Allroy for Prez

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Allroy for Prez
All - Allroy for Prez cover.jpg
The EP's cover depicts the band's Allroy character campaigning with the slogan "A vote for All is a vote for All".
EP by
All
Released1988 (1988)
RecordedMarch 1988
StudioThird Wave Recording, Torrance, California
Genre Punk rock
Length20:43
Label Cruz (CRZ-004)
Producer Bill Stevenson
All chronology
Allroy Sez
(1988)
Allroy for Prez
(1988)
Allroy's Revenge
(1989)

Allroy for Prez is an EP by the American punk rock band All, released in 1988 through Cruz Records. Released the same year as the band's debut album, Allroy Sez , the EP was All's final release with their original singer Dave Smalley.

Contents

Background

The EP was recorded in March 1988 at Third Wave Recording in Torrance, California with recording engineer Richard Andrews, who had worked with the band since 1986. [1] Guitarist Stephen Egerton served as assistant engineer, while drummer Bill Stevenson served as record producer. [1] The recordings were mixed that August. [1] Bassist Karl Alvarez illustrated the cover, which features the band's Allroy character campaigning for President of the United States, timed to coincide with the 1988 U.S. presidential election. [1] [2] The back cover includes "The Allstitution", listing decrees such as "Freedom of Espresso", "Lower the Unenjoyment Level", and "Allistic Legislation". [1]

Allroy for Prez was released through Cruz Records as a 6-song EP and an 8-song cassette and CD, the latter two including the two tracks from the "Just Perfect" single released earlier in the year: a remixed version of "Just Perfect" from the band's debut album, Allroy Sez, and "Wishing Well", which had been recorded during the Allroy Sez sessions but was not included on the album. [1] [3]

Allroy for Prez was All's last release with their original singer, Dave Smalley. Dave Smalley.jpg
Allroy for Prez was All's last release with their original singer, Dave Smalley.

Allroy for Prez was All's last release with their original singer, Dave Smalley, who quit the band after its release because he could not keep up with their busy touring schedule. [4] "When I quit, it was because I was really burned out", he later recalled. I couldn't cut the touring mustard." [5] "I was on the road for nine and a half months in one year, and I remember we were doing laundry and Bill started talking about the next tour. We were gonna get back in two more weeks, and he was already planning the next one and the next recording, and he looked at me and said 'You're not staying, are you?'" [4] "We just went out and out and out and out and out and out," remembered Stevenson, "and I just think he did what any smart person would do and moved on." [4] Smalley went on to found Down by Law and reunite with his pre-All bands DYS and Dag Nasty. He was replaced in All's lineup by Scott Reynolds.

Reception

Jack Rabid of Allmusic gave Allroy for Prez three and a half stars out of five, calling it "so much better [than Allroy Sez] that it makes its predecessor sound stillborn." [2] He praised "Skin Deep" as "one of the finest songs of this band's first nine years. Whopping hooks, great backing vocals, and even sharp lyrics on plastic people, L.A.'s biggest export. Of the rest, only the jerky instrumental 'Son-O-Qua' is skippable; 'Skin Deep' and the other five tracks clock in with some of the meatiest pop since...well, since the Descendents' previous LP." [2]

Track listing

EP version [1]
Side A
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Skin Deep" Karl Alvarez 1:58
2."Wrong Again" Dave Smalley 2:49
3."I Hate to Love"Alvarez1:51
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Son-O-Qua" Stephen Egerton 3:02
5."Postage" Bill Stevenson 2:09
6."Daveage"Smalley2:53
CD and cassette versions [1]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Just Perfect" (remix) Bill Stevenson 2:59
2."Skin Deep" Karl Alvarez 1:58
3."Wrong Again" Dave Smalley 2:49
4."I Hate to Love"Alvarez1:51
5."Wishing Well"Smalley3:02
6."Son-O-Qua" Stephen Egerton 3:02
7."Postage"Stevenson2:09
8."Daveage"Smalley2:53

Personnel

Band [1]
Production [1]

Related Research Articles

Bill Stevenson (musician) American musician

John William Stevenson is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer, main songwriter, and the only constant member of the California punk rock group Descendents since its inception. In late December 1981, he played a few concerts with the hardcore punk band Black Flag because their drummer ROBO was detained in England after a tour there. He went on to record with Black Flag on several of their albums until 1985. After this he focused his attention on Descendents and played with the band until lead singer Milo Aukerman left in 1987. After Milo's departure, Bill and the other members of Descendents, Karl Alvarez and Stephen Egerton, recruited singer Dave Smalley of Dag Nasty and formed All. All went on to have two more singers, Scott Reynolds (1989–1993) and Chad Price (1993–present). Aukerman came back for the 1996 album Everything Sucks, the 2004 album Cool to Be You and the newest, 2016's Hypercaffium Spazzinate. All and Descendents continue to tour between Stevenson's and Aukerman's respective careers as a recording engineer and a biochemist. Stevenson was born in Torrance, California and attended Mira Costa High School, with fellow members of the Descendents.

