''Human Conflict Number Five'' is the debut EP by American

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 w ...

band

10,000 Maniacs 10,000 Maniacs are an American alternative rock band founded in 1981. They have released nine studio albums, six EPs, and five live albums. They achieved their most significant success between 1987 and 1993, when they released four albums that c ...

, released in 1982 by Mark Records. While the EP also contained the band's own Christian Burial Music imprint, the label itself was fictitious. Bar this version of "Tension", all the tracks on the EP appear in remixed, remastered and resequenced form on the 10,000 Maniacs compilation CD '' Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983'' (1990).

Background

10,000 Maniacs formed out of an artist cooperative in Jamestown that met in a rented warehouse called the Broadhead Mills, as well as at the Jamestown radio station WJWK. The band, who first performed under the name Still Life, performed their first gig as 10,000 Maniacs on Labor Day of 1981. The band's first composition was "Tension", which grew out of an English class assignment by singer

Natalie Merchant Natalie Anne Merchant (born October 26, 1963) is an American singer-songwriter. She joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and was lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She remained with the group for their first seven albums before ...

. The EP was recorded at

State University of New York The State University of New York (SUNY ) is a system of Public education, public colleges and universities in the New York (state), State of New York. It is one of the List of largest universities and university networks by enrollment, larges ...

, Fredonia by Bill Waldman, and sessions commenced on Valentine's Day 1982, financed by keyboardist

Dennis Drew Dennis Arnold Drew (born August 8, 1957) is the keyboardist for the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. He has been with the band since its inception in 1981 and is one of three founding members along with Steve Gustafson and John Lo ...

's mother. The band's drummer during this period was Jim Foti, who played on the recordings. While the band created their own fictitious record label, Christian Burial Music, a vanity label out of Clarence, New York called Mark Records actually manufactured the EP. 1,000 copies were pressed, funded by the parents of organist

. The EP was later reissued by Press Records in the US and UK, as well as Normal Records in Germany.

Track listing

Side one #"Tension" (

John Lombardo John Lombardo (born 30 September 1952) is one of the founding members of the American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs and one of the band's most influential members, writing much of its early material, also being its oldest member in age. He ...

) – 3:12 #"Planned Obsolescence" (

, Merchant) – 5:15 Side two #"Orange" (Merchant, Lombardo) – 2:20 #"Groove Dub" (Merchant, Lombardo) – 3:15 #"Anthem for Doomed Youth" (

Wilfred Owen Wilfred Edward Salter Owen Military Cross, MC (18 March 1893 – 4 November 1918) was an English poet and soldier. He was one of the leading poets of the First World War. His war poetry on the horrors of Trench warfare, trenches and Chemi ...

, Lombardo) – 2:33

Personnel

;10,000 Maniacs * Robert Buck (credited on US release as Norman Buck) – guitar, devices, synthesizer *

– organ * Steven Gustafson – guitar, bass guitar *

(credited on UK release as J.C. Lombardo) – guitar, bass guitar, odd vocals *

– voice *Jim Foti – studio drums ;Technical *10,000 Maniacs – co-producers *Bill Waldman – co-producer *Mary Van Houten – engineer *Gina Tampio – engineer *Bill Waldman – engineer *Barry Placente – tape transfer *J.C. Lombardo – cover design *Natalie Merchant – cover design The US and UK releases credit Robert Wachter and Jerry Augustyniak with drums, respectively, although neither played on these recordings.

References

{{Authority control 1982 debut EPs 10,000 Maniacs EPs