It's Only Right And Natural
Encyclopedia
It's Only Right and Natural is the second album by the band The Frogs
and was released in 1989 by Homestead Records. Gerard Cosloy
, who was in charge of Homestead at the time, came into possession of some of the Flemion Brothers' improvised homemade tapes and signed them to the label. The Flemions were originally hoping that Homestead would release their debut album The Frogs
, but Cosloy convinced them to release a gay-themed album instead. The album was recorded on 4-Track reel-to-reel in Dennis's living room and was originally meant to be for the Flemion brothers and their friends' own amusement, and was not originally considered for release.
Most of the songs on the album deal with stereotype
s associated with homosexuality
, especially negative ones used by social conservatives. The lyrics are highly satirical and portray stereotypes in an absurdly over-the-top manner. Shortly before the album's release, the Flemions went forward with a gay-themed live act, with Dennis wearing a trademark pink sailor suit. Audiences who knew the Frogs from their earlier material were often confused by this change of direction. The album has since become an underground classic and favorite of the alternative elite and fratboys alike. The album's cover depicts a very young Dennis Flemion
wearing a gay pride button. The album was a frequent target of conservative Christians at the time of its release, and was featured in the video series "Hells Bells: The Dangers Of Rock & Roll" (as chronicled on Toy Porno
).
The band have been chosen by Animal Collective
to perform the album in its entirety at the All Tomorrow's Parties
festival that they will curate in May 2011.
The Frogs (band)
The Frogs are an American rock music band founded in 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by brothers Jimmy and Dennis Flemion. The brothers mainly write and perform short, catchy pop songs, but they are also known for their improvised home recordings which are delivered in a comedic style, and often...
and was released in 1989 by Homestead Records. Gerard Cosloy
Gerard Cosloy
Gerard Cosloy is an American music industry executive.-Biography:Cosloy was raised in Wayland, Massachusetts, a western suburb of Boston. While he was in high school, he became involved in the local hardcore punk scene, put together many punk shows, and started Conflict, a mimeographed fanzine of...
, who was in charge of Homestead at the time, came into possession of some of the Flemion Brothers' improvised homemade tapes and signed them to the label. The Flemions were originally hoping that Homestead would release their debut album The Frogs
The Frogs (album)
The Frogs is a self-titled debut album by The Frogs. It was originally released in limited quantities ,] and was re-released on CD by Moikai Records in 1999. The album was recorded on 8-Track at Pearl Studios in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and it took a long time to record because of the engineer's...
, but Cosloy convinced them to release a gay-themed album instead. The album was recorded on 4-Track reel-to-reel in Dennis's living room and was originally meant to be for the Flemion brothers and their friends' own amusement, and was not originally considered for release.
Most of the songs on the album deal with stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
s associated with homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, especially negative ones used by social conservatives. The lyrics are highly satirical and portray stereotypes in an absurdly over-the-top manner. Shortly before the album's release, the Flemions went forward with a gay-themed live act, with Dennis wearing a trademark pink sailor suit. Audiences who knew the Frogs from their earlier material were often confused by this change of direction. The album has since become an underground classic and favorite of the alternative elite and fratboys alike. The album's cover depicts a very young Dennis Flemion
Dennis Flemion
Dennis Flemion is a founding member, with his younger brother Jimmy, of controversial independent rock band The Frogs. He is the primary percussionist for the band...
wearing a gay pride button. The album was a frequent target of conservative Christians at the time of its release, and was featured in the video series "Hells Bells: The Dangers Of Rock & Roll" (as chronicled on Toy Porno
Toy Porno
Toy Porno is a self-released experimental art film by The Frogs. The amateur videotape was compiled in October 1993, as a gift for Kurt Cobain. It would soon become frequent viewing material on the Nirvana tour bus, and later on the Foo Fighters tour bus as well...
).
The band have been chosen by Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
to perform the album in its entirety at the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
festival that they will curate in May 2011.
