Album #: 10 Recording Dates: 1993 – 1994 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR08 ScratchNotes: Sales of “Stop. I’m bleeding.” proved that the Hidden was truly an underground band. The band and their art guru, “Saint” Allen Oaks, moved into a house on Chicago’s Northside that leaned excessively. They set up shop in their cracked foundation …
Album #: 08 Recording Dates: 1992 – 1993 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR07 ScratchNotes: In a brazen attempt to rocket to the top of the charts, the Hidden replaces Paul M. with the more marketable Brian M. The new lineup releases the “Bone of Contention” EP in late ’92. They make the first of many …
Album #: 06 Recording Dates: 1991 – 1992 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR06 ScratchNotes: I bought crappy used 4-track and immediately began exploring sonic oddity. The dissolution of Brain Plug had left me with a heap of creative energy, but no outlet. I played with samples and acoustic guitars, and while the results are less …
Album #: 05 Recording Dates: 1990 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR05 ScratchNotes: The name Brain Plug came into play on July 4th, 1990. The band was at a huge party with fireworks exploding. We were talking to a drunk girl who told us, “I always thought Brain Plug would be a great name for a …
Album #: 03 Recording Dates: 1989 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR03 ScratchNotes: In-between intermittent spurts of the Raging Bellybuttons, Brian P. and I hooked up for a project featuring electronic drums and guitar. Plans were made to segue James Taylor’s “Sunny Skies” into Slayer’s “Raining Blood”, but it never happened. We considered calling ourselves Hugs …
Album #: 02 Recording Dates: 1988 – 1989 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR02 ScratchNotes: The Raging Bellybuttons find their voice (well, Scratch and Joe do while Kenny wears a T-shirt on his head). Bad fashion and lousy but enthusiastic renditions of songs by the Doors, Blondie, and Slayer. “Soundgarden Song” wasn’t a cover, just an …
Album #: 01 Recording Dates: 1986 – 1987 Release Date: 1999 Catalog: SMR01 ScratchNotes: Libertyville High School has spawned a number of splendid guitar players. While Tom Morello and Adam Jones were off perfecting their tones, the No-Name Band was rocking the field house with one rehearsal (in a church) under their belt. Feedback and …
In recent years I’ve tried to find a coherent way of categorizing my discography. This has led to the creation of a virtual record label called ScratchManRecordings (SMR). Each CD that Mrs. Scratch and I have self-released has been given a catalog number detailing the order in which these music collections were completed.
