A Sub Pop Halloween Swap
Ok, so I guess that time of year is creeping round again.🦇🎃 I tried to find a track that would suit. Have to be honest there are some good bands e.g. Siouxsie & The Banshees with the track Halloween on the 'Juju' album from '81 and Japan also with their track Halloween from the '79 album 'Quiet Life' to name but a couple that I could have posted, so anyway I had a rummage around and tried to keep the theme in the 'spirit'👻, (excuse the pun) of Halloween and also Independent Label at the same time👹👻
Kind of feel I hit a 'good gig' here in that this not only covers the Halloween theme and encapsulates the Indie Record Label element, but also links to a previous post which is on my website at 'Touch Me I'm Sick'.
As it turns out back in 1988 prior to Mudhoney's release of 'Touch Me I'm Sick' Bruce Pavitt the founder of the Independent label 'Sub Pop' decided to send a five track demo to Alt Rock band Sonic Youth for their opinion and the result was a good one, the band loved the sound so much they struck a deal and created a split single with Mudhoney covering the Sonic Youth track 'Halloween' and Sonic Youth covering the Mudhoney track 'Touch Me I'm Sick', neat huh!
The single was to reach #50 in the U.K. Indie charts in 1989 and released here on the 'Blast First Records' Label which released Noise Rock and Grunge music from 'over the pond' and was set up with help from Indie Label 'Rough Trade Records' and eventually became a sub-label of other electronic records Indie 'Mute Records'
The original versions by both bands and also covering each others versions:
Sonic Youth Version
- Kim Gordon – lead vocals, bass
- Thurston Moore – guitar, backing vocals
- Lee Ranaldo – guitar
- Alex Damen – lead guitar
- Steve Shelley – drums
The original Sonic Youth version of Halloween
Mudhoney Version
- Mark Arm – lead vocals, guitar
- Steve Turner – guitar, backing vocals
- Matt Lukin – bass
- Dan Peters – drums
The original Mudhoney version of Touch Me I'm Sick
And the Sonic Youth version
I first became aware of Sonic Youth's 'wall of sound' with their track Death Valley 69 featured complete with 'gory movie' vibes video below:
The track was released in 1985 on the Blast First Record Label and featuring Lydia Lunch providing the vocals.
🎃🦇👻🎃🦇👻🎃🦇👻🎃🦇👻🎃🦇👻🎃🦇👻
All that is left to say is enjoy your Halloween/Samhain.....
...And stay spooky! 👻
Picture Sources Thanks
Photo by Taylor Rooney on Unsplash
Photo by Milada Vigerova on Unsplash
Photo by David Menidrey on Unsplash