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One of New Jersey's finest. Here's the entire 10 track 1988 demo , and a great sounding set recorded live on WNYU in 1991. Enjoy.
Turning Point: Demos and Live
The demo was recorded July-August of 1988 at Bill Cribbin Studios in NJ. This is by far my favorite Turning Point recordings. Many of these songs were later re-recorded for the band's first s/t 7" on Hi-Impact Records released December of '88. Great record, but i'll take the demos any day. Eight of these ten tracks were released on the Turning Point discography released on Jade Tree Records in 2000, which i highly recommend purchasing.
The live set was recorded on WNYU's Crucial Chaos show on February 7, 1991. Fourteen tracks, spanning the band's output from '88-'91, including a few unreleased tracks. I cleaned up this set as best as possible, fixing any sound problems, removing tape hiss, boosting the sound, and editing the tracks to make it sound as "professional" as i could. I think it came out excellent. The band played an incredible set which deserves to be heard this way. I prefer many of these versions to the official releases, especially the LP tracks, as the raw production and added energy put these recordings over the top. Classic stuff, check it out.
Skip Candelori - vocals
Jay Laughlin - guitar
Nick Greif - bass
Ken Flavell - drums
Steve Crudello played 2nd guitar on the band's s/t 7" and the track "Insecurity" from the Forever comp 7" (1990 Irate Records). He also played live with the band between 1988-1990.
discography:
Turning Point Demo Cassette
Recorded July-August 1988 at Bill Cribbin Studios, NJ
"Turning Point" 7" (Hi-Impact Records)
Recorded December 3, 1988 at Audio Plus, NJ
"Forever" Compilation 7" (Irate Records)
Recorded Spring 1989 at Why Me?, NJ
"Words to Live By, Words to Die For" Compilation 7" (New Age Records)
Recorded Fall 1989 at Bill Cribbin Studios, NJ
"Rebuilding" Compilation 7" (Temperance Records)
Recorded August 1990 at Why Me?, NJ
"It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn" LP (New Age Records)
Recorded January 12, 13, 15 1990 at Why Me?, NJ
Turning Point/No Escape Split 7" (Temperance Records)
Recorded February 1991 at Why Me?, NJ
Discography info taken from the Jade Tree website.
I've always been infatuated with this band. They seemed to come out of nowhere, release a handful of great unique songs in '94, then fade away into obscurity. A total mystery band, and pretty much no info to be found about them aside from the fact that Nick Forte (Rorschach) and Danny Leo (Native Nod) were involved. Their sound is hard to describe, but chances are if you're into '90s bands like Native Nod, Moss Icon, Indian Summer etc, you'll love this. Although they sound nothing like any of those bands. They don't really sound like any band i can think of actually. Anyway, they were too short-lived (although Charles of Gern Blandsten/Rorschach says there's an unreleased RTS album sitting in his closet, which gives me chest pains), and totally overlooked. According to my ears, Radio To Saturn should have been huge. So here's all their released recordings, lovingly ripped from my vinyl by my good friend Mark. Enjoy.
Radio To Saturn: 1994 Collection
Like i said, there's absolutely no info that i can find on this band. The lineup, and who plays what is even a mystery. Here's the lineup as printed in the s/t 7" on Unskilled Labor Records.
Rhythm Guitar - Nick
Rhyming Guitar - Tom
Rhythmic Guitar - Andy
Rhythm - Danny
Tom Doesn't Sing
Recorded Summer 1994 by Chris Pierce and Radio To Saturn at The Lanes, Allston MA.
Unskilled Labor 001
Actual lineup according to Nick Forte (guitar/vocals):
Andy Reuland - guitar / vocals
Danny Leo - drums / vocals
Tom Marsh - guitar
Nick Forte - guitar / vocals
I know i hear a bass in there, so i'm not sure who played bass on these recordings.
I remember playing the song "Young Friends" (from the split with Van Pelt) for a co-worker back sometime in the mid '90s when the record had just come out, and he said it sounded like "punk for pre-schoolers". That always stuck with me. It fits the track perfectly.
So, if you've never heard Radio To Saturn before, do yourself a favor and check it out. Songs like "Piedmont", "Rumble Seat", and my personal favorite, "(She Likes The Part) About Wolves" are just classics of the genre. Whatever genre that is.
