Collector's Corner: something I will hold on to

Author's note: this post is extremely image-heavy, just as a warning for your web browser.

A continuing series wherein I share my obsession with and collection of Trevor memorabilia.

Courtesy of the collector's treasure trove which is eBay, I recently obtained a promotional VHS tape distributed by Elektra Entertainment in 1989, labeled as "Roctober Compilation Reel."  It is a collection of music videos from such artists as Simply Red, Motley Crue, The Cure and 10,000 Maniacs.  The true value of this item for me is that it also contains the video for "Something To Hold On To" which as long-time fans know has never seen a home video release in its' entirety.  Portions of it can be seen in the YesYears documentary released in 1991 but otherwise versions of this video available online are clearly copies which were originally taped from television broadcast and are much degraded in quality.  What I now own is a first generation copy directly from the record company and as such is nearly pristine despite being over 20 years old.

the tape in question

To further authenticate my assertion that this is an original copy, I'd like to note the video does not contain any identifying captioning at the beginning, as one would view on television, which means the broadcast entity provided the titles generally displayed in the lower right-hand corner.

from the opening sequence of the video

This video - which Trevor is always quick to point out he loved making - was directed by Jeff Stein, who was also behind some of the 1980s most memorable videos, including award-winning clips for The Cars' "You Might Think" and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' "Don't Come Around Here No More."  It is by turns sexy, silly, cute, and colorfully kinetic, and as such it has won a permanent place in the hearts of Rabinites. There are seven different wardrobe changes during the course of the video and the hair his female fans were so enamored of was wonderfully fluffy.  But there are many elements which lend a whimsical quality including iguanas, Shelley Duvall's decoratively-painted face, and a polka-dot room in a house of guitars.

1989 was an important year for Trevor: in full possession of his singing, playing, and songwriting prowess as well as presenting an attractive iconic image which carried over into live performance during the club tour to promote Can't Look Away.  Speaking of iconic images, a few years back I commissioned from an amazingly-talented artist who I am proud to call friend a portrait of Trevor as he appears in the video but as a visual pun - the acronym for the song is STHOT - I wanted him to be a polka-dot angel.  Her response was to evoke religious iconography such as can be viewed in Mexican folk art.

"St. Hot"

artwork by Jennifer Albright

I had the contents of the videotape professionally transferred to DVD and thus I can share with you now some screencaps of Our Trev in one of the most well-loved of his onscreen appearances.  Some of these could only be obtained with frame-by-frame advance, and the clarity is wonderful, I hope you'll agree.