Album #: 87 Recording Dates: 1991 Release Date: 2014 Catalog: Brandto 03 ScratchNotes: In 2014, this compilation originally released in 1991 (news to me! I had no idea!) was made available. The opening two tracks are by IMF and from our sessions recording with Steve Albini. You can find “Letters to April” on Bandcamp here. Here are the liner …
Album #: 72 Recording Dates: 1987-1990 Release Date: 2009 Catalog: SMR30 ScratchNotes: Raging Bellybuttons were three long-haired guys who became friends at Libertyville High School. Each of us eager to push ourselves musically we plugged into a huge PA in Ken’s basement and recorded what raged out. The warmth of the wood paneling contrasted with the sarcastic bent of the …
Continue reading “Raging Bellybuttons – Basement Hymns (1987-1990)”
Album #: 69 Recording Dates: 1994-1997 Release Date: 2008 Catalog: SMR29 ScratchNotes: Here is the final release from the “InSkroMental”, “Loophole”, and “Ugly Music for Pretty Girls” trilogy. This collection was created when I decided to digitally remaster & EQ some of my best original material to optimize fidelity. “Ugly Music for Pretty Girls” is a collection of songs written, performed, …
Album #: 68 Recording Dates: 1992 – 1994 Release Date: 2007 Catalog: SMR28 ScratchNotes: This is a compilation that captures other works of the Hidden beyond “Stop. I’m bleeding.”, “Brave New Failure” and the two comps listed below. Unreleased songs recorded in rehearsal or in concert; five bonus tracks recorded for the “Brave New Failure” album; sonic anthropology of …
Continue reading “The Hidden – Chicago’s Thickest Band in the World”
Album #: 67 Recording Dates: 1993 – 1994 Release Date: 2007 Catalog: SMR27 ScratchNotes: The Hidden played live for a bit under two years. Our first appearance with Brian M. was at the infamous Czar Bar in January 1993. The band largely culminated with a three week tour in late 1994 that took us to Texas and New Mexico …
Continue reading “The Hidden – Covered With Blood and Touring”
Album #: 66 Recording Dates: 1991 – 1994 Release Date: 2007 Catalog: SMR26 ScratchNotes: After finally finishing up the Hidden’s “Brave New Failure” twenty-two years after its initial recording, I got the urge to re-evaluate our piles of recordings to finish filling out our legacy of non-success. First up was the initial era when I played with Paul, Zack …
Continue reading “40 Gallons – The McLennon, Peterson, Skroch, and Webb Collection”
Album #: 65 Recording Dates: 1992-2000 Release Date: 2007 Catalog: SMR25 ScratchNotes: Here is the middle release from the “InSkroMental”, “Loophole”, and “Ugly Music for Pretty Girls” trilogy. This collection was created when I decided to digitally remaster & EQ some of my best original material to optimize fidelity. “Loophole” is primarily focused on experimentation. This is the only album of …
Album #: 62 Recording Dates: 1990-2000 Release Date: 2007 Catalog: SMR24 ScratchNotes: My computer in 2005 was certainly laughable by today’s standards, but at the time it seemed so powerful that I decided to sort through all my recordings and digitally remaster & EQ some of my best original material. Remasters of the Raging Bellybuttons, IMF, and the Hidden …
Album #: 57 Recording Dates: 1994 Release Date: 2006 Catalog: SMR23 ScratchNotes: In the Summer of 1994 the members of the Hidden booked Flat Iron Studios in Chicago to begin work on the follow-up to their “Stop. I’m bleeding.” CD. Once again Chuck U. ran the board but this time not in his own studio. We recorded for several …
Album #: 31 Recording Dates: 1991-1994 Release Date: 2000 Catalog: SMR17 ScratchNotes: Recording equipment and techniques change dramatically every few years. Sometimes you need to dig out the long forgotten gear and see just what you recorded. The “From the Vault” series gathers these leftover oddities into one place. Much of this collection was recorded …
Continue reading “From the Vault: Field Recordings 1991-1994”
Album #: 23 Recording Dates: 1987-1997 Release Date: 2000 Catalog: SMR15 ScratchNotes: My pal Joe G. was the first musician I ever wrote music with. This is a compilation I put together featuring all four configurations in which he and I played as well as most of the solo material Joe recorded over a ten …
Album #: 22 Recording Dates: 06/20/1993 Release Date: 2000 Catalog: SMR14 ScratchNotes: We watched the big game and were excited to be a part of history – the Chicago Bulls Three-peat! But our excitement was quite muted compared to that of the city. Sixty-four minutes of chaos and partying in the streets of Chicago were …
Continue reading “MX Skroch – From the Vault: The Three-peat Tapes”
