Philosophy of the World
Encyclopedia
Philosophy of the World is the first album by The Shaggs
, released in 1969 by Third Word Records and rereleased in 1980 by Red Rooster Records
/Rounder Records
after the band NRBQ
found it at a Massachusetts
radio station in 1978. A CD version containing Shaggs' Own Thing was released in 1988 by Rounder, and another CD, this time without the latter record, was released by RCA Victor in 1999.
Recording of the album was financed by Austin Wiggin, father of the bandmembers.
"Philosophy of the World is the sickest, most stunningly awful wonderful record I've heard in ages: the perfect mental purgative for doldrums of any kind," wrote Debra Rae Cohen for Rolling Stone
in a review of the 1980 reissue. "Like a lobotomized Trapp Family Singers
, the Shaggs warble earnest greeting-card lyrics (...) in happy, hapless quasi-unison along ostensible lines of melody while strumming their tinny guitars like someone worrying a zipper. The drummer pounds gamely to the call of a different muse, as if she had to guess which song they were playing - and missed every time." "Without exaggeration," Chris Connelly wrote in a later Rolling Stone article, "it may stand as the worst album ever recorded."
Blender Magazine placed it 100th on the list of the '100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever' in 2007. Nirvana
frontman Kurt Cobain
listed Philosophy of the World as his #5 favorite album of all time. The record has also been cited as highly influential by Frank Zappa
, Kimya Dawson
of The Moldy Peaches
, and Deerhoof
.
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were an American all-female rock group formed in Fremont, New Hampshire in 1968. The band was composed of sisters Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin , Betty Wiggin , Helen Wiggin , and later Rachel Wiggin ....
, released in 1969 by Third Word Records and rereleased in 1980 by Red Rooster Records
Red Rooster Records
Red Rooster Records is the record label founded by the band NRBQ in 1972 after being dropped by Columbia Records after lack of chart performance for their albums NRBQ and Boppin' the Blues. It was distributed by Rounder Records from 1972-1989, when the band signed on Virgin Records for their album...
/Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
after the band NRBQ
NRBQ
NRBQ is an American rock band founded in 1967. It is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Its best known line-up is the 1974–1994 quartet of pianist Terry Adams, bassist Joey Spampinato,...
found it at a Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
radio station in 1978. A CD version containing Shaggs' Own Thing was released in 1988 by Rounder, and another CD, this time without the latter record, was released by RCA Victor in 1999.
Recording of the album was financed by Austin Wiggin, father of the bandmembers.
"Philosophy of the World is the sickest, most stunningly awful wonderful record I've heard in ages: the perfect mental purgative for doldrums of any kind," wrote Debra Rae Cohen for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
in a review of the 1980 reissue. "Like a lobotomized Trapp Family Singers
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
, the Shaggs warble earnest greeting-card lyrics (...) in happy, hapless quasi-unison along ostensible lines of melody while strumming their tinny guitars like someone worrying a zipper. The drummer pounds gamely to the call of a different muse, as if she had to guess which song they were playing - and missed every time." "Without exaggeration," Chris Connelly wrote in a later Rolling Stone article, "it may stand as the worst album ever recorded."
Blender Magazine placed it 100th on the list of the '100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever' in 2007. Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
frontman Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
listed Philosophy of the World as his #5 favorite album of all time. The record has also been cited as highly influential by Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson
Kimya Dawson is an American singer-songwriter, best known as a solo performer and as one half of The Moldy Peaches. In Swahili, "Kimya" means "silence" or "silent".-Career:...
of The Moldy Peaches
The Moldy Peaches
The Moldy Peaches was an indie group founded by Adam Green and Kimya Dawson. Leading proponents of the anti-folk scene, the band has been on hiatus since 2004...
, and Deerhoof
Deerhoof
Deerhoof is a musical group consisting of Satomi Matsuzaki, John Dieterich, Ed Rodriguez and Greg Saunier.-Origins:In 1992, Greg Saunier, having recently graduated with a degree in music composition from Oberlin Conservatory of Music, joined a short-lived San Francisco quartet called Nitre Pit, on...
.
Track listing
- All Songs Written & Arranged By Dorothy Wiggin.
- "Philosophy of the World" – 2:56
- "That Little Sports Car" – 2:06
- "Who Are Parents?" – 2:58
- "My Pal Foot FootMy Pal Foot Foot"My Pal Foot Foot" is a song by the Shaggs, appearing on their 1969 release, Philosophy of the World. It is their best-known song. The lyrics revolve around a rather nonsensical journey to find "Foot Foot", their cat, who has run away. As with many of the Shaggs' songs, the lyrics are childlike...
" – 2:31 - "My Companion" – 2:04
- "I'm So Happy When You're Near" – 2:12
- "Things I Wonder" – 2:12
- "Sweet Thing" – 2:57
- "It's Halloween" – 2:22
- "Why Do I Feel?" – 3:57
- "What Should I Do?" – 2:18
- "We Have a Savior" – 3:06
Personnel
- Dorothy (aka Dot) Wiggin - lead guitar, vocals
- Betty Wiggin Porter - rhythm guitar, vocals
- Helen Wiggin - drums
- Rachel Wiggin - bass guitar on "That Little Sports Car"
Production
- Produced By Austin Wiggin, Terry Adams & Charlie Dreyer
- Recorded & Engineered By Bob Olive & Austin Wiggin