The Fugs First Album

Infobox Album
Name = The Village Fugs
(aka "The Fugs First Album")
Type = studio
Artist = The Fugs


Released = 1965
Recorded = 1965
Genre = Rock, protopunk, psychedelic
Length =
Label = Folkways Records
ESP-Disk
Producer = Ed Sanders, Harry Smith
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://wc03.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kifyxqy5ldfe link]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Fugs link]
Last album =
This album = "The Village Fugs
(aka "The Fugs First Album")"
(1965)
Next album = "The Fugs"
(1966)

"The Fugs First Album" is the 1965 debut album by The Fugs, described in their All Music profile as "arguably the first underground rock group of all time". [allmusicguide |id=3ifwxqe5ldke~T0 |label=The Fugs] In 1966, the album charted #142 on Billboard's "Top Pop Albums" chart. The album was originally released in 1965 as "The Village Fugs Sing Ballads of Contemporary Protest, Points of Views, and General Dissatisfaction" on Folkways Records before the band signed up with ESP-Disk, who released the album under its own label with a new name in 1966.Sanders, Ed. [http://www.thefugs.com/history2.html The History of the Fugs] . The Fugs official website. Accessed October 3 2007.] The album was re-released in 1993 on CD with an additional 11 tracks.

History

When poet and publisher Ed Sanders established a bookstore next to the apartment of beat poet and publisher Tuli Kupferberg in 1964, the two decided to form a band, The Fugs, writing 50-60 songs between them prior to asking Ken Weaver to join. [Section source. Sanders, Ed. [http://www.thefugs.com/history2.html The History of the Fugs] . The Fugs official website. Accessed October 3 2007.] The trio invited Steve Weber and Peter Stampfel of the band Holy Modal Rounders to perform with them at the 1965 grand opening of Sanders' bookstore. Sanders describes the event as heavily attended, with William S. Burroughs, George Plimpton and James Michener among the luminaries in attendance. Harry Everett Smith, producer of the famous "Anthology of American Folk Music", persuaded Folkways Records to issue the Fugs' first album. Following recording sessions in April and June 1965, the album "The Village Fugs—Ballads and Songs of Contemporary Protest, Points of View and General Dissatisfaction" was released. Following a nationwide tour, The Fugs signed a contract with ESP-Disk, who re-released the album in 1966.

Track listing

#"Slum Goddess" (Ken Weaver) – 1:58
#"Ah! Sunflower, Weary of Time" (William Blake, Ed Sanders) – 2:15
#"Supergirl" (Tuli Kupferberg) – 2:18
#"Swinburne Stomp" (Sanders, A.C. Swinburne) – 2:50
#"I Couldn't Get High" (Weaver) – 2:06
#"How Sweet I Roamed" (Blake, Sanders) – 2:11
#"Carpe Diem" (Kupferberg) – 5:07
#"My Baby Done Left Me" (Sanders) – 2:18
#"Boobs a Lot" (Steve Weber) – 2:12
#"Nothing" (Kupferberg) – 4:18

CD bonus tracks

#

"We're the Fugs" (Sanders) – 1:25
#"Defeated" (Kupferberg) – 3:25
#"The Ten Commandments" (Kupferberg) – 2:59
#"CIA Man" (Kupferberg) – 2:52
#"In the Middle of Their First Recording Session the Fugs Sign the Worst Record Contract Since Leadbelly's" (Petito, Sanders) – 2:49
#"I Saw the Best Minds of My Generation Rock" (Ginsberg, Sanders) – 4:51
#"Spontaneous Salute to Andy Warhol (From Rehearsal at the Peace Eye Bookstore, February 1965) (Sanders) – 1:23
#"War Kills Babies" – 1:41
#"The Fugs National Anthem" (Kupferberg, Sanders) – 1:16
#"The Fugs Spaghetti Death (No Redemption No Redemption) – A Glop of Spaghetti for Andy Warhol From the Tuli Tapes" (Sanders) – 3:54
#"The Rhapsody of Tuli" (Kupferberg, Sanders) – 8:35

Personnel

Performance

*John Anderson – bass guitar, vocals
*Tuli Kupferberg – percussion, vocals
*Vinny Leary – bass, guitar, vocals
*Ed Sanders – vocals
*Peter Stampfel – fiddle, harmonica, vocals
*Ken Weaver – conga, drums, vocals
*Steve Weber – guitar, vocals

Production

*Phil DeLancie – remastering
*David Gahr – photography
*Aaron Hurwitz – compilation, restoration
*Linda Kalin – package adaptation
*Ed Sanders – producer, liner notes, photography, memorabilia
*Harry Smith – producer

References

Additional sources

* [http://www.thefugs.com/first.html The Fugs Store: The Fugs First Album]