YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS - The Fabulous Sounds Of The Pacific Northwest [40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition] - 2CD [JUN 28]

2CD - 40th anniversary reissue of their classic debut, remix from original 8-track tapes by Scott McCaughey. Includes a bonus disc – Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp – an ultra-rare party-in-the-studio 1984 cassette release of about 200 copies.   

Formed (conceptually) by Scott McCaughey and Chuck Carroll in Seattle, WA in 1981, The Young Fresh Fellows, with the addition of Chuck’s mad-drumming cousin Tad Hutchison, began work on their debut effort in 1983. Friend Conrad Uno volunteered to produce and record the trio in his basement/garage Egg Studios (no money exchanged hands), and Uno’s fledgling label PopLlama Products insisted on pushing the record out into the world, beyond a small circle of friends. 

Starting with the magical success of this album, PopLlama would become a fixture in the still-floundering Seattle music scene and the home of bands including Fastbacks, The Posies, Dharma Bums, and The President Of The United States Of America (whose Uno-produced debut would go on to be certified Triple Platinum by the RIAA.)  Inspired by a 1960’s single from Pacific Northwest Bell to promote tourism, the cover plays homage to that release, with sound bites as “narrator” from that original record (and now, either thankfully or regretfully, omitted from this cut-to-the-rock‘n’roll-chase remix). 

The Fellows suddenly found themselves darlings of college radio, with an enthusiastic following, and admired by their peers. A bouncy, punky, jangly, and weirdly self-referential collection of songs, The Fabulous Sounds Of The Pacific Northwest became a favourite of anyone who came upon it, including early proponents like Paul Westerberg, Ira Robbins, NRBQ, Rolling Stone, and Peter Buck. 

Now, for its 40th Anniversary, co-founder and songwriter/vocalist Scott McCaughey (R.E.M., The Minus 5, The Baseball Project) has remixed the album to (re)introduce it to the world. The idea was to put 40 years of music-making experience into the mix (push up the bass fader), without losing the naiveté and wonder that fueled its initial reception. 

The original album’s 15 tracks is pressed on limited-edition, opaque Turquoise vinyl. The (now) double-CD include a bonus disc – Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp – an ultra-rare party-in-the-studio 1984 cassette release of about 200 copies.  

Tracklist:

CD 1
1.    Rock 'n' Roll Pest Control
2.    All Messed Up
3.    Think Better Of Me
4.    Empty Set Takes A Vacation
5.    Teenage Dogs In Trouble
6.    You Call That Lonely?
7.    View From Above
8.    Big House
9.    Power Mowers Theme
10.    Gus Theme
11.    This Little Mystery
12.    A Humble Guy
13.    Down By The Pharmacy
14.    That Letter
15.    Young Fresh Fellows Theme

CD 2
1.    Down By The Pharmacy (Xmas Version) [Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp]
2.    I'm Not Trying To Hurt You (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
3.    Filet Of Soul (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
4.    Someone I Care About (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
5.    This Little Mystery (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
6.    The Sharing Patrol (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
7.    If I Had A Hammer (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
8.    Topsy Turvy Theme (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
9.    I Wish I Was Your Mother (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
10.    Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
11.    Young Fresh Fellows Theme (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
12.    You Call That Lonely? (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
13.    Teenage Dogs In Trouble (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)
14.    Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp-Gulp (Merry Croutons Mr. Gulp Gulp)