Track listing
- "I've Got Drugs (Out of the Mist)" – 2:20
- "I Don't Care If U Disrespect Me (Just So You Love Me)" – 2:04
- "Hot Cock Annie" – 2:19
- "These Are the Finest Queen Boys (I've Ever Seen)" – 2:12
- "Rosy Jack World" – 2:23
- "Someone's Pinning Me to the Ground" – 1:44
- "Baby Greaser George" – 1:54
- "(Thank God I Died in) The Car Crash" – 2:12
- "Gather 'Round for Savior #2" – 2:35
- "Richard Dick Richards" – 1:40
- "Men (Come on Men)" – 2:39
- "Dykes Are We" – 3:02
- "Been a Month Since I Had a Man" – 2:27
- "Homos" – 1:55
Personnel
- Jimmy FlemionJimmy FlemionJimmy Flemion is a founding member, with his older brother Dennis Flemion, of controversial independent rock band The Frogs. Jimmy is mostly the lead singer and guitarist for the group. He has been known to play solo shows with just an acoustic guitar....
- Guitars, Cello, Lead Vocals on 01, 07, 09, 12-14, Backing Vocals on 05 - Dennis FlemionDennis FlemionDennis Flemion is a founding member, with his younger brother Jimmy, of controversial independent rock band The Frogs. He is the primary percussionist for the band...
- Drums, Keyboards, Lead Vocals on 01-06, 08, 10-11, Backing Vocals on 12 - Scott LaBerge - Additional Cello
Influence
- The album was one of Kurt Cobain's favorites. It was on the Nirvana Top 50 albums list.
- The quip "That was a good drum break" from the song "I Don't Care If U Disrespect Me (Just So You Love Me)" was sampleSampling (music)In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
d for the song "Where It's AtWhere It's At"Where It's At" is the first single from Beck's 1996 album, Odelay. Beck wrote the song in 1995. He premiered it at Lollapalooza 1995, in a version very similar to its incarnation on Odelay...
" by BeckBeckBeck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
. - Nick OliveriNick OliveriNick Steven Oliveri is an American musician from Palm Desert, California. He plays bass guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and is a vocalist...
's band Mondo GeneratorMondo GeneratorMondo Generator is an American metal/punk hybrid band founded in 1997 by Nick Oliveri. The name of the band originated when Brant Bjork spray-painted the words on the side of Oliveri's Sunn amplifier. Mondo means "world" in Italian...
named their album A Drug Problem That Never ExistedA Drug Problem That Never ExistedA Drug Problem That Never Existed is an album released by Mondo Generator on the Rekords Rekords label in 2003. It takes its name from a line in The Frogs' "I've Got Drugs ", from their album It's Only Right and Natural...
(2003), after a lyric in the song "I've Got Drugs (Out Of The Mist)". - Blake BabiesBlake BabiesBlake Babies was an alternative rock band formed in 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The three primary members were John Strohm, Freda Love , and Juliana Hatfield, with Evan Dando, Andrew Mayer, Seth White, Anthony DeLuca , and Mike Leahy each also performing as members of the band at...
named an EP Rosy Jack WorldRosy Jack WorldRosy Jack World is an EP recording by the Blake Babies, released in 1991 . The album title was taken from a song on The Frogs 1989 album, "It's Only Right and Natural".-Track listing:#"Temptation Eyes" - 2:59 Rosy Jack World is an EP recording by the Blake Babies, released in 1991 (see 1991 in...
after this album's fifth song. - Australian punk band Frenzal RhombFrenzal RhombFrenzal Rhomb are an Australian punk rock band which formed in 1992 with mainstay Jason Whalley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. In 1996, Lindsay McDougall joined the line-up on lead guitar and backing vocals. Two of the group's albums have peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart, A...
covered the song "Homos" from this album, which was released on their "i miss my lung" single and also in the traveling flea circus release.http://www.last.fm/user/eltonito/journal/2006/06/28/167502 - The LemonheadsThe LemonheadsThe Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
have performed "Homos" and possibly other Frogs songs in concert.
External links
- Lyrics to It's Only Right and Natural
- http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/mjareviews/thefrogs.html&date=2009-10-26+02:46:16