Fresh Sounds From Middle America (vol 1) was the first in a series of compilations featuring bands from the Midwest region of America. Volume 1 was a split

Split album

A split album is a music album which includes tracks by two or more separate artists. There have been singles and EPs released in the same nature, which can be referred to as split singles and split EPs respectively...

 compilation cassette-only release featuring 22 tracks from 4 bands and is sometimes referred to as "the Buffalo tape" because of the Buffalo imprint on the cover of the tape.

A "tape release party" concert was held on December 12, 1981, featuring all four bands, at Off The Wall Hall (now called The Bottleneck) in Lawrence, KS.

The "Fresh Sounds" series was organized by Bill Rich, of Talk Talk magazine, as a way to promote regional bands nationally.

Side 1

Artist	Tracks	Personnel
Get Smart! Get Smart! (band) Get Smart! was a three piece band formed in Lawrence, Kansas in 1980 consisting of Marc Koch, Lisa Wertman Crowe and Frank Loose.-Career:The band formed while at University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS in 1980 and, along with bands like the Embarrassment and the Mortal Micronotz, they were prominent...	"In The Dark" "Face" "One More Circle" "They Walk In Pairs" "That's What They Tell Me"	Marc Koch - vocals, guitar Lisa Wertman Crowe - vocals, bass Frank Loose - vocals, drums
Mortal Micronots	"The Controllers" "Blond Haired Ghost" "Individuality" "The Police Song" "Daydream" "subterfuge"	Dean Lubensky - vocals John Harper - guitar David Dale - bass Steve Eddy - drums

Side 2

Artist	Tracks	Personnel
The Yard Apes	"Playing With Snakes" "Living On Welfare" "Your Pretty Face" "The Long Walk" "Jungle Rots" "Never You Mind"	Steve Deno Beai Devin Snell Elisa Anne Hodes Lisa Vader Christopher B. Fowler Bruce Andrew Eddy Ronald B. Achelpohl
The Embarrassment The Embarrassment The Embarrassment was an American quartet formed in 1979 in Wichita, Kansas, that made several recordings before breaking up in 1983. The band consisted of guitarist Bill Goffrier, lead singer and organist John Nichols, bassist Ron Klaus and drummer Brent Giessmann.-History:Although some people...	"Dino In The Congo" "Godfrey Harold Hardy" "D-Rings" "Chapter Twelve" "Jazz Face"	John Nichols - lead vocals, keyboards Bill Goffrier - guitar Ron Klaus - bass Brent Giessmann - drums

Reception

Snippets of the review from "Capitol Punishment":

• "While listening to this tape over a period of several weeks, all I can say is why are these bands so talented?"
• "Get Smart! start things off with a group of songs much crisper and more alive than their recent "Words Move" EP.
• "Mortal Micronots are nothing to get thrilled about".
• "The Yardapes are happy and fun but not frivolous".
• "The Embarrassment are quite possibly the best band in America".

Snippets of the review from "The Offense":

• "Sub Pop's not the only fanzine with a tape comp. Talk Talk, never one to be beaten to the punch, takes charge here with what I assume are the area's four sharpest bands."
• "Get Smart! plays their darkest and coolest music to date. Call them my favorite bunch east of the Cal and west of Chi."
• "Mortal Micronotz are still in high school... let's hope they don't just get older and think they have to play a lot faster. Right now it's slow, soary, soft-spoken voice."
• "The Yardapes take after 'Human Sexual Response' by adopting the multi-front man stance and playing unpalatable music."

External links

• Fresh Sounds From Middle America
• Fresh Sounds Discography