Pantera bootleg cds?

Can someone please advise me if the four pre-cowboys from hell Pantera albums have ever been officially released on cd?

If i recall well, discogs lists all cd versions as being unofficial, i.e.bootlegs. Moreover, there are various metal magic, projects in the jungle, i am the night and power metal cds for sale on eBay, almost exclusively coming from Russia.

Now i am aware that these are bootlegs. But since those albums are impossible to find, i had to pick up those Russian releases which, to my surprise, look very legit. Even the cd doesn't look like your average CD-R.

Thanks for the feedback.

I am pretty sure that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was Power Metal, on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

Even then, I imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

I bought my copy of Power Metal on CD from a guy on iOffer. It came all the way from Latvia for ten bucks (including shipping) so obviously I had no illusions that I was getting an O.G. pressing.
It looks, plays, and sounds like the real deal so I have no complaints.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I believe that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was "Power Metal," on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

If they do exist, I would imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

I bought my copy of Power Metal on CD from a guy on iOffer. It came all the way from Latvia for ten bucks (including shipping) so obviously I had no illusions that I was getting an O.G. pressing.
It looks, plays, and sounds like the real deal so I have no complaints.

Thanks for the quick clarification. I have no complaint either, since the bootlegs look and sound like an original release .

Fat Freddy wrote:

I am pretty sure that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was Power Metal, on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

Even then, I imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

This.

Plus, I imagine that the only reason Power Metal was not pressed on CD was because Phil seemed embarrassed by the cover. Why not release it with an alternate album cover?

On a side note, during the tour for Cowboys From Hell, there were some shows where they played one or two songs from Power Metal (if I remember correctly, "Death Trap" and "Over and Out" were the songs that showed up during some shows). It was around the time Vulgar Display of Power came out the band (or at least Phil) started to bury their 1980s period. Because of the fact that Internet wasn't what it would be in the second half of the decade, most people outside of Texas bought the claims that Pantera's debut was Cowboys From Hell for quite some time. When the Internet became a regular tool, most people discovered Pantera had four albums before that.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I am pretty sure that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was Power Metal, on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

Even then, I imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

I bought my copy of Power Metal on CD from a guy on iOffer. It came all the way from Latvia for ten bucks (including shipping) so obviously I had no illusions that I was getting an O.G. pressing.
It looks, plays, and sounds like the real deal so I have no complaints.

For more value for money you could buy the bootleg of power metal with Villain's Only Time Will Tell.

Fat Freddy wrote:

I am pretty sure that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was Power Metal, on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

Even then, I imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

I bought my copy of Power Metal on CD from a guy on iOffer. It came all the way from Latvia for ten bucks (including shipping) so obviously I had no illusions that I was getting an O.G. pressing.
It looks, plays, and sounds like the real deal so I have no complaints.

Yeah, only Power Metal was released on CD, and it's really hard to come by. I don't even have it. I have all four early albums on Reborn Classics bootlegs. They sound great for the most part. The first three suffer because they're vinyl rips and have that weird degradation happening as the album progresses.

Really wish they'd get an official re-release someday.

Eyesore wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

I am pretty sure that the only one of the four pre-Cowboys albums that was ever legitimately released on CD was Power Metal, on the band's own "Metal Magic" label. Vinyl and cassettes were still the standard formats when they released the prior three.

Even then, I imagine that Power Metal CDs would have been pressed in small quantities, cuz a run of CDs would have been fairly expensive for a home-brewed indie label in 1988.

Soooo, unless you're lucky enough to find an O.G. Power Metal disc at a pawn shop, yard sale, or thrift store in Pantera's home area of Dallas, Texas, it's probably safe to assume that any and all pre-Cowboys CDs on the market are bootleg/counterfeit.

I bought my copy of Power Metal on CD from a guy on iOffer. It came all the way from Latvia for ten bucks (including shipping) so obviously I had no illusions that I was getting an O.G. pressing.
It looks, plays, and sounds like the real deal so I have no complaints.

Yeah, only Power Metal was released on CD, and it's really hard to come by. I don't even have it. I have all four early albums on Reborn Classics bootlegs. They sound great for the most part. The first three suffer because they're vinyl rips and have that weird degradation happening as the album progresses.

Really wish they'd get an official re-release someday.

With all the re-releases happening in the metal world, i wonder why those particular albums never got a proper treatment / reissue. Could it be an Intellectual Property rights dispute?

In the meantime Eyesore, you can upgrade by purchasing those Russian releases. They are of great quality. Barely any flows.

Now that Vinnie is gone, there’s a good chance someone (most likely Rita) will eventually release the pre CFH albums. I think the artwork should be updated though... and of coarse they definitely need to be remastered.

Troublezone wrote:

Now that Vinnie is gone, there’s a good chance someone (most likely Rita) will eventually release the pre CFH albums. I think the artwork should be updated though... and of coarse they definitely need to be remastered.

