Repercussion
Encyclopedia
Repercussion is the second album by The dB's
. Like its predecessor, Stands for Decibels
, the album was commercially unsuccessful but has since developed a cult following and is now arguably regarded as just as much of a classic as Stands for Decibels by both fans of power pop
and rock fans in general.
The band began recording the album after a brief tour in May, 1981. Chris Stamey
and Peter Holsapple
, the band's singers/guitarists, had enough material almost immediately to begin a new album. Stamey and Holsapple each ended up contributing six songs on the album. As was the case on the last album, Stamey's songs veered towards more experimental melodies and rhythms, while Holsapple's songs were more traditionally in a pop vein.
The album was, like its predecessor, very modestly produced, but there was some evidence of growth in The dBs' recorded sound. The first track, Holsapple's "Living a Lie", featured a horn section (The Rumour
Brass) and sounded not unlike an old soul record (a surprise given that power pop was not normally thought to be a particularly soulful genre). The album was produced by Scott Litt
(who would later become famous for his association with the band R.E.M. and for remixing Nirvana
's album In Utero
), who gave the album a slightly deeper sound, utilizing things like reverb on the drums that weren't present in their debut. Lyrically, the album was also a bit more unorthodox. Stamey's song "Ask for Jill", for instance, was apparently about the process of mastering an album .
Holsapple's rockabilly
-inflected composition "Amplifier" (which is about a suicidal man reflecting on how his significant other left him and took all his belongings, save for the titular object) became the band's lead single and also their first video. "Amplifier" would also show up on the dB's next album, Like This
, because of the video.
Side two
Different versions of the album have been reissued on CD with different bonus tracks, usually either Holsapple's instrumental B-side "PH Factor" or Stamey's "Soul Kiss".
The dB's
The dB's are a jangle pop/power pop group who came into prominence in the late 1970s and 1980s. The bandmembers were Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Will Rigby and Gene Holder, all of whom were from Winston-Salem, North Carolina...
. Like its predecessor, Stands for Decibels
Stands for Decibels
Stands for Decibels is the acclaimed 1981 debut album by The dB's. It was initially commercially unsuccessful but has since become recognized as a crucial album in the power pop canon, alongside releases by Big Star and Let's Active...
, the album was commercially unsuccessful but has since developed a cult following and is now arguably regarded as just as much of a classic as Stands for Decibels by both fans 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 rock fans in general.
The band began recording the album after a brief tour in May, 1981. Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey
Chris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
and Peter Holsapple
Peter Holsapple
Peter Holsapple formed, along with Chris Stamey, the singing, songwriting, and guitar-playing core of the dB's, a jangle-pop band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He became the band's principal songwriter and singer after Stamey's departure. The dB's were at the forefront of the guitar bands...
, the band's singers/guitarists, had enough material almost immediately to begin a new album. Stamey and Holsapple each ended up contributing six songs on the album. As was the case on the last album, Stamey's songs veered towards more experimental melodies and rhythms, while Holsapple's songs were more traditionally in a pop vein.
The album was, like its predecessor, very modestly produced, but there was some evidence of growth in The dBs' recorded sound. The first track, Holsapple's "Living a Lie", featured a horn section (The Rumour
Graham Parker
Graham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
Brass) and sounded not unlike an old soul record (a surprise given that power pop was not normally thought to be a particularly soulful genre). The album was produced by Scott Litt
Scott Litt
Scott Litt is an American record producer who mostly works with artists in the alternative rock genre and is best known for producing six R.E.M. albums.-Biography:...
(who would later become famous for his association with the band R.E.M. and for remixing 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...
's album In Utero
In Utero
In Utero is the third and final studio album by the American grunge band Nirvana, released on September 13, 1993, on DGC Records. Nirvana intended the record to diverge significantly from the polished production of its previous album, Nevermind...
), who gave the album a slightly deeper sound, utilizing things like reverb on the drums that weren't present in their debut. Lyrically, the album was also a bit more unorthodox. Stamey's song "Ask for Jill", for instance, was apparently about the process of mastering an album .
Holsapple's rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
-inflected composition "Amplifier" (which is about a suicidal man reflecting on how his significant other left him and took all his belongings, save for the titular object) became the band's lead single and also their first video. "Amplifier" would also show up on the dB's next album, Like This
Like This (album)
-Track listing:# Love Is for Lovers# She Got Soul# Spitting in the Wind# Lonely Is # Not Cool# Amplifier# A Spy in the House of Love# Rendezvous# New Gun in Town# On the Battlefront# White Train...
, because of the video.
LP track listing
Side one- "Living a Lie" – 3:26 (Peter HolsapplePeter HolsapplePeter Holsapple formed, along with Chris Stamey, the singing, songwriting, and guitar-playing core of the dB's, a jangle-pop band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He became the band's principal songwriter and singer after Stamey's departure. The dB's were at the forefront of the guitar bands...
) - "We Were Happy There" – 2:39 (Holsapple)
- "Happenstance" – 4:07 (Chris Stamey)
- "From a Window" – 2:34 (Stamey)
- "Amplifier" - 3:08 (Holsapple)
- "Ask for Jill" - 2:33 (Stamey) lyrics
Side two
- "I Feel Good (Today)" - 4:28 (Stamey)
- "Storm Warning" – 2:32 (Holsapple)
- "Ups and Downs" – 3:03 (Stamey)
- "Nothing Is Wrong" - 4:16 (Holsapple)
- "In Spain" – 3:02 (Stamey)
- "Neverland" - 2:46 (Holsapple)
Different versions of the album have been reissued on CD with different bonus tracks, usually either Holsapple's instrumental B-side "PH Factor" or Stamey's "Soul Kiss".
Personnel
- Chris StameyChris StameyChris Stamey is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. After a stint playing with Alex Chilton, and a brief partnering with Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, he formed The dB's, whose stewardship he would share with Peter Holsapple.In 1977 in New York, Chris founded the...
- Guitar, vocals - Peter HolsapplePeter HolsapplePeter Holsapple formed, along with Chris Stamey, the singing, songwriting, and guitar-playing core of the dB's, a jangle-pop band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He became the band's principal songwriter and singer after Stamey's departure. The dB's were at the forefront of the guitar bands...
- Guitar, vocals - Gene Holder- Bass guitar
- Will Rigby- Drums
Additional musicians
- Andy ClarkAndy Clark (musician)Andrew Clark is an English rock composer and performer who is best known for his work on keyboards and synthesizer in the 1970s, playing and recording alongside Mick Hutchinson, in Clark Hutchinson, alongside Jeff Beck with his involvement in Upp and on the album Wired, and alongside guitarist...
- Additional keyboards - The RumourGraham ParkerGraham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
Brass:- Chris Gower - Trombone
- Dick Hansen - Trumpet
- John "Irish" Earle - Saxes
Trivia
- This would be the last album with the original lineup. Stamey would leave in early April 1982. Stamey would rejoin the band in 2005 to tour and record a new album.
- The track "Amplifier" was included on Rhino Records' box set Left of the Dial: Dispatches From The 80s Underground.