. Generally, bootleg versions stem from one of the first editions to surface, on a foreign label called "Pacific Records". These usually have six bonus tracks from later in Amos' career: "Song For Eric," "Ode to the Banana King (Part 1)," "Happy Phantom (Live,)" "Ring My Bell," "The Happy Worker" and "Workers." Other editions, particularly one that surfaced in Germany, were issued to intentionally resemble the original and rip off legitimate collectors.

Interestingly, it has been said that the character of Razor in the video game Maniac Mansion was created based on Amos, or more specifically her image on the cover of this record. One of the game designers purchased the record and created Razor, a red-haired, black mini-dress wearing punk rocker whose piano playing skills are integral to completing the game (when playing with her character.)

Should one wish to buy a copy of the original CD for some reason, the number on its spine reads 81845-2. The majority of imitative bootlegs list this number incorrectly because their stolen artwork is taken from the easier-to-find LP version of the release, which had a different release number.

Ironically it is far more desirable to obtain a non-promotional copy of the record rather than a promotionally issued copy (the reverse is generally the case in music collectables.) Because the record sold so poorly, the majority of commercially-released copies were recalled, stamped with a gold promo stamp, and given a cutout mark. Thus there are actually MORE promotional copies of the record than not.

Several singles were released to promote the album, though most promotionally and not commercially. "The Big Picture" was released as a 12" vinyl promotional single with unique artwork; "Cool On Your Island" was issued as a 7" vinyl promotional single with a special edit version of the song; it was also included as a b-side to a promotional CD featuring the song "Groovy Kind of Love" by Phil Collins. (Amos tells a story from this era of being stopped by police while travelling through Germany because her friend was carrying marijuana; when she told the policeman that she was "on a CD with Phil Collins," she was set free.)

One music video was produced for the song "The Big Picture". The imagery on the video is very generic for 1980s, featuring Amos prancing around a "ghetto city" soundstage set in thigh-high boots and a halter top.

Amos has continued to play a select few songs from this album ("Etienne," "Cool On Your Island," and snippets of "Fire On the Side") live in concert.