If anyone has any additional info on this band, please leave a comment.
Link removed due to request. This will be available on vinyl in the near future. Can't wait!
The ABC NO RIO compilation (FUCK ROCK) was originally intended to be a 10” record chronicling the ABC scene circa ’90-’91. The name being inspired by the title of a Sam McPheeters essay/rant lamenting the (then) lame musical climate. The bands recorded exclusive tracks for it, a full-size booklet was planned with contributions of ‘zines like: DEAR JESUS/INWARD MONITOR/RIGHT TRASH. Local photographers like Chris(tine) Boarts and Justine Demetrick submitted dozens of incredible pictures for inclusion. I had a great layout in mind, everything looked good to go and then… I dropped the ball; the project became too overwhelming. By that time I was heavily involved with the day to day operation of RECONSTRUCTION Records so the comp was pushed into the back burner until my interest in putting out records and being involved in the “scene” had dissipated.
Flash forward to now; I’ve had the master tape of the comp and tons of photos/flyers languishing in an old shoebox throughout the years & with the recent advent of putting up an old project of mine online (New Breed), I was motivated to revisit this comp and listening to these tracks, it made me realize how much they have stood the test of time, shit still rocks.
I apologize to all the bands/zines/people that submitted material back then. I hope that this can, in some small way, help to rectify my fuck-up. Please check out the myspace page and blog for the comp, we'll be putting lots of old photos/flyers, etc... feel free to contribute/comment. As someone said, those early days at ABC weren’t the best or worst or worst of times, but they were always fun.
The revival of the comp is a collaborative effort between Rich Trash, Daryl Kahan & myself. Thanks so much to Vin for putting it up for download.
— Freddy Alva
FUCK ROCK - ABC NO RIO '91
Here's a comp i never thought i'd see. The long lost unreleased ABC No Rio comp 10" from 1991. You may recognize many of the tracks on here from various records, but these are all alternate recordings exclusive to this compilation, and to my ears, every one of them destroys the released versions. Had this comp been released in 1991 it would have been right up there with "Fear of Smell" as one of the best hardcore comps of the '90s.
Listening to this brought back a lot of memories. The early '90s ABC No Rio scene was a breath of fresh air to me. A plethora of great and innovative bands that couldn't be further removed from the typical NYHC sound, especially the way that scene was headed at the time. This was a revival of real hardcore punk.
Thanks to Freddy Alva and Daryl Kahan for deciding to dig this comp out of it's grave. It really needed to be heard.
For more info on the comp, check out the FUCK ROCK - ABC No Rio '91 Myspace page here.
And for tons of great photos and stories check out the ABC No Rio blog here.
Rorschach
Charles Maggio - vocals / Keith Huckins - guitar / Nick Forte - guitar /
Chris Laucella - bass / Andrew Gormley - drums
Tom Rusnak replaced Chris on bass in 1992
Synthetic Intelligence. A crushing version of the track that originally appeared on the "Fear of Smell" comp LP (Vermiform 1993). I was lucky enough to see Rorschach at least 4 times back in the '90s, and they were completely devastating every time. One of the most powerful live bands of the era. Probably of any era.
Warning
Neil - vocals / Todd - guitar (more info as i get it)
Blind Leading The Blind. Great Discharge inspired track. I can't find any info on this band at this time, but i'll be updating this page as more info comes in. If you know anything about this band, please leave a comment.
Citizens Arrest
Daryl Kahan - vocals / Janis Cakars - guitar / Joseph Martin - bass /
Patrick Winter - drums
Touch & Go / Pressure's On. An alternate recording of Touch & Go from the mighty "Colossus" LP (Wardance 1991) and a cover of Red C's "Pressure's On" from the classic "Flex Your Head" comp LP (Dischord 1982). CxA were my favorite hardcore band of the '90s, yet, as many times as they played ABC, i missed them every time. I'm still kicking myself.
Antiem
Rich Trash - vocals / Jon Hiltz - guitar / Joe Martin - bass /
Melissa York - vocals / Patrick Winter - drums
Dog God. A massive sounding wall of noise by this ABC "supergroup". I couldn't believe this was Rich Trash (Manacled) when i first heard it. He sounds like a rabid dog here, ready to kill someone. Monster of a song. I need more of this.
