The Big Sell-Out
| The Big Sell-Out | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Bongwater | ||||
| Released | March 1992 | |||
| Recorded | Summer 1991 | |||
| Studio |
Noise New York (New York City, NY) | |||
| Genre | Experimental rock | |||
| Length | 56:52 | |||
| Label | Shimmy Disc | |||
| Producer | Kramer | |||
| Bongwater chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
The Big Sell-Out is the fourth studio album by the experimental college rock/art-rock band Bongwater. It was recorded in 1991 and released in 1992. In 1998, the album was remastered by Alan Douches and Kramer for its inclusion in Box of Bongwater set.[2]
The album is widely considered to be a representation of the growing rift between Magnuson and Kramer. The cover boasts of containing the singles "Celebrity Compass", "Schmoozedance", and "Free Love Messes Up My Life". "Celebrity Compass" was originally introduced during a performance of "You Don't Love Me Yet" by Roky Erikson on an episode of the variety show Night Music, which also featured Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
Maintaining their tradition of neo-psychedelia, "Ye Olde Backlash" contains a melody somewhat reminiscent of "For Your Love" by The Yardbirds. The band's habit of name-dropping also continues as Magnuson mentions a casual meeting with Lenny Kravitz in the song "What's Big in England Now?"
The title track ends with a sound file of the self-promotional audio tape by "J&H Productions", the talent agency of an unknown man living in Cincinnati, Ohio sent to the entertainment industry, claiming to represent "star after star after star". "Holding Hands" is actually a gruesome tale of young lovers trying to escape Nazi-occupation of some undetermined Eastern European country. The album ends with a cover of the Fred Neil song "Everybody's Talkin'" where Ann narrates, assisting one of her relatives in suicide prevention.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ye Olde Backlash" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 2:41 |
| 2. | "The Real Thing" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 3:09 |
| 3. | "Free Love Messes Up My Life" | Randolph A. Hudson III, Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 2:17 |
| 4. | "You're Like Me Now" | Randolph A. Hudson III, Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 4:31 |
| 5. | "I Wanna Talk About It Now" | Kramer | 3:42 |
| 6. | "What's Big in England Now?" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 1:44 |
| 7. | "Schmoozedance" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 3:53 |
| 8. | "Celebrity Compass" | Randolph A. Hudson III, Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 3:26 |
| 9. | "When Johnnie Dies" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 3:49 |
| 10. | "The Big Sell-Out" | Kramer | 3:49 |
| 11. | "Over the Credit Line" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 3:09 |
| 12. | "Flop Sweats" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 4:08 |
| 13. | "Holding Hands" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 1:40 |
| 14. | "Flute of Shame" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 1:54 |
| 15. | "On the Cusp of 1970" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 2:57 |
| 16. | "Her Litigious Nature" | Kramer, Ann Magnuson | 2:57 |
| 17. | "Love Song" | Ann Magnuson, Kurt Weill | 3:50 |
| 18. | "Everybody's Talking" | Ann Magnuson, Fred Neil | 3:16 |
Personnel
Adapted from the The Power of Pussy liner notes.[3]
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Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1992 | Shimmy Disc | CD, LP | shimmy 050 |
| Netherlands | SDE 9239 |
References
- ↑ Raggett, Ned. "Bongwater: The Big Sell-Out > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ↑ Gehr, Richard; Pattyn, Jay (2007). "Bongwater". Trouser Press. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ↑ The Power of Pussy (booklet). Bongwater. New York City, New York: Shimmy Disc. 1990.
External links
- The Big Sell-Out at Discogs (list of releases)