In Your Face (Fishbone album)

Last updated
In Your Face
Fishbone In Your Face.jpg
Studio album by
Fishbone
ReleasedNovember 1986
Recorded1986
Studio Sunset Sound Factory
(Hollywood)
Ocean Way Recording
(Los Angeles)
Genre
Length33:50
Label Columbia
Producer David Kahne
Fishbone chronology
Fishbone EP
(1985)		In Your Face
(1986)		 It's a Wonderful Life
(1987)
Singles from In Your Face
  1. "When Problems Arise"
    Released: 1986

In Your Face is the debut studio album by American rock band Fishbone, released in November 1986. It is the band's second major label release for Columbia Records following their self-titled EP from the previous year.

Contents

As would be characteristic of the band's music for their entire career, In Your Face contains a mix of ska, reggae, soul, punk and funk, but displayed very little influence in hard rock and heavy metal as the band would adopt in future records. [3]

Packaging

The cover art of the original vinyl LP was designed to give the illusion that no certain side of the record was the front, back, up or down of the record. This was achieved by placing a barcode on both sides of the record and by printing the band and record name on all four sides of every edge of the record sleeve. Instead of an ordered track listing the tracks were listed haphazardly between both sides with each song title printed in a different contradictory direction. Finally, each side showed three of the six band members also oriented at opposite angles from each other. When someone handling the record saw where the record jacket opened they may have realized the two most likely correct orientations for the album cover. However the illusion was impaired by the inclusion of a parental advisory sticker on only one side of the record and the artwork of the CD version of the album which used the side with singer Angelo Moore on the cover and placed the entire track list on the opposite side.

Promotion

The band toured in support of the album with Murphy's Law and headliners Beastie Boys on the Licensed to Ill tour in February and March 1987. [4] [5] A music video for the album's only single, "When Problems Arise," was directed by Gary Weis and Tony Basil [4] [6] [7] and features the band performing with a group of hula dancers. [8] CBS and Columbia Records placed a full-page ad for the album on page five of the October 25, 1986 issue of Billboard. [9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Robert Christgau B− [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]

Fishbone's previous EP had done better than expected and expectations at Columbia Records were raised for In Your Face which led to radio support by CBS. [4] However, Fishbone still had a considerable challenge reaching a larger audience within the American music industry which was still racially segregated during the 1980s and was not prepared to market to both black and white audiences. As a result, the album did not have sales significantly stronger than the Fishbone EP. [11]

Reviews at the time were generally mixed-to-positive. Nelson George, writing for Billboard, reviewed the album favorably, calling it "groove-conscious" and containing "lyrical and melodic depth." He further commented that the band had potential to be a major act in the world of black music and the music industry as a whole. [12] For The Miami Herald, Tom Moon was also positive saying the album was perfect for a party, praising the mix of punk, ska and New Orleans influences and commenting that "Fishbone's time has come." [13] In a review for The New York Times, Jon Pareles called it a "Rock Album of the Week," but was mixed in his response, praising the more mature sound and handful of politically conscious tracks but criticizing the uneven blend of absurd humor and serious themes. [14]

Retrospective reviews were more mixed to average. Greg Prato for AllMusic said the album was an incomplete exploration of their sound although it was still an important moment in the career toward achieving the greater successes of later albums. [1] Robert Christgau gave the album a B− and said "...they look like 2-Tone fashion plates and sound like big-time new-wave satirists, which suggests their stock in trade is haircuts". [2] The album also received three-out-of-five stars from The New Rolling Stone Album Guide, published in 2004. [10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."When Problems Arise"Kendall Jones, John Norwood Fisher, David Kahne 3:56
2."A Selection" Angelo Moore, Jones, Kahne3:03
3."Cholly"Moore, Jones2:50
4."I Wish I Had a Date"Moore, Walter A. Kibby II2:03
5."A Movement in the Light"Jones3:44
6."Give It Up"Jones, Moore, Kahne3:14
7."In the Air"Jones, Moore, Fisher, Kahne3:36
8."Turn the Other Way"Jones, Moore5:08
9."Knock It"Kibby, Fisher, Kahne3:49
10."'Simon Says' the Kingpin"Moore1:25
11."Post Cold War Politics"Moore1:01

Personnel

Fishbone

Additional personnel

Production

Engineers

  • Tchad Blake
  • Bill Jackson
  • David Kahne
  • Mike Kloster
  • Doug Schwartz

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishbone</span> American rock band

Fishbone is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the band plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as "one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s. With their hyperactive, self-conscious diversity, goofy sense of humor, and sharp social commentary, the group gained a sizable cult following".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Power Station (band)</span> British-American rock supergroup

The Power Station were a British-American 1980s/1990s rock and pop music supergroup originally formed in New York City and London in 1984. It was made up of singer Robert Palmer, former Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John Taylor (bass) and Andy Taylor (guitar). Bernard Edwards, also of Chic, was involved on the studio side as recording producer and for a short time also functioned as The Power Station's manager. Edwards also replaced John Taylor on bass for the recording of the band's second album. The band was formed in New York City late in 1984 during a break in Duran Duran's schedule that became a lengthy hiatus. The Power Station was named after the Power Station recording studio in New York, where their first album was conceived and recorded.

