Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?

Last updated
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
Wherehaveallthemerrymakersgone.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJuly 29, 1997
Recorded
  • March
  • June 1996
  • February 1997
StudioJohn & Stu's Place (Seattle, Washington)
Genre
Length42:56
Label
Producer John Goodmanson ·
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger chronology
Harvey Danger
(1996)
Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
(1997)
King James Version
(2000)
Singles from Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
  1. "Flagpole Sitta"
    Released: April 27, 1998
  2. "Private Helicopter"
    Released: October 13, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
NME 6/10 [2]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [3]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]

Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? is the debut studio album by American rock band Harvey Danger. It was initially released by the independent record label the Arena Rock Recording Company on July 29, 1997. The second song on the album, "Flagpole Sitta", received extensive airplay in the United States and resulted in the band's fame. As the song gained national attention, the album was picked up and reissued by Slash Records, a label associated with London Records. On July 29, 2014, 17 years to the day after the album's initial release, Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? was re-released, for the first time as a vinyl LP, by No Sleep Records. [5] The album has been described by Fuse as "a definitive indie power pop punk record at a time and place where grunge reigned supreme". [6]

Contents

The album title comes from a line in the song "Radio Silence", which itself may have been inspired by a line from the Paul Newman film Harper. "Private Helicopter" was released to radio on October 13, 1998. [7]

Recording and production

Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? was recorded over three different sessions with John Goodmanson at John & Stu's Place in Seattle, Washington. [8] "Private Helicopter", "Terminal Annex", and "Carjack Fever" were recorded on March 16, 1996 and released on a commercially produced cassette tape, titled simply Harvey Danger, which was sold by the band at their shows and sent to music industry professionals. Three more songs ("Flagpole Sitta", "Woolly Muffler", and "Wrecking Ball") recorded at the June 1996 session, were sent on a one-off cassette tape to Slash/London Records at the request of Greg Glover, an intern who was convinced on the strength of the recordings that he should fund a full album. All of the recordings, except one ("Carjack Fever"), became Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? The total cost of the recording was about $3,000. [9] "Carjack Fever" was later reworked into "(Theme from) Carjack Fever" for the band's next album, King James Version (2000). [10] [11]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Harvey Danger; all music is composed by Harvey Danger

No.TitleRecorded [10] Length
1."Carlotta Valdez"February 19972:44
2."Flagpole Sitta"June 19963:35
3."Woolly Muffler"June 19964:30
4."Private Helicopter"March 19963:31
5."Problems and Bigger Ones"February 19975:41
6."Jack the Lion"February 19975:30
7."Old Hat"February 19973:48
8."Terminal Annex"March 19963:43
9."Wrecking Ball"June 19964:39
10."Radio Silence" (includes hidden track [note 1] )February 19978:26
Total length:42:56
Notes
  1. "Radio Silence" after 5:15 includes a hidden track--a partial recording of "Carjack Fever" played backwards[ citation needed ]

Personnel

Adapted credits from the album's media notes. [12]

Band

Additional and production

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [13] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?
ReigonDateLabelFormatRef.
United StatesJuly 27, 1997 The Arena Rock Recording Company CD (1st pressing, 1,200 copies) [14]
February 5, 1998CD (2nd pressing, 500 copies)
March 31, 1998 [15]
CanadaApril 7, 1998
FranceJuly 27, 1998 Barclay Records
United KingdomAugust 3, 1998
  • Slash
  • London
United StatesJuly 29, 2014 No Sleep Records LP [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harvey Danger</span> Alternative rock band

Harvey Danger was an American alternative rock band. It was formed in 1992 in Seattle, Washington, by Aaron Huffman and Jeff J. Lin, who were both journalism students at the University of Washington. Drummer Evan Sult and singer Sean Nelson were brought into the band in 1993, solidifying the band's lineup for the remainder of their initial existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilby Clarke</span> American guitarist

Gilbert J.Clarke is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He had a three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). Following this, Clarke went on to forge a solo career as well playing guitar with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, MC5 and forming his own group Rock Star Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

Slash Records was an American record label originally specializing in local punk rock bands, active from 1978 to 2000. It was notable as one of the first and most successful independent record labels in alternative music, before its eventual acquisition by Warner Music Group.

<i>King James Version</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Harvey Danger

King James Version is the second studio album by American rock band Harvey Danger, released on September 12, 2000, through London-Sire Records. It was the band's only album recorded for a major label, and their last with drummer Evan Sult. Written and recorded and over the span of 16 months with producer John Goodmanson, the album marked a substantial departure from the lo-fi sound of the band's debut Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? (1997); it encompassed a variety of rock music styles and explored "the conflict between faith and skepticism". Although the bulk of the album's material was recorded in March and April 1999, work on the album continued periodically until February 2000 due to a dispute surrounding Harvey Danger's contract, which delayed its release.

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

Autolux is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California in 2001. The group formed as a trio and have released three full-length albums, Future Perfect (2004), Transit Transit (2010) and Pussy's Dead (2016). Their sound draws from post-punk, electronic music, krautrock and shoegaze.

<i>Live Era 87–93</i> 1999 live album by Guns N Roses

Live Era '87–'93 is a double live album by the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses. It was released on November 23, 1999. The record was the first official Guns N' Roses release since "The Spaghetti Incident?" released on the same day in 1993. Guitarist Slash notes that the album is "not pretty and there are a lot of mistakes, but this is Guns N' Roses, not the fucking Mahavishnu Orchestra. It's as honest as it gets."

