| Artist: | Rocket from the Crypt |
| Studio: | 7 |
| Live: | 1 |
| Compilation: | 4 |
| Video: | 2 |
| Music Videos: | 8 |
| Ep: | 2 |
| Singles: | 6 |
| Option: | 23 |
| Option Name: | Vinyl singles |
| 1Option: | 16 |
| 1Option Name: | Other appearances |
The discography of Rocket from the Crypt, a San Diego-based alternative rock band active from 1990 to 2005, consists of seven studio albums, two EPs, one live album, two DVDs, twenty-eight singles, and eight music videos.
Rocket from the Crypt was formed in 1990 with an initial lineup of singer/guitarist John Reis (Speedo), guitarist Andy Stamets (ND), bassist Pete Reichert (Petey X), drummer Sean, and backing vocalist Elaina. Their debut album, Paint as a Fragrance, was released in 1991 through the Cargo Music imprint Headhunter Records. Sean and Elaina then moved away from San Diego and drummer Adam Willard (Atom) and saxophonist Paul O'Beirne (Apollo 9) joined. The band released a series of vinyl singles on various independent record labels, followed by their second album, , on Headhunter in 1992. Trumpeter Jason Crane (JC 2000) joined the band just as Circa: Now! attracted the attention of major record labels. Rocket from the Crypt signed with Interscope Records, who re-released Circa: Now! while Cargo released All Systems Go, a compilation album of the band's vinyl singles.
The band's contract with Interscope included the freedom to record vinyl releases for other labels. They had three releases in 1995: The EP The State of Art is on Fire, the LP Hot Charity, and the album Scream, Dracula, Scream! The singles "Born in '69" and "Young Livers" reached the UK Singles Chart at #68 and #67 respectively. "On a Rope" was a greater success, reaching #12. Music videos for all three singles were played on MTV and MTV Europe, and Scream, Dracula, Scream! peaked at #41 on the UK Albums Chart. RFTC was released in 1998 but did not fare as well as its predecessor, reaching only #63 while its lead single "Lipstick" reached #64. Rocket from the Crypt left Interscope in 1999 and released the EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud independently. Disagreements over the band's direction led to Willard leaving the group, and the band took a hiatus during which Reis founded Swami Records and released All Systems Go 2.
Rocket from the Crypt next signed to Vagrant Records and released Group Sounds in 2001, including contributions from Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster as well as their new permanent drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Ruby Mars). Group Sounds was their first album to chart in their home country, reaching #40 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. Live from Camp X-Ray followed in 2002 and reached #45. It proved to be their final studio album, as the members drifted into other projects over the next few years and decided to disband. Rocket from the Crypt's final performance on Halloween 2005 in San Diego was filmed and recorded, and was released in 2008 as R.I.P. All Systems Go 3 followed that same year, and Reis plans to eventually release a fourth, final installment in the series. In October 2011 the band reunited for the children's television Yo Gabba Gabba! where they would perform a brand new song titled "He's a Chef" which was released as a limited edition single exclusively through Volcom clothing stores and later on the 2017 compilation Yo Gabba Gabba! Hey!. A reunion tour followed in 2012. In March 2015 Vintage Piss was released under Sonny Vincent and Rocket from the Crypt. Rocket from the Crypt, minus the horn section, served as Vincent's backing band. The album was originally recorded in 2003 but left unmixed and unfinished until Reis, who also produced the album, decided to go back and give the album a proper mixing and release [1]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US (Top Independent Albums)[2] | UK[3] | |||
| 1991 | Paint as a Fragrance
| — | — | |
| 1992 |
| — | — | |
| 1995 | Hot Charity
| — | — | |
Scream, Dracula, Scream!
| — | 41 | ||
| 1998 | RFTC
| — | 63 | |
| 2001 | Group Sounds
| 40 | — | |
| 2002 | Live from Camp X-Ray
| 45 | — | |
| " - " denotes albums that were released but did not chart. | ||||
I Circa: Now! was reissued on CD by Interscope in 1993, and again in 2004 by Swami as Circa: Now! +4.
