• Ten previously unreleased songs.
    • The music that lead up to "For Madmen Only."
    • Produced by Sam Taylor.
    • Reviews
    • Audio Samples

 

There were many tracks recorded by Atomic Opera before the "For Madmen Only" sessions. Most of them were demos recorded for the purpose of gaining record company interest. Outside of a very small group of friends and family, these recordings have never been heard before the release of Alpha & Oranges.

The ten songs that are choosen to be on this CD tell a story. It is the musical story of a band discovering itself. These ten songs show the progression of a band from its first weeks together ... Up to the point where it records its first national CD. (To read the lyrics of the above songs, click on the song titles.)

 

Certain influences may be a bit obvious at times ... But, this is a CD that stands on its own. Listen to the audio samples for yourself ... Nothing further needs to be said. The production, the lyrics, the melodies and the performances are at the same level as "For Madmen Only" and "Penguin Dust."

 

CREDITS

Produced by Sam Taylor

Artwork & Layout by Frank Hart

Frank Hart
Lead Vox, Lead Guitar

Jonathan Marshall
Rhythm Guitar, Back Vox

Mark Poindexter
Drums, Back Vox

Len Sonnier
Bass, Back Vox

Jonas Velasco
Bass, Back Vox

Steve Ames
Brian Garcia
Ryan Birsinger
Engineers

Songs written by:

RainParade (Hart, Eric Hancok, Jeff Allen)

For Madmen Only (Hart, Sonnier)

All These Things (Hart, Sonnier)

FeverDream #1 (Hart, Kemper Crabb)

Magic Castle (Hart, Allison Smythe)

Love In Grey (Hart, Hancock, Allen)

Meaningless Word (Hart)

Paper Tiger (Hart, Matt McKenna, Hancock, Allen)

Spinning (Hart, Sonnier)

Let Go (Hart, Marshall)

 

All These Things, Magic Castle, Paper Tiger, and Let Go were recorded by Brian Garcia and Ryuan Birsinger at Rivendell Recorders with Jonas Velasco on bass and back vox. All other tracks were recorded by Steve Ames at Rampart Studio with Len Sonnier on bass and back vox. Both studios were in Houston, Texas and are now defunct.

The sessions that make up this CD span from 1989 to 1993. These were the years that Atomic Opera was an unknown, unsigned band trying to write music that would take them to a place beyond their rehearsal room and Zelda's nightclub.

 

THANK:
Everyone who plays on the album and contributed to the song writing, Kim Hart, BoBarb, Jeff and Tina Hart, Edwin Smith, Matthew Hunt at Massive Grooves Records, Dennis Lange, Donna Green, Ty & Wanda Tabor, Doug Pinnick, Jerry Gaskill, Alan Doss, Ben Huggins, David Ohlerking, Kemper Crabb, John Simmons, Ryan Birsinger, RainDog, AmyDog, Derek & Amy Acevedo, Thadd & Pam Grimm, Connie & Jason, Picasso, Rad Rockrs, Cross Rhythms Music, Doug Van Pelt & HM Magazine, Cornerstone Music Festival, Metal Blade Records, and everyone who was thanked in "For Madmen Only" credits that isn't here.