| Smoking Songs | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Exit-13 With Bliss Blood | ||
| Released | 1996 | |
| Recorded | August 1995 at Sound Cage Studio in Lancaster, Pensylvania | |
| Genre | Jazz, Swing, Blues, Rock, Parody | |
| Length | 49:25 | |
| Label | Relapse Records | |
| Producer | Bill Yurkiewicz, Matthew F. "Two-Hit Baker" Jacobson, Willie The Record Releaser | |
| Exit-13 With Bliss Blood chronology | ||
| Hemdale/Exit-13 (1995) |
Smoking Songs (1996) |
Exit-13/Hemdale (1996) |
Smoking Songs, also known by its full title Smoking Songs - 13 Depraved Tracks of Reefer Madness, is a collaborative album between the Millersville, Pennsylvania grindcore band Exit-13 and Pain Teens singer Bliss Blood. While Exit-13 normally perform grindcore surrounding ecological problems, societal issues and the legalization of marijuana in regards to this album the band opted to parody 1930s ragtime jazz, swing and blues with a collection of reefer-themed covers from the era. Several of the songs feature partially or completely re-written lyrics.
Smoking Songs was released in 1996 via Relapse Records and, barring a couple split releases, would be the final release from Exit-13 before they disbanded in 1997.
Background[]
Smoking Songs would be recorded at Sound Cage Studio in Lancaster circa August 1995 and produced by Bill Yurkiewicz for Relapse Records. The album would be mastered at SAE Mastering in Phoenix, Arizona circa August 1995 and M Works in Cambridge, Massachusetts in August 1996. The cold meat logo parody photo is and actual homemade seed-cleaning machine taken from the 1913 U.S. Dept. Of Agriculture Yearbook (printed on cover artwork). Notably the full title is misspelled as "13 depraved tracks of refer madness" on the cover and the disc.
Smoking Songs was originally released in 1996 on CD, with a cassette reissue in 2015 via Grindfather Productions and the album's first vinyl issue in 2016 via Behind The Mountain.
Tracklist[]
- 1. Light Up! (2:58) (Buster Bailey's Rhythm Brothers)
- 2. Jack, I'm Mellow (2:56) (Trixie Smith)
- 3. If You're A Viper (Blissful Mix) (2:58) (Bob Howard And His Boys)
- 4. Stoney Monday (4:08)
- 5. When I Get Low, I Get High (2:36) (Chick Webb And His Orchestra, Ella Fitzgerald)
- 6. Lotus Blossom (Sweet Marijuana) (3:12) (Julia Lee & Her Boy Friends)
- 7. Willie The Record Releaser (3:17) (Ernest Rodgers)
- 8. 1'1 (Thirteen Inches Of Fun) (0:45) (Joe Young, Ray Henderson, Sam Lewis)
- 9. Weed (3:09) (Bea Foote)
- 10. If You're A Viper (Viper Mad Lilker Mix) (2:58) (Bob Howard And His Boys)
- 11. Knockin' Myself Out (2:55) (Lil Green)
- 12. Hempcake (1:15)
- 13. Sweet Marijuana Brown (13:00) (Barney Bigard Sextet)
- 14. Loading Dock (3:17)
Track Information[]
- 1. Light Up! - Written by Buster Bailey. Originally performed by Buster Bailey's Rhythm Busters in 1938. The lyrics are close to the original.
- 2. Jack, I'm Mellow - Written by and originally performed by Trixie Smith, 1938.
- 3. If You're A Viper (Blissful Mix) - written by Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith aka Stuff Smith. Originally performed by Smith and His Onyx Club Boys, 1936. Later performed by Rosetta Howard and the Harlem Hamfats, 1937; Bob Howard and His Boys, 1938.
- 4. Stoney Monday - based on the song "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)", written by Aaron Thibeaux Walker aka T-Bone Walker. Originally performed by T-Bone Walker, 1947. The lyrics were partially re-written and re-interpreted.
- 5. When I Get Low, I Get High - Originally performed by Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb and His Orchestra, 1936.
- 6. Lotus Blossom (Sweet Marijuana) - Written by Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston. Originally performed by Gertrude Michael in the musical film "Murder at the Vanities", 1934. Later performed by Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends, 1947.
- 7. Willie The Record Releaser - Based on the song "Willie the Chimney Sweeper", written and originally performed by Ernest Rogers, 1927.
- 8. 1'1 (Thirteen Inches Of Fun) - Based on the song "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue", written by Ray Henderson. Originally performed by The California Ramblers, 1925. Notably this song was drastically different than the original.
- 9. Weed - Written and originally performed by Bea Foote, 1938.
- 10. If You're A Viper (Viper Mad Lilker Mix) - Written by Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith aka Stuff Smith. Originally performed by Smith and His Onyx Club Boys, 1936. Later performed by Rosetta Howard and the Harlem Hamfats, 1937; Bob Howard and His Boys, 1938. An alternate mix that is drastically different from the original.
- 11. Knockin' Myself Out - Written and originally performed by Lillian Green aka Lil Green, 1941.
- 12. Hempcake - Based on traditional nursery jump tunes.
- 13. Sweet Marijuana Brown - Written by Leonard Feather. Originally performed by Barney Bigard Sextet, 1945.
- 14. Loading Dock - A secret noise track that appears after about ten minutes of silence following "Sweet Marijuana Brown".
Personnel[]
- Bliss Blood - Vocals, Backing Vocals (1), Kazoo (8), Inspiration
- Richard Hoak - Drums, Piano, Backing Vocals (1), Vocals (14), Ultra-Suave Crushed Red Velvet Smoking Jacket
- Steve O'Donnell - Guitar, Vocals (4, 8, 12), Backing Vocals (1), Official Session Fatty Technician
- Dan Lilker - Upright Bass, Piano, Vocals (1, 3, 10), Backing Vocals (7), Mixing, Loaded Pipes, Insubordination
- Bill Yurkiewicz aka Willie The Record Releaser - Vocals (7), Backing Vocals (5, 9) Producer, Liner Notes, Mixing, Mastering, Photography, Noises, Beer Blids
- Shawn McKenna - Trombone (1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10)
- Terry Sherry - Electric Bass (8, 13)
- Jan Leuzczek - Engineer
- Dave Shirk - Mastering
- Wes Benscoter - Artwork
- Alexandra Golaski - Photography
- Eric Horst - Graphics Artistry
- Matthew F. "Two-Hit Baker" Jacobson - Executive Producer