Bad Brains

Bad Brains
Studio album by Bad Brains
Released	1982
Recorded	August - October 1981 (except "Pay To Cum", "I Luv I Jah", and "Jah Calling" recorded live at 171-A studios on May 16, 1981)
Genre	Hardcore punk, reggae
Length	33:56
Label	ROIR
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B+) link
Bad Brains chronology
Bad Brains (1982) Rock for Light (1983)

Bad Brains is the first full-length studio album recorded by Bad Brains. Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys has been quoted as saying that this album is "the best punk/hardcore album of all time". It was originally released on cassette only but has since been re-released by ROIR on both CD and vinyl.

When the album was unveiled in 1982, fans and critics alike were stunned to learn that the musicians behind this album - one of the fastest albums of all time upon its release - were religious African-American Rastafarians who also were skilled at reggae. The album was a crucial step in the formation of hardcore punk and the eventual fusion of hard rock and reggae adopted later by bands like Fishbone and 311.

Many of the album's tracks were re-recorded for their 1983 follow-up, Rock for Light. In-Effect Records released a CD version with the same track listing entitled "Attitude: The ROIR Sessions" in 1991.

Track listing

1. "Sailin' On" – 1:55
2. "Don't Need It" – 1:07
3. "Attitude" – 1:19
4. "The Regulator" – 1:07
5. "Banned in D.C." – 2:12
6. "Jah Calling" – 2:31
7. "Supertouch/Shitfit" – 2:30
8. "Leaving Babylon" – 4:10
9. "F.V.K. (Fearless Vampire Killers)" – 1:07
10. "I" – 2:05
11. "Big Take Over" – 2:57
12. "Pay to Cum" – 1:25
13. "Right Brigade" – 2:27
14. "I Luv I Jah" – 6:24
15. "Intro" – 0:45

1996 re-issue bonus track

16. "Jah the Conqueror" – 2:05

Credits

• H.R. - Vocals
• Dr. Know - Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Darryl Jenifer - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Earl Hudson - Drums, Backing Vocals

Other credits

Recorded by Jay Dublee and mixed by Jay Dublee with the assistance of Bad Brains. Art work on cover by Mir* aka David Lee Parsons aka Dave Ratcage, with photography by Laura Levine. Concept by Neil Cooper. All material was recorded at 171-A Studios, N.Y.C, during August, September, and October 1981, except "Pay To Cum", I Luv I Jah" and "Jah Calling Dub" recorded live at 171-A on May 16, 1981.

Covers

• Jesse Malin covered "Leaving Babylon" on his covers album, On Your Sleeve.

• Moby covered it for the Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains (1999, Century Media) tribute album to the band.

• No Doubt covered it for the MOM: Music for Our Mother Ocean album series.

• It was also covered by Living Colour and HIM.

• 311 covered the song Leaving Babylon on their 1999 album Soundsystem.

• John Frusciante of The Red Hot Chili Peppers covered "Big Take Over" on his debut solo album, Niandra Lades and Usually Just a T-Shirt.

• Sublime often covered the song Leaving Babylon in their live shows. One official live recording appears in the box set Everything Under The Sun.

• Long Beach Dub Allstars did a cover of "I Luv I Jah" live in Hollywood featuring H.R. himself on vocals for their rare 1998 debut LBDA & Friends.

External links

• Bad Brains Official site
• ROIR Records Official site
• Fansite