I love it when I stumble across records I never knew existed. Especially when I learn that it is connected to one of my favorite groups of all-time. I speak — without hyperbole, of course — about Wisconsin’s finest export: F/i.
I was processing a record collection I helped purchase last month and one of the records that passed through my hands was called, Badger A-Go-Go. I don’t even know why I stopped to look at the list of artist’s on the cover. I hate compilations, and this one’s artwork looked even cheesier than most. Once my eyes saw the band Boy Dirt Car was featured on the record I knew I was holding something special. Lo-and-behold, I saw there was a cut from F/i on it called “Stop at the Left…Look to the Right,” which I don’t believe appears on any of their other releases. Since it is my goal to amass the band’s entire recorded history, I had to buy this record, Badger A-Go-Go
Atomic Records (the record store out of Milwaukee) released the compilation 20 years ago to celebrate the city’s underground/college rock scene. It included acts like Liquid Pink, Die Kreuzen, Plasticland and Couch Flambeau. It also included F/i, one of the sickest psychedelic/experimental bands to form in America during the last two decades.
From Express Milwaukee‘s website:
“So what was it that made Milwaukee’s iconic record store become, however temporarily, a record label?
‘It was pretty common at the time for compilations to come out documenting regional scenes,” explains Atomic owner Rich Menning. “Atomic had a little extra cash after Xmas ’88 so I decided to make the leap and take a musical snapshot of my local faves. Initially I hoped to do it every year but, y’know, things happen. Or in this case things didn’t happen. Either lack of time or lack of $$ or lack of a fresh crop of bands to fill up an LP. (In fact, many of the bands on [the compilation] broke up before it was released, making me aware of the fragile nature of local bands.)'”
Dude. F/i. You should be sold on this compilation by now.
Various Artists
Badger A-Go-Go
RapidShare DL Link
Tracklist:
01. Liquid Pink – Danelectro
02. Plasticland – I’m Gonna Emphasize
03. Squares – Downer Street
04. Dummy Club – The American Way
05. Boy Dirt Car – K.I.D.
06. Paul Cebar & The Milwaukeeans – Can’t Sit Down
07. Die Kreuzen – Seasons Of Wither
08. Couch Flambeau – Helvetica
09. The Blowtorch – Grievance In F#m
10. Cherry Cake – Mrs. Wilson
11. F/i – Stop At The Left…Look To The Right
12. Appliances-SFB – Play With Pain
13. Brian Ritchie & The Ghostly Trio – Blood On The Saddle
14. E-I-E-I-O – Gonna Get Gone
15. Voot Warnings – My Mother Still Likes Me
