|
Gary Smith (record Producer)
Gary Smith (March 28, 1958 – January 16, 2023) was an American businessman, record producer, and artist's manager, known for his work recording albums by alternative rock musicians since the mid-1980s at Fort Apache Studios. Smith, who was sole owner of the studio, first became a partner co-owning the studio business in the late 1980s, moving it from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Bellows Falls, Vermont, in 2002. A Rhode Island native, Smith gave supportive early guidance to Newport, Rhode Island's Throwing Muses group, advising them to move to Boston's burgeoning alternative music scene in 1986. That year he saw a new band called the Pixies (band), Pixies opening for Throwing Muses at The Rat in Boston and convinced them to let him produce their first demos, known as ''The Purple Tape'', in spring 1987 at an early incarnation of Fort Apache's studio digs, then a "ramshackle" building in a dangerous neighborhood. Since joining Fort Apache in the mid-1980s, Smith produced dozens ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alternative Rock
Alternative rock (also known as alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a category of rock music that evolved from the independent music underground of the 1970s. Alternative rock acts achieved mainstream success in the 1990s with the likes of the grunge subgenre in the United States, and the Britpop and shoegaze subgenres in the United Kingdom and Ireland. During this period, many record labels were looking for "alternatives", as many Arena rock, corporate rock, hard rock, and glam metal acts from the 1980s were beginning to grow stale throughout the music industry. The emergence of Generation X as a Culture, cultural force in the 1990s also contributed greatly to the rise of alternative music. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or arena rock, commercial rock or pop. The term's original meaning was broader, referring to musicians influenced by the musical style or independent, DIY ethic, DIY ethos of late-1970s punk rock.di Perna, A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg (born 20 December 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, author and political activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, with lyrics that mostly span political or romantic themes. His activism is centred on social change and left-wing politics, left-wing political causes. Early life Bragg was born in 1957 in Barking, London, Barking, Essex (later part of Greater London) to Dennis Frederick Austin Bragg, an assistant sales manager to a Barking cap maker and milliner, and his wife Marie Victoria D'Urso, who was of Italian descent through her father. Bragg's father died of lung cancer in 1976, and his mother died in 2011. Bragg was educated at Northbury Junior School and Park Modern Secondary School (now part of Barking Abbey School, Barking Abbey Secondary School) in Barking. He failed his Eleven-plus, eleven-plus exam. He developed an interest in poetry at age twelve, when his English teacher chose him to read ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Time For A Witness
''Time for a Witness'' is the fourth studio album by the American rock band the Feelies, released in 1991 on A&M/Coyote. The band supported the album with a North American tour. Production Most of the lyrics were written by Glenn Mercer. The album was coproduced by Gary Smith. The band would tape their rehearsals and look for interesting parts in the jams. "What She Said" uses harmonica and slide guitar. "Real Cool Time" is a cover of the Stooges song. Critical reception The ''Chicago Tribune'' wrote that "guitar lines become modal-jazz arabesques, dissolve into dissonance, then finally return to some vigorous variation of the three-chord strum, while the rhythm section builds a mantra-like momentum." The ''Calgary Herald'' deemed the album "melodic mood pieces from the musical children of Lou Reed wrapped in fragile swirls of electric sound and lit by the neon's red glare." ''The Washington Post'' concluded: "Such tracks as 'Sooner or Later' and 'Doin' It Again' offer as many ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Feelies
