Wiki
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Release Date
1982
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Length
15 tracks
Bad Brains (also known as The Yellow Tape or Attitude: The ROIR Sessions) is the debut studio album recorded by American Hardcore Punk band Bad Brains. Recorded in 1981 and released on the cassette-only label ROIR on February 5, 1982, many fans refer to it as "The Yellow Tape" because of its yellow packaging, much in the way that The Beatles' self-titled record is often called "The White Album". Though Bad Brains had recorded the 16 song Black Dots album in 1979 and the 5-song Omega Sessions EP in 1980, the ROIR cassette was the band's first release of anything longer than a single.
After being banned from all the major clubs in their hometown of Washington, DC, Bad Brains moved to New York City in 1981. In addition to their regular gigs at CBGB's, the band frequented Jerry Williams' 171-A Studios in Alphabet City. Named for its location between 10th and 11th Streets on Avenue A, 171-A was a 60-foot room with a stage at one end and an elevated sound-proof booth at the other. When the Bad Brains played a gig at 171-A in May 1981, Williams recorded it on reel-to-reel tape. The band liked the sound and returned to 171-A to record between August and October 1981. 12 of the 15 tracks on the album came from these sessions, while "Jah Calling", "Pay to Cum" and "I Luv I Jah", were from Williams' live recording in May.
Since the original release of this title in cassette format, the Bad Brains have achieved a certain immortality among Punk fans; with its raw sound and just the right production, added to its speed, aggressiveness and political commentary, this album became one of the most influential not only for Hardcore Punk, but for the Punk world in general.
The original 1982 cassette (ROIR A-106) is also available for those remaining cassette junkies.
"…they have inspired or influenced everyone from THE BEASTIE BOYS and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS to LIVING COLOUR and JANE'S ADDICTION. But upon relistening to this glorious hardcore/punk masterpiece, it quickly became evident that not one of the many pretenders to the throne have even come close to matching BRAINS' blisterly majestic style. Yeah, they are punks martyrs. Jah on the cross - they died for our sins." -Scrawl
"Just listen to it…Classic chunk of Americana. Go get it." -
New York Post
"Where dreadlocked superheroes Bad Brains went, a thousand punk and metal wannabes followed. And what better album to tell you why these militant rockers were so powerful than this, their eponymous classic from 1982? Sell your Green Day records and buy this, kids." - Vox
"Bad Brains were the band who taught the world how to play fast….this re-released 1982 masterpiece shows exactly why this is a band who could pull thousands of people to their shows when no one in the mainstream even knew they existed. Quite brilliant." - Select
"No album has ever been such an aural punisher - so blistering, so ashen. Nothing ever will again. Holy F***!" - Big Takeover
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