Album

The Big Sell-Out

Bongwater

1992 · Rock

Rare pressing on Gatefold

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The Big Sell-Out by Bongwater

The Big Sell-Out is an Alt/Indie album by Bongwater, originally released in 1992. On Gatefold: 5 pressings tracked.

About

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. 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.

via Last.fm

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Tracklist

Side A

  1. A1Ye Olde Backlash2:41
  2. A2The Real Thing3:09
  3. A3Free Love Messes Up My Life2:17
  4. A4You're Like Me Now4:31
  5. A5I Wanna Talk About It Now3:42
  6. A6What's Big In England Now?1:44
  7. A7Schmoozedance3:53
  8. A8Celebrity Compass3:26
  9. A9When Johnnie Dies3:49

Side B

  1. B1The Big Sell-Out3:49
  2. B2Over The Credit Line3:09
  3. B3Flop Sweats4:08
  4. B4Holding Hands1:40
  5. B5Flute Of Shame1:54
  6. B6On The Cusp Of 19702:57
  7. B7Her Litigious Nature2:57
  8. B8Love Song3:50
  9. B9Everybody's Talking3:16

Sound DNA

  • Alt/Indie
  • Indie Rock
  • raw
  • sarcastic
  • bohemian

Album notes

Discogs page for these notes (opens in a new tab)

Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.

Produced and engineered by Kramer at Noise New York, Summer 1991
Fred Neil's name is misspelled as "Niel" in the songwriting credits for track B9.
Direct Metal Mastering.
No printed track durations.

Credits

The people behind it.

Performers

  • Ann MagnusonVOCALS
  • David LichtDRUMS, PERCUSSION
  • KramerVOCALS , INSTRUMENTS VOCALS, INSTRUMENTS
  • Randolph A. Hudson IIIGUITAR GUITAR, OTHER

Rare pressing on Gatefold · 5 pressings tracked on Gatefold

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