LP RIKK AGNEW All By Myself (Re) BLUE VINYL - Frontier Records 31009-1 - SEALED

	€		20
	$		23

LP RIKK AGNEW

(Ex-Adolescents, Christian Death, Rikk Agnew's Yard Sale)

All By Myself

Limited Edition In Blue Vinyl

Country of release: USA, 2008

Original released: 1982

Label: Frontier Records

Catalogue number: 31009-1

Barcode: 0018663100913

Includes Insert

Condition Record: Mint 

Condition Cover: Mint

  LP ist noch verschweißt / LP IS STILL SEALED !!!

(Photo von meiner eigenen LP / Photo taken from my own copy)

Tracks Side 1:

1. OC Life (2:49)

2. 10 (2:56)

3. Yur 2 Late (3:36)

4. Everyday (4:29)

5. One Shot (3:06)

Tracks Side 2:

1. Falling Out (2:48)

2. Surfside (4:02)

3. It's Doing Something (3:05)

4. Fast (1:24)

5. Section 8 (7:26)

Listen At YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKqlBxcSoE8

This time we will focus on Richard Francis Agnew, Jr. better known as Rikk Agnew. Specifically, we will discuss one of his solo discs, All By Myself on the Frontier Records label. Agnew, an American guitarist born in 1958 has been an integral part of the death-rock band Christian Death and—more notably--some of the most influential punk bands in Orange County, California.

In 1979 as your crusty chronicler was graduating from high school and heading for a hot summer in New York City, Agnew was leaving his first musical mark playing in the Detours and Social Distortion. The following year he signed on with the Adolescents. Some say his signature style on guitar as well as his songwriting skills practically dominated the Adolescents' eponymous “blue album” Adolescents (also on Frontier Records).

In 1981 he would quit the group citing both creative and personal differences. He went back into the studio alone and the next year released his solo premiere platter, All By Myself, on which he sings and plays all the instruments: bass, drums, guitar and keyboards. While Agnew’s album was considered to be a landmark, much of the punk press coverage often focused a bit more on the New York scene as well as the flashier, big corporate label acts such as the Sex Pistols.

An independent label will often find it difficult to compete with a megalith label no matter how noteworthy the actual music may be. Former A&R exec/”Prexy” of the now defunct Dangerhouse Records once explained it in great detail: “(T)he English musicians had been set upon by some of the top producers in the business” adding that “the very lack of commercialism implicit in L.A. punk seemed to drive away potential resources . . . (t)hose were culturally weird times”.

Perhaps this was one reason why Agnew’s first solo effort snarkily-titled All By Myself—(Google Eric Carmen if you missed the joke)—considered by some critics to be “brilliant”--was nevertheless out of print a few years later in the mid-1980s. The title is actually appropriate as Agnew goes “Little Red Hen” and (with rare exception) does everything himself. He even co-produced the record with Adolescents producer Thom Wilson. The record has an excellent one-man band sound.

The album is not what one might expect from a stereotypical punk rock recording. He eschews the infamous punk bellowing, yelling and sneering in favor of what some call “a good mid-range punk voice”. He does, however, employ the trademark tricks he used with the Adolescents and Christian Death in order to create some welcome excitement.

The opening track, “O.C. Life” is aimed right at his roots. This obvious Orange County classic focuses on some specific cities Agnew felt were “worthy of contempt” and then moves on to singing about some screwed up people and problems with his withering musical eye. The platter powerfully pushes on with the next couple of cuts: “10”--which is highlighted by some nice keyboard arrangements that fill out this character study in song--- and “Yur 2 Late” which helps to illustrate how Agnew is able to creating a certain mood with his music.

Some suggest that this album made Agnew worthy of the title “guitar hero”. Although it might just be the next number, “Everyday”, co-written with his brother and fellow Adolescent veteran Frank Agnew that makes the music most notable. This cut has a gentler pace to it and a surprisingly tight arrangement as well that somehow also allows Agnew’s guitar to breathe. Even his vocals on this cut are refreshingly pleasant. In fact, this not too brash tribute to a mate makes it as the critic’s choice off this album.

Indeed, what truly makes this disc different is that he often blurs the lines between typical punk and pop-punk. This individualistic ingredient creates a near-perfect balance between impertinence and melodic muscularity. Witness the track that follows “Everyday”, the fifth song, “One Shot”. “One Shot” is a tune that serves as an efficient segue from the previous piece to one of the record label’s own favorites: “Falling Out”. “Falling Out” is considered by some Frontier folk to be (along with the opener, “O.C. Life”) one of Agnew’s “best songs”.

Again Agnew blends genres with the next number, “Surfside”. It’s a unique punk track with just a hint of surf music thrown in to boot. It makes an otherwise "trebly" and tense tune truly original as Agnew cleverly combines an inquiry with nostalgia as he sings of an unsettling and destructive past. This provides listeners with yet another fine moment on a fine record.

Agnew continues to earn his reputation as a real punk rock preacher with “It’s Doing Something”. He also earns the title of one of the best punk rock guitarists in California as he rips through the next to last number “Fast”. It’s a rapid fire, brief but boisterous lead in to the final song “Section 8”. “Section 8” shows once more that Agnew is also not afraid to experiment (as this lengthier closing cut clearly demonstrates).

( ) "All By Myself “contained some of his best songs” so just a few years ago (2003) they re-released it on CD and even “reactivated" it on clear, opaque blue or black vinyl.

Recently given a five-star review from CD Universe, Rikk Agnew’s All By Myself still rocks! If you've never listened to Rikk Agnew’s All By Myself, listen to it. If you've already listened to it . . . listen again. (Phoenix/examiner.com)

Rikk Agnew - Drums
Rikk Agnew - Bass
Rikk Agnew - Guitar
Rikk Agnew - Keyboards
Rikk Agnew - Vocals

Versand innerhalb Deutschland (versichert mit GLS - generell innerhalb von 24 Stunden)  5,00 Euro

Egal wieviele LPs gekauft werden, Versand immer 5,00 Euro. Keine weiteren Versandkosten ab der zweiten LP!!

Shipping within EEC (AIRMAIL) 5,00 Euro

Shipping Oversea (AIRMAIL, REGISTERD) 7,50 Euro

Weitere Infos oder Fotos? Bitte fragen

Need more infos or photos? Please ask