Last pressed on vinyl in 2005, The Inflated Tear is a studio album by Roland Kirk, released on Atlantic in 1968. Roland Kirk, was a hugely influential, blind jazz multi-instrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his onstage vitality, during which virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the ability to play several instruments simultaneously. Pitchfork placed The Inflated Tear at number 170 on its list of the "200 Best Albums of the 1960s.

Pressed on 180 gram premium-quality vinyl at Fidelity Record Pressing as part of the Rhino Reserve audiophile vinyl series.

Features

• Rhino Start Your Ear Off Right 2026 Indie Exclusive
• Limited Edition
• Rhino Reserve Audiophile Series
• 180g Premium-Quality Vinyl LP
• Lacquers Cut from the Original Analog Masters by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab
• Pressed in Oxnard, California at Fidelity Record Pressing

Musicians

• Roland Kirk tenor sax, manzello, stritch, clarinet, flute, whistle, English horn, flexafone
• Ron Burton piano
• Steve Novosel bass
• Jimmy Hopps drums
• Dick Griffin trombone on "Fly by Night"