<i>Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)</i> 2004 EP by Harvey Danger

Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes) is the second EP by Harvey Danger. It was released in December 2004 on the band's own label, Phonographic Records. One of the songs is a demo from their next album, Little by Little..., two are different recordings of past songs, and the remaining two are rare songs, released only on special collections in the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Nelson</span> American singer-songwriter

Sean Nelson is an American musician and journalist. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock group Harvey Danger.

<i>March ör Die</i> 1992 studio album by Motörhead

March ör Die is the tenth studio album by British rock band Motörhead, released in August 1992. It would be the band's second and final album with WTG Records. The album features guest appearances by Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, and veteran drummer Tommy Aldridge. Aldridge stepped in after longtime member Phil Taylor was fired early in the recording process.

<i>Dig Me Out</i> 1997 studio album by Sleater-Kinney

Dig Me Out is the third studio album by the American rock band Sleater-Kinney, released on April 8, 1997, by Kill Rock Stars. The album was produced by John Goodmanson and recorded from December 1996 to January 1997 at John and Stu's Place in Seattle, Washington. Dig Me Out marked the debut of Janet Weiss, who would become the band's longest-serving drummer. The music on the record was influenced by traditional rock and roll bands, while the lyrics deal with issues of heartbreak and survival. The album cover is an homage to the Kinks' 1965 album The Kink Kontroversy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Effigies</span> American punk band

The Effigies were an American punk band from Chicago. The band played its first show in 1980 and was active initially for approximately a decade, undergoing multiple personnel changes with frontman John Kezdy the only constant, before disbanding in 1990. The band released 5 albums and several EPs, most on the record label they founded in 1981, Ruthless Records, which was distributed by Enigma. Later albums were on the Fever Records and Roadkill Records labels. They toured the U.S. and Canada and played notable venues, including CBGB, Maxwell's, First Avenue, Mabuhay Gardens, Paycheck's (Detroit), Exit (Chicago) and The Rathskeller, among others. They also received a significant amount of national airplay on college radio at a time when it was the only medium for alternative music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flagpole Sitta</span> 1998 single by Harvey Danger

"Flagpole Sitta" is a song by American rock band Harvey Danger from their 1997 debut album, Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? It was released as the band's debut single in April 1998 and was met with critical and commercial success, peaking at number 38 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart, number three on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart, and number nine on the Canadian RPM Alternative 30.

John Goodmanson is an American recording engineer and indie rock record producer. He is best known for producing multiple albums by Bikini Kill, Blonde Redhead, Death Cab for Cutie, Los Campesinos!, and Sleater-Kinney.

Little Round Mirrors is a single/EP by Harvey Danger. It was released on Barsuk Records on October 10, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hall of Justice (studio)</span> Seattle recording studio

The Hall of Justice is a recording studio in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The triangular-shaped building, which has changed ownership and purpose throughout its century-old history, has functioned as a studio for rock bands since the 1970s. The windowless, unassuming space has been home to the recordings of albums by seminal indie rock bands, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, the Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and more.

<i>In an Expression of the Inexpressible</i> 1998 studio album by Blonde Redhead

In an Expression of the Inexpressible is the fourth studio album by American alternative rock band Blonde Redhead. It was released on September 8, 1998, by Touch and Go Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Squires (musician)</span> American guitarist (born 1971)

Mike Squires is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist in the hard rock group Loaded, the group led by Velvet Revolver and Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan.

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

ZOX is a rock band from Providence, Rhode Island. The band consists of four members: namesake John Zox (drums), Eli Miller, Spencer Swain, and Dan Edinberg.

"Rose Red Violent Blue " is a song by American rock band Stone Sour. It was a single off of their album Hydrograd. As of February 2018, it had peaked at number 10 on the Billboard US Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

References

  1. Kent-Abbott, David. "Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? – Harvey Danger". AllMusic . Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  2. Wirth, Jim (August 13, 1998). "Harvey Danger – Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?". NME . Archived from the original on October 13, 2000. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  3. Josephes, Jason. "Harvey Danger: Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  4. Moon, Tom (May 6, 1998). "Harvey Danger: Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 24, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  5. "Harvey Danger - Where have all the merrymakers gone? | No Sleep Records". nosleeprecords.com. Archived from the original on 2014-05-31.
  6. Sherman, Maria (July 29, 2014). "Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone: An Interview with Harvey Danger". Fuse . Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  7. "Alternative Reporters" (PDF). Radio & Records : 93. October 2, 1998. ISSN   0277-4860.
  8. "Avvanta Communications". Archived from the original on 1999-05-08.
  9. "Harvey Danger Press Relase.doc" (PDF). harveydanger.com ( Little by Little... press release). 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 26, 2006. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Production notes and credits on various B-sides". blarg.net/~hdanger. Archived from the original on October 10, 1999. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  11. "Your letters and questions answered!". blarg.net/~hdanger. Archived from the original on October 12, 1999. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  12. Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? (media notes). Harvey Danger. Slash. 1997. P2 56000.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. "American album certifications – Harvey Danger – Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  14. "Discography". 1999-11-04. Archived from the original on 1999-11-04. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  15. "Previous news items from long, long ago". blarg.net/~hdanger. Archived from the original on October 13, 1999. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  16. "Harvey Danger". harveydanger.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved February 1, 2023.