V/A The Middle Of America
The Middle of America was a compilation featuring Chicago area bands put out as a benefit for Northwestern University’s WNUR radio statio. Released in 1984 the comp features most of the happening Chicago bands at the time. The best known tracks here (by Naked Raygun, AOF, Big Black) have been released in other places, which is why I didn’t hesitate to part with this record a couple of years ago. With the magic of Soulseek I have since been reunited with the comp. I don’t know if this is scheduled to be reissued. Since it is currently OOP you can find the whole thing here. Below are my favorite tracks:
Naked Raygun - I Don’t Know.mp3
I’m guessing this is the same version as would appear on Throb Throb
Savage Beliefs - Double Standard.mp3
I don’t have much info on Savage Beliefs, other than ex-GI member John Gay sings and plays guitar.
Nadsat Rebel - I am The Wall.mp3
noisy weirdness. Someone will have to fill us in on the Nadsat Rebel story
Out of Order - Survival of the Fittest.mp3
speedy, chunky HC - different than the version that appeared the band’s Paradise Lost album
Articles of Faith - Five O’ Clock.mp3
a track from AOF’s godhead Give Thanks LP
Rights of The Accused - I Came To Dance.mp3
this one is lightening fast HC, the other ROTA tracks here are jokey throwaways. MXV has the ROTA story
Big Black - Hunter’s Safety (Tommy Bartlett Dies in Pain).mp3
noisy instro from Racer-X era Big Black
Notes:
> Dementlieu has a Middle Of America page, as does KFTH
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I also got this album off Soulseek a few years back. I like the Strike Under song where the guy tells the bad joke about Jerry’s kids… (what has 1000 legs and can’t walk? Jerry’s kids) Some good stuff.
Thank you so much for putting this up. A small cirlce of friends I had back n ‘85 or so listened to this album non stop. The cassette I made of it wore out long ago. ‘Security’ and ‘Hunter’s Safety’ were the soundtrack to a very influential period of my life.
I think that the Big Black link is down. Which is too bad. I loved those guys. Thanks, though.
Link is corrected for the Big Black mp3. Thanks for the heads up
I think that Al is thinking of “Busted At Oz”, which is a different comp. The Savage Belief’s 7″ is cool. I wish someone what rip that record and put it up. Dave Riley from Big Black was their bassist and Articles of Faith put out their record. One of the guys from Nasdat Rebel ended up being a writer for Rolling Stone or some magazine like that. That’s all I know about that band.
Hi, Eric. I have a new mp3 blog. I posted a couple songs I think you would like (by Bimbo Toolshed and Big Trouble House). Please check it out!
Have you got that Out Of Order album? They were a great HC band in Chicago, saw them many times. They deserve an entry to themselves!
The Out Of Order LP is pretty good. It was reissued by Victory a few years back under a different name.
great post on a forgotten lp, but the best song on this comp by far: “Stupid” by NAKED RAYGUN… probably their best song!
Great comp, very glad to have a nice digital rip of it.
Sorta related: I just posted a live tape I made of Naked Raygun back in ‘84 over here:
http://scarstuff.blogspot.com/2006/02/naked-raygun-live-at-vfw18-in-kc-mo.html
‘Hunter’s Safety’ link down??
Many, many thanks, haven’t heard this since my friend’s LP melted. I have missed Mean People Suck most of all, even though I really never liked ROTA much…