SPADE KITTY

THE COMPLETE HISTORY

Spade Kitty was founded in 1995 by a lonely college dj (Matt Walters) with a few hundred dollars lying around. His friends convinced him to use the money to fund a 7" record. His friends, you see, had a band called Wendyfix and they needed to get their record out so that they would have credibility. More importantly, Ted, Brian and Todd (the boys in the band) all felt that lots of cute women who would suddenly want to hang out with them if they put this record out. Boy were they right! Not only that, Matt also found out that lots of cute women were willing to make time with him too. So the record label became a worthwhile venture. Here is a brief summation of everything that's gone on since that fateful day on September 31st, 1994:

WENDYFIX - Silence/Slow 7" (SK001)
Wonderful Evanston-based pop music inspired by the likes of Seam and Codeine on the A-side and the Smiths and the Treepeople on the b-side. Ted Pauly (Haywood), Brian Mcgrath and Todd Hyman (Remy) provide the sonic assault. Recorded by Mike Hagler at KingSize studios in Chicago in 1995. Still in print! $4.00 including shipping.
REMY - Six Song EP (SK002)
A six song cassette sampler of Evanston, Illinois' power pop trio for the ages. Peter Schaefer, Matt Walters and Todd Hyman deliver the goods on this 1995 document recorded by Mike Hagler. Inspired by Superchunk at times, Honcho Overload at others, and even Dancing Cigarettes and Culturcide. Out of print.
NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER -S/T(SK003)
Nora McCarthy's wonderful acoustic strumming and vocals couple with Jon "Idiot Savant" Solomon's (Mr. My Pal God) crude percussive swagger to make up a wonderful full-length cassette. Nora's fans were so ravenous at the time that several people had to be beaten off with sticks after we sold the last copies of this treasure. Not unlike the Spinanes, actually I think it's better. Sold Out.
BURNING-STAR-CORE/BESTCELLAR -Cabeza/The Elusive(SK004/TS010)
C. Spencer Yeh splits with Mr. Bestcellar here in a joint effort to drive the listener totally insane. Burning Star Core at his worst, which is his best, I should say. Did I mention the Bestcellar side? It's garbage anyway. Sold Out.
BESTCELLAR -Twenty Minute Legends(SK005)
Most inconsistantly recorded Bestcellar cassette, partly due to the artists' own schizo nature. Some of his brightest tunes were botched by the genius himself, and unfortunately the results are sub-par. Of course, I like it, but that's not saying much. The single "Piledriver" originated here.
OLIVE MILK -The Best Christmas Ever EP(SK006)
C. Spencer Yeh teams up with ex-funky boy cohort and lead Olive Milk genius Tom Kuo on another masterpiece of electric guitar and basses in concert. Eric Russell (Funky Boy mouthpiece) plays a little drums, and so does some guy I don't really know. I didn't really have much to do with this, but I like it a lot so I put it out. There's also some non-Olive Milk bonus stuff recorded by Karen Sheets, C. Spencer Yeh and Brook Long which is some really brilliant stuff in my opinion. Sold out.
BURNING-STAR-CORE -It's Time To Feel Wonderful Again(SK007)
Here Burning Star Core's sound was fully realized as an electric dentist's drill going up a molar into the root for some serious canal work. Refined and developed into a concise enough form to yield a couple of party-time hits in 1996. The bass is more thunderous than the earlier concept double cassette "Angel With a Battleaxe"(on Tiny Shoes) and the percussion is more defined than on "S/T -42" (also on Tiny Shoes). Sold Out.
BESTCELLAR -Overcast(SK008) Long overdue tribute by Mr. Prolific to Chicago's awful winters. "Class" a tribute to the old sound of Remy was first recorded on this cassette. Excellent job of recording by C. Spencer Yeh here, for the first time you can tell that Bestcellar is actually playing a twelve-string. Bestcellar also has his keyboard debut here. Fairly good, but not worth hunting down and killing for. Sold out.
UNIVERSAL JOINT -Father's Day(SK009)
Long awaited double-cassette compilation of the various recordings of a drummerless band. Includes Olde Style's Tim Gittings, Aldis Weible and Matt Walters as well as King George/701/Monkey Outta Nowhere visionary Geoff Simons. Jon Londres and Jason Kroll appear in special cameo roles during the infamous WNUR sessions which resulted in the destruction of two flutes by yours truly. Includes the hit singles "Dougout," "Why Can't We Live Our Own Way?" and a god-awful recording of "Fade To Blue" with a lead shaker. It was fun anyway. What do you care? Sold Out.
BURNING-STAR-CORE -Skeleton Ideal(SK010)
Certainly more subdued, if not slightly more lamenting, than the rockin' predecessor. Some of these tunes can be spaced out on for hours. I really dig em. Sold Out.
TO BE ANNOUNCED -?????(SK011)
POST OFFICE -Public Displays of Affection(SK012)
A wonderful collection of fifteen songs illustrating the diversity, intellect and down right rockingness of two well-travelled songsmiths. See the post office page for even further ravings. Steven Becker and Larry O. Dean deliver the goods in several ways to the delight of pop fans worldwide.Still In Print! $11.00.
BESTCELLAR -Show Me You Still Want Me To...(SK013)
Compilation of several tracks from the first three cassettes re-recorded. Includes new tracks such as "Waves of Sand" and "Tacklebox" plus totally new arrangements of old favorites "Arrow, Broken Arrow" and "Atlas". Sold Out.
TO BE ANNOUNCED -?????(SK014)
POST OFFICE -Fables In Slang(SK015)
The boys are back with a new-fangled rhythm section (actually, it's been there since 1998, but it's the first time on record they appear) and thirteen new tunes to knock your socks off and fill your heart with glee. Chicago's favorite pop sons deliver letters as well as finely crafted tunes on this masterpiece recorded by Chris Stamey (db's). What are you waiting for? Still In Print! $11.00
OLDE STYLE -Rockwell(SK016)
Five leather clad stars converge to form the brightest rock constellation in the universe, and hath spawned a metal-plated, hook-laden boogie record that many have hailed as "the last salvation for all of music." To us, that's a gross understatement. Buy it right now, right here! $10.00
THE ME DECADE-Gentrification is Theft(SK017)
Larry O. Dean returns to his roots with his latest batch of americana, this time fleshed out in a new band! Longtime bassman Tim Ferguson (Sub Rosa), Derek Walvoord, Pam Richardson and Post Office skinsman Jeff Greaves lend tasteful arrangements to the twelve delectable tunes. Mmmmm-mmmm!

If you'd like to purchase one of our fine in-print products for expeditious delivery, please email me at [email protected] and I'll get back to you ASAP.

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