Add It Up (1981-1993)

by Violent Femmes

Overview

Add It Up is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, Debacle: The First Decade. There are several charming rarities to hook dedicated fans, who will likely find several favorites missing (perhaps another song or two could have been substituted for the between-song bits). The group's self-titled debut does a better job of encapsulating why they were important, and remains the first Femmes album to buy; besides, no compilation that includes live versions of "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up" in place of the original studio cuts can claim to be definitive. However, even casual fans who enjoyed Violent Femmes will find post-debut songs like "American Music" and "I Held Her in My Arms" to be essential, so even if Add It Up is a little too imperfect to be a necessary first purchase, it's definitely a necessary second purchase. Unless you're a die-hard fan, it will likely be the only other Violent Femmes disc you'll need. ~ Steve Huey

Product Details

Release Date:	05/21/2021
Label:	Craft Records
UPC:	0888072227422
Rank:	2003

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Intro
2. Waiting for the Bus
3. Blister in the Sun
4. Gone Daddy Gone
5. Gordon's Message
6. Gimme the Car
7. Country Death Song
8. Black Girls
9. Jesus Walking on the Water
10. 36-24-36
11. I Held Her in My Arms

Disc 2

12. I Hate the TV
13. America Is
14. Old Mother Reagan
15. Degradation
16. Dance, Motherfucker, Dance!
17. Lies
18. American Music
19. Out the Window
20. Kiss Off
21. Add It Up
22. Vancouver
23. Johnny

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Violent Femmes   Primary Artist
John Zorn   Guest Artist,Voices,Clarinet,Sax (Alto)
Jerry Harrison   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
Bob Jennings   Sax (Tenor)
Victor de Lorenzo   Drums,Vocals,Whistle (Human),Multi Instruments
Victor Delorenzo   Drums,Vocals
Tony Trischka   Banjo
Michael Beinhorn   Organ
Ashwin Batish   Sitar
Tom Mandel   Keyboards
Brian Ritchie   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Jaw Harp,Didjeridu,Xylophone,Jew's-Harp,Guitar (Bass),Multi Instruments
Gordon Gano   Banjo,Fiddle,Guitar,Vocals,Spoken Word
Sigmund Snopek III   Organ,Piano,Trombone
Rob Jennings   Sax (Tenor)
Peter Balestrieri   Vocals,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Cynthia Gayneau   Vocals
Christina Houghton   Harp,Autoharp
Michael Kashou   Conch
Dominick Placco   Trumpet
Drake Scott   Cornet,Multi Instruments
Caleb Alexander   Sax (Tenor)
Mike Kashou   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Susan Rogers   Engineer,Recording
Victor de Lorenzo   Composer,Engineer
Victor Delorenzo   Composer,Recording
Elliott Murphy   Liner Notes
Eric "ET" Thorngren   Mixing,Mixing Engineer
Greg Calbi   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
John Tanner   Mixing,Recording,Mixing Engineer
Warren A. Bruleigh   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Mixing Engineer,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer,Recording Producer
Jerry Harrison   Composer,Producer,Recording Producer
Mark VanHecke   Producer,Recording Producer
Michael Beinhorn   Producer,Recording Producer
Brian Ritchie   Composer
Gordon Gano   Composer,Performer
Glen Lorbiecki   Engineer
Dave Neitzke   Engineer,Recording
Sigmund Snopek III   Photography
David Vartanian   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Photography,Mixing Engineer
Violent Femmes   Composer,Producer,Interpretation,Recording Producer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Gordon James   Composer
Karen Keene   Photography
Geoff "Stinky" Worman   Photography
Chris Thomas   Engineer,Recording
Daniel Corrigan   Photography
Paul Natkin   Photography
Howard Rosenberg   Photography
Dominick Placco   Composer
Glenn Rehse   Composer
Ken Hansen   Design,Photography,Art Direction
Diane Jefferis   Photography
Francis Ford   Photography
George Lange   Photography
Caleb Alexander   Composer,Engineer,Recording
John Frankovic   Composer
Voot Warnings   Composer
Jack Hargreaves   Artwork,Label Design
Rocky Schenck   Photography
Mike Kashou   Composer