The Muffs [2024] (2xLP, US)

B1. North Pole
B2. Big Mouth
B3. Every Single Thing
B4. Don’t Waste Another Day
B5. Stupid Jerk
B6. Another Day
B7. Eye To Eye
B8. I Need You
B9. All For Nothing

C1. Lucky Guy (Radio Mix)
C2. Everywhere I Go (Cassette Version)
C3. All For Nothing (4-Track Demo)
C4. Do You Want Her (4-Track Demo)
C5. I Don’t Expect It (4-Track Demo)

D1. My Face (4-Track Demo)
D2. Something On My Mind (4-Track Demo)
D3. Ethyl My Love (4-Track Demo)
D4. Not Like Me (4-Track Demo)
D5. Saying Goodbye To Phil (4-Track Demo)

Originally released on CD and cassette and later reissued on 140g green vinyl, limited to 500 copies, 180g black vinyl and 140g black vinyl in 2020.

Their classic pop-punk debut—remastered and expanded!

The Muffs burst onto the California music scene at the beginning of the ’90s, and after a few independent singles and EPs, they were quickly snapped up by Warner Bros. Records. Entering the studio with David Katznelson and Rob Cavallo (who would go on the helm records from Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls, and more), The Muffs roared from speakers across the country in 1993. According to renowned critic Jim DeRogatis, “You’d have to reach all the way back to Blondie’s Plastic Letters to find punkish power pop this endearing.”

The quartet rips through the album’s 16 tracks, ranging from and an Angry Samoans cover, to the college radio smash, “Lucky Guy.” In addition, alt-rock superstar Jon Spencer (Pussy Galore and his own Blues Explosion) adds some theremin and The Godfather Of Exotica Korla Pandit’s Hammond Organ makes an appearance. Even the beverage Fruitopia caught the buzz, using the album’s “Everywhere I Go” in a popular television campaign.

This reissue contains the classic original album, and adds a whopping 10 bonus tracks: a radio remix of “Lucky Guy,” a version of “Everywhere I Go” which was only available on the cassette of The Muffs album, and 8 previously unissued demos from the band’s vocalist and lead guitarist, Kim Shattuck—who filled the role of departed Kim Deal on the Pixies’ 2013 tour.

Released with full cooperation from the band, Shattuck and bassist Ronnie Barnett provide new liners, and they have opened their archives for photos and other ephemera.

Reuniting and issuing their first new release in a decade last year, garnering critical lauds and playing to enthusiastic crowds, it’s time to go back to where it all started. It’s time for The Muffs!

Jon Spencer recorded theremin parts for three different songs but only appeared on I Need You on the album. The image below shows Jon Spencer recording on the song Every Single Thing.

This is a screen grab from a video posted by Melanie Vammen on Facebook on 20 August 2020.

A different recording of I Need You (not featuring Jon Spencer) was also issued as a 7″ single by Sub Pop in July 1992.

Special Guests:
Hammond Organ: Korla Pandit
Theremin: Jon Spencer

Producers: Rob Cavallo, David Katznelson and The Muffs
Recorded: Brian Kehew
Additional Engineering: Mark Hafer
Recorded at Devonshire Studios, Kiva-West Studios, Control Center Studios and Sound City
Assistant Engineers: Jerry Finn, Sean O’Dwyer, Howard Willing, Ralph Stanfield, Jeff Sheeham
Mixed at Devonshire Studios
Mastered: Michael Graves at Osiris Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Lacquers cut by Jeff Powell at Take Out Vinyl / Sam Phillips Recording Service, Memphis TN

Reissue Produced for Release by Greg Allen and The Muffs
Licensing: Greg Schwartz
Liner Notes: Kim Shattuck and Ronnie Barnett
Editorial: Eileen Lucero
Project Assistance: Audrey Bilger, Dutch Cramblitt, Eric Hellstrom, Lee Lodyga, Truman Lusson, Jordan McLeod, Cheryl Pawelski, David Ponak, Brad Rosenberger, Jeremy Schieffelin, Evan Shafferman, and Mike Wilson

