SKAFISH (2019 Remastered Reissue)

by Skafish

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Phast Eddie This is possibly, no, definitely, the greatest release of the 20th century... It's the total package.

podglaze This album is big fun and I am totally jazzed to hear it again after a passage of more years than I care to think about!

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

The download includes a 22 page digital booklet which features the complete CD digipack artwork and photos, all lyrics, and original/reissue credits.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
The digipack CD package includes the restored album cover, photos (circa 1979), a 16 page booklet that contains every lyric (both sung and spoken), along with the original and reissue credits.

Includes unlimited streaming of SKAFISH (2019 Remastered Reissue) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
The digipack CD package includes the restored album cover, photos (circa 1979), a 16 page booklet that contains every lyric (both sung and spoken), along with the original and reissue credits, personally autographed by Skafish.

Please indicate how you would like this personalized (name, message).

Includes unlimited streaming of SKAFISH (2019 Remastered Reissue) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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$25 USD or more
Poster/Print
11" x 17" limited edition poster, personally autographed by Skafish, shipped in a sturdy poster container.

Please indicate how you would like this personalized (name, message).

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T-Shirt/Apparel
Black t-shirt with full-color album cover on front. Sizes available are S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL. The shirts are Gildan 5000 Heavy 100% preshrunk cotton. T-shirt comes in a plastic bag.

First run, limited quantities. This is a pre-order and starts shipping on November 29, 2019.

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$27 USD or more
Full Digital Discography

Get all 4 Skafish releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of SKAFISH (2019 Remastered Reissue), Tidings of Comfort and Joy: A Jazz Piano Trio Christmas, What's This? 1976-1979, and BOOTLEG 21-35. , and , .

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1.	Introduction 00:33	lyrics	buy track

2.	Joan Fan Club 03:29	info	buy track
3.	Maybe One Time 02:54	lyrics	buy track

4.	Obsessions of You 02:56	lyrics	buy track

5.	We'll See A Psychiatrist 03:29	lyrics	buy track

6.	Romantic Lessons 03:39	lyrics	buy track

7.	Sink Or Swim (Bonus Track) 03:57	lyrics	buy track

8.	Work Song 03:47	lyrics	buy track

9.	Guardian Angel 04:16	lyrics	buy track

10.	Disgracing The Family Name 03:33	lyrics	buy track

11.	No Liberation Here 04:49	lyrics	buy track

12.	Take It Out On You 03:16	lyrics	buy track

about

After being out of print for nearly 40 years, the debut Skafish album is finally available for the first time digitally and on CD on Skafish’s own label, 829 Records. The meticulously remastered album includes the bonus track Sink or Swim, one of the most radical Skafish tracks of that era. The CD package includes the restored album cover, photos (circa 1979), a 16 page booklet that contains every lyric (both sung and spoken), along with the original and reissue credits.

Long considered a cult classic, the debut album was originally released on the now legendary I.R.S. Records label on May 7, 1980 at 4:30 PM Greenwich Mean time.

At the time of its original release, the album cover, featuring the delicately posed, androgynous image of Skafish, was so hated by American radio that they refused to play the album, based solely on the cover.

Skafish wrote the album's compositions between 1975-1979, and was the sole producer and arranger of the project.

The music represented a seemingly-contradictory, diverse mixture of genres and styles, with each of the songs being often dramatically different from each other. Elements of punk, new wave, alternative, indie, post-punk, classical, orchestral, electronica, 20th century avant-garde, noise, polytonality, atonality, progressive jazz, pop, and doo-wop were featured.

As a lyricist, Skafish was one of the first to ever write about a variety of controversial, taboo topics. Those included the still relevant, brutal reality of bullying, fat shaming, and gay bashing. Skafish foreshadowed the dysfunction and psychological torment that is now a commonplace topic in today’s music. He directly confronted being a social misfit, and flaunted disgracing his family name.

I.R.S. Records CEO Miles Copeland credits Skafish as being the artist who “helped put Chicago on the map as the pioneer of Punk and New Wave there and on the international stage, gave audiences a really insane ride."

