Boogadaboogadaboogada!

Background and recording

After the pressing plant they got to press their split EP with local band The Ozzfish Experience filed for bankruptcy and kept the master tapes, the group scrapped the EP and tensions grew between bassist Vinnie Bovine and the other members. Vocalist Ben Weasel later said that Bovine and his personal problems "made the band a living hell" and the other members fired him in early 1988. The Ozzfish Experience broke up around the same time, so Bovine was replaced by their guitarist/vocalist Warren Fischer (renamed simply "Fish"). Although not recorded yet, the band began looking for a label to release their second album. After not finding anyone again, the group opted to release it themselves. However, they then met Dave Best, a man who was starting his own record label and wanted Weasel and guitarist Jughead to help him run it. The two agreed and started Roadkill Records and made a deal to record the album in October. In summer 1988, the band traveled to Berkeley, California to play at the 924 Gilman Street club opening for ska punk band Operation Ivy. While in Berkeley, the band made friends with many of the people from the Gilman Street Project, including the members of Operation Ivy, Crimpshrine and Lookout Records owner Larry Livermore. Livermore offered to release Screeching Weasel's second album, but Weasel told him it was already planned for release on Roadkill.

The group began recording Boogadaboogadaboogada! at Solid State Studio in October with Weasel and Jughead handling production duties. Phil Bonnet, who produced the band's debut album, served as engineer and mixer. The album was recorded in four days on October 8, 9, 15 and 16, 1988. Although Weasel is credited for playing guitar in the album's liner notes, he later admitted to only playing on about a quarter of the tracks. The band chose the title Boogadaboogadaboogada! as a reference to the friend who came up with the band's name, Matt Carlson. Carlson reportedly used the phrase "Boogadaboogadaboogada!" when he "felt like vocally appreciating good-looking girls whilst passing by them in his car."

Release and reception

Mike DaRonco of AllMusic gave the album 3 out of 5 stars and called the album "quite an improvement from their first album", stating "instead of the 'let's play as fast as we can without any regard to the quality of our songs' mentality, there's a lot more personality and playfulness to go along with their raging adolescence." DaRonco called the album "skate punk with a brain and sense of humor" and said it has "the ultimate party feel, perfect for any circle pit or Thrasher skate video." The album was also included at number 45 on Rock Sound's "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.

Track listing

All tracks written by Ben Weasel, except where noted.

Personnel

Production