Steve Rabow’s 1982 Best of the KZAM Local Tape Extravaganza

While Engram Records’s original Seattle Syndrome compilation first placed the city’s scene on the punk/new wave map, it may be this collection of songs sent in to young local DJ and scene supporter Steve Rabow that’s an even truer portrait of the early 80s. Originally planned for release in 1982 and finally made available years later via Green Monkey Records, most of the artists are unknown as are the song names, but that makes this combination of DIY and proto lo-fi home recordings, some goofy and some earnest, somehow all the more engaging.