On Golden Smog Explained

On Golden Smog
Type:EP
Artist:Golden Smog
Cover:On Golden Smog.jpg
Released:December 11, 1992
Recorded:Pachyderm Studio, Cannon Falls, MN
Genre:Alternative country
Length:21:54
Label:Crackpot Records
Producer:Paul Pacific
Next Title:Down by the Old Mainstream
Next Year:1995

On Golden Smog is the debut EP from American band Golden Smog, released in 1992.

Background

Golden Smog was a loosely connected group of musicians comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, but relative constants who appear on all the recordings are guitarists Kraig Johnson (Run Westy Run), Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks), along with bassist Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks).[1]

The album consists entirely of cover songs. The album sleeve art was by the band's then-drummer, Chris Mars. The track "Shooting Star" was featured in the 1994 film Clerks.

On Golden Smog was reissued in 1996 by Rykodisc.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Jason Ankeny wrote of the album "After a few years of haphazard shows in and about their native Minneapolis, the members of Golden Smog were approached by a small local label to put out a record; many, many beers later, On Golden Smog appeared."

Track listing

  1. "Son (We've Kept the Room Just the Way You Left It)" – 4:26 - A Michaelangelo cover.
  2. "Easy to Be Hard" – 3:20 - A Hair Cover. (Sung by The Jayhawks' Gary Louris)
  3. "Shooting Star" – 4:44 - A Bad Company Cover. (Sung by Soul Asylum's Dave Pirner).
  4. "Back Street Girl" – 3:55 - A Rolling Stones Cover.
  5. "Cowboy Song" – 5:29 - A Thin Lizzy Cover. (Sung by Soul Asylum roadie, Bill Sullivan).

Personnel

The band members of Golden Smog used pseudonyms in the credits.

Production notes

Notes and References

  1. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12237-stay-golden-smog-the-best-of-golden-smog-the-rykodisc-years/ Pitchfork media review of Stay Golden, Smog