I like a good metaphor. I’m not good at making them, but I do like to try. In that spirit, all the bands introduced thus far are moons that orbited the gas giant presented here.
The Dead Milkmen began as a band in the early 80’s, but conceptually by Joe, who is the common thread throughout all these episodes, in 1979. In a nutshell, they were professionals who made a lot of really amazing albums that were recorded in real studios and released on actual record labels and even made some cool music videos that appeared on MTV (theyevenco-hosted 120 Minutes once!).
In 1992, they released the album Soul Rotation. This cassette is a low-fi recording of a day of rehearsals in Joe’s basement. It’s a real bootleg! I gave a digitized version of this cassette to Joe years ago, which he shared as a Bootleg of the Month in November 2005. For this project I’ve re-digitized and processed it with tricks and tools I did not have back then.
This tape includes seven songs from the album (and one I can’t identify). Most are partially played several times as they were developing them for performing live and in the studio. I enjoy hearing the banter between songs, and there is a lot from bassist David Schulthise who passed away in 2004. Dave was truly an extraordinary soul. Everyone I know in Philly is wonderful and “down to earth”, but there are a very select few who seem sort of unique in very specific way…I don’t know, they just make you feel seen and heard in an effortless way, like they’re always tuned to your wavelength. Dave really had that gift. Speaking of tuning in, he has a scanner and
Joe and I were recording a lot of music at this time, and in fact Silly Dreams was originally a Touch Me Zoo song (which, of course, you already know if you’ve been following these posts). He and I also came up with the chords & riff for Big Scary Place, for which Dean write the lyrics.
Songs:
Shaft In Greenland [00:11 - 08:00]
God's Kid Brother [08:20 - 11:00]
Conspiracy Song [11:17 - 13:58]
Big Scary Place [14:17 - 17:55]
Silly Dreams [17:58 - 21:07]
Banter (regarding heavy metal bands, Sebastian Bach, and why the latest Guns & Roses album was delayed) [21:07 - 22:33]
?? [22:34 - 24:30]
How It's Gonna Be [25:23 - 33:51]
Banter (regarding Dave’s failing bass amp) [33:51 - 34:51]
Shaft In Greenland [34:51 - 39:38]
Banter (regarding Joe’s idea) [39:38 - 41:00)
Silly Dreams [41:00 - 44:22]
God's Kid Brother [44:58 - 47:40]
How It's Gonna Be [47:49 - 52:26]
All Around The World [52:38 - 56:46]
Dave says “This amp doesn’t work anymore” as tape ends [56:48]
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