Stiff Generation CD

THE STIFF GENERATION is a tribute to British Label Stiff Records.

Stiff Records, and its weird and wonderful roster of artists, was the obvious punk rock model for the future independent label honchos who bring you this tribute to the finest independent label of its era. The disheveled, loopy collection of characters on Stiff offered a scene to which awkward, music-loving teens like ourselves could aspire. The classic cool of The Clash or the menacing glare of The Sex Pistols may have been out of reach, but lanky, long-haired Nick Lowe; jumpy, bespectacled Elvis Costello; and the rest of that rag-tag roster seemed just a few pints removed from our sorry lot in the Future Rock Star Sweepstakes. Stiff let us in on a joke that was long overdue in a bloated age of "Corporate Rock." Beyond the giddy images and sly slogans, the music delivered in 3-minute bursts that did not discriminate among various styles rock 'n roll. While paving the way for punk's DIY esthetic, Stiff allowed for celebration of rock 'n roll's young and innocent past, releasing straightforward cover versions of AM radio staples by the likes of Tommy James and the Shondells, Carla Thomas, and Dusty Springfield. Childhood fascination with pop music and adolescent ambitions for its future coalesced. It is for these reasons and all the unstated commercial ones that we assembled The Stiff Generation. We hope you get as much enjoyment out of this collection as we had compiling it. We're counting on you to agree that each contribution maintains the high level of energy, originality, fun, and artistry that made the original versions so worthy of tribute!

Performers include: Matthew Sweet, Amy Rigby, Bill Lloyd, The Bigger Lovers, Frisbie, The Lowe Beats, Clive Gregson, Chris Von Sneidern, Ian Gomm

Personnel: Scott McCaughey (vocals, guitar, piano); David Byron Ragsdale (vocals, guitar, drums); Jim Slade (vocals, guitar, background vocals); Clive Gregson, Ian Gomm, Janas Hoyt, Lisa Mychols, Amy Rigby, Peter Horvath, Art Difuria, Mike Frank (vocals, guitar); Huw Gower (vocals, electric guitar); Dorothy Haug (vocals, organ, background vocals); Steve Holley (vocals, drums, percussion); Seth Baer (vocals, drums); Pat Buchanan (vocals, sound effects); Beth Filla, Dawn Eden, Scott Jefferson, Andy Rosenau, Robin Sutliff, Steve Frisbie, Bill Lloyd (vocals); Bret Tobias (guitar, drums); Greg Goodwill, Jimmy Charles, Joe Brien, Taff Williams (guitar, background vocals); Ed Hogarty, Tom Richards , John Ramberg, Jim Sangster (guitar); Keith Lentin (acoustic guitar, keyboards); Megan Weeder, Heather Craig (violin, background vocals); Nick Glennie-Smith (keyboards, background vocals); Brian King (drums, percussion, background vocals); Alan Coulter, Tom Hambridge (drums, background vocals); Mikey McCormack , Derek Ritchie, Ric Menck, Paul Griffith, Patrick Berkery (drums); Scott Baggett (sound effects); The Anderson Council, Bobby Sutliff, Rod Demick (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Chris Unrath; Paul Adshead; Scott Baggett; Bill Lloyd; Andrew Chalfen.

Recording information: 30 40 Studios, Chicago, IL; Big Sound, Portland, ME; Blue Planet Studio, Nashville, TN; Def Heffer Recording Studio, Nashville, TN; Eardrum Land, Philadelphia, PA; Farm Fresh Studios, Bloomington, IN; House Of Vibes, New Brunswick, NJ; LowBeat; Ordophon Studio, San Francisco, CA; Pennine Sound Studios, Oldham, Lancashire, England; Silverlake Moon Studios, Silverlake, CA; Skrang Studio, Powell, OH; Soundgun, Philadelphia, PA; Table Mountain Studio, New York, NY; The Bigger Lovers; The Bottom Line, New York, NY; The Fuselage, Seattle, WA.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Chris Von Sneidern; Matthew Sweet; Scott Baggett; Bobby Sutliff.