Fingers crossed .

I have Power Metal on CD that I found new and sealed at a record store about a year ago. I'm sure it's probably a bootleg but I bought it anyway.

Troublezone wrote:

Now that Vinnie is gone, there’s a good chance someone (most likely Rita) will eventually release the pre CFH albums. I think the artwork should be updated though... and of coarse they definitely need to be remastered.

Nah, they should leave the artwork the way it is. Those cheesy-as-hell covers are all part of the charm.

Is there a connection between Pantera and Villain? I came across that Villain and listened on YouTube the other day. I just wasn't sure wht it was tacked on the end of a Power Metal boot.

ZombieHavoc wrote:

Is there a connection between Pantera and Villain? I came across that Villain and listened on YouTube the other day. I just wasn't sure wht it was tacked on the end of a Power Metal boot.

Other than the fact that both albums were short enough to fit together on a single CD, I don't think so...

ZombieHavoc wrote:

Is there a connection between Pantera and Villain? I came across that Villain and listened on YouTube the other day. I just wasn't sure wht it was tacked on the end of a Power Metal boot.

No connection but I have that boot! There is a connection between Villain and Vicious Rumors - Carl Albert was the lead singer for both.

[quote="Witchfinder"]

ZombieHavoc wrote:

Is there a connection between Pantera and Villain? I came across that Villain and listened on YouTube the other day. I just wasn't sure wht it was tacked on the end of a Power Metal boot.

Yep, that's the one I bought as well. I got it from a legit record store in West Virginia new and sealed. Where did ya'll find this?

I have a Power Metal CD and I’m pretty sure it’s the real thing from their Metal Magic label. Is there any way to know for sure? Anything that sets the real thing apart from a bootleg?

Troublezone wrote:

I have a Power Metal CD and I’m pretty sure it’s the real thing from their Metal Magic label. Is there any way to know for sure? Anything that sets the real thing apart from a bootleg?

Normally i would check out discogs.com for barcodes and other identifiers.

7thSecond wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

ZombieHavoc wrote:

Is there a connection between Pantera and Villain? I came across that Villain and listened on YouTube the other day. I just wasn't sure wht it was tacked on the end of a Power Metal boot.

Yep, that's the one I bought as well. I got it from a legit record store in West Virginia new and sealed. Where did ya'll find this?

I got mine in a record store in Northern Kentucky that always had a lot of bootlegs.

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

manny wrote:

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

The Rhino records compilation: Quiet Riot (The Randy Rhoads years) is very good IMO. There’s a big Alice Cooper influence and his “Laughing Gas” solo is excellent!

manny wrote:

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

That's my fear as well. It will never harm their legacy, of course. Those albums are not a secret anymore, and their legacy is cemented in place.

Eyesore wrote:

manny wrote:

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

That's my fear as well. It will never harm their legacy, of course. Those albums are not a secret anymore, and their legacy is cemented in place.

I agree, plus with youtube, streaming services out there, they may as well release a vinyl/CD package of those albums and at least make a few buck off them.

Troublezone wrote:

manny wrote:

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

The Rhino records compilation: Quiet Riot (The Randy Rhoads years) is very good IMO. There’s a big Alice Cooper influence and his “Laughing Gas” solo is excellent!

True, and I agree with the Alice Cooper influence, it turns out that Randy Rhoads was a huge of Glenn Buxton of the Alice band.

That comp is pretty good, but that is because Kevin Dubrow re-record all his vocals, played Randy Rhoads recordings thru Carlos Cavazo's amps and put them on tape, punched up the drums and bass, and that is why it sounds so good compared to the piss production of the first two original albums.

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

manny wrote:

I doubt those Pantera albums will ever see the light of day, similar to how Randy Rhoads estate will never release the first two Quiet Riot albums, they seem to feel that those albums do not reflect Rhoads at his best and might harm his legacy, that is how Pantera felt about those early albums.

For years I felt that 'Cowboys from Hell' was their debut album.

The Rhino records compilation: Quiet Riot (The Randy Rhoads years) is very good IMO. There’s a big Alice Cooper influence and his “Laughing Gas” solo is excellent!

True, and I agree with the Alice Cooper influence, it turns out that Randy Rhoads was a huge of Glenn Buxton of the Alice band.

That comp is pretty good, but that is because Kevin Dubrow re-record all his vocals, played Randy Rhoads recordings thru Carlos Cavazo's amps and put them on tape, punched up the drums and bass, and that is why it sounds so good compared to the piss production of the first two original albums.

Thanks for the info! I didn’t know it was “doctored” so much in the studio. I just thought it was a good remaster.

Random bit to add to this, but I was listening to Lord Tracy's Deaf Gods of Babylon on YouTube, as I do sometimes because it is really good. Someone in the comments mentioned that the singer previously sang for Pantera. I checked on Discogs, and damn, that's true. I never put that together.