A1. Lucky Guy
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:46

A2. Saying Goodbye
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:16

A3. Everywhere I Go
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:12

A4. Better Than Me
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:48

A5. From Your Girl
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:27

A6. Not Like Me
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:27

A7. Baby Go Round
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:27

B1. North Pole
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 0:35

B2. Big Mouth
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 1:51

B3. Every Single Thing
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:22

B4. Don’t Waste Another Day
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:35

B5. Stupid Jerk
Writer: M. Saunders
Published: Haizman Music, admin. by Bug Music Group BMI.
Run Time: 0:31

B6. Another Day
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 2:16

B7. Eye To Eye
Writer: Kim Shattuck/Melanie Vammen
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:30

B8. I Need You
Writer: Kim Shattuck/Ronnie Barnett
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:41

B9a. All For Nothing
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 3:20

B9b. Untitled
Writer: Kim Shattuck
Published: Pretty Awful Music/WB Music Corp ASCAP
Run Time: 0:18

C1. Lucky Guy (Radio Mix)
C2. Everywhere I Go (Cassette Version)
C3. All For Nothing (4-Track Demo)
C4. Do You Want Her (4-Track Demo)
C5. I Don’t Expect It (4-Track Demo)

D1. My Face (4-Track Demo)
D2. Something On My Mind (4-Track Demo)
D3. Ethyl My Love (4-Track Demo)
D4. Not Like Me (4-Track Demo)
D5. Saying Goodbye To Phil (4-Track Demo)

“I Need You

I had a couple of riff songs hanging around for a while. “I Need You” was the one Ronnie liked the most, but he thought the arrangement was terrible. He came over one day and hammered out a way better arrangement – parts that make the song what it is today. It was so much better – I split the songwriting credit with him.” – Kim Shattuck

nb. Also includes individual track notes for ALL songs

“It all happened so fast. It was September 1990. My then girlfriend Kim and our best friend Melanie had just jumped off the sinking ship that was The Pandoras. Kim, who was not a songwriter, or singer, or guitarist for that band, had a stockpile of songs and was ready. She demanded that I pick up the bass again (something I hadn’t done since high school) and that Melanie drop her keyboard and learn how to play guitar. We asked out favorite drummer Roy McDonald, but he wasn’t ready…yet.

Roy introduced us to his workmate Chris Utting, who still went by his “punk name” Criss Crass. He had a good feel, sang great harmonies, was a few years older than us, and proudly boasted that he had been in 40 bands (it would soon be 41, but I’m getting ahead of myself). Things were moving along, and everything seemed to fall into place easily. It felt right, and we were practicing within the month. That formative period with this original lineup included some magical times, where every show and achievement bettered the last. Our early years were filled with a great deal of laughter, an abundance of happiness, some anger, and lots of love.” – Ronnie Barnett, May 2015

From the ‘More things you should know about The Muffs album’ section:

“Our friend Jon Spencer (from The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Pussy Galore) played some theremin. Then his name got misspelled as “John” in the credits”

Track Information:

“Jon Spencer appears courtesy of Crypt Records

Sides 1 & 2 originally issued as The Muffs, Warner Bros. 45251-2 (1993)

Side 3, Track 1 originally issued as Warner Bros. PRO-CD-6212 (1993)

Side 3, Track 2 originally issued on the cassette version of The Muffs, Warner Bros. 45251-4 (1993)

4-Track Demos on Sides 3 & 4 originally issued on 2015 CD reissue of The Muffs, all instruments recorded and performed by Kim Shattuck

BARCODE: 8 10075 11435 3

RUN-OUT GROOVE ENGRAVING:
A: “OVLP-140 810075114355 SIDE A J POWELL”
B: “OVLP-140 810075114355 SIDE B J POWELL”
C: “OVLP-140 810075114355 SIDE C J POWELL”
D: “OVLP-140 810075114355 SIDE D J POWELL”