Descendents Punk rock band

Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, United States, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a singer, and reappeared as a punk rock band, becoming a major player in the hardcore punk scene developing in Los Angeles at the time. They have released seven studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, and three EPs. Since 1986, the band's lineup has consisted of singer Milo Aukerman, guitarist Stephen Egerton, bassist Karl Alvarez, and drummer Bill Stevenson.

All is an American punk rock band originally from Los Angeles, currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.

<i>Enjoy!</i> (Descendents album) 1986 studio album by the Descendents

Enjoy! is the third album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1986 through New Alliance Records and Restless Records. It was the band's final album with guitarist Ray Cooper and only album with bassist Doug Carrion, both of whom left the group after the album's first supporting tour. Enjoy! was marked by the use of toilet humor, with references to defecation and flatulence in its artwork, the title track, and "Orgofart". It also displayed a darker, more heavy metal-influenced sound in the songs "Hürtin' Crüe", "Days Are Blood", and "Orgo 51". Reviewers were critical of both the scatological humor and the heavier songs on the album. Enjoy! features a cover version of The Beach Boys' "Wendy", the only cover song in the Descendents catalog.

<i>All</i> (Descendents album) 1987 studio album by the Descendents

All is the fourth album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1987 through SST Records. It was the band's first album with bassist Karl Alvarez and guitarist Stephen Egerton, who brought new songwriting ideas to the group. The album is titled after the concept of "All" invented by drummer Bill Stevenson and friend Pat McCuistion in 1980. Based on the goals of achieving "the total extent" and "to not settle for some, to always go for All", the philosophy was the subject of the one-second title track, the two-second "No, All!", and "All-O-Gistics".

<i>Everything Sucks</i> (Descendents album) 1996 studio album by the Descendents

Everything Sucks is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1996 through Epitaph Records. It was their first album of new studio material since 1987's All, after which singer Milo Aukerman had left the band to pursue a career in biochemistry. The remaining members had changed the band's name to All and released eight albums between 1988 and 1995 with singers Dave Smalley, Scott Reynolds, and Chad Price. When Aukerman decided to return to music the group chose to operate as two acts simultaneously, playing with Aukerman as the Descendents and with Price as All.

<i>Somery</i> 1991 compilation album by the Descendents

Somery is a compilation album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1991 through SST Records. It compiles songs from their Fat EP (1981) and the albums Milo Goes to College (1982), I Don't Want to Grow Up (1985), Enjoy! (1986), and All (1987).

Tony Lombardo is an American musician who was the original bassist in the punk rock band the Descendents. He joined the band in 1979 and played on their debut single, the Fat EP (1981), and the albums Milo Goes to College (1982) and I Don't Want to Grow Up (1985). After leaving the band, he performed in other acts and worked for the United States Postal Service until 2005. He collaborated with the Descendents' successor band, All, writing two songs for their album Allroy's Revenge (1989) and teaming up with them for an album of his own songs, New Girl, Old Story (1991), credited to "TonyAll". He also collaborated with the reunited Descendents on their 1996 album Everything Sucks.

Scott Reynolds (singer)

Scott Reynolds is an American punk rock vocalist from Fredonia, New York, known mainly for his work with the band ALL from 1989–1993. He has also performed with such bands as The Pavers and Goodbye Harry.

<i>Allroy Sez</i> 1988 studio album by All

Allroy Sez is the debut album by the American punk rock band All, released in March 1988 through Cruz Records. Following the departure of singer Milo Aukerman from the Descendents, the remaining members—bassist Karl Alvarez, guitarist Stephen Egerton, and drummer Bill Stevenson—recruited singer Dave Smalley and changed the name of the band to All, which was both the title of the Descendents' 1987 album and a philosophical concept invented by Stevenson and friend Pat McCuistion in 1980. Allroy Sez introduced the character of Allroy, who would serve as a mascot for the band and be featured on many of their subsequent album covers.

