Black Tape For A Blue Girl: The Rope (40th anniversary)

Hi, Sam from Black Tape For A Blue Girl here, asking for your help to create this special 40th anniversary edition of our debut, The Rope! Back in the spring of 1986 I moved to California for college. I was 20 years old, feeling isolated, lonely, missing friends in Florida. In my dorm room I started recording music with lyrics and melodies. Writing words for Oscar Herrera to sing within my ethereal and ambient music helped me explore those angsty and tangled feelings. It was 40 years ago this summer that I released The Rope.

Now I’m Kickstarting a deluxe anniversary edition. With your support The Rope will be reissued in multiple formats: a beautiful 140-gram color vinyl 2LP, 2CD, and MiniDisc.

If we reach the $12,000 goal the release will contain two complete versions of the album. There’s the 1986 mix remastered, and then I did a 2026 mix using modern studio technology to make it sound the way I’ve always wanted to hear it. Both are mastered by Martin Bowes of Attrition. I know many people love the charm of the original while I have a desire to remix to make the tracks sound “better” — this limited collector edition satisfies both of those aims.

On their debut, Sam’s subtle electronics and introspective lyrics establish black tape for a blue girl’s stature beyond the realm of the traditional “gothic” sound, creating a timeless blend of Oscar’s emotional vocals intertwined with warm ambient soundscapes.

I need your help to make this release possible!

Backing this campaign is like being a patron of the arts.

Your pledges are integral to this album’s existence; all your pledges will go toward creating physical formats I would not have the ability to otherwise manufacture. You are part of the team that realizes this release.  

Whether you've been listening to the band since the beginning, are rediscovering our music after a long gap (children, parents, mortgages, life, I get it!), or a new listener, I look forward to putting together this reissue with (and for) you. I appreciate every one of your pledges of support. 

I’m excited to create this release with the help of people who believe in me and want to help this campaign succeed — people like you!

Listen to the previous 2011 remaster at Spotify. The album is the first 12 tracks.

More about the creation of The Rope

To keep this page tidy, I've put info on the band, the album's backstory, and the 2026 mix in this update.

Fine Print

• This campaign is all or nothing, every pledge gets us closer to the goal.
• Your credits card will be charged in late May if/when the campaign succeeds.
• Check out the high-end Memorabilia Add-Ons here.
• $25 and up pledges receive a Bandcamp digital download, album cover sticker, and printout of 1986 press.
• Bandcamp download will be messaged to you soon, when the final masters are available from Martin.

1️⃣  2LP FORMAT — Beautifully deluxe: 140-gram vinyl (LP1: Baby Blue with Heavy Black splatters / LP2: Transparent Blue with Heavy White splatters) in black poly-lined inner sleeves, in a single pocket jacket (300 gsm board, black inner-flood, with matte finish), signed on the back by Sam (see ☆ below). With a 2-sided lyric insert, packaged in a resealable plastic polybag. Vinyl COLORS in the graphics are conceptual mock-ups, final colors could vary.

2️⃣  2CD FORMAT — 6-panel digipak with 6-page lyric insert.

3️⃣  EDITION — 2LP=300. 2CD=300. MiniDisc=50.

4️⃣  ADD-ONS — This allows you to include additional items in your reward package (for example, select the $40 2LP tier and Add-On a BlackTape slipmat.) Visit the rewards page to see the available items. Check out the high-end Memorabilia Add-Ons here. Add your Add-Ons after you hit the green "Continue" button in the pledging process.

5️⃣  SHIPPING — USA Backers: USPS MEDIA POSTAGE is added to your total when you pledge. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING will be charged as a separate PayPal payment after the campaign ends when your package is ready to ship; ie: international postage is not part of the pledge you make today.

☆ European (not UK) LPs ship from Germany. To reduce the delay of vinyl traveling from GZ in Prague to Portland Oregon, to the consolidator in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and then back to Europe, your LP ships from our friends at DeeJayDead in Germany. The LP will not be signed by me. If you want yours signed, I can ship from the USA, which means more expensive shipping and handling charge, and possibly an annoying tariff. You will confirm your preference later this year when LPs are ready to ship.

☆ Other international packages ship via consolidator from Philadelphia with the least expensive shipping and handling rates available. The UK is in this category, as Brexit makes it cheaper to ship from the USA vs. Germany! Australia shipping rates are really expensive, at least $24, possibly more. I can't do anything to prevent the possibility of a trumptariff (not a fan of that guy!)

6️⃣  TIME FRAME — CD & MD ship in August, vinyl in September. LPs could have unexpected delays beyond my control, you never know! Premiums with 2LP + other formats ship together when the vinyl arrives.

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