The Farm – All Together Now

It’s been a while since I posted a Tape Deck Tuesday. I was off for a while, then I was driving a different car, summer is like that. I hope you all are getting away from the computer and out of your regular routine a little too.

Today I grabbed Follow Our Trax: Volume Six. I have no idea where I got this from. It says “Promotion Only. Not for Sale” and it dates from 1991 so I’m guessing I got it from a friend who was a couple of years younger than me and getting these type of things in at a college radio station. One of those, hey check out these bands/artists we are trying to promote!, deals. It has this super long insert that unfolds several times and is printed on both sides with all kinds of positive marketing language (in a loopy scripted font) about the bands on the tape. It’s the sort of thing that makes you think about the people tasked with writing the copy. There’s a thankless job. I like to think they were trying to amuse themselves and see how close they could cut it to satire while still making the higher ups happy. Otherwise I’m not sure how you wind up with things like:

From the labs of Muzic Research in Germany to your audio system comes one of the most innovative forces in the realm of technologically driven song writing. The two common threads of all BiGod 20 tracks are strong lyrics and hard beats. “Carpe Diem” is the second single from their upcoming CD Steelworks. Given the amount of fans BiGod 20 gained on modern rock radio with “The Bog,” this single should establish them as the band ready for the future.

Uh, sure. It’s like trying to come up with something original to say when you’re on your 20th thank-you card after a baby shower. What can I say about this hooded ducky towel? It’s such a cheery yellow!

Anyway, here’s the line up.
Side A
Morrissey – Sing Your Life
Violent Femmes – American Music
The Mighty Lemon Drops – Unkind
Stress – Flowers In The Rain
The Farm – All Together Now
Bigod 20 – Carpe Diem
Merlin – The Approach
Bomb The Bass – Understand This
Betty Boo – Hey DJ / I Can’t Dance (To That Music You’re Playing)

Side B
Lush – Etheriel
Ride – In A Different Place
Chris Isaak – Don’t Make Me Dream About You
John Wesley Harding – The People’s Drug
Tanita Tikaram – Only The Ones We Love
BoDeans – Paradise
House Of Freaks – Rockin’ Chair
Molly & The Heymakers – Walking To Iran

That last track is pretty cringe-worthy. If I hadn’t been stuck in traffic and managed to listen to both sides on the way to work, I have to be honest, I wouldn’t have finished it off for the ride home. This compilation is a strange one and comes off as really dated. I don’t suppose that’s something you think about when you put one of these things out, as a record company, these are the latest hits (you hope). I just don’t think it does any of these songs any favors. I’m surprised I still have it.

Since this week marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I, The Farm track seemed like an appropriate choice. Sadly, I don’t think there’s much of an All Together Now spirit these days.