II Hot Charity was reissued on CD by Swami in 2002 on the compilation album Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
III Despite its title, Live from Camp X-Ray is a studio album rather than a live album.
I R.I.P. is a CD/DVD combination package.
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1993 | All Systems Go
|
| 1999 | All Systems Go 2
|
| 2002 | Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud
|
| 2008 | All Systems Go 3
|
I All Systems Go was initially released only in Japan. A second version with a different track list was released in the United States by Cargo Music later the same year. This version was re-released by Sympathy for the Record Industry in 1998.
II Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud combines the LP Hot Charity and the EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
| Year | Album details |
|---|---|
| 1995 | The State of Art Is on Fire
|
| 1999 | Cut Carefully and Play Loud
|
I The State of Art Is on Fire was reissued on CD in 1996, including the tracks from Rocket from the Crypt Plays the Music Machine.
II Cut Carefully and Play Loud was reissued on CD by Swami in 2002 on the compilation album Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
Rocket from the Crypt released 28 singles on both vinyl and CD formats during their career, but only 6 of these were commercially released singles intended to promote specific songs from their albums. The remaining 22 were vinyl-only singles and are listed below under "Vinyl singles". Promotional singles of "Ditch Digger" and "Sturdy Wrists" from were released to radio stations for airplay, but these were not released as commercial singles.
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | ||||
| 1995 | "Born in '69" | 68 | Scream, Dracula, Scream! | |
| 1996 | "Young Livers" | 67 | ||
| "On a Rope" | 12 | |||
| 1998 | "When in Rome (Do the Jerk)" | — | RFTC | |
| "Lipstick" | 64 | |||
| "Break It Up" | — | |||
| " - " denotes singles that were released but did not chart. | ||||
Rocket from the Crypt released 22 singles during their career that were exclusive to the vinyl format. Most of these were released in limited numbers and were not distributed to radio stations for airplay, unlike the 6 singles which were released to promote specific songs from their studio albums. Many of the tracks from the vinyl singles were re-released on the All Systems Go compilation albums, as noted below.
| Year | Release details | Tracks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Rocket Pack |
| Released in 2 versions, one by the band and the other for the Pushead fan club. The title was derived from the felt cover in the shape of the band's logo which folded around the record. 125 copies were manufactured, but only 75 were released in this package. The remaining copies were used for the split release with Septic Death. |
| 1992 | Yum Kippered
|
| |
"Boychucker"
|
| Picture disc with artwork by Rick Froberg. Reissued in 1994 as a standard record, but with a new sleeve containing Rocket from the Crypt pogs. | |
Sub Pop Singles Club
|
| Limited to 3,000 copies. | |
"Gold"
|
| Originally performed by the MC5. | |
Rocket from the Crypt / Septic Death
|
| Released only in Japan and limited to 100 copies. Includes 2 records, one from each band. | |
Smells Like Grease for Peace
|
| Split release with Rocket from the Crypt on side A and Deadbolt's "Down in the Lab" on side B. | |
| 1993 | Both Good Songs
|
| |
Pure Genius
|
| ||
Radio Wendy / Rocket from the Crypt
|
| Split release with both bands' songs on side A (side B is blank). Limited to 417 copies, released in 3 versions with different colored sleeves, only to the Pushead fan club. | |
Ghetto Box Rock
|
| Single-sided release with a blank B side. Limited to 2,500 copies included with issue #4 of Speed Kills magazine. Another 2,500 copies were reissued later that year. Both songs recorded in the band's rehearsal space using a ghetto blaster. | |