Skafish first burst onto the Chicago scene in February 1976 when the then 19 year old unleashed his shocking new style of performance with his newly formed band. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick attended many of Skafish’s earliest shows. Here’s what they went on record to say: “Unpredictable, over the top with life or death conviction and reckless abandon, Skafish created punk, new wave, and alternative rock in Chicago.”

His performing resume includes being the first Chicago punk / alternative artist to perform at CBGB in New York in April 1977; Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles in February 1978; appearing at the first Milton Keynes bowl in London in July 1980 before an audience of 45,000; and that August, being filmed in front of approximately 20,000 people in the south of France for the international live concert film extravaganza, Urgh! A Music War, while on tour in England and Europe with The Police, XTC, Squeeze, English Beat , UB-40 and others. Skafish has also toured and/or performed with the likes of: Ramones, Iggy Pop, The Stranglers, New Order, Ultravox, Scorpions, The Cramps, Mumps, The Lemonheads, Scorpions, Sector 27, Sha Na Na and Dead Boys.

credits

released November 29, 2019

Skafish: Piano, Telephone Call, Vocal
Ken Bronowski: Guitar, Bugle, Vocal
Javier Cruz: Synthesizer, Mellotron, Clavinet, Organ, Vocal
Barbie Goodrich: Adapted Slide Guitar, Slide Whistle, Vocal, Spoken Female Parts
Larry Mazalan: Bass Guitar, Vibraslap, Vocal
Larry Mysliwiec: Drum Set, Synthetic Drum, Maracas, Tambourine
Gayle Crowder: Vocal

Astrological guidance and calculation: Cheryl Weiss
Psychic assistance and predictions: Glinda Harrison
Magickal incantations and psychic assistance: Merlin
Cover photograph: Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve
Inner photographs: Bill Sosin/Photo Reserve
1980 personal management: The Cameron Organisation
1980 road manager: Jimy Sohns
Recorded at P.S. Studios, summer of 1979, Chicago, Illinois
Engineers: Paul Serrano, Scott Rowley
1980 album mixed by Javier Cruz
Sink or Swim mixed by Skafish
1980 release mastered by Frank De Luna
1980 executive assistance: Miles Copeland, Jean Cameron
1980 special thanks to David E. Webb

2019 reissue Executive Producer: Skafish
2019 reissue remastered by Trevor Sadler at Mastermind Productions
2019 reissue image restoration: Printlab, Chicago, Illinois
Band photograph (circa 1979): Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve
2019 reissue collage: The Design Studio at Disc Makers
2019 reissue design: Skafish/Glinda Harrison
Graphics by the Design Studio at Disc Makers

In memoriam: Barbie Goodrich and Scott Cameron. I wish you were here for this.

Special thanks to all the fans who generously contributed to supporting the reissue of this album. You are forever appreciated here and beyond - Skafish

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about

Skafish Chicago, Illinois

Chicago and Indiana's first punk, new wave, alternative, indie and underground rock artist, and a pioneer of these art forms internationally. Skafish made his first record in 1970, has released 7 LP’s, toured/performed with such artists as The Police, Ramones, Iggy Pop, XTC, UB-40, Stranglers, The Cramps, English Beat, Sha Na Na, Scorpions, & U-2, and appeared in the film "Urgh! A Music War! ... more

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Track Name: Introduction: Hi, I’m Barbie
C’mon right in
I think we have a lot of things to talk about

You know, when I was in high school
I was a cheerleader and I was very popular
I went on dates, to dances, to parties,
And I had so much fun

Now, it’s a few years later
And I’m just waiting to fall in love
With that right person
Then, everything will be wonderful

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Maybe One Time: As my spirit cries out
Hoping someone might be there
Well I guess I could forget
All the affection I wish to give
Watch me look the other way
As I watch them walk right by me
Holding hands, being close
My half smile is so forced

