CD ONE (1990-1993)

1.Introduction

2 Better Days
3.Clue
4.Thug
5.Cartoon

1990: The Green Monster 7" was a culmination of the early A.H. The band started in 1988, broke up in 1989, reformed, and maybe broke up again. I'm not sure. Though we recorded before this release, this 7" was our first, and our first full session with Phil Bonnet, who is every bit a part of the A.H. story as we are. These tracks are from the DAT master, and appear on CD here for the first time
Lineup: Ted Locascio- vocals; Scott Hoffman- Guitar; Rich Cassady- Bass; Andy Peterson- Drums.

6.Yer In
7.Our Lips Are Sealed (Go-Gos)
8.Slack

1991: The final recording for the original lineup was for a split 7" with Gear that never happened (I think the story was that they never paid Phil Bonnet for their studio time). "Yer In" is an earlier version of what became "Big Guy". "Our Lips Are Sealed" is a cover we did for a while. Both were never released. "Slack" ended up on the "Decline of the Western Suburbs" 7" (Shakefork Records). "Yer In" and "Lips" are from a cassette. "Slack" is from the DAT master.

9.Rear Admiral
10.Back In Black (AC/DC)
11.Jerk
12.In Dreams (Roy Orbison)

1992: Before Ted's departure, he brought in Josh Caterer to sing so Ted could switch to guitar. When Ted quit, Scott asked Josh to play guitar with us. Lyle Zimmerman was a friend of ours, and he obliged us by singing. Though the songs that eventually ended up on "Punish the Innocent" were pretty harsh, we had a very goofy time in rehearsals. A kind man named Ross ran the rehearsal space, and recorded our practices. These rehearsal tapes are an invaluable document of the early 90s A.H. "Rear Admiral" and "Jerk" were eventually recorded with Phil Bonnet. "Back In Black" shows Josh's Angus Young obsession, while "In Dreams" is a pretty good reproduction of Capitol Punishment's version.
Lineup: Lyle Zimmerman- vocals; Scott Hoffman- Guitar; Josh Caterer- Guitar; Rich Cassady- bass; Andy Peterson- drums.

13.A.H. is not dead
14.Brett
15.Sell Out (Kraut)

1992: WZRD is a college radio station north of Irving Park Road, and that's all I remember about this date. Todd had been with us less than two months, we had yet to play a show, and suddenly we're on the radio trying out our new stuff. Half the original band was now gone, so we had to work quickly to write new songs. Our first show at McGregors (October 25, 1992 with The Vibrators and Moral Crux) was only weeks away. Todd clutched his lyric sheets, and we fired through seven songs, including this early version of "Brett", and Kraut's "Sell Out".
Lineup: Todd Paglialong- vocals; Scott Hoffman- guitar; Kurdt Dinse- Bass; Bill Thompson- guitar; Andy Peterson- drums.

16.Killer Bee
17.Punk Rock Gods
18.Slack
19.Laura's New Dress

1992: More rehearsals with Ross. "Killer Bee" appeared on the "Punish" tape. "Punk Rock Gods" is pre-"Green Monster". "Laura's New Dress" was written by Rich, Todd added new lyrics, and then we never did anything with it! By 1993, we stopped playing "Punish" songs in favor of our new originals (there's a Spinal Tap joke in there somewhere).

20.Cup O Life
21.Y108 (Todd radio appearance)
22.Brett
23.Try To Try
24. Three Chord Joe (Rehearsal)
25.Laura's New Dress
26.Thug (Rehearsal)

1993: Recording sessions for the "Kingpin" and "Strikes Back" 7"s yielded tracks 20,22,23, and 25. "Laura's New Dress" was never finished. "Three Chord Joe" survives only as a rehearsal tape, and was written primarily to make fun of some local Chicago punk rock singer/self-promotion mastermind. How Todd ended up on Y108, I'll never know. Trivia: we opened for Veruca Salt at The Elbo Room show. We were sell outs from day one.

27.Doublecross
28.Mealy Mouth

1993: Sessions for "Superincredibleheavydutydudes". Songs like "Bad Time", "Jag Rag", and "My God" were attempted in late 1992, but were scrapped and re-recorded. Those versions exist only as instrumentals. "Doublecross" is an early mix. "Mealy Mouth" demonstrates one of Todd's many attempts of fitting in a distorted vocal track. There are many alternate mixes of "Superinc" tracks, but none are as strange as what eventually made it onto the final CD. I met Jason Jackson from Dyslexic Records at a shopping mall to deliver the master to this release. Ah, memories........

Box Set | Disc 1 | Disc 2 | Disc 3 | Disc 4