Warning... this is an adult site. If reading or viewing things about what gay men do sexually with one another bothers you - you should not read this blog. This blog is a reflection of my adventures and thoughts. Some are fun, some not so pretty. I won't name names, or kiss and tell... but I will live to tell. And baby, trust me - I am gonna spill it all over your pretty little party dress. Enjoy!
Today, we take another look at the Rough Trade imprint.
(A special long overdue thanks to texbearjoe, Hommi Publishing and Butch Stephens for the many covers they've come up with.)
Brought to you by the good people at Star Distributors, LTD., the Rough Trade imprint published 224 titles, from 1974-1990. Star Distributors, LTD. operated out of a P.O. Box at the Canal Street Station in New York City.
The imprint's numbering system begins with RT-401, and continues thusly. The book number only appears on the spine of the book.
All the books feature the imprint's distinctive Rough Trade logo in the upper left of the book's cover. The books cover design consists of an all-caps (typically) title in a banner of orange or baby blue near the top. A frame is created by two white stripes descending from the top banner to a thin banner (orange or baby blue) containing the word 'Illustrated' - for the books are, with drawings throughout. At the center of the cover there is an explicit illustration - some ink/pencil, some woodcut/etching - all by various popular gay artists of the time, including Craig Esposito, Adam, Michael, etc.
Oddly, the early books in the series do not have a publisher's page. Price point for the books began at 2.25 and increased (by various increments) to $3.95. Typically, you can buy these books today for between $25-45.
The back covers sometimes feature a synopsis of the book to entice readers or advertisement for one of Star Distributors' other imprints. Ads also appear at the front or back of the book - offering books, videos, and sex toys.
Here are the next dozen titles. This week, I came up with something for all twelve. However, quality control issues continue; with duplicated numbers (RT-459 and RT-460 were each assigned twice).
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Breaking-in to Leather
Author: Michael Jones
Rough Trade
1977
RT-459
This number was duplicated.
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Brownout Bait
Author: Mannie Hall
Rough Trade
1977
RT-459
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Motorcycle Cops
Author: Eric Harden
Rough Trade
1977
RT-460
This number was duplicated.
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Task Master
Author: D. A. M. Leonard
Rough Trade
1977
RT-460
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Nazi Bikers
Author: Judd Hall
Rough Trade
1978
RT-465
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Berlin Bullies
Author: Kurt Luger
Rough Trade
1978
RT-466
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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His Superior Officer
Author: Spike Cummings
Rough Trade
1978
RT-467
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Hot Cock Cowboy
Author: Mannie Hall
Rough Trade
1977
RT-468
At the time of this writing, there was a copy of this one for sale at Oxxbridge Galleries for $103.02!
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Midnight Plowboy
Author: D. C. Greene
Rough Trade
1978
RT-469
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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Road Boys
Author: Everett Avery
Rough Trade
1978
RT-470
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
--- ---
Leather Brutes
Author:L. K. Bart
Rough Trade
1978
RT-471
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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King of the Docks
Author:Manny Moro
Rough Trade
1979
RT-472
Available as a downloadable PDF or ebook at Hommi Publishing.
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And that's all for now.
Next up: twelve more tantalizing titles from the Rough Trade imprint.
Down The Rabbit Hole merely places a spotlight on something slightly unusual that's caught my interest. With the help of Wikipedia, YouTube, and other sites, I gather information and learn something new.
Today, we take a look at the whacky, cartoon pop of the Danish duo known as Toy-Box.
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From Wikipedia and other sources:
(Given the season, I thought it only fitting we take a look at Toy-Box.)
Toy-Box is a Danish bubblegum pop band, best known for their hit singles Tarzan & Jane, Best Friend, Superstar, and The Sailor Song. The group's members are vocalists Amir El-Falaki and Anila Mirza.
Toy-Box was founded by Amir El-Falaki and Anila Mirza in 1996, after they had met each other at a New Year's Eve party.
The group's debut single, Tarzan & Jane, was championed by Smash Hits magazine in the UK in 1999, but their label, Edel, decided to hold back the release until later on in the year, to coincide with the release of Disney's Tarzan. Instead, they elected to release Best Friend first, and though it received a lot of rotation on the television channel The Box, it only reached number #41 on the UK Singles Chart. Due to that failure, plans to release Tarzan & Jane in the UK were cancelled.
Elsewhere in Europe, the group did quite well, scoring a number of Top 40, and in some case Top Ten singles. They did well in Sweden, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, and while finding their biggest success in the Netherlands.
The group's debut album, FanTastic, was released in September of 1999 and was followed in 2001 by a second album, ToyRide.
After the group broke up, El-Falaki worked as a dance teacher, music video choreographer and trainer to F.C. Copenhagen's cheerleading team, while Mirza released a solo album.
When asked about another Toy-Box release in 2007, Mirza said, "I don't know, anything's possible."
Since that time, they've gotten back together to make a few special appearances and to tour with other groups of their time (Venga Boys, Aqua, etc.) with no plans for new material.