Just look at me
(la la la la)
You know I'm a sight
After all this time
Love’s still not right
I'm warm and safe
(la la la la)
Yet shaking with fright
Such a lonely night

Lovers clinging together
Never alone out every single night
Love could end anytime
Hanging on, hanging on till a goodbye

Just look at me
(la la la la)
You know I'm a sight
After all this time
Love’s still not right
I’m warm and safe
(la la la la)
Yet shaking with fright
Such a lonely night

They touch each other
I’m touched by it
lf I could run to the store
Buy it now
How much would it cost to be held?
Maybe one time
Maybe one time
Maybe one time
Maybe one time

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Obsessions of You: You aren't turned on by me at all
You don't like the way that I look
Every night I will cast a spell, it is put on you
So you lose your will then you will be mine
Obsessions, obsessions, they are of you
Possession, possession, I want your heart
Together, together, we never part
So happy, so happy, just me and you

When I’m with you I just put myself down (down, down)
I act nervous, you must think that I’m a clown (clown)
You don't think that I am in pain when you're with your love
Sitting way too close then you go to bed
Obsessions, obsessions, they are of you

You infest my blood stream
You grow roots in my heart (in my heart)
You are the disease in me
that spreads and won’t stop (it won’t stop)

I might kill myself today
'Cause I want you
You don't want me
I want my way
I won't give in
This time I will not compromise my dream of having you

But should I wait just one more day
To be a pest
And ring your phone
To act like I
Just called to talk?
When I want every word and every breath to be a dream
I shake
When I see you I shake
For you it's nothing

Now I pray my life can come to an end (now)
Rest in peace
There's no rest when a soul is black when disease is there
There will be no peace there is no escape
Obsessions, obsessions, they are of you
Possession, possession, I want your heart
Together, together, we never part
So happy, so happy, just me and you

And now the time has come
To take a stand
I won't back down
I cannot live with nothing
I want everything
I want my way
I am stuck alive
My soul (soul), it cannot die
I've tried before
The body dies
The soul lives on
My soul is sick
It has disease
I watch it grow
It spreads and kills my heart
(no, no,)
And travels through my bloodstream
(no, no, no,)
Finding every part of me
(no, no, no)

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: We'll See A Psychiatrist: Spoken:
We’ll see a psychiatrist
We’re going to the psychiatrist
We’ll see a psychiatrist!

ln the car I go
Where I go, I don't know
I am beat black and blue
That's what I learned in school
I try to run away
But I get caught each day
I swallow lots of pills
I try to die but

We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)
We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)
We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)

Mother cries all day
Spoken: (crying and whimpering)
She kneels and prays to God
Spoken: Oh Jesus help me Jesus save us
She never thought her kid
Would flop and be so weird
Daddy's busy now
He doesn't want to hear
Spoken: Shut up I’m busy
He's dreaming of more money
Spoken: Nothing’s really wrong
Spoken: It’s just a check up now

We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)
We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)
We'll see a psychiatrist
(Don't be afraid)
There is no escape today

Who’s there?
Who’s there?
Who's there?

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Romantic Lessons: Walking slowly through the park
Holding hands
I see a boy and a girl
Beauty glows in their eyes
All day I will follow them
But don't run from me
I’m not a thief
I won't take anything
I won't harm you
You're teaching me
What love should be
I will try and learn

Learn a lesson every day
About love
The pain remains in my heart
Late at night, I’m alone
I sit and dream about love
But I always knew
Love was for two
Something hurts in my soul
It is throbbing
I want to learn
I will observe
You won’t know I’m there

I watch you kiss
I sense the bliss
Of hearts entranced by love
I watch you to learn
How your love flows with ease
And without strain

l can’t believe
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
No love for me
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
I try hard every day
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
To be hopeful
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
Time passes fast
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
Lessons can last
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it,)
All throughout my life
(doubt it, doubt it, doubt it, doubt it)