<i>Jar of Flies</i> 1994 EP by Alice in Chains

Jar of Flies is the third studio EP by American rock band Alice in Chains. It was released on January 25, 1994, by Columbia Records. The band's second acoustic EP, after 1992's Sap, it was the first EP in music history to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, with the first week sales exceeding 141,000 copies in the United States. The self-produced record was written and recorded over the course of just one week at the London Bridge Studio in Seattle. The tracks "No Excuses", "I Stay Away" and "Don't Follow" were released as singles to promote the EP. Jar of Flies was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 1995: Best Recording Package and Best Hard Rock Performance for "I Stay Away".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corrosion of Conformity</span> American heavy metal band

Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina, formed in 1982. The band has undergone multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with guitarist Woody Weatherman as the sole constant member. Weatherman, founding bassist Mike Dean, founding drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan are widely regarded as its 'classic' lineup. After a hiatus in 2006, Corrosion of Conformity returned in 2010 without Keenan, who had been busy touring and recording with Down, but announced their reunion with him in December 2014.

<i>Welcome Home</i> (Til Tuesday album) 1986 studio album by Til Tuesday

Welcome Home is the second studio album by the American band 'Til Tuesday, released in 1986. It peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard 200. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Truth and Soul</i> 1988 studio album by Fishbone

Truth and Soul is the second studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was released on September 13, 1988. As is typical of the band's history of music the album features a wide array of genres including punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, and blues. Additionally, Truth and Soul includes the band's earliest foray into hard rock and heavy metal. The album begins with a cover version of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", originally from the soundtrack to the film Super Fly.

<i>Under the Blade</i> 1982 studio album by Twisted Sister

Under the Blade is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister, released on Secret Records in September 1982. It was produced by UFO/Waysted bassist Pete Way and featured an aggressive and hard-hitting sound, which was eventually ignored on a remixed re-release by Atlantic Records on June 13, 1985. The re-release also added a remixed version of the song "I'll Never Grow Up, Now!", the band's long-forgotten 1979 single. The Atlantic Records release was both an attempt to cash in on the commercial success of Stay Hungry and, by then, the only official way to get the album as Secret Records was no more. However, bootlegs with the original mix were still in circulation. On May 31, 2016, Eagle Records re-released Under the Blade in a digital remastered form with the original mix finally restored. Under the Blade has sold over two million copies worldwide.

Will to Power is an American dance-pop group that originated in South Florida in the mid-1980s founded by Miami producer Bob Rosenberg. The group recorded a number of hit singles on the Billboard dance and pop charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, most notably "Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley", a medley of 1970s hits by Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd that reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in December 1988. A second band hit was "I'm Not in Love", a cover of 10cc's 1975 hit, number 7 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.

<i>The Reality of My Surroundings</i> 1991 studio album by Fishbone

The Reality of My Surroundings is the third studio album by the American rock band Fishbone, released on April 23, 1991 through Columbia Records. It was their first album to include former Miles Davis music director John Bigham, who joined in 1989 during the Truth and Soul tour.

<i>Bangles</i> (EP) 1983 EP by The Bangles

Bangles is the eponymous first EP by The Bangles. It was released in 1982 by Faulty Products and reissued in 1983 by I.R.S. Records when Faulty Products went out of business. The songs remained widely unavailable thereafter, with only occasional rereleases of individual songs. The whole five-song EP was eventually reissued as part of the Bangles' 2014 compilation, Ladies and Gentlemen... The Bangles!.

<i>Fishbone</i> (EP) 1985 EP by Fishbone

Fishbone is the recording debut of alternative group Fishbone. This six-song EP was released in 1985 and captures the band at the height of their early funk/ska era. The track "Party at Ground Zero" remains one of the band's most popular tracks.

<i>Instincts</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Romeo Void

Instincts is the third and final studio album by the American band Romeo Void. It was released in 1984 on Columbia Records. The single "A Girl in Trouble " reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The album was produced by David Kahne.

<i>Give a Monkey a Brain and Hell Swear Hes the Center of the Universe</i> 1993 studio album by Fishbone

Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fishbone. It was the last album to feature all six original members, as guitarist Kendall Jones left the band a few months after the album's release, and keyboardist/trombonist Chris Dowd would leave the next year.

