Dressy Bessy
Encyclopedia
Dressy Bessy is an indie rock
band from Denver, Colorado
, associated with the Elephant Six Collective
. Guitarist John Hill
also plays with The Apples in Stereo
. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom
formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name was taken from a popular Playskool
doll
of the 1970s. Hill joined around the time they started recording. They released two singles and an EP in 1997-98 and licensed songs to some compilation albums.
Dressy Bessy's first full-length release Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons (1999) was a mixture of beat group drums, infectious songs, and the odd burst of harmonium
. Further releases include California EP (2000), Sound Go Round (2002), and 2003's Dressy Bessy
, which incorporated a harder guitar
sound. 2003 also brought the compilation Little Music: Singles 1997-2002. These albums were initially released on Kindercore Records
of Athens, Georgia
. Their songs "If You Should Try to Kiss Her" and "Just Like Henry" were featured in the 1999 indie film But I'm A Cheerleader
.
In late 2004, drummer Darren Albert left the band and was replaced in 2005 by Craig Gilbert. Later that year, the band signed to Transdreamer Records and recorded their fourth album, Electrified
, which was released in June 2005. The band released HOLLERandSTOMP, on September 16, 2008.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, associated with the Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant Six Collective
The Elephant 6 Recording Company is a collective of American musicians who spawned many notable independent bands of the 1990s, including The Apples in Stereo, The Olivia Tremor Control, Neutral Milk Hotel, Beulah, Elf Power, Of Montreal, and Circulatory System.-Foundation:The collective was...
. Guitarist John Hill
John Hill (musician)
John Hill is an American guitarist best recognized as a member of The Apples in Stereo and Dressy Bessy.Hill, a college friend of drummer Hilarie Sidney and bassist Jim McIntyre, joined The Apples in January, 1994 after the departure of lead guitarist Chris Parfitt...
also plays with The Apples in Stereo
The Apples in Stereo
The Apples in Stereo, styled The Apples in stereo, is an American indie rock band associated with The Elephant Six Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist Robert Schneider, who writes the...
. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom
Tammy Ealom
Tammy Ealom is the lead guitarist, vocalist, and principal song writer for the Elephant 6 collective band Dressy Bessy. She was formerly a member of The Minders.-Biography:...
formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name was taken from a popular Playskool
Playskool
Playskool is an American company that produces educational toys and games for children. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., and is headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.-History:...
doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
of the 1970s. Hill joined around the time they started recording. They released two singles and an EP in 1997-98 and licensed songs to some compilation albums.
Dressy Bessy's first full-length release Pink Hearts, Yellow Moons (1999) was a mixture of beat group drums, infectious songs, and the odd burst of harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
. Further releases include California EP (2000), Sound Go Round (2002), and 2003's Dressy Bessy
Dressy Bessy (album)
Dressy Bessy is the third studio album by Dressy Bessy. It was released on August 26, 2003 . The CD came with a bonus DVD that included music videos and live footage of the band.-Track listing:All songs written by Tammy Ealom...
, which incorporated a harder guitar
Guitar
The 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...
sound. 2003 also brought the compilation Little Music: Singles 1997-2002. These albums were initially released on Kindercore Records
Kindercore Records
Kindercore Records is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia, which was founded in 1996 by Ryan Lewis and Daniel Geller to document the emerging music scene in Athens, Georgia....
of Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. Their songs "If You Should Try to Kiss Her" and "Just Like Henry" were featured in the 1999 indie film But I'm A Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader
But I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, an apparently happy heterosexual high school cheerleader...
.
In late 2004, drummer Darren Albert left the band and was replaced in 2005 by Craig Gilbert. Later that year, the band signed to Transdreamer Records and recorded their fourth album, Electrified
Electrified (album)
Electrified is the fourth studio album from Denver quartet Dressy Bessy. The album was released on Transdreamer Records in June 2005.-Track listing:All tracks written by Tammy Ealom#"Side 2"#"Stop Foolin'"#"Electrified"#"Small"#"She Likes It"...
, which was released in June 2005. The band released HOLLERandSTOMP, on September 16, 2008.
Members
- Tammy EalomTammy EalomTammy Ealom is the lead guitarist, vocalist, and principal song writer for the Elephant 6 collective band Dressy Bessy. She was formerly a member of The Minders.-Biography:...
- Guitar, Lead Vocals(1996–Present) - Rob Greene - Bass (1996–Present)
- John HillJohn Hill (musician)John Hill is an American guitarist best recognized as a member of The Apples in Stereo and Dressy Bessy.Hill, a college friend of drummer Hilarie Sidney and bassist Jim McIntyre, joined The Apples in January, 1994 after the departure of lead guitarist Chris Parfitt...
