Sampler Daze: The Warner/Reprise Loss Leaders series
Part One: Songbook & Record Show (1969)
Part Two: The Big Ball & Schlagers! & Looney Tunes-Merrie Melodies (1970)
Part Three: Non-Dairy Creamer & Hot Platters & Together (1971)
The WB/Reprise Loss Leaders All-Star Team
Part Four: The Whole Burbank Catalog & Middle Of The Road (1972)
Part Five: Burbank & The Days Of Wine and Vinyl (1972)
Part Six: Appetizers & All Singing, All Dancing, All Rocking (1973)
Part Seven: Hard Goods & Deep Ear (1974)
Part Eight: All Meat & The Force (1975)
Part Nine: I Didn’t Know They Still Made Records Like This & The Works (1975)
Part Ten: Supergroup & The People’s Record (1976)
Part Eleven: Cook Book & Limo (1977)
Part Twelve: Collectus Interruptus & Pumping Vinyl (1978-79)
Part Thirteen: A La Carte & Monsters (1979)
Part Fourteen: Eclipse & Troublemakers (1980)
One Last Look at the Loss Leaders
Warner Bros. holiday samplers Yulesville (1987) and Winter Warnerland (1988)
30 Days Out 
November 14, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I made it a point to listen to these for hours tonight.
Good fun.
Thanks much.
January 27, 2011 at 9:33 am
Oh, dude, how I loved these LPs and wondered, as one does when we get close to something just wisps away, if I’d ever find ’em again? Still have a few stashed and pristine, but no turntable! Looking up FANNY and here you are! The shiny black chips you eat with your ears! Kudos!
July 26, 2011 at 4:23 am
Does anyone know anything about Warner/Reprise Loss Leaders vinyl records? Are their mail-order coupons on vinyls still honored? Is the original coupon worth any significant value now? Does it help the value of the vinyl if I keep them together? Anything???
July 26, 2011 at 6:49 am
Thanks for reading our blog and taking interest in the Warner/Reprise Loss Leaders albums. I am pretty certain the mail-order coupons are no longer honored, as the entire Loss Leaders series is out of print. About the coupons, I would think the original coupon as it appeared in magazines of the era would retain its value only if it stayed in the original publication … did you know that Warner’s also printed coupons for other Loss Leaders albums on the inner sleeve of many Loss Leader LPs? Since we wrote the series on the albums we have had a few questions about their resale worth, and if you can find a collector who is willing to buy your albums he or she would be willing to pay a good price if they are in good shape.
I have a pretty good collection of these, with most of the albums in the series, and they are in decent shape. But I love my Loss Leaders, and since the new turntables have come out I still play my albums and would not consider selling them. That’s the way it goes with these, they get a lot of love.
October 1, 2011 at 4:05 am
Hi,
I’m trying to find an album that wasn’t so much a loss leader as a promotional album of similar ilk.
In 1975, as a young kid, I went to a concert in Rotterdam (Netherlands), which is still vividly in my mind as I approach the old age of 53. It was an afternoon-into-evening concert of a great number of USA bands, as you can see below:
http://www.answers.com/topic/1975-in-music
January 12 – “The Warner Brothers Music Show” begins a nine city, 18 show tour of Europe. The tour included Warner Brothers acts Little Feat, Tower of Power, the Doobie Brothers, Bonaroo, Montrose, and Graham Central Station.
http://www.vh1.com/news/rock_clock/1_12/index.jhtml?rsspartner=rssNIF
1975: The Warner Bros. Looney Tunes package tour kicks off in Europe, featuring the Doobie Brothers, Little Feat, Graham Central Station, Bonaroo, Montrose and Tower of Power.
At the concert there were all sorts of memorabilia available, among which an album with songs from all the bands.
And I’m sorry to say, but during one of my moves across the world it has gotten lost.
I remember it had a bright yellow sleev, with Bugs Bunny on it. And I remember two songs very vividly:
Montrose’s Bad Motor Scooter
Tower Of Power Don’t Change Horses In The Middle Of A Stream
I would appreciate if anyone could get me at least info about the album, (which songs it contained, so that I can re-assemble it from the original recordings), or a way to either download it somewhere or buy it 2nd-hand. I can be contacted at waldocentiniATgmailDOTcom.
December 24, 2011 at 9:44 am
This is a great blog. Awesome resource for someone like me who’s always been interested in Loss Leaders!
February 17, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for reminding me how great these albums generally are. i bought 10 when originally released and have picked up a few more since reading this material. My Favorites? The Big Ball and The Whole Burbank catalog.
February 17, 2012 at 9:27 pm
Wow, that’s great. Where did you find copies of the albums?
March 19, 2012 at 6:15 am
Just a note about order forms, there also was a 4 page booklet style order form that was included in the albums . I have 4 of these and am not sure when they started but must have been around 1975. Great site, I have all of the Loss Leaders except for Cook Book.
April 16, 2012 at 5:40 pm
To 30 days out: I’ve scoured local used record stores and taken a few road trips (Davenport, Madison, Chicago). Conditions vary and patience is a must.
June 26, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Since my last posting, I’ve made substantial progress and now have 30 of the Loss Leader albums. Two appear to be my personal Holy Grail – October 10, 1969 and Eclipse (can’t find them). I also need Peaches, Peaches Vol. 2 and Deep Ear (these 3 are more easily found). Post a note if you have either of the first two in VG++ (or better) and would care to part with them. I also have duplicates of All Meat and Hot Platters, if anyone is looking for them. borzy52@yahoo.com
June 26, 2012 at 4:42 pm
Wow, good work man! Can anyone help out Borzy?
July 4, 2012 at 5:11 am
I too am on a quest to find them all.up to about 20.Don’t want to pay much more than original price,so i’ll have to make a decision about Zapped someday(either version).Just found a W7 copy of Songbook with a nice cover too,to replace my green WB copy.October 10,1969 is one I too desire as this was possibly the first one I discovered at college radio.Also find other Warner samplers from the,pre-rock days,and they are fun,too.One has a gorgeous babe on the cover(as cool as any jazz cover of the day) and the vinyl is brilliant yellow gold.Also have that yellow Bugs Bunny sampler and will post details when time allows.It was available in many cutout bins stateside,back in the day,for a buck. And in answer to queries about value-stay cheap. Some dealers think these have great value,but keep looking ’cause most show up dirt cheap.
August 29, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Was there not one called “Alternatives”?
August 30, 2012 at 5:52 am
Yes, the Alternatives sampler came out in 1970 but it was NOT part of the Loss Leaders series. It was a sampler they sold in record stores. Alternatives featured Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Jethro Tull, the Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and more. It’s a great sampler and very hard to find.
December 14, 2012 at 7:03 pm
Valhalla! I’ve found the missing link and have now completed the entire collection. Should anyone need a copy of OCTOBER 10, 1969, TOGETHER, or ALA CARTE I have duplicate copies. Contact me outside this forum.
Now on to concocting a new thing to collect. Best wishes to all in completing the circuit.
borzy52@yahoo.com
March 25, 2013 at 8:32 am
I guess i have all of the Loss Leaders except 2 and I am a big fan of them, someday i need to get them all together. Yesterday at a used book shop I went through some old records in the corner and found a Hot Platters that I didn’t have. It’s in a generic white cover with a 3/4 ” x 2″ sticker on the front that says ” advance copy / hot platters. On the inside was a 18 page 8 1/2 x 11 booklet that probably would have turned out to be the liner notes on the inside of the gate-fold.They are also white label promo copies. This is my first promo copy.