Cut Carefully and Play Loud
Encyclopedia
Cut Carefully and Play Loud is an EP
by the San Diego, California
rock
band Rocket from the Crypt
, released in 1999 by Flapping Jet Records. It was the band's last recording with drummer Atom, who left the group shortly thereafter due to disagreements over the professional direction of the band.
The EP was recorded by friend of the band Gar Wood in his garage. It has unusual packaging; the dye-cast cardboard sleeve has a large flower-shaped sticker placed over the center hole, making it necessary to cut the sticker around the center hole in order to remove the record from the sleeve. This causes the cut-out portion of the sticker to then become the center label of the record. The warning "cut carefully and play loud" is printed along the edge of the area to be cut, since cutting the sticker poses the risk of scratching the record. This warning became the de facto title of the EP. Because of the unusual packaging the records all had to be hand-assembled by the band and friends. The EP was released in 12" vinyl format limited to 3,000 copies, with the first 100 copies pressed on translucent blue vinyl. The original EP is out of print, however all the songs were re-released on CD format on the compilation album Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud
in 2002.
In the insert notes of the CD re-release, singer/guitarist John Reis describes Cut Carefully and Play Loud as "a snapshot of a band in hell." After the band ended their contract with major label Interscope Records
they spent much of 1999 uncertain of their future or what their next move would be. They were not as prolific as they had been in past years, but still would rehearse and record roughly 3 times per week. Of the songs recorded during this period the band contributed what they felt were the best to the EP. It was due to this period of uncertainty as well as disagreements with Reis over the band's career decisions that drummer Atom left the group in early 2000.
Side 2
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt
Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...
, released in 1999 by Flapping Jet Records. It was the band's last recording with drummer Atom, who left the group shortly thereafter due to disagreements over the professional direction of the band.
The EP was recorded by friend of the band Gar Wood in his garage. It has unusual packaging; the dye-cast cardboard sleeve has a large flower-shaped sticker placed over the center hole, making it necessary to cut the sticker around the center hole in order to remove the record from the sleeve. This causes the cut-out portion of the sticker to then become the center label of the record. The warning "cut carefully and play loud" is printed along the edge of the area to be cut, since cutting the sticker poses the risk of scratching the record. This warning became the de facto title of the EP. Because of the unusual packaging the records all had to be hand-assembled by the band and friends. The EP was released in 12" vinyl format limited to 3,000 copies, with the first 100 copies pressed on translucent blue vinyl. The original EP is out of print, however all the songs were re-released on CD format on the compilation album Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud
Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud
Hot Charity/Cut Carefully and Play Loud is an album by the San Diego, California rock band Rocket from the Crypt, released in 2002 by Swami Records. It combines two of the band's out-of-print vinyl releases, the 1995 LP Hot Charity and 1999 EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud, into a single release on CD...
in 2002.
In the insert notes of the CD re-release, singer/guitarist John Reis describes Cut Carefully and Play Loud as "a snapshot of a band in hell." After the band ended their contract with major label Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
they spent much of 1999 uncertain of their future or what their next move would be. They were not as prolific as they had been in past years, but still would rehearse and record roughly 3 times per week. Of the songs recorded during this period the band contributed what they felt were the best to the EP. It was due to this period of uncertainty as well as disagreements with Reis over the band's career decisions that drummer Atom left the group in early 2000.
Track listing
Side 1- "If the Bird Could Fly"
- "Blood Robots"
- "Waste It"
Side 2
- "Hot Wired"
- "Who Let the Snakes In??"
Performers
- Speedo (John ReisJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, lead vocals - ND (Andy StametsAndy StametsAndy Stamets is an American guitarist notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt, Beehive & the Barracudas, and the Sultans.-Musical career:...
) - guitar, backing vocals - Petey X (Pete Reichert) - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Apollo 9 (Paul O'BeirnePaul O'BeirnePaul O'Beirne is an American saxophonist notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt.-Musical career:...
) - saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, backing vocals - JC 2000 (Jason CraneJason CraneJason Crane is an American drummer and trumpeter notable as a member of Rocket from the Crypt, The Black Heart Procession, and Beehive & the Barracudas.-Musical career:...
) - trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, backing vocals - Atom (Adam Willard) - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Album information
- Record label: Flapping Jet Records
- Produced by John ReisJohn ReisJohn Reis is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which he formed and fronted for the entirety of its career from 1990 to 2005...
- Recorded by Gar Wood at Box Studios in San Diego