Great hardcore band from Connecticut who released one incredible demo in 1982, played some shows and called it a day. If ever an '80s hardcore band should have stuck it out and released more material, this would be it. Youth Korps were way ahead of their time, being maybe the first band to throw quick 2 second bursts of speed into slower paced hardcore songs. Listen to JB Theme, it's pretty much the blueprint for what bands like Crossed Out perfected 10 years later. Amazing how one obscure demo from 1982 had such an influence, although it's rarely acknowledged in the same way bands like Deep Wound and Siege are. The demo remains an absolute classic of the genre and will always be a personal favorite.
The demo seems extremely popular now though, and litters the internet on various blogs and message boards. I figured i'd post the version i have, as it's the best sounding rip i've heard. As a bonus, i've added on a great sounding rehearsal track (the vocals on this one are vicious), and a quick 4 song live set, with 2 unreleased tracks and an alternate, slower version of Hang On Belushi (thanks to Damaging Noise). All ripped at 320. Enjoy.
Youth Korps 1982
Jon Bauer - vocals
Ed "Wedge" Feltch - guitar
Mike Hurley - bass
Bobby "Pin" Pyn - drums
The demo was recorded on September 18, 1982 at Radiobeat Studios in Boston. Produced and engineered by Lou Giordano. Finally released as a 7" in 1991 by Crucial Response Records out of Germany.
I've seen the demo labeled as the "Quick and the Dead" demo, although i've never seen an actual copy. The demo cover that i've seen online (shown in this post) has an illustration by Al Feldstein, which was used for a cover of an old issue of EC Comic "Tales From the Crypt".
Youth Korps contributed tracks from their demo on the Birth Defect comp tape (1983), and the Brain of Stone comp tape (1984 BCT).
According to online sources, the band formed on November 14, 1981 and broke up on October 25, 1982.
As a side note - there's a file floating around the web of a supposed rehearsal set. Only the first track is legit (the one in this collection), the other 3 or 4 songs are badly recorded versions of demo tracks being passed off as rehearsals.
For more Youth Korps posts, check out Pay No More Than blog, and Rare Punk which has some great scans.
great post. this is so unbelievably fast. good old boston.
ReplyDeletethis is dynamite!!
ReplyDeletegood shit man
ReplyDeleteI am from CT and had never heard of these guys until your post...great stuff- thanks as always!
ReplyDeleteWedge Fletch still here,appreciate the page.I am probably gonna put out a 7" recorded in June '82.After playing a show with Faith and Deadline(They stole your youth)featuring a 13 year old Brendan Canty(fugazi)and Scream,Bauer and I decided to kidnap Kent Stacks,take him to NL and record a demo with him.Since it was a one-off show for Scream who were not booked anywhere for two weeks it worked out well.We did a demo and played 2 shows with Kent drumming.We then returned him to Baileys Crossroads,Virginia in time to play the DC SmokeIn on 4th of July with Fear,Black Market Baby and a show at 930 with Void.
ReplyDeleteWedge Fletch here,I started Youth Korps.I left a post about a new YK 7" but it got wiped out somehow.I don't do the new tech so good.Bauer and I decided to kidnap Kent Stacks,drummer for Scream from D.C. after a show at Pogo's in Bridgeport CT.with The Faith,Deadline("they stole your youth")(Brendan Canty was 13 at the time)and Scream.We did a demo and played a show with Kent drumming.We then brought him back home(Bailey's Crossroads ,VA. in time to play the annual SmokeIn on July4th at Lincoln Memorial with Fear,Black Market Baby and others then a show at 9:30 club with Void &Minor Threat.There may be a version of "Don't Throw Rocks" with Kent playing around bit that is the only tune anyones heard from that session.That song is a pisstake on Geo.Bush Sr.,who tried to get press pity a la Reagan,when a disgruntled citizen threw a rock at Bush's limo and Bush tried to make it out to be an assasinaton attempt.The gall of that fascist since some believe he had a hand in covering up JFK's murder.By the way,I met our fallen leader,JFK, as a child in Newport R.I. Jackie Kennedy had a family home in Newport,the Hammersmith Farm,so they would come to Mass at St.Mary's where yours truly was the only kid who was both an alter boy and a choir boy so I was chosen to greet him on Aug.24,1962.The rumour was that as Mass ended ,a secret service guy's gun popped out of his shoulder holster as he jumped up to get going,shades of ineptitude layer seen in Dallas.
ReplyDeleteI want to hear from people,esp.from New England like emptyhandspvd from Prov. and anyone who wants to communicate with me.edfeltch@gmail.com or call 860-319-4948.I'll have a new 7" to dist.
ReplyDeleteNew # 860-938-1851
DeleteYouth Korps, thanks for the info and for posting.
ReplyDeleteVin
not sure but i have the birth defects comp and it sounds like they are different versions than whats on here. it may just be degradation or distortion
ReplyDeleteAdrian, from what i'm told, they only recorded that batch of tunes once, then contributed tracks from it to various comp. LOTS of comps.
ReplyDeleteRecorded tunes twice,once in June '82 w/ Kent Stacks drumming and again in Sept.w/Bobby Pin Winslow on drums.
Deletei like the drumming!
ReplyDeleteBobby Pin Winslow on beats.Whem I last spoke with him he said "I played in bands for 20 years and this is the only band people still listen to that I played in" I just told him "why would anyone wanna listen to The Clothespins or your other bands?"Broke myself up.
DeleteYouthkorps is wicked hot.. love you Ed
ReplyDeleteYour a scream...
Just sending on the news that Eddie Wedge Feltch passed away this morning 2/1/2019 in Norwich, CT.
ReplyDeleteMemorial likely in April on his birthday in New London. Contact Chris at peacelove@cox.net for specific information.
Sorry to hear that. RIP
ReplyDeleteReading his comments then to find he died, sad. Thanks so much for this Vin
ReplyDelete