6 ms·

The Manual – How to have a number one the easy way (1988)

66 points by nvr219 8y ago

mchahn 8y ago
That's easy?
- nvr219 8y ago
  It's all relative.
- coldtea 8y ago
  Compared to practicing your instruments for 5+ years, getting along with a bunch of people, touring, etc, taking the piss for a few days in a studio is easy.
- tialaramex 8y ago
  Perhaps most importantly the Manual explains that you won't get fame and fortune by this route. Indeed, you almost certainly won't get fame and fortune by any route. Hence Steve Albini's treatise on a similar subject, often called by its last line: "Some of your friends are probably already this fucked".
  - neilharbinger 8y ago
    https://www.negativland.com/news/?page_id=17 https://www.negativland.com/news/?page_id=17 A concise and provocative perspective on the value of understanding and projecting cash flow and revenue in new enterprise with experienced suppliers.
nervousvarun 8y ago
Another "interesting" story from these guys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Quid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Qu...
Doctor_Fegg 8y ago
Bring Me Edelweiss, a novelty number one supposedly written according to these instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dyzKKz6sM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dyzKKz6sM And, of course, Doctorin' The Tardis, the number one which formed the basis for The Manual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk
bradleybuda 8y ago
Not sure if this post is a coincidence or not, but this was covered just a few days ago on the "Omnibus!" podcast (which I would recommend): https://www.omnibusproject.com/podcasts/watch-the-k-foundation-burn-a-million-quid-entry-1412jm0503.htm https://www.omnibusproject.com/podcasts/watch-the-k-foundati...
- nvr219 8y ago
  Total coincidence! Yesterday's post here, "What Makes a Hit", is what reminded me of the Manual. Great read for anyone seeking to make the next "killer app".
LeoPanthera 8y ago
Knowing a bit more about the KLF helps with the context of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF
nonamenoslogan 8y ago
Justified.
- plurgid 8y ago
  && Ancient
  - deadmetheny 8y ago
    They like to roam the land.
charlesism 8y ago
Such a fun read. This was my second ever post to HN back in 2013. Always puts me in a good mood. It's also amusing to youtube clips from the time they burnt a million British pounds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Quid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Qu...

66 points by nvr219 8y ago

mchahn 8y ago

That's easy?

nvr219 8y ago
It's all relative.
coldtea 8y ago
Compared to practicing your instruments for 5+ years, getting along with a bunch of people, touring, etc, taking the piss for a few days in a studio is easy.
tialaramex 8y ago
Perhaps most importantly the Manual explains that you won't get fame and fortune by this route. Indeed, you almost certainly won't get fame and fortune by any route. Hence Steve Albini's treatise on a similar subject, often called by its last line: "Some of your friends are probably already this fucked".
- neilharbinger 8y ago
  https://www.negativland.com/news/?page_id=17 https://www.negativland.com/news/?page_id=17 A concise and provocative perspective on the value of understanding and projecting cash flow and revenue in new enterprise with experienced suppliers.

nervousvarun 8y ago

Another "interesting" story from these guys: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Quid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Qu...

Doctor_Fegg 8y ago

Bring Me Edelweiss, a novelty number one supposedly written according to these instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dyzKKz6sM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-dyzKKz6sM And, of course, Doctorin' The Tardis, the number one which formed the basis for The Manual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdTELokKfCk

bradleybuda 8y ago

Not sure if this post is a coincidence or not, but this was covered just a few days ago on the "Omnibus!" podcast (which I would recommend): https://www.omnibusproject.com/podcasts/watch-the-k-foundation-burn-a-million-quid-entry-1412jm0503.htm https://www.omnibusproject.com/podcasts/watch-the-k-foundati...

nvr219 8y ago
Total coincidence! Yesterday's post here, "What Makes a Hit", is what reminded me of the Manual. Great read for anyone seeking to make the next "killer app".

LeoPanthera 8y ago

Knowing a bit more about the KLF helps with the context of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_KLF

nonamenoslogan 8y ago

Justified.

plurgid 8y ago
&& Ancient
- deadmetheny 8y ago
  They like to roam the land.

charlesism 8y ago

Such a fun read. This was my second ever post to HN back in 2013. Always puts me in a good mood. It's also amusing to youtube clips from the time they burnt a million British pounds: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Quid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_Foundation_Burn_a_Million_Qu...