Violent Femmes Add It Up: 1981-1993 CD

The perfect introduction to the world of the Violent Femmes, ADD IT UP is a collection of studio tracks, live versions, and assorted ephemera. It includes some of the band's classics--"Blister in the Sun," "Gone Daddy Gone," and "Jesus Walking on the Water"--as well as a sizable number of previously unreleased songs and demos. Among the latter are a studio version of a live favorite ("Waiting for the Bus"), the horn-section breakdown of "Dance, Motherf*cker, Dance," and "36-24-36," which features the (destined to be immortal) lyrics "36-24-36, I want lots of pretty chicks." "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up" also appear, both in typically charming, ramshackle live versions.

According to the band, ADD IT UP is meant to close the first chapter of the Violent Femmes' history. Considering the band's influence on American music, the record also serves to remind us that the whole generation of "geek-rockers" that follow in the Femmes' footsteps are doing just that: following where their elders have already been.



Includes liner notes by Elliott Murphy.

ADD IT UP: 1981-1993 contains The Violent Femmes greatest hits, live material, previously unreleased recordings, b-sides, demos and answering machine messages.

The Violent Femmes: Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar); Brian Ritchie (vocals, bass, didgeridoo, jaw harp, xylophone); Victor De Lorenzo (vocals, drums).

Producers: Glenn Lorbiecki, Mark Van Hecke, Jerry Harrison, Warren Bruleigh, Michael Beinhorn.

Engineers include: The Violent Femmes, John Tanner, Victor De Lorenzo.

Personnel: Victor de Lorenzo (vocals, whistling, drums); Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar, fiddle); Brian Ritchie (vocals, guitar, didjeridu, xylophone, Jew's harp); Peter Balestrieri (vocals, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Cynthia Gayneau (vocals); Tony Trischka (banjo); Christina Houghton (autoharp); Ashwin Batish (sitar); John Zorn (clarinet, alto saxophone); Jerry Harrison (soprano saxophone); Caleb Alexander, Bob Jennings (tenor saxophone); Dominick Placco (trumpet); Drake Scott (cornet); Sigmund Snopek III (trombone, piano, organ); Michael Beinhorn (organ); Tom Mandel (keyboards).

Audio Mixers: David Vartanian; Eric "ET" Thorngren; John Tanner; Warren A. Bruleigh.

Liner Note Author: Elliott Murphy.

Recording information: American Recording, Woodland Hills, CA (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Carriage House, Stamford, CT (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Castle Studio, Lake Geneva, WI (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); DV's Perversion Room, Milwaukee, WI (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Midwest Recorders, Milwaukee, WI (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Music Works, London, England (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Palace [live] (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Secret Sound Studios, New York, NY (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Stebbing Recording Centre, Auckland, New Zealand (09/12/1981-04/06/1992); Sympathetic Muffler, Milwaukee, WI (09/12/1981-04/06/1992).

Photographers: Rocky Schenck; David Vartanian; George Lange; Francis Ford ; Diane Jefferis; Ken Hansen; Howard Rosenberg; Paul Natkin; Daniel Corrigan; Geoff "Stinky" Worman; Karen Keene; Sigmund Snopek III.

Additional personnel: Drake Scott (various instruments); Peter Balestrieri (vocals, tenor & baritone saxophones); Cynthia Gayneau (vocals); Tony Trischka (banjo); Ashwin Batish (sitar); Christina Houghton (autoharp);Bobby Jennings, Caleb Alexander (tenor saxophone); Dominic Placco (trumpet); Drake Scott (cornetto); Sigmund Snopek III (trombone, piano, organ); Mike Kashou (conch); Tom Mandel (keyboards); Michael Beinhorn (organ).Entertainment Weekly (10/1/93, p.56) - "...a beautiful reminder of how thoroughly Gordon Gano and his mighty crew have ingested American folk music, only to puke it back up, punk style..." - Rating: B+
Q (12/93, p.146) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...on ADD IT UP anything goes: ansaphone messages, swearing, threats, inebriated announcements and the pick of five strange, dark albums..."
Melody Maker (10/30/93, p.35) - "...a salient reminder that when The Violent Femmes were truly pulsed, it was like watching a boxing match between Jesus Christ and Beelzebub televised live inside your own head...."