And the time may never come
(ooh,)
When I know love will grow in my life
(ooh, ooh, ooh,)
Instead of teaching me painful lessons
(ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh,)
Every day I watch one kiss
(ooh, ooh, ooh,)
So wonderful to see
(ooh, ooh,)
But not for me
(ooh,)
It's out of reach
(ooh, ooh)
Romantic lessons every day
Ooh ah

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Sink Or Swim (Bonus Track): Funny baby, gotta get rid of it
Drop it in the water
Get it on its own
Get rid of it
Sink or swim

Okay baby, you’re on your own
Get away from me
I don’t want you anymore
Sink or swim
Drop you in the water

Mister, want a baby?
Hey mister, want a baby?
Take this baby away from me
I don’t want it anymore
Get away sink or swim

Finally born, baby just sink or swim

Cockroach baby
Gotta drop you in the water, lake, lagoon, toilet
Here’s a sink or swim ugly baby

I am trying
I am drowning
I try to swim
Help me to swim

Finally born, just sink or swim
Get, get, get, get, get, get away from me, baby
You’re on your own
Just sink or swim

Drop the baby in the water

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Work Song: What's the average guy gonna do?
What's the average guy gonna do?
He just has a labor job
He can't find a better job
Work all day in the steel mill
Be a cop or drive a truck
Get a four-year college degree
End up in the factory
Be the man who works all day
You get your pay
Spend it on a Friday night

Life's not great but it's not bad
You don't think much about being sad
You just do what you have to do
Work all day you got a job to do
Muscles work
Your body is as hard as rock
Hit him like a rock tonight

Drive the car through morning traffic
Punch the clock and start the day
The loud machines ring in your ear
The air is grey, your body’s aching
(Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
When does it stop so you can relax?
Get up every morning, work for your money

There's a bar right down the street
After work the guys meet
They're dirty and hot, they want a beer
They watch the baseball game here
Chicago Cubs will play today
They're gonna shout, "Hey! Hey!”
Blacks and whites and Mexicans
Ethnic men from Poland
Call your friends
You'll have some fun when you get drunk
Drinking with the guys tonight

Drive the car through morning traffic
Punch the clock and start the day
The loud machines ring in your ear
The air is grey, your body’s aching
(Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
When does it stop so you can relax?
Get up every morning, work for your money
No one helps you out
You're stuck like millions, working every day
Just work, work, work, work, work, work, work, work,
Work, work, work, work, work, it won't stop
(Uh, uh) Ah (uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh)
All the men work, they're stuck in the middle
Nowhere near richness but they aren't starving
Taxes, food, car payments, electric bills
Oh, but you're not starving

Now you’re an old man
Do you get to retire?
Or do you die soon from a heart attack?
You worked your whole life and broke your back
Every day just seemed the same, you did your work,
work, work, work, work,
work, work, work, work

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Guardian Angel: Guardian angel, guardian dear
To whom his love commits me here
Ever this day be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide, amen

There is an angel
Flying above
With fine white wings
Does she know?
He will protect her
From pain or harm
When she's asleep
He will watch

Late at night
She's alone
Then she cries
Nothing can harm you ‘cause he will be there

You will always have a guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Look above and see your guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
He’ll watch
He guards with his white wings
As you’re sleeping

He is so strong
Stronger than men
He guards the street
When she walks

From the car
To the door
ln the house
Nothing can harm you ‘cause he will be there

You will always have a guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Look above and see your guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
He’ll watch
He guards with his white wings
As you’re sleeping

Now I lay me down to sleep tonight
Guardian angel, fly above my bed

ln the dark
Don’t be scared
Just sleep tight
Nothing can harm you ‘cause he will be there

You will always have a guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
Look above and see your guardian angel
(Ah, ah, ah, ah)
He’ll watch
He guards with his white wings
As you’re sleeping

Now I lay me down to sleep tonight
Guardian angel, fly above my bed
lf I die, make sure I fly above
Guardian angel, guard my soul
And watch me as I sleep all night
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Disgracing The Family Name: Spoken: How are the old folks at home?

