Paranoid Time
Encyclopedia
Paranoid Time is the first EP by American hardcore punk
band Minutemen
. It is also the second ever release by the SST
record label, founded by Black Flag
's Greg Ginn
and Chuck Dukowski
.
was booked.
The group recorded all seven songs in the order in which they appear on the record, with no overdubbing except for backing vocals by the group and drummer George Hurley
's brother Greg. At the beginning of "Joe McCarthy's Ghost", bassist Mike Watt
can be heard telling guitarist D. Boon
and the Hurley brothers, "You just sing 'Joe McCarthy', want to do that?". A discussion between the four participants can be heard underneath George Hurley's previously recorded drum introduction.
Ginn later told Minutemen how to put out a record, which spurred Watt and Boon to form New Alliance Records
later that year.
The EP also appears as part of the My First Bells
cassette (1985) and the Post-Mersh Vol. 3
CD. Two tracks from the EP, "Paranoid Chant" and "The Maze" appeared on the SST compilation The Blasting Concept
.
A sample of the intro to "Joe McCarthy's Ghost" can be heard on one of the radio ads compiled on the "Crass Commercialism" track on Black Flag's Everything Went Black
album.
Early released copies of the EP were printed with black artwork. All other editions are green.
The credit "A big thanks to Martin for passing out" is a line poking fun at longtime band friend Martin Tamburovich
, who was the lead singer of a short-lived punk/new wave quartet called The Reactionaries with Boon, Watt, and Hurley, and who wrote the lyrics to "Validation".
Although D. Boon was the defacto lead singer of the band, the first song on the first Minutemen record was sung by Mike Watt.
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band Minutemen
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
. It is also the second ever release by the SST
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
record label, founded by Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
's Greg Ginn
Greg Ginn
Gregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
and Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski
Chuck Dukowski is an American punk rock musician, best known as a founding member and bass player for Black Flag. Dukowski wrote some of Black Flag's most popular songs, including "My War," "What I See," "I've Heard It Before" and "Spray Paint." He left the band before the release of My War, and...
.
History of the record
Minutemen's first record occurred almost immediately after they opened for Black Flag in Minutemen's hometown of San Pedro, California. Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn offered the group a chance to record and release a record, and a late night session at Media Art Studio in Hermosa Beach, CaliforniaHermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
was booked.
The group recorded all seven songs in the order in which they appear on the record, with no overdubbing except for backing vocals by the group and drummer George Hurley
George Hurley
George Hurley is a drummer noted for his work with The Minutemen and fIREHOSE.Even though he went to the same high school as D. Boon and Mike Watt he did not meet them until around 1978. That same year, Hurley formed The Reactionaries with Boon, Watt, and Martin Tamburovich...
's brother Greg. At the beginning of "Joe McCarthy's Ghost", bassist Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
can be heard telling guitarist D. Boon
D. Boon
d. Boon born Dennes Dale Boon, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Active between 1978, when he joined The Reactionaries, and 1985, when he was killed in a van accident, Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the Californian punk rock trio Minutemen.-Youth:Dennes Boon...
and the Hurley brothers, "You just sing 'Joe McCarthy', want to do that?". A discussion between the four participants can be heard underneath George Hurley's previously recorded drum introduction.
Ginn later told Minutemen how to put out a record, which spurred Watt and Boon to form New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
later that year.
The EP also appears as part of the My First Bells
My First Bells
My First Bells is a compilation album from the American punk rock band Minutemen, released on SST Records in 1985....
cassette (1985) and the Post-Mersh Vol. 3
Post-Mersh Vol. 3
Post Mersh 3 is the 1989 compilation release by the punk band the Minutemen. It contains the EP's Paranoid Time , Bean-Spill , and Tour-Spiel , the 1981 Joy single, and The Politics of Time .- Track listing :...
CD. Two tracks from the EP, "Paranoid Chant" and "The Maze" appeared on the SST compilation The Blasting Concept
The Blasting Concept
The Blasting Concept was a compilation released in 1983 on SST Records. It was followed by a second volume in 1985.- Track listing :# Minutemen - "Paranoid Chant" - 1:18# Minutemen - "The Maze" - 0:41...
.
A sample of the intro to "Joe McCarthy's Ghost" can be heard on one of the radio ads compiled on the "Crass Commercialism" track on Black Flag's Everything Went Black
Everything Went Black
Everything Went Black is a compilation album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released in 1982. It comprises early songs recorded before Henry Rollins became the band's vocalist in 1981, and released initially without the band's name on its cover, due to their lawsuit with MCA/Unicorn...
album.
Early released copies of the EP were printed with black artwork. All other editions are green.
Track listing
- "Validation" (Tamburovich, Watt)
- "The Maze" (Boon)
- "Definitions" (Watt)
- "Sickles And Hammers" (instrumental) (Boon, Watt)
- "Fascist" (Boon)
- "Joe McCarthy's Ghost" (Watt)
- "Paranoid Chant" (Watt)
Band
- D. BoonD. Boond. Boon born Dennes Dale Boon, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Active between 1978, when he joined The Reactionaries, and 1985, when he was killed in a van accident, Boon was best known as the guitarist and vocalist of the Californian punk rock trio Minutemen.-Youth:Dennes Boon...
- guitar, vocals - Mike WattMike WattMichael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
- bass, vocals - George HurleyGeorge HurleyGeorge Hurley is a drummer noted for his work with The Minutemen and fIREHOSE.Even though he went to the same high school as D. Boon and Mike Watt he did not meet them until around 1978. That same year, Hurley formed The Reactionaries with Boon, Watt, and Martin Tamburovich...
- drums, backing vocals
Additional musician
- Greg Hurley - backing vocals on "Joe McCarthy's Ghost" and "Paranoid Chant"
Recording personnel
- Greg GinnGreg GinnGregory Regis Ginn is a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. He is best known for being the leader of and primary songwriter for the hardcore punk band Black Flag, which he founded and led from 1976 to 1986....
- record producer - SpotSpot (producer)SPOT, , was the house producer and engineer for the influential independent punk record label SST Records. He recorded, mixed, produced or co-produced for most of SST's pivotal acts between 1979 and 1985...
- engineer
The credit "A big thanks to Martin for passing out" is a line poking fun at longtime band friend Martin Tamburovich
Martin Tamburovich
Martin Tamburovich was the co-founder of New Alliance Records and vocalist for the short-lived Punk/New Wave band The Reactionaries. Tamburovich, along with his San Pedro High School classmates D. Boon, Mike Watt, and George Hurley, formed the band in 1978; they disbanded a year later...
, who was the lead singer of a short-lived punk/new wave quartet called The Reactionaries with Boon, Watt, and Hurley, and who wrote the lyrics to "Validation".
Although D. Boon was the defacto lead singer of the band, the first song on the first Minutemen record was sung by Mike Watt.