Can of Pork

Background, recording and production

In August 1990, Lookout Records owner/co-founder Larry Livermore and Chris Applecore, founder of the Puddle fanzine, had decided to make a compilation album of various artists. Applecore contacted groups such as The Offspring, Cringer and Jawbreaker in October 1990, asking them if they wanted to record a song for a compilation album, all of which declined the offer. In December, Livermore met Pat Hynes, a U.C. student, artist and founder/publisher of the fanzine 2+2=5, and hired him to work for Lookout and asked him to get involved with the production of Can of Pork. The two then contacted bands such as The Wynona Riders, Fifteen and The Mr. T Experience in February 1991 and asked them to record songs for the upcoming compilation, all of which accepted. A deadline was set for April, which was eventually changed a number of times for 11 months. Livermore, Hynes and Applecore came up with working titles for the compilation such as The Thing That Ate David (a reference to the previous Lookout compilation The Thing That Ate Floyd (1989)), Lookout Avenue and This Is Why We Are the Smart Punx, all of which they decided they were not satisfied with. In June, the three found out that David Hayes, owner of contemporary punk label Very Small Records, was to be releasing a double compilation that year titled Very Small World. Because of this, they debated canceling the project, but ultimately decided to continue working on it. From December 1991 to February 1992, Livermore was in England and left the production of the compilation to Hynes and Applecore. The same month, Hynes and Applecore contacted the bands they decided on and went to record the compilation with Andy Ernst and Kevin Army at Art of Ears Studios in San Francisco. After the recording process was finished, they finally settled on the title Can of Pork and Hynes began drawing the cover art. Can of Pork was mastered by John Golden at K-Disc in Hollywood.

Release and reception

After a year and a half of production, Can of Pork was finally released on two 12-inch records and one CD in April 1992 through Lookout Records (LK 44). The vinyl version featured a booklet with lyrics and photography, while the CD version only came with information on contacting the bands and a detailed description of Can of Pork's production. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with Allmusic rating the compilation 2 and a half out of 5 stars. Since its release, Can of Pork has been regarded by Lookout Records itself and fans as a highly important compilation album (the CD version features "An important compilational chapter of P-rock history" printed on the spine) and has been cited as one of the greatest punk rock compilations of all time.

Personnel

The Lookouts

Lagwagon

Blatz

Fifteen

Pinhead Gunpowder

Downfall

The Wynona Riders

The Mr. T Experience

Production