Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man

Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man
EP by Death of Samantha
Released	September 1, 1986
Genre	Post-punk
Label	Homestead
Producer	Chris Burgess, Death of Samantha
Death of Samantha chronology

Last updated April 17, 2019

Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man is an EP by the post-punk band Death of Samantha, released September 1, 1986 on Homestead Records.

An extended play record, often referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single, but is usually unqualified as an album or LP. Contemporary EPs generally contain a minimum of three tracks and maximum of six tracks, and are considered "less expensive and time-consuming" for an artist to produce than an album. An EP originally referred to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play (SP) and LP, but it is now applied to mid-length CDs and downloads as well.

Post-punk is a broad type of rock music that emerged from the punk movement of the 1970s, in which artists departed from the simplicity and traditionalism of punk rock to adopt a variety of avant-garde sensibilities and diverse influences. Inspired by punk's energy and DIY ethic but determined to break from rock cliches, artists experimented with sources including electronic music and black styles like dub, funk, free jazz, and disco; novel recording and production techniques; and ideas from art and politics, including critical theory, modernist art, cinema and literature. Communities that produced independent record labels, visual art, multimedia performances and fanzines developed around these pioneering musical scenes, which coalesced in cities such as London, New York, Manchester, Melbourne, Sydney, and San Francisco.

Death of Samantha is an underground post-punk band from Cleveland, Ohio. Founded in 1983, the quartet made its infamous debut at a Ground Round family restaurant in Parma Heights, Ohio, a show that became part of rock legend and set the tenor for the band's live stage show. Death of Samantha played a farewell show on December 15, 1990, but later reformed on December 23, 2012 with its original four-piece lineup: vocalist/guitarist John Petkovic (vocals/guitar), lead guitarist Doug Gillard, bassist David James and drummer Steven "Steve-O" Eierdam.

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]

Although noting that Death of Samantha's sound remained largely the same, Glenn Kenny of Trouser Press found the EP to be more entertaining and worthwhile when compared to the band's debut.^[2]

<i>Trouser Press</i> American music magazine

Trouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press". Publication of the magazine ceased in 1984; the unexpired portion of mail subscriptions was completed by Rolling Stone sister publication Record, which itself folded in 1985. Trouser Press has continued to exist in various formats.

Track listing

All songs written by John Petkovic, except "Werewolves of London" by LeRoy Marinell, Waddy Wachtel and Warren Zevon.

Robert "Waddy" Wachtel is an American musician, composer and record producer, most notable for his guitar work. Wachtel has worked as session musician for other artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, Jon Bon Jovi, James Taylor, Iggy Pop, Warren Zevon, Bryan Ferry, Michael Sweet, Jackson Browne, and Andrew Gold, both in the studio and live.

Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Blood & Shaving Cream"
2.	"Werewolves of London"

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Set Up (of Madame Sosostris)"
2.	"Yellow Fever"
3.	"American Horoscope & The Bad Prescription"

Personnel

Adapted from the Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man liner notes.^[3]

Death of Samantha

Doug Gillard – guitar
David James – bass guitar, backing vocals
John Petkovic – vocals, guitar
Steve-O – drums

Doug Gillard is an American guitarist and songwriter. He has been a member of major indie pop and punk bands, most notably Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Death of Samantha and Cobra Verde.

The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that usually has six strings. It is typically played with both hands by strumming or plucking the strings with either a guitar pick or the finger(s)/fingernails of one hand, while simultaneously fretting with the fingers of the other hand. The sound of the vibrating strings is projected either acoustically, by means of the hollow chamber of the guitar, or through an electrical amplifier and a speaker.

The bass guitar is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, except with a longer neck and scale length, and four to six strings or courses.

Additional musicians and production

Chris Burgess – production
Death of Samantha – production
Rudolph Vasalino – design
Steve Wainstead – photography

A record producer or music producer oversees and manages the sound recording and production of a band or performer's music, which may range from recording one song to recording a lengthy concept album. A producer has many, varying roles during the recording process. They may gather musical ideas for the project, collaborate with the artists to select cover tunes or original songs by the artist/group, work with artists and help them to improve their songs, lyrics or arrangements.

Design can have different connotations in different fields of application, but there are two basic meanings of design: as a verb and as a noun.

Photography Art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation

Photography is the art, application and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed in many fields of science, manufacturing, and business, as well as its more direct uses for art, film and video production, recreational purposes, hobby, and mass communication.

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1986	Homestead	LP	HMS 071

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References

↑ "Death of Samantha: Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man EP > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ Kenny, Glenn (2007). "Death of Samantha". Trouser Press . Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man (sleeve). Death of Samantha. Rockville Centre, New York: Homestead Records. 1986.

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[allmusic-1] "Death of Samantha: Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man EP > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[trouserpress-2] Kenny, Glenn (2007). "Death of Samantha". Trouser Press . Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[linearnotes-3] Laughing in the Face of a Dead Man (sleeve). Death of Samantha. Rockville Centre, New York: Homestead Records. 1986.