Always Was, Is and Always Shall Be
Encyclopedia
Always Was, Is And Always Shall Be is the debut studio album
by American punk rock
musician GG Allin
, released in 1980 on Orange Records. Some of its songs were recorded over a period of several years in the late 1970s, from 1978 to 1980, when Allin was with the band The Jabbers
. Various singles were released with these songs, and eventually they were collected to make this album in 1980.
Most notable, Allin's singing voice had not yet deteriorated. The music is of much higher quality in terms of both sound recording and playing than Allin's later output. The heavily New York Dolls
and Stooges-influenced music itself is a catchy mix of power pop
and hardcore punk
, like most of Allin's early material up until the mid 1980s.
Thematically, while the lyrics are often intentionally lewd and snotty, these songs do not represent the extreme antisocial
and violent tone of Allin's later releases from the mid-1980s onwards (though they are somewhat humorous). Although he is indeed credited with playing drums on this album (credited as Kevin Allin), it is not known for which of the tracks he did.
Steve Huey, reviewing for Allmusic, said of Always Was, Is And Always Shall Be: "Amazingly enough, the violent hatred, sexual and psychological degradation, and staggering stupidity only hint at the heights (or depths) Allin would reach later."
The reissue cover art is a picture of Allin from 13 years after the album's original release, taken backstage on the Jerry Springer set in the last year of his life.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
musician GG Allin
GG Allin
Kevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
, released in 1980 on Orange Records. Some of its songs were recorded over a period of several years in the late 1970s, from 1978 to 1980, when Allin was with the band The Jabbers
The Jabbers
The Jabbers are an American punk rock band. Once fronted by a young GG Allin at the beginning of his career in the late-'70s to mid-'80s, many of his most well known songs were recorded with this band, such as "Assface", "Don't Talk to Me" and "Bored to Death".Most notable, Allin's singing voice...
. Various singles were released with these songs, and eventually they were collected to make this album in 1980.
Most notable, Allin's singing voice had not yet deteriorated. The music is of much higher quality in terms of both sound recording and playing than Allin's later output. The heavily New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
and Stooges-influenced music itself is a catchy mix of power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
and hardcore punk
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...
, like most of Allin's early material up until the mid 1980s.
Thematically, while the lyrics are often intentionally lewd and snotty, these songs do not represent the extreme antisocial
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
and violent tone of Allin's later releases from the mid-1980s onwards (though they are somewhat humorous). Although he is indeed credited with playing drums on this album (credited as Kevin Allin), it is not known for which of the tracks he did.
Steve Huey, reviewing for Allmusic, said of Always Was, Is And Always Shall Be: "Amazingly enough, the violent hatred, sexual and psychological degradation, and staggering stupidity only hint at the heights (or depths) Allin would reach later."
The reissue cover art is a picture of Allin from 13 years after the album's original release, taken backstage on the Jerry Springer set in the last year of his life.
Track listing
- "Bored to Death"
- "Beat, Beat, Beat"
- "One Man Army"
- "Assface"
- "Pussy Summit Meeting"
- "Cheri Love Affair"
- "Automatic"
- "I Need Adventure"
- "Don't Talk to Me"
- "Unpredictable"
- "1980s Rock 'n' roll"
Personnel
- GG AllinGG AllinKevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
- vocals, drums, producer - Jeff Penney - guitar, backing vocals
- Merle AllinMerle AllinMerle Colby Allin, Jr. is an American electric bass player and the older brother of the late punk rock singer/songwriter/performance artist GG Allin....
- bass guitar - Alan Chapple - bass guitar
- Carl Square - bass guitar
- Tim Horrigan - piano
- Bob MacKenzie - drums
- David Peel - backing vocals, executive producer
- Russell Arcara - executive producer
- Keith Roth - executive producer
- Tom Bartlett - engineer, associate producer, tape editor, mixing
- John Stewart - engineer
- Phil Austin - mastering