Originally recorded back in 1969, Cold Fact was Rodriguez's debut album that is now considered a psychedelic soul masterpiece. At the time however, the album was barely a blip on the radar in the US, though he managed to become a sort of mysterious cult figure overseas in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand of all places! Thankfully this album has been rescued from obscurity (thanks in part to the 2012 documentary Searching For Sugarman), allowing for Rodriguez's raw, counter-culture vision to influence a whole new audience. Find out why Rodriguez is spoken about with the same reverent tones as Hendrix, Dylan, The Doors, and Love with tracks like "Sugar Man," "Establishment Blues," "Like Janis," "Inner City Blues," and "I Wonder." Official 2019 reissue with remastered sound on the original Sussex label, 14 tracks total.

• black vinyl pressing
• remastered sound
• original release year: 1970
• music label: Sussex 2019

reviewed by Extravagant Traveler 06/2012