''Let Them Eat Jellybeans!'', subtitled "17 Extracts From America's Darker Side", is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

released by

Jello Biafra Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958), known professionally as Jello Biafra, is an American singer, spoken word artist and political activist. He is the former lead singer and songwriter for the San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys. Init ...

Alternative Tentacles Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label established in 1979 by Dead Kennedys vocalist Jello Biafra and guitarist East Bay Ray in San Francisco, California, with the intention to release the Dead Kennedys' self-produced single " C ...

in 1981. It was one of the earliest compilations of underground music in the United States and its original release included an insert of all of the

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

bands known to be playing in the U.S. and Canada at that time. The first side of the LP features songs by a number of bands that formed the canon of American

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

in the 1980s, while the second side features more of an

art rock Art rock is a subgenre of rock music that generally reflects a challenging or avant-garde approach to rock, or which makes use of modernist, experimental, or unconventional elements. Art rock aspires to elevate rock from entertainment to an ar ...

sound. The album's title comes from the phrase "

Let them eat cake "Let them eat cake" is the traditional translation of the French phrase "'", said to have been spoken in the 18th century by "a great princess" upon being told that the peasants had no bread. The French phrase mentions brioche, a bread enriched ...

" (supposedly said by

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...

). The use of the word jellybeans is in reference to

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

, who was known to consider them his favorite candy. At least two of the cuts on the punk side of the album have never been issued in the same form heard on ''Let Them Eat Jellybeans!''. The version of Black Flag's "Police Story" heard on ''...Jellybeans!'' was recorded during the sessions for the '' Six Pack'' EP and features

Dez Cadena Dez Cadena (born June 2, 1961) is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag from 1980 to 1983. Cadena played guitar with Misfits from 2001 to 2015, initi ...

on lead vocals, although the album's insert features the then-current '' Damaged''-era lineup with

Henry Rollins Henry Lawrence Garfield (born February 13, 1961), known professionally as Henry Rollins, is an American singer, writer, spoken word artist, actor, comedian, and presenter. After performing in the short-lived hardcore punk band State of Alert in 1 ...

. Also, the version of

Dead Kennedys Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining punk bands during its initial eight-year run. Initially consisting of lead guitarist East Bay Ray, bassist Klaus Fl ...

' " Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" is a wholly different recording than the versions heard on both '' In God We Trust, Inc.'' and the "Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" single. The version of

Bad Brains Bad Brains are an American punk rock band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music. They are also an ade ...

' "Pay to Cum" is the original version first heard on their self-released 7" single, and differs from the version on their self-titled debut album. According to Alternative Tentacles, it has not reissued the album because Black Flag would not give permission to use their track and because there has been "a falling out" between Biafra and another unnamed band on the record. Biafra would not re-release the album unless it is in its full, original form. Despite this, the album has been in widespread circulation on peer to peer file sharing networks and on the internet, plus used copies can be found in record stores.

Track listing

Side One: #"Ha Ha Ha" –

Flipper Flipper may refer to: Common meanings *Flipper (anatomy), a forelimb of an aquatic animal, useful for steering and/or propulsion in water *Swimfins, footwear that boosts human swimming efficiency, also known as flippers * Flipper (cricket), a typ ...

#"The Prisoner" – D.O.A. #"Police Story" – Black Flag #" Pay to Cum" –

#" Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" –

#"Paid Vacation" –

Circle Jerks Circle Jerks (stylized as Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs) are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag (band), Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetso ...

#"Prostitution" – Really Red #"Jesus Entering from the Rear" – The Feederz #"Slave to My Dick" – Subhumans Side Two: #"Isotope Soap" –

Geza X Geza Gedeon (born September 28, 1952), professionally known as Geza X, is an American producer. He was a personality in the Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s. He is now a producer. Early life and career Gedeon was born in Indiana and mov ...

#"Persecution-That's My Song" – BPeople #"An Object" – Wounds #"Everyone's A Bigot" – The Offs #"Corporate Food" –

Anonymous Anonymous may refer to: * Anonymity, the state of an individual's identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown ** Anonymous work, a work of art or literature that has an unnamed or unknown creator or author * Anonym ...

(

Steve Fisk Steve Fisk is an American, Washington-based audio engineer, record producer and musician. As a musician, he has been in bands such as the instrumental alternative/indie rock band Pell Mell and the electronic band Pigeonhed. He has long been a ...

) #"Fun Again" –

Half Japanese Half Japanese is an American art punk band formed by brothers Jad and David Fair in 1974, after their family's relocation to Uniontown, Maryland. Half Japanese' original instrumentation included a small drum set, which they took turns playin ...

#"Joke's On You" – Christian Lunch #"Sleep" – Voice Farm

Reception

In ''The Boston Phoenix'', critic Doug Simmons wrote that "The LP divides roughly by sides. Side one comprises unadulterated hard-core — clawing guitars, a tuneless, yowling, generally unintelligible singer, and an amphetamined 4/4 beat. Side two is arty, a word that generally causes punks to scowl....Side two is harder to listen to because its sounds and styles are not nearly as unified. Not one of the songs subscribes to straightahead hard-core, but with few exceptions they're all good."

References

{{Authority control 1981 compilation albums Alternative Tentacles compilation albums Hardcore punk compilation albums Cultural depictions of Ronald Reagan

Track listing

Reception

See also

References