Grandmother built respect for family name
My father worked to keep it just the same
My mother once was proud of family name
Paralyzing the family name with paralysis

My brother, Peter, does not understand
My sister, Mary Lou, hopes the best
When I was small they knew I was a pest
Pesty little moron, now I am

Disgracing the family name
Debasing the family name
Erasing their fine, fine reputation
How are the old folks at home?

Parents rejected me, household germ
I crawl all through the garden with the worms
I am the rotten apple with the worms
Chewing at my core, now I am

Disgracing the family name
Debasing the family name
Erasing their fine, fine reputation
Listen to them whine as they dine
Whi - whi - whi - whi - whi - i - ne, yeah

I started school at a primal age
Teachers were so enraged, hated me
I lifted old ladies dresses at age three
Dirty as a baby, goo goo, now I am

Disgracing the family name
Debasing the family name
Erasing their fine, fine reputation
How are the old folks at home?
Oh, they hang their heads in shame

Better leave the neighborhood
And change your name ‘cause I am
Disgracing the family name
Destroy
Debasing the family name
Wrecking, ruining
Erasing their fine, fine reputation
I will embarrass
Defacing their lovely reputation

Disgracing the family name
Destroy
Debasing my family name
SuffocatIng
Erasing, oh their fine, fine reputation
Defacing their lovely reputation
Wrecking, ruining
Mama, mama, mama, mama, mama, mama

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: No Liberation Here: Spoken: There’s no liberation here
There’s no liberation anywhere!

I am feeling like I need some abuse
Throw me 'round the room. let me be misused
We don't have a right
No liberation here

Rub my nose in doggie's duty today
Please embarrass me so l'l be ashamed
We cannot be proud
No liberation here

We can't walk with our heads held high
We can’t walk the streets now
Our faces get beat now
We will not pretend that we have real rights
Here, prison does not need bars
Bloodshed today
And we know it will not change
We live in shame

Guilt produces sex that's awkward and cheap
As my hands caress you I must be beat
And I know we can't meet again, forever

Every night, there's tension on the streets every night
I cruise up and down ‘round the town
Behold, bodies are ripe
But you can’t stop years of conditioning
Even when you turn out the lights
My darling, darling it’s you and me, oh yeah
Here is my bed
We pretend to understand and make
The birds and bees

We can’t walk with our heads held high
We can't walk the streets now
Our faces get beat now
We will not pretend that we have real rights
Here prison does not need bars
Bloodshed today
And we know it will not change
We live in shame

We don't have a right
No liberation here
We cannot be proud
Fellow prisoners, we are prisoners
We can’t walk with our heads held high
No liberation here
(yelping)

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved
Track Name: Take It Out On You: Hell exists on this earth
You have created mine
I’ll throw you in eternal fire
Gonna take it out on you (you), you (you)
You beautiful you

You can slice a stray dog
You can beat a retarded kld
But you kicked me in the teeth
Gonna take it out on you (you), you (you)
You beautiful you

The only wounds that time heals
Are just tiny hangnails
I reject false resolutions
Gonna take it out on you (you), you (you)
You beautiful you

We will throw a funeral
ln memory of you
You'll be six feet under
Gonna take it out on you (you), you (you)
You beautiful you (you), be (be),
Six (six) feet (feet), six feet under

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,

I will live a short life
(ah, ah, ah,)
I won't resolve a thing
(ah, ah, ah,)
I will die suspended
(ah, ah, ah,)
But before I do
(ah, ah, ah,)
I’ll jump onto your heart
(ah, ah, ah,)
Trampoline on you
(ah, ah, ah,)
All your guts will fly out
(ah, ah, ah,)
I cease the life inside of you
(ah, ah, ah)
Jump on your heart

Spoken:
And just remember
All of this is because of you (you), you (you),
you (you), you (you), you (you), you (you),
you (you), you (you), you (you), you (you),
you (you), you (you), you (you), you (you),
you (you), you (you)

© Copyright Skafish Music BMI - All Rights Reserved

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