Bad Brains: RFI/D

A lot of us limeys heard essential early US HC/Punk through the ROIR tape label releases, because these escaped the punishing import taxes which could triple the cost of an import LP at that time.

The first "full-length" (we're talkin' hardcore here, people) Bad Brains recording is "the yellow tape," issued on ROIR in 1981 or 1982. It's now available on CD with its original cover art of a lightning bold striking the US Capitol dome. (I used to have a denim jacket with that painted on the back in high school. Moving on...) These same songs were also available on CD for awhile in the late 80s under the title Attitude: The ROIR Sessions. The second full-length Bad Brains disc is Rock For Light which contains re-recorded versions of some "yellow tape" songs and a bunch of other stuff, including the best reggae songs they ever did, "Rally Round Jah Throne" and "I And I Survive" and "The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth." The original mix, as released on PVC Records, was available for awhile on CD, so scour those used bins, because, as has been mentioned, the late-90s Caroline reissue sucks sucks SUCKS.

ok, i finally undertand. i love black dots, so i picked up rock for light because it was supposed to be their best. and of course i was bewildered that anyone could like such a shitty sounding record. but as i type this i'm ripping the tracks, and i'm going to pitch shift them down a half step like that amazon review suggests.

http://c.myspace.com/00066/69/14/66264196_l.jpg

No, man. But uhm got the orig "Rock for Light" today and it's so great I just gotta revive

In fact when this version of "Right Brogade" kicked in I actually yelled "OH YEAH!!!!". I am on my own. I'm putting off going out for this rec. No higher praise can actually be afforded a rock record. Give me a week and I may have to change my position pretty squarely.

roffle @ people criticizing production jobs on late 70s/early 80s hardcore records.

black dots is pretty tight, I thought it was just some cash-in shit but I love the raw, upfront sound. 4 guys in a room kicking ass.

the black dots version of "pay to cum" is my favorite version of that song

INCREDIBLE

http://www.spinner.com/2006/09/26/exclusive-watch-bad-brains-live-at-cbgb-1982-dvd/

wau wau wow

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So MTV this week in between commercials and early morning videos (between around 6 and 8 a.m. est) is showing footage of current Bad Braisn jamming and such. I think I recognize Dr. Know and Daryl Jennifer, but am not sure about the rest. Is that HR? They do not sound like the Bad Brains I saw back in the 79 to 85 era...

HR is still in the band but by all accounts his contribution to live performances now is reminiscent of Weekend At Bernie's

The utter shock of seeing them with regularity on MTV was completely erased for me by the noodling nature of the clips. I would think that anyone who has only heard about how great the Bad Brains are would see those clips and wonder what the big deal is.

Exactly right.

are these clips online?

http://buzzworthy.mtv.com/2008/02/04/artist-of-the-week-bad-brains/

LOL

http://citypaper.com/news/baltimore-8217-s-baddest-brain-1.1409063

great read, hope the album's half as good as sold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9HrlF1rHiw

Looks like a menu from an ital retro diner.

Looks like a menu from an ital retro diner.

― endless budgie (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Friday, December 7, 2012 11:50 PM

http://badbrains.com/merch/fire-burn-babylon/

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9EjKvWw--s

adeline otm

Oh my god, that's the cutest thing since the little girl singing along with Magma.

I still act like that when the Bad Brains come on.

The Big Exercise Takeover

http://twitter.com/Chris__Richards/status/326677103347105795/photo/1

I own this shirt.

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/262/n1977335753082190wi9.jpg

Does anyone know the HR solo albums on SST from the early nineties? Found a few of 'em really cheap, was wondering if I should pick 'em up. I love the Bad Brains, if that helps, but don't recall ever hearing HR solo.

Just always assumed they were reggae with some metal-rock...But I never heard 'em either

HR's mid-80s solo album It's About Luv is OK, don't know any 90s ones though.

Iirc they were all reggae?

nah there was some weirdo fishbone sounding stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3c-wCDfOAM

Bad Brains Reissuing Their Albums, Kicked Off by 'Pay to Cum' 7 " in February

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx22bO1yT9w

With the help of the band, Org Music and Dave Gardner spent over a year tracking down the best possible audio sources for each title, including many original analog tapes that were previously thought to be lost for good.

Each title will receive a standard (black) vinyl release and limited edition color vinyl release, with many also available on CD and cassette.

The releases will be distributed internationally.

All audio is being remastered by Dave Gardner, chief mastering engineer at Infrasonic Los Angeles.

More titles will be added to the series as Bad Brains regains control of additional masters.

Preorder Info Here: https://badbrainsrecords.com

Release specific info:

Rock For Light: This reissue will use the original mix of the album, as the band originally intended. This will be the first legitimate pressing of this version in decades. (Most fans will be more familiar with the 1991 reissue, which was remixed by Ocasek and bass player Darryl Jenifer. That version used an altered track order, significantly different mixes and a speed increase of the master which results in a raising of the pitch by one-half step.)

