Elliott Smith Speed Trials 7" (Yellow Vinyl) & Needle In The Hay 7" (Red Vinyl)
Speed Trials:
Released on October 1, 1996, “Speed Trials” was the first single from Elliott Smith’s breakthrough album, Either/Or. The track’s careening rhythms and languished vocal melodies have kept it a favorite in Smith’s catalogue decades after its debut. Backed with additional Either/Or track “Angeles” and the elsewhere unreleased “I Don't Think I'm Ever Gonna Figure It Out”, this 7” highlights Smith’s talent during one of the most earnest and creative periods of his life.
Released on New Year’s Day, 1995, “Needle In The Hay” followed up on Elliott Smith’s debut album Roman Candle the previous year, and appeared as the lead track on the eponymous Elliott Smith later in ’95. The song has left a remarkable legacy, having been covered by an array of artists spanning Juliana Hatfield, Bad Astronaut, and Kermit the Frog. This 7” features “Needle In The Hay” backed with “Alphabet City” and “Some Song”, offering an encapsulation of Smith’s early work.