RFTC
Encyclopedia
RFTC is an album by the San Diego, California
rock
band Rocket from the Crypt
, released in 1998 by Interscope Records
. It was the band's second major-label release. A music video was filmed for the single "Break it Up" and the band embarked on tours in support of the album, on which they were joined by Chris Prescott
from San Diego bands Tanner
and No Knife
who performed as touring percussionist and keyboardist.
Although overall reaction to the album was positive and singles "Break it Up" and "Lipstick" received radio airplay, RFTC failed to sell impressive numbers to the degree that Interscope had hoped. The label soon turned their attention to higher-grossing acts, leading the band to end their contract with the label the following year. Disagreements between members concerning the professional direction of the band following their departure from Interscope would lead to drummer Atom leaving the group in early 2000. Though the band would continue to record and perform with a new drummer, they would not be as prolific as in their past.
states that the entire recording of RFTC was conducted completely live except for the second vibraslap hit on the first verse of "You Gotta Move." He also states that the band were able to use a number of microwave enhancement techniques to exceed the normal industry recording rate of 20 digi-bits per second on compact discs, achieving a rate of 23 digi-bits per second and resulting in a higher quality recording.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
, released in 1998 by Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
. It was the band's second major-label release. A music video was filmed for the single "Break it Up" and the band embarked on tours in support of the album, on which they were joined by Chris Prescott
Chris Prescott
Christopher Prescott is a professional musician from San Diego, California. He currently plays drums for the band Pinback and plays guitar, keyboard, and does backup vocals for The Jade Shader. He was previously a member of No Knife, Tanner, Fishwife, and Hemlock. In 1998 he toured as the...
from San Diego bands Tanner
Tanner (band)
Tanner was a 1990s rock band from San Diego, California that arose from the ashes of the band Fishwife.In San Diego, the guitar rules. And not too long ago, before the word got out about the city's abundant six-stringed talent, there was one band that flew wildly ahead of its time, cranking out a...
and No Knife
No Knife
No Knife were a band from San Diego, CA. They played an innovative form of rock that combined aspects of math rock, post-hardcore, and other indie rock....
who performed as touring percussionist and keyboardist.
Although overall reaction to the album was positive and singles "Break it Up" and "Lipstick" received radio airplay, RFTC failed to sell impressive numbers to the degree that Interscope had hoped. The label soon turned their attention to higher-grossing acts, leading the band to end their contract with the label the following year. Disagreements between members concerning the professional direction of the band following their departure from Interscope would lead to drummer Atom leaving the group in early 2000. Though the band would continue to record and perform with a new drummer, they would not be as prolific as in their past.
Recording the album
In the album's liner notes, singer/guitarist John ReisJohn Reis
John Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
states that the entire recording of RFTC was conducted completely live except for the second vibraslap hit on the first verse of "You Gotta Move." He also states that the band were able to use a number of microwave enhancement techniques to exceed the normal industry recording rate of 20 digi-bits per second on compact discs, achieving a rate of 23 digi-bits per second and resulting in a higher quality recording.
Track listing
- "Eye on You"
- "Break it UpBreak it Up"Break It Up" is a song by the American alternative rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released as the third and final single from their 1998 album RFTC. It was released by Elemental Records in three versions: as a 7" vinyl single and as two different CD singles, each with a different track list....
" - "I Know"
- "Panic Scam"
- "Made for You"
- "LipstickLipstick (Rocket from the Crypt song)"Lipstick" is a song by the American alternative rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released as the second single from their 1998 album RFTC. It was released by Elemental Records in three versions: as a 7" vinyl single and as two different CD singles, each with a different track list...
" - "You Gotta Move"
- "Your Touch"
- "Let's Get Busy"
- "Dick on a Dog"
- "Back in the State"
- "When in RomeWhen in Rome (Do the Jerk)"When in Rome " is a song by the American alternative rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released as the first single from their 1998 album RFTC. It was released as a shaped picture disc by Elemental Records, with the new songs "Tarzan" and "Tiger Feet Tonite" on the B-side...
" - "Run Kid Run"
Performers
- Speedo (John ReisJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, lead vocals - ND (Andy StametsAndy StametsAndy Stamets is an American guitarist notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt, Beehive & the Barracudas, and the Sultans.-Musical career:...
) - guitar, backing vocals - Petey X (Pete Reichert) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Apollo 9 (Paul O'BeirnePaul O'BeirnePaul O'Beirne is an American saxophonist notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt.-Musical career:...
) - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, vibraslapVibraslapA vibraslap is a percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire connecting a wood ball to a hollow box of wood with metal “teeth” inside. The percussionist holds the metal wire in one hand and strikes the ball...
, backing vocals - JC 2000 (Jason CraneJason CraneJason Crane is an American drummer and trumpeter notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt, The Black Heart Procession, and Beehive & the Barracudas.-Musical career:...
) - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, percussion, organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, backing vocals - Atom (Adam Willard) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, timbalesTimbalesTimbales are shallow single-headed drums with metal casing, invented in Cuba. They are shallower in shape than single-headed tom-toms, and usually much higher tuned... - Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard... - Anton FigAnton FigAnton Fig , known as "The Thunder from Down Under" is a session drummer, noted for his work in David Letterman's house band, the CBS Orchestra. Letterman often refers to Fig as "Anton Zip"or "Buddy Rich Jr."...
- congas on "You Gotta Move" - Derek Sherinan - piano on "You Gotta Move," organ on "Made for You"
- King DjangoKing DjangoJeff Baker, better known as King Django, is a New Brunswick, NJ-based ska musician. He was the leader of Skinnerbox and Stubborn All-Stars....
- tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
on "Back in the State" - Holly GolightlyHolly GolightlyHolly Golightly is a British singer-songwriter. Her mother christened her after the protagonist in Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's. Her musical style ranges from garage rock to R&B.-Musical career:...
- additional vocals on "Eye on You" - Mike Gent - additional vocals at the end of "Run Kid Run"
Album information
- Record label:
- CD: Interscope RecordsInterscope RecordsInterscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
- LP: Sympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record IndustrySympathy for the Record Industry is a mainly independent garage rock and punk label formed in 1988 by record industry anti-mogul Long Gone John...
- UK release: Elemental RecordsElemental RecordsElemental Records is an American independent record label originally created in 1992. From its original inception, the label then headquartered in Eugene, Oregon. Original founders included Jonathan Boldt. In 1999, the label restructured under the new ownership of Cassandra and Aaron Thorpe and...
- CD: Interscope Records
- Produced, recorded and mixed by Kevin Shirley at Avatar Studios in New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- Extra audio enhancement techniques supervised by the staff at Caveman Productions
- Mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in New York
- Art direction and illustrations by Rick FrobergRick FrobergEric "Rick" Froberg is an American musician and artist. He was born in Los Angeles, lived in Encinitas, California, and currently resides in Brooklyn...
- Layout and type by Brent Stickels
- Insert photo by Michael Halsband
- Booklet photos by Miki Vukovich
- Photography by Miki Vukovich
- All songs published by Mr. Buttermaker Painting, BMIBroadcast Music IncorporatedBroadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...