Live at The Fillmore 1982: This is the first ever physical release of this incredible live recording.

Punk Note Series:
Bad Brains Records and Org Music have partnered with designer John Yates (Stealworks) to bring his fictional ‘Punk Note’ series to life. Limited edition color vinyl pressings for each full-length studio album from Bad Brains Records will be reimagined and stylized as a classic Blue Note release. A nod to Reid Miles and Francis Wolff, and their amazing work at the Blue Note label.

Zine:
Org Music is creating a sixteen page fanzine-style booklet, printed on newsprint, which features never before seen photos, vintage concert flyers, and new writings about the band from contemporaries like Henry Rollins, Chuck Dukowski, Jack Rabid (Big Takeover Magazine), and Jesse Malin. The zine will be available from select independent record stores as a gift with purchase, and from the Bad Brains Records web-store.

this is awesome

now I will have had something mastered by the same guy as Bad Brains

I notice none of the SST stuff, whose rights I guess will forever be in the hands of Mr. Ginn.

Exciting, esp Rock For Light at correct pitch.

Yeah, the fact that Rock For Light has been out of print in its proper form for 30+ years is a fucking crime. It's their best album IMO. (I have a German import CD from the early '90s that has the original mix.)

This is awesome news!

For the self-titled, they show cassette and CD options but you can't choose those for some reason. Guessing still hammering out the kinks, regardless I'm so glad this stuff will be getting out there again.

I notice none of the SST stuff, whose rights I guess will forever be in the hands of Mr. Ginn.

More titles will be added to the series as Bad Brains regains control of additional masters.

Perhaps they're in the process of wrangling those rights at the moment. I never really understand why it's such a struggle, certainly so much that the Huskers guys essentially gave up the fight - Meat Puppets and Dinosaur got their rights back, Sonic Youth reissued Sister via Geffen IIRC. I also don't understand why Ginn's reluctant to relinquish those tapes, since he appears to have no interest in exploiting them financially, or preserving SST's legacy.

I love these records, though Bad Brains' homophobia casts a long shadow over their music. When I interviewed Bob Mould over the summer and we discussed the early days of hardcore, he was quick to mention the "die faggots die" note they left after staying over at Grant's parents' house. He was still, justifiably, angry about it.

I am confused about the rights, tho, because I'm pretty sure some I Against I stuff was on that compilation they put out 15 years or so ago.

why it's such a struggle, certainly so much that the Huskers guys essentially gave up the fight - Meat Puppets and Dinosaur got their rights back, Sonic Youth reissued Sister via Geffen IIRC.

this isn't strictly true, i spoke with terry katzman before he died and they used the same lawyers, tried but there were specific things in the husker contracts that were worse than the meat puppets and dino contracts, didn't get into the specifics

also i think ginn knows mould is really well off and really wanted to shake him down

Sounds like exactly the kind of asshole Ginn would be. It makes me so mad that so much of the SST catalog is just sitting there, idle. Not that i want Ginn to profit off it while he continues to fuck over the artists, but that stuff should be getting lovingly reissued by someone.

man I wish I Against I could get the full treatment, remixed and dried out...decades of really *wanting* to hear this record and just always finding it unlistenable

I Against I is literally one of my favorite albums ever.
I cannot even fathom it being better.

I don't know it has a really cool energy, good tunes, but I can't stomach that metal sheen it has, the drum sound, weird choices for this band. I usually end up listening to the Quickness instead.

the weird sound is what I love

this is great news, obv

also, wtf were Ocasek and Jennifer thinking with that 1991 remix hack job?

I thought that was Rock
For Light. They did I Against I too?

sorry for confusion, RFL is the hack job, I Against I is the weirdo mix that I find endearing

Black Dots and The Youth Are Getting Restless are my go-to’s

Black Dots is fuckin amazing

I love the ROIR one and RFL (original) as well, but wow they sure arrived fully formed

all the accusations of homophobia are 100% otm and don't detract one iota from the power of this stuff for me, YMMV

Would love to hear not just remasters but remixes. Few great band have been shafted worse by unfortunate production choices.

*great bands

why it's such a struggle, certainly so much that the Huskers guys essentially gave up the fight - Meat Puppets and Dinosaur got their rights back, Sonic Youth reissued Sister via Geffen IIRC.

this isn't strictly true, i spoke with terry katzman before he died and they used the same lawyers, tried but there were specific things in the husker contracts that were worse than the meat puppets and dino contracts, didn't get into the specifics

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, December 3, 2020 10:21 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

also i think ginn knows mould is really well off and really wanted to shake him down

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, December 3, 2020 10:21 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

Oh, that makes a lot of sense, thanks UMS.

got a discogs notice that the Rock for Light reissue is up for pre-order now. grabbed since my non-messed copy has gone missing.