Tractor albums re-issued on vinyl

Way We Live 1971 LP Sleeve

Owing to the massive interest around the world in John Peel's connection with Rochdale and Heywood, Tractor, Deeply Vale Festivals and the whole history of the Rochdale and Heywood music scene of the 1970's and 1980's, the value of a mint condition Way We Live 1971 LP or a mint condition Tractor 1972 LP has shot through the roof fetching up to £225 at auctions recently.

Vinyl records are also popular again with many retailers now moving back to having a large vinyl section so Tractor have re-issued their 1971 and 1972 LPs The Way We Live, A Candle for Judith and Tractor Tractor on deluxe 180gm deluxe heavy vinyl. They come with the original 1970's Dandelion Records artwork from John Peel's record label - these albums made the album charts in 1971 and 1972 and got lots of airplay on the BBC and led to a BBC TV series featuring the band performing a song each week for several weeks.

Jim Milne guitarist and Steve Clayton drummer and percussionist lived variously in Rochdale and Heywood during their teenage years and the band's former music shop and studio building in Rochdale and studio building in Heywood have been put forward for blue plaques owing to them kick starting a whole local music industry and their connections to John Peel who helped finance lots of projects for Tractor.

They started their own record label Ozit Morpheus Records which now has offices in Cheshire and Los Angeles and continues to issue material with links to Rochdale, Heywood and the North West.

The LP's are a numbered run of only 1000 of each and are selling initially at £16.99 plus £3.50 post and packing - the last two reissues of the LP's in 1983 and 1991, which did not have the full original John Peel artwork, are
fetching between £60 and £90 each for secondhand copies and they sold on release at only £4 each.

Chris Hewitt of Ozit Morpheus Records said: "It is hoped the blue plaque will be on the Heywood studio building soon and there is still a campaign to get a blue plaque on the old Tractor Music/Cargo Studios/Suite 16 Studios building in Kenion St Rochdale. Please write in to Rochdale Council's Chief Executive to say you support Rochdale and Heywood's musical heritage being on the tourist map."

The limited edition LP's are available by telephoning 01565 734066.