<i>Chim Chims Badass Revenge</i> 1996 studio album by Fishbone

Chim Chim's Badass Revenge is the fifth full-length album and concept album from alternative rock band Fishbone. It was Fishbone's first studio album in three years following the departure of founding members Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd and the band being dropped by Sony Records. It was also their last album with founding member Philip "Fish" Fisher, who would eventually leave the band two years later.

<i>Set the Booty Up Right</i> 1990 EP by Fishbone

Set the Booty Up Right is a five-song EP released by the ska/funk metal/rock band Fishbone in 1990. It was recorded shortly after the band hired former Miles Davis music director John Bigham on guitar and keyboard. The EP served as a stopgap release for fans, due to production delays for the full album The Reality of My Surroundings, which was released in 1991. The EP features two alternate versions of the song "Bonin' in the Boneyard" as well as three new studio tracks. It has long been out of print, but the track "Love and Bullshit" was included on the 1996 retrospective Fishbone 101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay.

<i>When Youre a Boy</i> 1991 studio album by Susanna Hoffs

When You're a Boy is the debut solo album by Susanna Hoffs. It begins with the Billboard Top 40 single "My Side of the Bed", includes the track "Unconditional Love", and ends with a cover of "Boys Keep Swinging", the 1979 song written by David Bowie and Brian Eno. The album's title comes from the lyrics to the latter.

<i>Still Stuck in Your Throat</i> 2006 studio album by Fishbone

Still Stuck in Your Throat is a 2006 studio album by Fishbone, and their most recent full-length release to date. It was their first album since Fishbone and the Familyhood Nextperience Present: The Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx had been released six years previously, as well as their first to be released on an independent record label. It is also the first album to feature guitarist Rocky George, keyboardist Dre Gipson and trumpeter Curtis Storey, as well as their first to not feature founding member Walter A. Kibby II, who left the band in 2003, having since returned. Still Stuck in Your Throat was recorded in late 2005 and early 2006 with the support of David Kahne who produced all of Fishbone's recordings during the 1980s and early 1990s. Featuring five songs that were written during the unreleased "Hen House" sessions of 2001, the new album also contains six brand new tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Love (The Outfield song)</span> 1986 single by the Outfield

“Your Love” is a song by the English rock band the Outfield, taken from their 1985 debut album Play Deep, released in early 1986 and written by guitarist John Spinks. In the United States, the song reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number seven on the Album Rock Tracks chart in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Did Your Heart Go?</span> 1981 single by Was (Not Was)

"Where Did Your Heart Go?" is a song written by American musicians David Was and Don Was. The song was recorded and released by the writers' band Was as a single in the UK as a double A-side with "Wheel Me Out" in September 1981. The single did not chart. It is featured as the second track on the band's debut album Was in August 1981. French editions of the single include the track "It's an Attack!" as the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunless Saturday</span> 1991 single by Fishbone

"Sunless Saturday" is a song by American rock band Fishbone from their 1991 album The Reality of My Surroundings. It remains, to this day, the band's highest charting single.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Prato, Greg. "allmusic ((( In Your Face > Review )))". Allmusic . Retrieved March 31, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Christgau, Robert. "Fishbone". robertchristgau.com, Retrieved on March 31, 2010.
  3. ↑ Truth and Soul (1988) and The Reality of My Surroundings (1991) incorporated hard rock, and Give a Monkey a Brain... (1993) displayed heavy metal influences.
  4. 1 2 3 Hochman, Steve. "Fishbone LP Is Doing Swimmingly." Billboard 27 Dec. 1986: 26.
  5. ↑ "Fishbone Concert Archive." Fishbone Concert History. Fishbonelive.org, 12 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
  6. ↑ Garcia, Alex S. "Mvdbase.com - Fishbone - "When Problems Arise"" Fishbone - "When Problems Arise" Mvdbase.com, 1998-2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
  7. ↑ Staff Writer. "New Videoclips." Billboard, Vol. 98 No. 47 22 Nov. 1986: 44.
  8. ↑ "Fishbone - When Problems Arise." YouTube. Ed. VEVO. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, 25 Oct. 2009. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. Video on YouTube
  9. ↑ CBS/Columbia Records. Advertisement. Billboard 25 Oct. 1986: 5. Print.
  10. 1 2 Brackett, Nathan. "Fishbone". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 298, cited March 31, 2010
  11. ↑ Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone. Dir. Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler. Perf. Fishbone. Grindstone Media, 2010. DVD.
  12. ↑ Nelson, George. "The Rhythm & The Blues." Billboard 11 Oct. 1986: 30. Print.
  13. ↑ Moon, Tom. "The Miami Herald." LET FISHBONE GET YOUR PARTY STARTED [Miami, FL] 25 Jan. 1987, FINAL ed., AMUSEMENTS sec.: 10K. Print.
  14. ↑ Pareles, Jon. "Pop and Jazz Guide." New York Times: C.22. Oct 03 1986. New York Times. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.