<i>Allroys Revenge</i> 1989 studio album by All

Allroy's Revenge is the second studio album by the American punk rock band All, released in 1989 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first release with singer Scott Reynolds, replacing Dave Smalley who had left in late 1988. The album includes two songs written by Tony Lombardo, the original bassist for All's precursor band the Descendents. It also includes a cover version of "Hot Rod Lincoln", a 1955 song by Charlie Ryan that was a hit for Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen in 1971. "She's My Ex" was released as the album's single.

<i>Percolater</i> (album) 1992 studio album by All

Percolater is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band All, released May 12, 1992 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first album recorded after their relocation from Los Angeles to Brookfield, Missouri, and their first studio release recorded outside of California. It was also their last album with singer Scott Reynolds, who left the band after the album's supporting tours. A single and music video were released for the song "Dot".

<i>Breaking Things</i> 1993 studio album by All

Breaking Things is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band All, released August 16, 1993 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first album with singer Chad Price and their last released through Cruz. The songs "Shreen" and "Guilty" were both released as singles from the album, the former supported by a music video.

<i>Allroy Saves</i> 1990 studio album by All

Allroy Saves is the third studio album by the American punk rock band All, released in 1990 through Cruz Records. It was the first album that the band members recorded, mixed, and produced entirely on their own. A music video, the band's first, was released for the song "Simple Things".

Shes My Ex

"She's My Ex" is a song by the American punk rock band All, released as a single from their 1989 album Allroy's Revenge. Written by drummer Bill Stevenson, the song describes an ex-girlfriend with whom he had a tumultuous romance. The B-side track "Crazy?", written by bassist Karl Alvarez, is from the Allroy's Revenge recording sessions but was not included on the album.

Shreen 1994 single by All

"Shreen" is a song by the American punk rock band All, written by drummer Bill Stevenson and released as the first single from the band's 1993 album Breaking Things. Released in advance of the album, the single also includes two more songs from Breaking Things: "Original Me", written by singer Chad Price, and "Crucified", written by Price and guitarist Stephen Egerton. A music video was also released for "Shreen".

<i>New Girl, Old Story</i> 1991 studio album by All with Tony Lombardo

New Girl, Old Story is collaborative album between the American punk rock band All and Tony Lombardo, the original bassist of All's precursor band the Descendents. Credited to "TonyAll", it consists of twelve songs written by Lombardo between 1979 and 1989. Lombardo played bass guitar on the entire album, with the members of All playing the rest of the instrumentation. Vocals were split between Lombardo and All singer Scott Reynolds, with All bassist Karl Alvarez also singing one song. Along with their 1990 album Allroy Saves, recorded at the same time, New Girl, Old Story was the last album recorded by All before their relocation from Los Angeles to Brookfield, Missouri.

All discography

The discography of All, an American punk rock band, consists of nine studio albums, one compilation album, two live albums, one EP, six singles, and five music videos.

Just Perfect

"Just Perfect" is a song by the American punk rock band All, released as a single from their 1988 debut album Allroy Sez. Written by drummer Bill Stevenson, "Just Perfect" was remixed from the original album version for release as a single. The B-side track "Wishing Well", written by singer Dave Smalley, is from the Allroy Sez recording sessions but was not included on the album. Both tracks were later included on the compact disc release of All's following EP, Allroy for Prez (1988).

<i>Filmage</i>

Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All is a 2013 independent documentary film chronicling the history of the American punk rock bands the Descendents and All. It was written by Matt Riggle, who produced and directed it with Deedle LaCour. The film uses an oral history format, telling the bands' stories through the use of interviews with over 40 subjects, as well as new and archival footage. It stars drummer Bill Stevenson, singer Milo Aukerman, bassist Karl Alvarez, and guitarist Stephen Egerton, and features nearly all past and present members of both bands. Filmage also features numerous musicians who were contemporaries of, worked with, or were influenced by the Descendents and All.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Allroy for Prez (CD booklet). All. Long Beach, California: Cruz Records. 1988. CRZ-004.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. 1 2 3 Rabid, Jack. "Review: Allroy for Prez". Allmusic . Retrieved 2015-03-01.
  3. Just Perfect (album sleeve). All. Long Beach, California: Cruz Records. 1988. CRZ-003.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. 1 2 3 LaCour, Deedle (Director); Riggle, Matt (Director) (2013). Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All (DVD). Manchester: Rogue Elephant Pictures. Event occurs at 43:18.
  5. "Bonus Cut". Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All. Event occurs at 19:13.