Animal Crackers
Ted Leo - vocals / Janis Cakars - guitar / Squeaky - guitar /
Charlie Adamec - bass / William Tarrant - drums
Roadkill / Farting Is A Spiritual Release. Christ, i haven't heard Animal Crackers in over 15 years. Fast hardcore punk songs with Ted Leo's vocals adding a pop edge. I'm pretty sure this stuff was recorded around the time he was starting Chisel (who i love).
Hell No
John Woods - vocals / Janis Cakars - guitar / Joe Martin - bass /
Jim Paradise - drums
Deal With It. Yet another band with Janis on guitar and Joe on bass, and yet another great live band. This song sounds familiar, and i'm pretty sure it's a re-working of a song from the first record, with a different name.
Huasipungo
Esneider - vocals / Ivan - guitar ('91-'92) / David Wilentz - bass/guitar ('91-'92) / Mike - bass ('91-'97) / Francisco - drums ('91-'92) / Naoki - drums ('91-'92) / Amanda - guitar/vocals ('92-'93)
Stupid Ambition. I'm not sure the exact lineup of these recordings, as Huasipungo was contantly changing members (and their were more member changes after '92 that i didn't list here). This is a re-recording of one of the band's earlier songs, when they played completely chaotic and frantic hardcore. One of my favorite, and one of the most overlooked and under-appreciated bands of the '90s.
Born Against
Sam McPheeters - vocals / Adam Woodrow - guitar / Javier Villegas - bass /
Jon Hiltz - drums
Bret Bue replaced Javier on bass somewhere between '91-'92, so i'm not sure who plays drums on these recordings. Born Against had tons of bassist and drummer changes during their existence (for more info check out the Born Against WFMU Sessions post).
Resist Control / Well Fed Fuck. Resist Control was originally performed by Adam's former band, Life's Blood, and Well Fed Fuck is an alternate recording of the closing track to their "9 Patriotic Hymns For Children" LP (Vermiform 1991). I got to see Born Against at ABN No Rio once (with Merel i think) and they were just insane. I'm not sure what Sam was on, but i wanted some. "We're Jock Gestopo, and this first song is called Born Against".
Fucking Judge. Here's an excellent sounding rip of the 1988 demo and various live sets from 1988-1990, including the WNYU set from '88 which is my all-time favorite Judge recording. Extremely essential. Thanks to Ben Alvie, Jeff G., Claude and Brett Beach for the help. Enjoy!
Judge: Demos and Live 1988-1990
Judge were a powerhouse NY hardcore band formed in 1987 by Youth of Today guitarist John "Porcell" Porcelly and former Youth of Today drummer Mike "Judge" Ferraro. To be honest, i only recently started getting into Judge. I loved the band's first 7" when i first heard it back in the late '80s, but i never checked out the albums that followed. The NY hardcore scene exploded in the late '80s, and between 1987 and 1988 dozens of great bands seemed to just be coming out of nowhere. But it just kind of faded as quickly as it started, with the New Breed tape kinda being the final chapter of it all, for me anyway. By the time 1990 hit i was too concerned with the ABC No Rio scene and bands like Citizens Arrest and Born Against, and the beginning of the West Coast "powerviolence" scene with bands like Neanderthal and Crossed Out, to care about what Judge and related bands were up to. Needless to say i missed out on some great hardcore. So here i am at 40 years old discovering fucking Judge, and i'm loving it.
The 1988 demo was recorded at Don Fury Studios
1988 lineup:
Mike Ferraro - vocals
John Porcelly - guitar
Jimmy Yu - bass
"Lukey" Luke Abbey - drums
1989 lineup:
Mike Ferraro - vocals
John Porcelly - guitar
Matt Pincus - bass
Sammy Siegler - drums
Mike "Judge" Ferraro played drums for Death Before Dishonor (who later became Supertouch), and Youth of Today. John "Porcell" Porcelly played in Violent Children, Youth of Today, Project X and Shelter. Jimmy Yu played in Death Before Dishonor. "Lukey" Luke Abbey played drums for Warzone and Gorilla Biscuits. Sammy Siegler played in Side By Side, Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today and Project X.
I cleaned up all the recording as best as possible. The Live in Minneapolis 7/15/90 set is missing the track "Take Me Away", as i wanted to keep the collection under 80 minutes and that track had the worst sound quality.
