Screaming Life/Fopp Explained

Screaming Life/Fopp
Type:compilation
Artist:Soundgarden
Cover:Soundgarden-ScreamingLifeFopp.jpg
Recorded:1987 at Reciprocal Recording and 1988 at Moore Theatre, Seattle, Washington
Genre:Grunge, alternative metal[1]
Length:37:15 (original)
40:28 (remaster)
Label:Sub Pop
Producer:Jack Endino, Steve Fisk, Soundgarden
Chronology:Soundgarden compilations
Next Title:A-Sides
Next Year:1997

Screaming Life/Fopp is a compilation album by the American rock band Soundgarden that combines their debut EPs in their entirety into a single release. It was originally released on May 11, 1990, through Sub Pop Records. Sub Pop later remastered and reissued the album on November 24, 2013.

Overview

The album combines the band's first two studio EPs: Screaming Life (1987) and Fopp (1988). It was released in 1990 by Sub Pop despite having been recorded in 1987-88, after Soundgarden's two subsequent full-length releases, Ultramega OK (1988) and Louder than Love (1989), had gained them considerable popularity. There are two cover songs on the album; "Swallow My Pride" is a Green River cover and "Fopp" is an Ohio Players cover.

The 2013 re-issue contains an extra track, "Sub Pop Rock City," that is not present on the original release. "Sub Pop Rock City" was a track recorded during the same pre-Ultramega OK era but previously only available on the Sub Pop 200 compilation.

Release and reception

PopMatters journalist J.C. Maçek III reviewed the 2013 remastered version of the album and said, "As for the 'remastering' aspect, to be sure, the album sounds as good as it ever has, especially to those of us who memorized every note by way of audio cassettes. However, the new version doesn't sound markedly different from the previous release on CD, mostly because the songs were recorded tough and rough in the first place."

Track listing

All lyrics written by Chris Cornell, all music composed by Kim Thayil, except where noted.

Remastered 2013 release

Chart performance

Chart (2013)Peak
position
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[2] 7
US Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[3] 22

Personnel

Soundgarden

Production (1990 original version)

Production (2013 remastered version)

Notes and References

  1. Book: Christe . Ian . Ian Christe . . Transforming the 1990s: The Black Album & Beyond . . 2004 . New York City . 225 . 978-0-380-81127-4 .
  2. Web site: Soundgarden – Chart history – Billboard Vinyl Albums . Billboard . November 4, 2017.
  3. Web site: Soundgarden – Chart history – Billboard Tastemaker Albums . Billboard . November 4, 2017.