Name: Just A Million Dreams
Brand: Alan Vega

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

FTRSMO44A

Colour

Clear

Colour details

Clear and Red Marbled

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: Yes

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

With Fold Out Poster, Two Extra Tracks and Liner Notes by Henry Rollins. UK Exclusive.

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-07-21

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5053760105367

Total Cap

Clear LP | Rough Trade Exclusive

FTRSMO44B

Yellow

Neon Yellow

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format: No

With Fold Out Poster, Two Extra Tracks and Liner Notes by Henry Rollins.

5053760105374

Yellow LP

Artist

Alan Vega

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

Futurismo

Alan Vega (1938-2016) was an American musician, vocalist, and sculptor. He gained recognition as a visual artist for his "light sculptures" before venturing into music. Alongside Martin Rev, he formed the influential electronic duo Suicide, known for their minimalist and aggressive sound. After disbanding in 1980, Vega pursued a solo career, exploring his rockabilly identity. He released several albums with Suicide and as a solo artist, incorporating drum machines and effects with free-form prose. Despite health issues later in life, Vega continued to create music until his passing.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Vega was also an accomplished painter and exhibited his artwork in various shows throughout New York City. His final studio album 'IT' was released posthumously in 2021 and featured original artwork by Vega himself. Sacred Bones Records has since released 'Mutator', the first of many unreleased materials from the Vega Vault.

Alan Vega's contributions to electronic music continue to inspire artists today, solidifying his legacy as a pioneering figure in the genre.

Newest Listed Items

Vinyl variants, bonus material and signed editions exclusively available from Rough Trade.

Futurismo are proud to present a first time reissue of the killer 1985 album: Just A Million Dreams by the uncompromising Alan Vega.

The remastered version of this LP comes with two unreleased bonus tracks produced by Liz Lamere and Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots. It is packaged in a gloss laminated sleeve with a huge fold-out poster and contains new liner notes by Henry Rollins.

Presented in a remastered deluxe vinyl package, Just A Million Dreams, produced by Ric Ocasek and Chris Lord-Alge, takes Vega on an expedition into new territory. As an artist Vega had a crucial drive, but having a hit record was never a motive, neither was pandering to expectations, which is why Just a Million Dreams is perhaps a perfect statement for that moment, bettering the then bastions of MTV rock without even trying, an exercise in subversion that still has Vega’s unique artistry at its core. Would you expect anything less from one half of NYC legends Suicide? Perhaps not, but the hows and whys to Vega landing himself in such a mainstream position are perhaps just as fascinating as the record itself.

Here Alan Vega’s vocals sound better than ever, full of emotion and brooding honesty. Lyrics painting images of dystopian love might be a sideways move away from the intense nihilism of his past, but it’s still the real deal. Alan Vega could not be anything else. Listen to tracks like ‘Creation’ and you still get that raw emotion he spent his career honing. Set against the grandeur of mid 80’s production: big processed drums, runaway guitar solos, we get a rare peak into what Vega would sound like if he was allowed to be a rock star drenched in the sonic excesses of the era. It was a brave and unfairly misunderstood move, but the components come together to form an incredible anti-commercial, commercial album. Just A Million Dreams is the sound of Alan Vega taking on the 1980’s and winning.

With help of the official Vega Vault, two never before heard tracks have been unearthed from the 1985 JAMD recording sessions and brought to life by long time collaborator Liz Lamere and Jared Artaud of The Vacant Lots, adding a new insight to the recordings. Henry Rollins also lends a new written perspective, making this release a vital addition to the collections of Alan Vega and Suicide fans. It has been said that Alan Vega is forever, his unwavering artistic approach can be witnessed throughout his career, whether as part of Suicide or as a solo songwriter, poet or sculptor. Just a Million Dreams is just another example.

Just A Million Dreams

Music GB