| 1994 | Burn Mouth Off Liar with Punk Heat Blast
|
| Reissued in 1998. |
Rocket from the Crypt / Bloodthirsty Butchers
|
| Split release including two records, one from each band. "Pressure's On" originally performed by Red C. | |
| 1995 | Rocket from the Crypt Plays the Music Machine
|
| Both songs originally performed by The Music Machine. Reissued in 1996 as a 7" single. Both tracks were included on the CD release of The State of Art is on Fire. |
"Tattoo"
|
| Single-sided release with a blank B side. Released exclusively to members of "Speedo's Army", a club of registered fans with Rocket from the Crypt tattoos. | |
"I Flame You"
|
| Single-sided release with the band's name and artwork etched on the surface of the B side. Released exclusively to the band's fan club. | |
| 1996 | "Used" / "Lose Your Clown"
|
| Given away at two in-store performances in London and to members of "Speedo's Army". Unmarked jukebox single limited to 150-200 copies. "Lose Your Clown" originally performed by Ray Charles. |
| 1998 | Rocket from the Crypt / Julian Briano y Sus Hermanos
|
| |
| 1999 | Rocket from the Crypt / The Hellacopters
|
| Split release packaged inside issue #10 of Gearhead magazine. |
Dancing Birds
|
| Limited to 2,750 copies. An additional 1,650 copies were reissued in April 2000. | |
| 2000 | Rocket from the Crypt / The Get Up Kids
|
| |
| 2003 | "On the Prowl" / "Come On"
|
| |
| 2012 | Biz Markie & Wayne Coyne / Rocket From The Crypt
|
| Split release limited-edition green marbled 7-inch released as part of Yo Gabba Gabba!'s clothing and accessories collaboration with Volcom. Rocket from the Crypt's "He's a Chef" is featured as the double A side.[4] |
I Denotes songs that were re-released on the US version of All Systems Go.
II Denotes songs that were re-released on All Systems Go 2.
| Year | Video details |
|---|---|
| 2006 | RFTC 10/31/05
|
| 2008 | R.I.P.
|
I RFTC 10/31/05 is a "rough cut" version of R.I.P. released in limited quantities.
II R.I.P. is a CD/DVD combination package.
| Year | Title | Director | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Ditch Digger" | Spike Jonze | |
| 1993 | "Sturdy Wrists" | ||
| 1995 | "Born in '69" | Steve Hanft | Scream, Dracula, Scream! |
| 1996 | "Young Livers" | ||
| "On a Rope" | |||
| 1998 | "Lipstick" | RFTC | |
| "Break It Up" | |||
| 2002 | "I Can't Feel My Head" | Marc Gariss | Live from Camp X-Ray |
The following Rocket from the Crypt songs were released on compilation albums, soundtracks, and other releases. Some songs were later re-released on the All Systems Go compilation albums, as noted below. This is not an exhaustive list: songs that were first released on the band's albums, EPs, or singles are not included.
| Year | Release details | Track(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Head Start to Purgatory
|
| |
| 1993 | Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus
|
| |
| 1994 | Compulsiv for Two
|
| |
Ether Hogg: Snivelization
|
| ||
| 1997 | Dope, Guns, 'n' Fucking in the Streets, Vol. 11
|
| |
| 1998 | Halloween Hootenanny |
| |
| 1999 | Squeal of Blurr Number 2
|
| |
Oh, Merge
|
| ||
Before You Were Punk 2
|
| ||
Kiss the Cook
|
| ||
| 2000 | Free the West Memphis 3
|
| |
Another Year on the Streets
|
| ||
| 2001 | Another Year on the Streets Volume 2
|
| |
| 2003 | Swami Sound System Vol. 1
|
| |
| 2004 | Another Year on the Streets, Vol. 3
|
| |
| 2015 | Vintage Piss
|
| |
| 2017 | Yo Gabba Gabba! Hey |
|
|
I Denotes songs that were re-released on All Systems Go 2.
II Denotes songs that were re-released on All Systems Go 3.
III "Flight of the Hobo" was also released on Circa: Now! +4 later the same year.
IV Originally recorded in 2003 but never mixed or finished. The band, minus the horn section, serves as Vincent's backing band. Reis went back and mixed and completed the album in 2015.