Friday, September 21, 1984

Release - Various Artists "Something to Believe In" LP

This was an amazing compilation put together by BYO Records that featured bands from the States and Canada. It was one of the first major comps that featured Canadian hardcore bands. It gave the Canadian scenes some vindication. I know the Young Lions track got screwed up in the mastering stage, but the rest of it sounds great. the comp contains one of my all time favourite Youth Youth Youth songs. SNFU, DOA, Personality Crisis, Stretch Marks, and the Unwanted were some of the best hardcore bands at the time. And this comp really stands the test of time. Here is the line up for the record:

1. NILS "Scratches and Needles"
2. RIGOR MORTIS "Silent Scream"
3. BIG BOYS "History"
4. UNWANTED "Tanks Keep Rolling"
5. TOURISTS "Memories"
6. KRAUT "Pyramids"
7. YOUTH BRIGADE "Care"
8. YOUTH YOUTH YOUTH "Domination"
9. SNFU "Victims of the Womanizer"
10. PERSONALITY CRISIS "Piss On You"
11. CHANNEL 3 "Indian Summer"
12. YOUNG LIONS "In a Field"
13. ZEROPTION "Realpolitik"
14. DOA "Tits On the Beach"
15. 7 SECONDS "Out of Touch"
16. STRETCH MARKS "Foreign Policies"

A review that appeared in Flipside #43 magazine in 1984 was "The compilation stands up to B.Y.O.'s usual excellent standards - good bands, good sound, good package. A must compilation, the only thing I don't like is the cover."


In Chris Walter's book "SNFU....What No one Else Wanted to Say" we learn that SNFU go to record their song for this comp at the same time that Unwanted do their song. Both bands record at Mid Ocean Studios in early November 1983. Unwanted hung out in the studio while SNFU recorded "Victims of the Womanizer" and Ken "Goony" Fleming and Norm Simms (from the Unwanted) helped out with those back up vocals which make the SNFU song such a stand out. Some would argue that the gang choruses were a signature sound to Youth Brigade's sound and to BYO's earlier releases. I think it may have been part of the appeal for why the Stern Brothers would go on to offer SNFU a recording contract although Chris Walter learns that the amount of feedback the Stern Brothers heard from others about the SNFU song played a more significant role. Regardless, both band's fit the session around some shows that they were playing together in Winnipeg and after their session they would play a show at Wellington's that same day.

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