The Feelies are an American rock band from Haledon, New Jersey. They formed in 1976 and disbanded in 1992 after having released four albums. The band reunited in 2008, and released new albums in 2011 and 2017. Although not commercially successful, the Feelies had an influence on the development of American indie rock. Their first album, '' Crazy Rhythms'' (1980), was cited by R.E.M. as influencing their sound. The Feelies were influenced by the Beatles, the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed. The Feelies rarely worked with outside producers, although Peter Buck of R.E.M. co-produced their second album, '' The Good Earth'', one of their most successful albums. They frequently played at Maxwell's, a live music venue and bar/restaurant in Hoboken, during the 1980s. Early history Glenn Mercer, Bill Million, Dave Weckerman and vocalist Richard Reilly began playing together in 1976 in Haledon, New Jersey, in a band called the Outkids. The Outkids evolved into the Feelies with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rosy Jack World
''Rosy Jack World'' is an EP recording by the Blake Babies, released in 1991 (see 1991 in music). The album title was taken from a song on The Frogs' 1989 album '' It's Only Right and Natural''. Track listing #" Temptation Eyes" - 2:59 (Harvey Price, Daniel Walsh) #"Downtime" - 3:15 ( John Strohm) #"Take Me" - 3:14 ( Juliana Hatfield, John Strohm) #"Severed Lips" - 4:15 (J Mascis) #"Nirvana" - 4:03 (Juliana Hatfield) Personnel * Juliana Hatfield - vocals, bass, acoustic guitar and piano * John Strohm - vocals, guitar *Freda Love - drums *Henry Rollins - sampled voice on "Downtime" * Diamanda Galás - sampled voice on "Downtime" Production *Producer: Gary Smith, Blake Babies Blake Babies were an American college rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts. The three primary members were Freda Love, Juliana Hatfield and John Strohm. They recorded three albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed to reco ... and Paul Mahern *Engineer: Steve Haigler and Paul Ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sunburn (Blake Babies Album)
''Sunburn'' is the third album by the Blake Babies, released in 1990 (see 1990 in music). Critical reception '' MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide'' wrote that "Strohm's guitar sound—mixing electric sinew and acoustic jangle—is at its apex here." The ''Spin Alternative Record Guide'' called the album "easily the best record any of the Blake Babies had anything to do with." Track listing Personnel * Juliana Hatfield - vocals and bass * John Strohm - guitar and vocals *Freda Love Freda Love Smith (born Freda Boner, later used the stage name Freda Love) is an American musician, journalist, and non-fiction author. Smith is known as a drummer and vocalist for several alternative rock bands, including Blake Babies, Antenn ... (also known as Freda Boner) - Drums Production *Producers: Gary Smith *Engineers: Steve Haigler *Design: Lane Wurster *Artwork: Susan Huffman *Photography: Jeanne Marie Head References Blake Babies albums 1990 albums Albums produced ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Submarine Bells
''Submarine Bells'' is an album by New Zealand group the Chills, released in 1990. This was the band's first album on a major label, as Martin Phillipps signed to Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Slash Records, to release the album in the U.S. The album reached #1 on the New Zealand album charts and had significant support from American college radio. The album was awarded gold status in New Zealand and represents the peak of the Chills' popularity at home. It is considered to be one of the defining albums of the Dunedin sound. The supporting tour for ''Submarine Bells'' culminated in a triumphant home-coming concert in Dunedin Town Hall. Background The Chills released their debut studio album '' Brave Words'' in 1987; they had relocated to London earlier in the year. The band promoted it with a performance at Glastonbury Festival in June 1987 to over 60,000 people. After playing at the New Music Seminar in New York City, the band went on tours of the UK and mainland Europe. "H ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Chills
The Chills are a New Zealand indie rock band that formed in Dunedin in 1980. The band were fronted by founding mainstay singer-songwriter, guitarist Martin Phillipps (singer), Martin Phillipps (2 July 1963 – 28 July 2024). During the mid-1990s they were billed as Martin Phillipps & the Chills. Their top ten studio albums in their homeland are ''Submarine Bells'' (1990), ''Soft Bomb'' (1992), ''Snow Bound (The Chills album), Snow Bound'' (2018) and ''Scatterbrain'' (2021). The Chills were a cult band in other parts of the world as one of the earliest proponents of the Dunedin sound. Their top 20 singles are "Pink Frost", "" (both 1984), "Kaleidoscope World (The Chills album), I Love My Leather Jacket" (1986), "Heavenly Pop Hit" (1990) and "Male Monster from the Id" (1992). History Early years and first breakup (1980–1983) After the demise of the Same, one of the earliest punk rock bands in New Zealand, vocalist and guitarist Martin Phillipps started a new ban ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fun & Games (The Connells Album)
