The Stooges - Fun House (1970 Elektra First Pressing)

When Fun House hit record store shelves in August 1970, almost nobody bought it. Critics were confused, radio stations ignored it, and Elektra Records, the label that had invested in its creation, watched sales flatline. The album peaked at number 133 on the Billboard 200 and quickly disappeared from the charts. More than five decades later, original first pressings of Fun House are among the most coveted vinyl records in the world, routinely commanding four-figure prices from collectors who recognize it as one of the most important and influential rock albums ever recorded.

The Making of Fun House

The Stooges, consisting of vocalist Iggy Pop (born James Osterberg), guitarist Ron Asheton, bassist Dave Alexander, and drummer Scott Asheton, had already released their self-titled debut on Elektra in 1969. That record, produced by John Cale of the Velvet Underground, had introduced the world to the band's primitive, visceral sound. But Fun House would take things considerably further.

Recording took place at Elektra Sound Recorders in Los Angeles from May 11 to 25, 1970, with Don Gallucci (a former member of the Kingsmen, famous for "Louie Louie") producing. The band stayed at the nearby Tropicana Motel, a legendary haunt for musicians passing through LA. Gallucci's approach was straightforward: record roughly a dozen takes of each song per day, then select the best performance. The goal was to capture the band's ferocious live energy on tape, with minimal studio trickery.

Saxophonist Steve Mackay joined the sessions, adding a free jazz element to the band's already unhinged sound. His contributions, particularly on tracks like "Fun House" and "L.A. Blues," pushed the music into genuinely experimental territory. The result was an album that sounded like nothing else in 1970: raw, loud, chaotic, and absolutely electrifying.

The Seven Tracks

Fun House opens with "Down on the Street," a grinding, riff-heavy assault that announces the album's intentions within seconds. "Loose" follows with one of the most propulsive rock rhythms ever recorded, Iggy Pop's vocals careening between a howl and a whisper. "T.V. Eye" is built around Ron Asheton's relentless two-note guitar figure, a masterclass in minimalist intensity.

Side two escalates the chaos. "Dirt" is a slow, sludgy blues number that finds Iggy at his most emotionally exposed. "1970" (listed on the label as "I Feel Alright (1970)") features Mackay's saxophone wailing over a propulsive rhythm section. The title track "Fun House" is seven minutes of controlled demolition, the band simultaneously tight and on the verge of collapse. The album closes with "L.A. Blues," five minutes of pure noise and feedback that essentially invents the noise rock genre two decades before it had a name.

Identifying the First Pressing

Original 1970 first pressings of Fun House on Elektra (catalog number EKS-74071) were manufactured at two primary pressing plants: Pitman, New Jersey (Columbia pressing) and Terre Haute, Indiana. Both are considered legitimate first pressings, though collectors sometimes have preferences.

Key identification features include:

The Elektra "butterfly" label design, featuring the distinctive red, gold, and white butterfly logo. The labels should read "Elektra" with the catalog number EKS-74071. The jacket is a gatefold design with a striking photo by Ed Caraeff showing the band in performance. The inner sleeve is the standard Elektra/Nonesuch printed sleeve of the period.

Matrix numbers in the dead wax (the area between the last groove and the label) will help identify the pressing plant. Pitman pressings typically show "SP" or stamped matrix codes, while Terre Haute pressings have their own distinctive markings.

The condition of both the vinyl and the gatefold jacket is critical for value. First pressings with intact gatefolds, clean vinyl, and no writing, stickers, or cutouts command the highest prices.

Current Market Values

The market for original Fun House first pressings has appreciated significantly as the album's reputation has grown. Here is a general pricing guide:

Promotional copies, identifiable by their white label with timing information, are particularly scarce and can command significant premiums. A truly mint, unplayed first pressing with a flawless gatefold could potentially exceed $2,000 at auction to the right buyer.

It is worth noting that later Elektra pressings (identifiable by different label designs) and reissues are far more common and trade for considerably less, typically $20 to $80 depending on condition and pressing details.

Why Fun House Matters

The album's commercial failure in 1970 is one of rock music's great ironies. Fun House was simply too far ahead of its time. While contemporaries were making progressive rock, folk rock, and early heavy metal, the Stooges were creating something that would not have a proper genre classification for years. The album is now widely recognized as a foundational text of punk rock, proto-punk, noise rock, and alternative music.

Influential musicians from Johnny Rotten to Henry Rollins to Jack White have cited Fun House as a pivotal influence. The album regularly appears on "greatest albums of all time" lists from publications including Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and NME. Rate Your Music ranks it among the top 150 albums ever recorded, and it is considered the definitive proto-punk statement.

The Stooges themselves did not survive much longer after Fun House. Dave Alexander was fired from the band shortly after the album's release (he would pass away in 1975 at age 27). The group recorded one more album, Raw Power (1973), with a reconfigured lineup before dissolving. Iggy Pop went on to a celebrated solo career, but Fun House remains the creative peak of the original Stooges lineup.

Collecting Tips

When evaluating a potential first pressing purchase, always request photos of the labels, matrix numbers, and gatefold interior. Play-grade the vinyl if possible (or ask the seller for their honest assessment of surface noise). Be wary of cleaned or "VPI-washed" records that may look better than they sound.

The gatefold jacket is a major value component. Seam splits along the top or bottom opening are common due to the weight of the record inside the gatefold and reduce value modestly. Ring wear on the front cover from the vinyl pressing through the jacket is typical of well-stored copies and is generally acceptable at lower grades.

Fun House is available in numerous reissues, including excellent audiophile pressings from labels like Rhino, Elektra/Rhino, and the 2024 Elemental Reissue Campaign. These modern pressings offer superb sound quality at a fraction of the original pressing price and are a great option for listeners who want to experience the music without the collector premium.

But for those who want to hold the same object that came off the press in 1970, the year the Stooges captured lightning in a bottle at Elektra Sound Recorders, nothing substitutes for an original first pressing of Fun House.

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