Recorded May–June 1980 Release date 2 September 1980 | Length 33:03 | |
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Released September 2, 1980 (1980-09-02) Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables(1980) In God We Trust, Inc.(1981) Similar Dead Kennedys albums, Punk rock albums |
Dead kennedys fresh fruit for rotting vegetables full album
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Dead Kennedys. It was first released on September 2, 1980 through Cherry Red Records in the United Kingdom and later issued by Jello Biafra's own Alternative Tentacles label in the United States. It has been certified gold by the BPI. The best selling and generally the most critically acclaimed album by Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables has become a major staple of American punk. It is the only Dead Kennedys album to feature drummer Ted and the only one to feature guitarist 6025.
Contents
- Dead kennedys fresh fruit for rotting vegetables full album
- Dead kennedys kill the poor lyrics in description box
- Information
- Reception
- Release variations
- Track listing
- Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
Dead kennedys kill the poor lyrics in description box
Information
Lead vocalist Jello Biafra's strong political statements on songs such as "California Über Alles" and "When Ya Get Drafted" launched Dead Kennedys into the political arena.
Musically, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables laid the blueprint for future Dead Kennedys' releases; loud, noisy, fast, but with a sense of dynamics and musical individualism. The surf and rockabilly-inspired riffs owe something to Ramones' most influential recordings, drawing from early American AM pop and rehashing it in the immediate, aggressive context of punk rock. The lyrics lend a significant bite to the breakthrough of the already strident musical assault. On the original vinyl version Side A was tracks 1–7 and Side B was tracks 8–14. The songs on Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables were recorded with minimal overdubs limited to vocals and the addition of rhythm guitar in places.
The photo on the front cover, showing several police cars on fire, was taken during the White Night riots of 21 May 1979, that resulted from the light sentence given to former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White for the murder of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
In 2014 the album became the subject of a book, released in the UK, US, Brazil, Finland and Germany, written by author Alex Ogg.
Reception
In contemporary reviews, Trouser Press found that the style and content of the album derived from the group The Sex Pistols and "will sound dated to the trend-conscious." but the album "may be the only legitimate companion piece to the Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks. The review concluded that "The band works largely because of Jello Biafra, a distinctive and remarkable singer" who "thrives on extreme attitudes." The NME compared the album to music by the British punk group the UK Subs, stating that the Dead Kennedys "hardly come across as anything but smarter, both musically and intellectually ... Despite [the Dead Kennedys] grasp of dynamics and their highly-ordered arrangements, there's really only one track here which makes effective use of their mannerisms and devices, and that's 'Holiday In Cambodia', already available in single form, and probably the biggest (musical) reason for this album's presence in the charts." Robert Christgau of the Village Voice stated that he found vocalist Jello Biafra poor, comparing his vocals to Tiny Tim if he were an out of work actor.
Release variations
Track listing
All tracks written by Jello Biafra, except where noted.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs is the accompanying 55-minute documentary, directed by Eric S. Goodfield, that is included with the Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables 25th Anniversary Edition. It features a brief history of Dead Kennedys' early years up to their first UK tour, never before seen live performances, interviews with Klaus Flouride and East Bay Ray, comments by music journalists, and insights from the key people involved with the recording of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. The video omits references to the origins of songs that would include a mention of Jello Biafra, although his 1979 run for mayor is highlighted.
Personnel
Additional performers
Production
Songs
1Kill the Poor3:05
2Forward to Death1:24
3When Ya Get Drafted1:24