Vinyl Icons

ORIGINAL LP
Safe As Milk was released in the US in September 1967 on Buddah Records in both mono [BDM 1001] and stereo [BDS 5001]. Early pressings came with a collage artwork inner sleeve featuring the slogan 'May The Baby Jesus Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Mind' and a bumper sticker depicting the face of a baby doll. The front cover featured a photo of the band while the rear incorporated the black and yellow chequerboard from the Abba-Zaba candy bar wrapper.

The UK version arrived in mono on Pye International in 1968 [NPL 28110]. A 1969 reissue, again in mono, and from Pye International in conjunction with its budget label Marble Arch [MAL 1117], had different artwork based on the original cover photos.

Another UK budget version of the album under the name Dropout Boogie [pictured above], was released in stereo on Buddah Records in 1970 through Polydor's 99 budget series [2349 002]. The album has also been reissued under the titles Gold Rock, Plastic Factory and At His Best.

Two collectible LPs were released in France on yellow and red vinyl in 1975 and 1976 respectively. The initial year of release on the record label is confusingly dated as 1970 [Buddah BD 60017].

CASSETTE AND CARTRIDGE
Safe As Milk was released in 1967 on the Buddah label on both 4-track stereo cartridge [F-1-5001] and 8-track stereo cartridge [L-1-5001] in the US, followed by cassette in 1970 [Buddah M55063]. A German cassette was issued in 1978 [Buddah/TELDEC 4.23171] and the first European cassette release came in 1985 on WEA/Buddah [52 260-4].

FIRST CD
Castle Classics was the first label to release Safe As Milk on CD with its 1988 reissue [CLACD 234]. Although it purports to be in stereo, it's a mono mix. Ten years later Elliot Federman remastered the album in his SAJE Sound studio [Buddha/RCA/BMG 74321 69175 2] and the improvement in clarity was considerable. Seven bonus tracks, including alternative takes and works in progress were included, and the release was rather drolly claimed as being the 'first on Buddha', as the original label had been misspelt 'Buddah'.

AUDIOPHILE VINYL
Federman's remaster was made available in 1999 as a limited edition 180g double LP [Simply Vinyl SVLP 122]. In 2017 a limited edition 50th anniversary 180g double LP on milk white vinyl was released on Buddah/Music On Vinyl [MOVLP343]. Specialist label Sundazed put out a mono version in the US in 2018 [Sundazed LP5460; pictured above], remastered by Bob Irwin and with sleevenotes by David Fricke. An insert featured the original artwork, plus a facsimile 'baby' sticker.