We're Not in This Alone
Encyclopedia
We're Not In This Alone is the third and final full-length studio album by New York
hardcore punk
band Youth of Today
. It was originally released by Caroline Records in 1988.
Youth of Today had broken up briefly in 1988, with lead singer and co-founder Ray Cappo
briefly relocating to India
to pursue his interest in Hare Krishna
, while guitarist and co-founder Porcell (John Porcelly) got out his frustrations with both the breakup of the band and what he saw as negative elements in the scene, with the project band Project X
, and with Judge
. The breakup was short-lived; the group reconvened with former WarZone bassist Walter Schriefels and drummer Sammy Siegler not long afterward, hence Cappo's declaration of "We're back!" at the beginning of the album's opening track, "Flame Still Burns".
One notable track, "No More", is a condemnation of the meat-industry. Youth of Today made a low-budget music video for the song, incorporating footage of an abattoir acquired from PETA
, but it is unlikely that the clip ever aired on MTV
.
Another track from the album, "Live Free", started life as an unreleased Project X song, "Can't Keep Me Down" - an almost full-circle irony, since Project X's best known song, "Straight Edge Revenge", was a song first written for Youth Of Today, but rejected by Cappo because he found the lyrics to be too militant.
One other song, "Understand", is a rerecording of a song Youth Of Today first recorded and released on the Revelation Records
compilation album New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is, two years earlier.
The album was recorded at the Chung King House of Metal
in New York City, a studio Porcell would later use for the first attempt
at a Judge full-length. In a foreshadowing of the problems Judge would later have with their album, the first mix to be released by Caroline was notoriously poor-sounding and muddy. After complaints from fans, Caroline remixed and re-pressed the album, releasing the new copies with the same cover artwork, but now having a large REMIX sticker affixed to the front. Caroline did not recall the 1st mix and so copies with the original mix still existed in record stores into the early 1990s. This 2nd mix was also licensed to We Bite records in Germany, who also released it on CD for europe.
Disgusted with the black eye the original mix gave Youth of Today's legacy, Cappo and Porcell regained the rights to the album from Caroline in 1996, took the multi-track master tapes and remixed the entire album for a proper release on Revelation Records in 1997. This 3rd and final mix was also given completely new cover artwork upon its reissue.
All songs written and composed by Ray Cappo and John Porcelly.
New York City
New 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...
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...
band Youth of Today
Youth of Today
Youth of Today is an American hardcore punk straight edge band, formed in 1985 and still in activity. The band played a major role in establishing the Youth Crew subculture of hardcore, both espousing and evolving the philosophies of the straight edge and vegetarian lifestyles.-History:Youth Of...
. It was originally released by Caroline Records in 1988.
Youth of Today had broken up briefly in 1988, with lead singer and co-founder Ray Cappo
Ray Cappo
Ray Cappo is the former vocalist for the hardcore bands Youth of Today, Reflex From Pain, Shelter, Better Than A Thousand, and the project recording "Pour Water On It". This icon of New York hardcore was originally from Connecticut, and played drums for the Connecticut band Violent Children...
briefly relocating to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to pursue his interest in Hare Krishna
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
, while guitarist and co-founder Porcell (John Porcelly) got out his frustrations with both the breakup of the band and what he saw as negative elements in the scene, with the project band Project X
Project X (band)
Project X was a short-lived hardcore punk/youth crew band from New York City, and also the name of their only release, being a five-track EP. The band consisted of members of other prominent NYC hardcore bands Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, Side by Side and Judge.The band started when John...
, and with Judge
Judge (band)
Judge was a New York-based straight edge band; formed in 1987 by Youth of Today guitarist, John "Porcell" Porcelly, and former Youth of Today drummer, Mike "Judge" Ferraro.-History:...
. The breakup was short-lived; the group reconvened with former WarZone bassist Walter Schriefels and drummer Sammy Siegler not long afterward, hence Cappo's declaration of "We're back!" at the beginning of the album's opening track, "Flame Still Burns".