''Fun & Games'' is the third studio album by the American band the Connells, released in 1989. It was recorded primarily at Fort Apache Studios, in Cambridge, MA, with additional recording at Studio 900 in New York City and Reflection Studio in Charlotte, NC. The album reached No. 163 on the ''Billboard'' 200; the single "Something to Say" reached No. 7 on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band supported the album with a North American tour. Critical reception ''The Washington Post'' wrote: "Though less redolent of Celtic airs than the previous platter, ''Fun'' has a similar sweep, its melodies cascading gently over the Piedmont." ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' deemed the album "hooky, straightforward rock." The ''Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earwig (Blake Babies Album)
''Earwig'' is the second album by the Blake Babies, released in 1989 (see 1989 in music). Critical reception ''Trouser Press'' called the album "consistently attractive textured guitar pop." ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' called it "a strong debut." Track listing All songs written and composed by Juliana Hatfield except as noted. #"Cesspool" – 3:16 (Hatfield, John Strohm (musician), John Strohm) #"Dead and Gone" – 3:47 (Hatfield, Strohm) #"Grateful" – 3:07 #"You Don't Give Up" – 3:40 #"Your Way Or The Highway" – 2:42 #"Rain" – 3:34 (Strohm) #"Lament" – 3:27 (Hatfield, Strohm) #"Alright" – 2:31 #"Loose" – 2:49 (The Stooges) #"Take Your Head Off My Shoulder" – 1:26 (Hatfield, Strohm) #"From Here To Burma" – 2:03 (Hatfield, Strohm) #"Don't Suck My Breath" – 2:49 #"Outta My Head" – 2:02 #"Steamie Gregg" – 1:31 #"Not Just A Wish" - 1:44 Personnel *Juliana Hatfield - vocals, bass and guitar *John Strohm (musician), John Strohm - guitar and vocals *Fre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hunkpapa (album)
''Hunkpapa'' is the third studio album by Throwing Muses, released in 1989. It peaked at number 59 on the UK Albums Chart. Critical reception ''Trouser Press'' called the album "a chilly and dull record that could be by any number of contempo jangle-pop bands," and said that lead singer Kristin Hersh’s voice, "no longer possessing any strong character, is ineffectual and a bit strident at times." ''The New York Times'' wrote that the band "have edged toward rock convention." ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' praised the "stronger sense of groove." ''NME'' named it the 33rd best album of 1989. Track listing Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes. Throwing Muses * Kristin Hersh – guitar, piano, vocals * Tanya Donelly – guitar, vocals * Leslie Langston – bass guitar, vocals * David Narcizo – drums, percussion, vocals Additional musicians * Bernie Worrell – keyboards * Russ Gershon – tenor saxophone * Tom Halter – trumpet, flugelhorn * Russell Jewell – tr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
House Tornado
''House Tornado'' is the second studio album by the alternative rock band Throwing Muses. Produced by Gary Smith and engineered by Paul Q. Kolderie, it was recorded at Fort Apache Studios in Cambridge, MA. The album was released in 1988 internationally on the 4AD label, except in the United States, where it was released by Sire Records. Sire used a different album cover for its release, as the label was putting a strong promotional push behind the band, and label executives favored a picture of the band over the collage featured on the 4AD release. The 4AD CD release also features six of the seven tracks from the band's 1987 EP '' The Fat Skier''. (The seventh track was not deemed essential for CD release, as it was a re-issue of "Soul Soldier" from the band's debut album, followed by an ambient field recording of the band talking in a park.) The Sire release did not feature these six songs, and therefore these songs have never been released on CD in the US. Trac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