- Guitar (1996–Present) - Darren Albert - Drums (1996–2005)
- Craig Gilbert - Drums (2005–Present)
- James Barone - Drums (2008–Present) (Touring Member)
- Paul Garcia - Guitar, Keys, Percussion (2008–Present) (Touring Member)
Albums
- Pink Hearts Yellow MoonsPink Hearts Yellow MoonsPink Hearts Yellow Moons is the first album from Denver quartet Dressy Bessy. The album was released on Kindercore Records in September 1999...
(Kindercore; CD; 1999) - SoundGoRoundSoundGoRound-Track listing:#"I Saw Cinnamon" – 2:10#"Tag" – 0:42#"There's a Girl" – 3:00#"Just Being Me" – 2:49#"That's Why" – 2:23#"Oh Mi Amour" – 2:33#"Buttercups" – 2:55#"Maybe Laughter" – 2:19#"Big to Do" – 3:04#"All These Colors" – 1:41#"Flower Jargon" – 4:22...
(Kindercore; CD; 2002) - Little Music: Singles 1997-2002 (Kindercore; CD; 2003)
- Dressy BessyDressy Bessy (album)Dressy Bessy is the third studio album by Dressy Bessy. It was released on August 26, 2003 . The CD came with a bonus DVD that included music videos and live footage of the band.-Track listing:All songs written by Tammy Ealom...
(Kindercore; CD; 2003) - ElectrifiedElectrified (album)Electrified is the fourth studio album from Denver quartet Dressy Bessy. The album was released on Transdreamer Records in June 2005.-Track listing:All tracks written by Tammy Ealom#"Side 2"#"Stop Foolin'"#"Electrified"#"Small"#"She Likes It"...
(Transdreamer Records; CD/LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
; 2005) - Holler and Stomp (Transdreamer Records; CD/LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
; 2008)
EPs and Singles
- Ultra Vivid Color (Little Dipper; 7"; 1997)
- You Stand Here (Drug Racer; CD; 1998)
- Sunny (100 Guitar Mania; 7"; 1999)
- California EP (Kindercore; CD; 2000)
- Split w/ Saloon (Track & Field Organisation; 7"; 2002)
Compilation Appearances
- "The Things That You Say That You Do" on Dive Right Inn: The Only Spring Break CD You'll Need (American Eagle Outfitters; CD; 2004)
- "Makeup" on Pure Spun Sugar (CandyFloss; LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
; 1998) - "Extra-Ordinary" on A Bunch Of Beatniks Riding A Rocket (Red Carpet Ring; CassetteCompact CassetteThe Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
; 1999) - "Lookaround" on Beikoku-Ongaku vol. 13 (Beikoku-Ongaku; CD/Mag; 1999)
- "Just Like Henry" on Counterattack Of U.S. Indie (Contact; CD; 1999)
- "All The Right Reasons" on Christmas Two (Kindercore; CD; 1999)
- "Just Like Henry" and "If You Should Try To Kiss Her" on But I'm A CheerleaderBut I'm a CheerleaderBut I'm a Cheerleader is a 1999 satirical romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit and written by Brian Wayne Peterson. Natasha Lyonne stars as Megan Bloomfield, an apparently happy heterosexual high school cheerleader...
(OSTOST- Music :* Original Soundtrack, the soundtrack of a movie, TV series, or video game.* Open Source Track, a licensing and distribution model for music initiative* The alias of electronic musician Chris Douglas- Science and technology :...
; 1997) - "Bubbles" on The Powerpuff Girls: Heroes And Villains (Rhino; CD; 2000)
- "Gloria Days" on Songs For A Crimson Eggtree (EarwormEarworm RecordsEarworm Records was a London-based independent record label, with its first release by the band Hood in 1997. Other bands to release music on the label include Yo La Tengo, Of Montreal, Stars of the Lid, Windy & Carl, Portal, The Besnard Lakes, Fridge, Damon & Naomi and Magnétophone....
; LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
; 2000) - "Instead" on Kindercore Fifty (Kindercore; 3 CDs; 2000)
- "Some Better Days" on The Winter Report (Hype City; CD; 2001)
- "Extra-Ordinary (re-mix)" on Space Program (Philter; CD; 2001)
- "Side 2" on Quiero ser linda como Ale !!! (Niñoboy; CD; 2008)