35 Inches of British Electric Foundation

After releasing the entirely instrumental Music for Stowaways / Music For Listening To album(s), the next step for the British Electric Foundation was an album of cover versions - Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 1. The album, which contained mostly-electronic interpretations of others' songs, featured a host of guest vocalists and also managed  to relaunch the career of Tina Turner (her version of Ball of Confusion here led to a further collaboration with Let's Stay Together).

Best of all - and the reason for me posting here - the album got a limited release as a 7" box set with each of the 10 tracks being split across five 7" singles, which makes it that tiny bit more enjoyable to listen to.

Hipster baiting sticker on the new Erland Oye album

Well, this USED TO be clear vinyl...

Faust's debut album was released in 1971 on clear vinyl in a printed transparent sleeve; I bought it second hand at some point in the nineties for about £8. It was definitely clear then. In fact, the last time I listened to it (probably 4 or 5 years ago) it was still clear. So, when getting the record out a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised to find it had transformed to this lovely brown marbled effect vinyl.

It seems as though the vinyl has reacted with the plastic sleeve causing this happen - can anyone give some sciencey type explanation for this? I'm not sure why it only happened after 40+ years and I'm sure some people would be distraught at the thought of a valuable record being 'ruined', but I think it looks great. Besides, I have plenty of other records that are clear vinyl (and yes, I've checked that they're all still OK).

Come to think of it, something similar happened with a Howard Jones picture disc I ownd back in 1985...