As I’ve now completed a few months worth of An Album A Day posts, maybe it’s time we take our first look back and review the different themes I’ve explored since beginning this project. We started with “Wordless Music,” followed by “Mort Aux Vaches,” and then proceeded to explore “10 Inches Of Pleasure,” “Covers! Covers! Covers!” as well as “April Birthdays,” “Nurse With Wound List”, the first records I purchased upon moving to LA, “LA Past & Present,” “One Song Wonders,” “Live On WFMU” and — most recently — records I found at this year’s WFMU Record Fair. I’d say we’re doing pretty well so far, wouldn’t you? Good. Thanks. I needed to hear that. Anything to stoke my ego, y’know?
This week I’m digging deep (or not so deep) in my collection to unearth records that have been autographed. And by that I mean signed by the artist, not by some ass-clown who grew up in the ’70s or ’80s and thought that by writing his name on the front and back covers plus both the labels would prevent his collection from being stolen. I’m talking about legit signatures. Sometimes I think they make a record increase in value, and sometimes I think they decrease in value. Who knows for certain. I guess I’ll find out someday when I need to bail a friend out of jail or pay rent. Anyway, here’s my first foray in these weeks theme, which I’ve just now dubbed, “Sign Here Please.”
Originally released in 1986 by Homestead Records, The Hammer Party was a compilation of the first two Big Black EPs, Lungs and Bulldozer. Long ago I gave up hope of finding originals of either of those titles. I think Lungs was initially pressed in a run of a few hundred copies when it was made back in 1982. Urban legend says the first 100 or so were hand-glued by Steve Albini and Jon Babbin. Some of those included “razor blades, hair, blood, bazooka Joe comics, pictures of dead people, bumper stickers, PIL tickets” and other fun gifts. It has been reissued by Touch & Go, but I’ve already got The Hammer Party, so…
Bulldozer, on the other hand, would be a great find. I’ve got the 1992 reissue, but that 1983 original on Ruthless Records? Holy shit. I’d be stocked if I had one of the first 200 copies with the acid-etched steel sleeve. I’ve seen a couple in my day but they’re pretty expensive. I think the last one had a price tag of $750 on it? That’s way steeper than the Headache “Body Bag” EP which I’ve seen in stone-mint condition for $100. And should have purchased, but didn’t. Woe is me. I won’t make that mistake again.
So, yeah, The Hammer Party is a compilation of those two releases. And my copy was signed by the band (Jeff Pezzati, Steve Albini, Santiago Durango) in San Francisco at the I-Beam on August 3rd, 1987. Although the inside of the sleeve (where Steve and Santiago chose to sign even though this isn’t a gatefold cover) says it’s 8/4/87…maybe Santiago’s watch had already turned over to the next day and he just assumed the show was on the 4th. In any event he inscribed “Helter Skelter Dude!” above his name. Jeff signed on the front cover like a normal human being, and even added a little “Ow!” caption where the guy (perhaps a caricature of Steve? Shot buzz cut? Glasses?) is getting hit in the head with the hammer. Someone wrote “bad” on the custom inner sleeve between two live shots of the band. Steve inscribed “eat some poop” above his name. Classy fella. He also signed really far inside the sleeve, which makes it somewhat difficult to photograph.
I’d reprint the liner notes, but other websites (most notably the formidable ARBEIT MACHT FREI: BIG BLACK DISCOGRAPHY) have already done so. That site has a lot of great information about the majority of Big Black’s recorded output. Instead I’ll just tell you this puppy fell into my lap back in 2007 at a local store in Los Angeles (Hollywood…more specifically) that must not have realized it was signed (and had an 8×10 promo photo inside) because it was ridiculously underpriced. Thanks, megastore with no regard for records with value!
Big Black
The Hammer Party
(Homestead – HMS044, 1986)
A1. Steelworker [MP3]
A2. Live In A Hole
A3. Dead Billy
A4. I Can Be Killed
A5. Crack
A6. RIP
B1. Cables
B2. Pigeon Kill
B3. I’m A Mess
B4. Texas
B5. Seth
B6. Jump The Climb
