Speedball Baby – Uptight! (CD, US)

12 September 2000

In The Red Recordings

ITR 072

01. I’m Addictive 02. Dangerous Top 03. The Al Green Shuffle 04. December? 05. Mekong Sue 06. Hot Boxin’ Baby 07. Tappin’ My Neighbah! 08. Numb 09. Pocket Fulla Fish 10. The Crybabies (Otis) 11. 8 Ft. Cigaret 12. Wobbly Organ
VIEW:

NOTES:
Regular CD edition, features Judah Bauer on Pocket Fulla Fish, also issued on vinyl. The booklet features a line of text under each song title (as detailed in song credits). And the sleeve includes all members of the Blues Explosion in the ‘Thanks’ list. Speedball Baby guitarist Matt Verta-Ray would go on to form Heavy Trash with Jon Spencer and work on records by numerous other artists including Five Dollar Priest, Lost Crusaders, Rob K, Micragirls, The King Brothers, Edison Rocket Train, Puffy AmiYumi and many more.
SONG CREDITS:
01. I’m Addictive “Poet angered at Coty of Boston. Pledges sexual congress and co-dependence.” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Martin Owens Bass/Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Piano: Ali Smith Vox: Ron Ward & Mick Collins Vibes: Brooke Williams 02. Dangerous Top “Leathboy seeks transcendence with psychotic S&M partner. Serious calls only” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Martin Owens Bass: Ali Smith Guitar/Organ: Matt Verta-Ray Vox: Ron Ward Percussion: Rick Lee 03. The Al Green Shuffle “Wherein a surralist morphine dream produced a slat & pepper team, conjures spectre of the great Al Green” Writers: Verta-Ray/Ward Published: Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced: Kolderie/Slade/Verta-Ray at NY Hed and Fort Apache, Boston Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Martin Owens Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Bass: Ali Smith Vox: Ron Ward Organ: Sean Slade 04. December? “Two midgets bemoan their own unceremonious death in sinking rowboat, drunk on whiskey” Writers: Verta-Ray/Ward Published: Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Martin Owens Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Bass: Ali Smith Vox: Ron Ward & Ali Smith Piano: Lily Wolf Organ: Jim Duffy 05. Mekong Sue “Bosom of Abraham invoked. Kennedy clan, bondage, a blackish man, skip the noose, paralyzed!” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Parker Kindred Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Bass: Ali Smith Vox: Ron Ward & Ali Smith Piano: Lilli Wolf Organ: Daniel Collas Drum Arrangement: Martin Owens 06. Hot Boxin’ Baby “Strip club patron love struck by smoking woman on subway platform, face bathed in cigaret’s light” Writers: Verta-Ray/Ward Published: Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums/Trombone: Dave Varenka Guitar/Bass/Sax/B Vox: Matt Verta-Ray Vox: Ron Ward Harmonica: Marcellus Hall B3/Vibes: Daniel Collas B Vox: Ali Smith 07. Tappin’ My Neighbah! “Amorous laborer beds and taps downstairs neighbor despite risk of HIV infection” Writers: Collins/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: South Of Eight Mile Music/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Tony Corsano Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Bass/B Vox: Ali Smith Vox (duet): Ron Ward & Mick Collins Choral Vox/Organ: Christina Campanella 08. Numb “In a dream I saw her down on Mott Street. (I’m like the pimp, the hustler, the whore…)” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Parker Kindred Bass (elec): Ali Smith Bass (stand up): Andrew Hall B3: Daniel Collas Guitar/Pedal Steel: Matt Verta-Ray Vox: Ron Ward & Ali Smith Tenor Sax: Ori Kaplan Pocket Trumpet: Zomo Phone Call: Dicko Wathers Horn Arrangement 09. Pocket Fulla Fish “Singer reactivates monkey for joyride to the crowd’s dismay. “Sun ain’t gonna shine. Drink wine!” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Drums: Martin Owens Bass: Ali Smith Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray & Judah Bauer Sax: Ori Kaplan Organ: Daniel Collas Percussion: Rick Lee Vox: Ron Ward 10. The Crybabies (Otis) “A killer’s nostalgia for happier times. Mamma was a ugly as a bulldog chewin’ a wasp!” Writers: Verta-Ray/Ward (interpolation: “Ne Me Quitte Pas” by Jacques Brel, Edward B. Marks Music Corp., BMI) Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith B3: Daniel Collas Bass: Ali Smith Acetone Organ/B Vox@ Christina Campanella B Vox: Mick Collins Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Drums: Dave Varenka Vox: Ron Ward 11. 8 Ft. Cigaret “The long, tall man with the famous three foot finger. Don’t get too close.” Writers: Collas/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Organ: Daniel Collas Vox: Ron Ward Bass/Banjo: Matt Verta-Ray Clarinet: Ori Kaplan 12. Wobbly Organ “She: Is yours raisin too? He: No, but it’s waverin’!” Writers: Smith/Verta-Ray/Ward Published: What’s An Oubliette?/Alive, He Said/Marsupial Parley-Vous, BMI Produced/Recorded: Matt Verta-Ray at NY Hed Studio, NYC Mixed: Matt Verta-Ray & Ali Smith Vox/Drums: Ron Ward Vibes: Ali Smith Wurlitzer Piano: Nick Balaban Guitar: Matt Verta-Ray Tenor Sax: Parker Noon Horn Arrangement: Wolf/Noon
SLEEVE NOTES:
“Thanks to: Paul kolderie, Sean Slade, Larry Hardy, Mick Collins, Dee Pop (for Blitzkrieg Bop), Subsonics, Lily Wolf (for piano on “I’m Gonna Stomp Mr. Harry Lee”), Judah Bauer, Parker Noon, Jim Duffy (for organ on “Don’t Turn Blue”), Lisa Wisely, Christina Campanella, Jay Braum, Puss Cat, Madder Rose, Ori Kaplan, Elysian Fields, Oren Kaplan, Dave Varenka, 20 Miles, JSBX, Joyce and Mel Ward, P.K., Long Gone John, Kid Congo Powers, Rick Lee, Tom Sileghem, Lesie Day, Zomo, REV, Dylan Ray Salvatori, Daniel Collas, Candy Pitman, Calla, Six, Shannon O’Kelly, Dylan Haley, Tara Goss, Nick Balalban, Martin Owens (for years of beautiful drumming), Cristina Martinez, Jon Spencer, Hollis Queens, Bruce Bennett, Parker Kindred, Brooke Williams, High Maintenance Records, Russell Simins, Russell Simmons, Bruce Milne, Fionna at Au Go Go, Man’s Ruin, Carmine Coppola, Dicko Mathers, LoHi, LoLite, The Gunga Din, Bob Ross, Mojo Guitars, White Hassle, Marce Hall, Alec, Tony Lee From Avenue “B”, Andrew Hall, Johnny McNabb, Evert Nijkamp, Suzy Creamcheese and Mitch, David Whitehead, Andy Hiermans, Johan Rutgens, Ruud Berends (Paperclip), Bob Log III, Blackie Pagano, Tubesville, Social “D”, Generation “D” and the boys from Avenue “D”, Pseudo.com, Annette Planck, Dave Richman, Toby Amies, Gigi Elmes, Gene Kliot, Andre & Mary Smith, E.C. (for inspiration), Courtney Morberg. For ACV.”
DETAILS:
ARTWORK: Front Cover Photo: Peter Agliata from a film bu Bruce Bennett Back Cover Photo: Parker Noon Ali’s Photo: Tanjya Holland Other Photos: Ali Smith Drawings: Brian Dewan/Ali Smith Layout/Graphics: Dave Richman BARCODE: 7 59718 50722 5 MATRIX: “DADR 20F73<0392>ITR072″