The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Ep490: Saving Vinyl - Rescuing Australia's Last Record Press

Mar 24, 2025

Nick Phillips, a musician from The Breadmakers and owner of Corduroy Records, shares his remarkable journey of rescuing Australia’s last vinyl pressing plant. He impulsively bought the equipment without manufacturing experience, creating a unique legacy. Nick discusses the labor-intensive process of making vinyl, including direct-to-acetate recordings with notable artists like Sonic Youth and The White Stripes. He also highlights the challenges of maintaining vintage machinery and the passion behind preserving the art of vinyl production.

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Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 3min

Reviving Vinyl: A Passionate Journey

03:25 • 11min

The Art of Vinyl Production

14:31 • 14min

Behind the Scenes of Iconic Music History

28:28 • 4min

Vinyl Journeys: From Creation to Preservation

32:44 • 8min

Whimsical Origins of a Vinyl Detective Agency

40:43 • 2min

Challenges and Triumphs in the Vinyl Industry

42:33 • 19min

Despite having no manufacturing experience, Nick Phillips (The Breadmakers, Corduroy Records) impulsively bought Australia's last vinyl pressing equipment, not only saving it from the scrap heap, but creating an Australian vinyl legacy and spirit that continues through today's modern pressing plants.

Topics Include:

Introduction of Nick Phillips and his vinyl industry background.
Early records on Mr Spaceman – label-mates with Cosmic Psychos
How Nick impulsively bought a record factory in Sydney.
Nick had no manufacturing experience before buying the equipment.
The equipment cost approximately $6,000 in 1989-1990.
Nick moved the vinyl pressing equipment to Melbourne.
Finding an affordable factory space in McKinnon, Melbourne.
The labor-intensive nature of hand-pressed vinyl record production.
Description of the vinyl manufacturing process with electroplating.
Need to import vinyl pellets from California after local supply ended.
The machines were 1960s Swedish Alpha Toolex presses.
Typical daily production of 500 albums or 800 seven-inches.
Discussion of major artists pressed at Corduroy Records.
Direct-to-acetate recordings as a significant part of operations.
Sonic Youth's visit to record direct-to-acetate - "Melbourne Direct" record
The White Stripes recording session that didn't go smoothly.
How the White Stripes acetates were transferred to Third Man Records
Corduroy's unusual business model of charging majors more.
Employee requirement to run their own record labels.
Nick's perspective on running a business more for passion.
The origin of the Corduroy Records name.
Why they added "& Detective Agency" to the business name.
Their one failed detective case involving counterfeit Nike socks.
Financial challenges of running the pressing plant.
How EMI and other labels sued Corduroy for copyright infringement.
The factory relocation costs that contributed to closing.
Selling the equipment to Obese Records/future Zenith Records.
How Hilltop Hoods went from customers to part-owners.
The machines are still operating today at Zenith Records.
Nick's band The Breadmakers has been active for 35 years.
The Breadmakers' consistent 1960s R&B sound over decades.
The new Breadmakers album "Lonesome Sundown."
Nick's satisfaction at keeping vinyl alive in Australia.
Directing listeners to thebreadmakers.bandcamp.com for music.
Interview wrap up

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