Mr. Superlove Explained

Mr. Superlove
Type:Studio
Artist:Ass Ponys
Cover:File:AssPonys_Superlove.jpg
Released:1990
Genre:Country rock, indie rock
Label:OKra, Anyway
Producer:John Curley
Next Title:Grim
Next Year:1993

Mr. Superlove is the debut studio album by Cincinnati, Ohio-based indie rock band Ass Ponys. It was originally released in 1990 on OKra Records, and was subsequently reissued by Anyway Records with several bonus tracks. It was produced by the Afghan Whigs' bassist John Curley, and was recorded in his house.[1] Upon its initial release, the album became a commercial flop due to distribution problems.[2] In 2006, select remastered songs from the album and its follow-up, Grim, along with various new outtakes, covers, and live versions, were released by Shake It Records on the album The Okra Years.[3]

Covers of title track

A cover of the album's title track appears on What Jail is Like EP, a 1993 EP by the Afghan Whigs.[4] The Whigs' cover of the track also appears on a 7" single released soon after Mr. Superlove, which also featured a cover of the Whigs' song "You, My Flower" by the Ass Ponys, and on the 2014 reissue of the Whigs's 1993 album Gentlemen.[5] [6]

Reception

Mr. Superlove was reviewed by Jason Cohen in the indie music magazine Option.[7] Vickie Gilmer of Trouser Press wrote of the album: "The frontman's slightly nasal, oddly high-pitched vocal tricks most definitely aren't for everyone, but his hell-bent strains give the Ass Ponys an instantly likable quality."[2] In 2001, the Dayton Daily News described the album as a "regional classic".[8]

Track listing

Side A

  1. Hey Swifty – 5:34
  2. Ford Madox Ford – 4:03
  3. Eleven: Eleven – 4:55
  4. (We All Love) Peanut Butter – 3:45
  5. Laughing at the Ghosts – 5:33

Side B

  1. Mr. Superlove – 4:56
  2. Thank You for the Roses – 3:44
  3. Ride Ramona – 3:58
  4. Fingers Fall – 5:04
  5. Bible House – 3:50

Personnel

Ass Ponys

Other personnel

Notes and References

  1. Alden . Grant . 1996-06-30 . Ass Ponys - Would the Ass Ponys, by any other name, smell as sweet? . No Depression . 2017-09-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170819191103/http://test.nodepression.com/article/ass-ponys-would-ass-ponys-any-other-name-smell-sweet . 2017-08-19 . dead .
  2. Web site: Ass Ponys . Gilmer . Vickie . Trouser Press.
  3. News: Asinine name didn't stop Ponys from hitting stride. Varias. Chris. 2006-02-19. Cincinnati Enquirer. ProQuest.
  4. LLC . SPIN Media . January 1995 . Spins . Spin . en . SPIN Media LLC . 74.
  5. Grow . Kory . 2014-09-08 . Afghan Whigs Plan 21st Birthday Reissue for 'Gentlemen' . Rolling Stone.
  6. News: Cincinnati Band Returns Swinging . 2001-09-07 . Dayton Daily News.
  7. Web site: Ass Ponys Ride Again - Cincinnati Magazine . Cohen . Jason . 2016-01-20 . Cincinnati Magazine . en-US . 2017-09-18.
  8. News: Cincinnati Band Returns Swinging. 2001-09-07. Dayton Daily News. ProQuest.