[Chris Lawrence]

if i recall, 7 and 8 were released about 3 months apart? i recall thinking the format-specific nature of each release was intended to balance the other (in other words, when it was clear 8 would not have a vinyl release, they opted to make 7 vinyl only). i have no idea if that was actually the reasoning, and since 6 was CD only a few years earlier i'm guessing my theory holds no water... (note that 7 is also the only 2-track SYR, so it seems perfectly designed for vinyl - i imagine they started w/ the idea of "J'Accuse Ted Hughes" on the A side and then sought out a complimentary b-side, but again, i have no idea..)

i remember getting both of these in a package the last time i moved - i spent a day driving my shit back and forth from house to house on a hot summer day that was particularly tourist-heavy, listening to SYR8 on repeat. it almost kept me sane.