One notable track, "No More", is a condemnation of the meat-industry. Youth of Today made a low-budget music video for the song, incorporating footage of an abattoir acquired from PETA
Peta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
, but it is unlikely that the clip ever aired on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
Another track from the album, "Live Free", started life as an unreleased Project X song, "Can't Keep Me Down" - an almost full-circle irony, since Project X's best known song, "Straight Edge Revenge", was a song first written for Youth Of Today, but rejected by Cappo because he found the lyrics to be too militant.
One other song, "Understand", is a rerecording of a song Youth Of Today first recorded and released on the Revelation Records
Revelation Records
Revelation Records is an independent record label focusing originally and primarily on hardcore punk. The label is known for its role in the evolution of hardcore and metallic post-hardcore with important releases by bands such as Youth of Today, Warzone, Sick of It All, Quicksand, Side By Side,...
compilation album New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is, two years earlier.
The album was recorded at the Chung King House of Metal
Chung King Studios
Chung King Recording Studios, formerly known as The Chung King House Of Metal, is a New York City recording studio founded by John King with financial backing of the Etches brothers and engineer expertise of Steve Ett became a site of many classic punk and hip hop recordings...
in New York City, a studio Porcell would later use for the first attempt
Chung King Can Suck It (LP)
Chung King Can Suck It is a limited-pressing colored vinyl album by New York City band Judge, containing the original version of what was to be the Bringin' It Down album...
at a Judge full-length. In a foreshadowing of the problems Judge would later have with their album, the first mix to be released by Caroline was notoriously poor-sounding and muddy. After complaints from fans, Caroline remixed and re-pressed the album, releasing the new copies with the same cover artwork, but now having a large REMIX sticker affixed to the front. Caroline did not recall the 1st mix and so copies with the original mix still existed in record stores into the early 1990s. This 2nd mix was also licensed to We Bite records in Germany, who also released it on CD for europe.
Disgusted with the black eye the original mix gave Youth of Today's legacy, Cappo and Porcell regained the rights to the album from Caroline in 1996, took the multi-track master tapes and remixed the entire album for a proper release on Revelation Records in 1997. This 3rd and final mix was also given completely new cover artwork upon its reissue.
Track listing
- Flame Still Burns
- Slow Down
- Choose To Be
- Put It Aside
- Wake Up And Live
- No More
- What Goes Around
- Potential Friends
- A Time We'll Remember
- Live Free
- Understand
- Prejudice
- Keep It Up
All songs written and composed by Ray Cappo and John Porcelly.
Musical personnel
- Ray CappoRay CappoRay Cappo is the former vocalist for the hardcore bands Youth of Today, Reflex From Pain, Shelter, Better Than A Thousand, and the project recording "Pour Water On It". This icon of New York hardcore was originally from Connecticut, and played drums for the Connecticut band Violent Children...
- vocals - Porcell - guitar, vocals
- Walter SchreifelsWalter SchreifelsWalter Schreifels is a rock musician and producer from New York City.In the late 1980s, he played in many New York hardcore bands, most notably Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits . After Gorilla Biscuits broke up, he formed the short lived Moondog...
- bass, vocals - Sammy SieglerSammy SieglerSammy Siegler is an American rock drummer, notable for his many contributions to the New York hardcore scene.-With Side By Side:* New York City Hardcore - Together compilation...
- drums, vocals
Sources
- All Ages: Reflections on Straight Edge by Beth Lahickey, Revelation Books, 1998 (ISBN 978-1-889703-00-8)
- Youth of Today interview, SmorgasbordSmorgasbord RecordsSmorgasbord Records is a metalcore record label out of Milford, Connecticut. It also releases other forms of indie music as well.Smorgasbord Records started out as Smorgasbord fanzine in 1986 by a hardcore fan named Chris Daily from Stamford CT...
fanzine, fall 1988/winter 1989