“Meat Puppets II” was completed in three separate stages. The recording was spread over two sessions at Total Access studio in Redondo Beach, California in the Spring of 1983. First, we recorded the instrumental tracks; a few weeks later we laid down the vocals. Six months after that, we finally executed the final mixes at Chaton studio in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Recently, Jon Boshard sent me a copy of the rough mixes from that first session. I have a lot of tapes of the band from the early 80′s, but somehow this one never made it into my collection. In fact, I’d forgotten it even existed until Jon brought it to my attention. Jon probably got the tape from his business partner Joe Carducci, the man responsible for bringing us to SST Records in 1981.
The backing tracks are essentially complete, save for a few effects added during the mixing session. We were very happy with the session, which came off without a hitch –that is, until we started on the vocals. Curt’s ambition had grown considerably since our previous record, but at this stage his vision still outstripped his ability. He encounted major problems controlling his voice, especially when he needed to shift back and forth between higher and lower registers. In order to cover all the notes, he was forced to develop a rudimentary if unsatifying strategy, which can be best observed on vocal for “Plateau.” On that track, he starts out real low, then suddenly switches to high yelp. (Years later, we were amused at Kurt Cobain’s studious duplication of Curt’s limitations on his “Unplugged” version of the song.)
Curt agonized over whether to go back into the studio and attempt to redo the vocals, leave them as they were, or just scrap the whole project. Fortunately, he got comfortable with the takes over time, and we moved on to bigger concerns (like convincing SST to let us actually finish the album). Stripped of their out-of-control vocals, the tracks themselves reveal a great deal of craft. The arrangements are detailed, the tempos are controlled and we’re actually listening to each other. The highlights, for me, are “Oh Me” and “The Whistling Song.” On these two cuts especially, you can hear just how hard we’re trying to move in the opposite direction from our previous album. You can tell that we’re really holding things down, keeping the tempo just as slow as possible before the whole song falls apart. This kind of playfullness is evident throughout the recordings.
Unfortunately, there were those who viewed our efforts as a betrayal of “the form.” Coincidentally or not, “Meat Puppets II” languished unfinished for six months. SPOT became “unavailable,” and no one seemed to be able to locate him or the tapes. We seethed resentment over the delays, and began to imagine conspiracies and ulterior motives at the label, especially after we discovered that Husker Du, the Minutmen and even Black Flag had “post-hardcore” albums in the works. “Meat Puppets II” wasn’t released until the spring of 1984. Even after the album got a glowing four-star review in Rolling Stone magazine, our disatisfaction with SST hardened, and the relationship settled into a stifling atmosphere of mutual suspicion.
In making these important outtakes available to the public, I’ve decided to use file sharing services, rather than make my web host take the full brunt of the bandwidth hit. These services can be unpredictable, so I’ve uploaded to three different ones. Good luck, and happy listening!
Download from Rapidshare
I have a very rough sounding cassette with these mixes as well as some “Up on the Sun” rough mixes. This is a vast improvement, thanks a lot for posting them. Is there any chance of the “Up on the Sun” mixes appearing here?
Left by Kevin on October 21st, 2006
There were no rough mixes from “Up On the Sun,” since we recorded the entire album from start to finish in three days. You might have some demos, the best of which were released on the “Ryko reissue of that album. Eventually, if this site lasts that long, I’ll no doubt post the rest of them.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 21st, 2006
Thanks Derrick. I was thinking it was the actual album takes but I was probably remembering these “II” tracks. I think the bonus tracks on Ryko were what I had on tape.
Left by Kevin on October 21st, 2006
Good Shit here.
I like the 2nd alternate of “Hot Pink” on the Up on the Sun reissue – the one with conversation. I like to play the original, alternate, and 2nd alternate in a row, for one massive rendition of “Hot Pink.”
I’m familiar with all the songs on the album, but not in the order you want me to be familiar with them!!
Plus, it pisses off my girlfriend. She doesn’t get it. Did chicks dig the Meat Puppets in their heydey?
Where’s my Zoloft…
CW
Left by C.W. Humpage on October 21st, 2006
In my experience, the only chicks who ever dug the Meat Puppets were Kirkwood mamas.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 21st, 2006
do i really have to buy this download?
it didnt look like i could get it for free online.
-keith
Left by keith on October 21st, 2006
All three hosting sites offer the files for free. They also offer various premium options, but they are not required to download the files. The cluttered, ad-filled layouts and click-throughs might be confusing to the novice, but you’ll get the hang of it if you look closely.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 22nd, 2006
Thanks for these Derrick! I really enjoy hearing just the instrumental tracks, you def had coolest jams ever. To me, Curt’s guitar work in these tracks is ultimate.Because of the vocals it took me a while to get into the album but now it’s one of my faves. Cool site too, I mean, free tabs, demos, live shows and stuff.
Left by Jethro on October 22nd, 2006
What in hell is the deal with those things where they want you to type in a crazy-looking number/letter combination?
Left by Eric on October 22nd, 2006
These character combinations are there to keep various web bots from grabbing files. Yes, you have to jump through that hoop to get these files. The reason I have to do it this way is because other bloggers steal the content from this site, not just posting a link to meatpuppets.com, but posting to the actual file. My hosting service can only handle so many connections at once before it breaks. Then I have to jump through hoops to get it working again. I’ve experienced this kind of perfect storm before (call it “slashdotting” or “the digg effect”), and am now safeguarding against it.
I’m sorry to anyone having trouble getting these files. I know how you feel. I’ve always found that giving up is the very best way to make sure I don’t get what I want.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 23rd, 2006
Got it! You were right– I just had to not give up and keep trying.
Incredible.
Amazing stuff. Just like hearing the incredible gift of that original album all over again…
Thanks Derrick!
Left by Eric on October 23rd, 2006
I might learn how to sing using these tracks!
Thank you for taking the time to upload.
Left by mr. Me on October 23rd, 2006
Pure quality. Thanks. Love reading this type of stuff..so fresh
Left by Iain on October 24th, 2006
I always thought that Curt’s vocals were part of what made II so damn great. In any case, cool upload. Thanks.
Left by Tom on October 25th, 2006
I don’t disagree at all. The vocals are what takes the album to the next level. I was a strong supporter of the the vocal takes back when Curt was unsure about them. These instrumental mixes make even more clear the funky tension between the vocals and the backing tracks.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 25th, 2006
Oh yeah, that’s great site. I’m sorry, but I’m from Poland, so I can’t explain very good my opinion about Meat Puppets and music, which I really really love, but I’m really glad, that I’ve found this web & I can write to you some words. Believe, I’m the only one person in Poland that likes Meat Puppets. Nobody knows MP. Buy your CD in music shop is impossible, so I have to take your songs from internet.
Dom’t look at my mistakes, but I’m really young and really dumb, so it’s not your problem. Maybe someday I’ll speak English as good as Polish. Dreaming…
Chyba łatwiej by mi było napisać to wszystko po polsku, więc dodam jeszcze tylko: indie punk still sucks
Left by Minulla Ankrapula on October 26th, 2006
this is awesome. thank you for posting kickass music like this. MP are one of my favorite bands!!!
Left by Dylan on October 27th, 2006
Thanks for posting this, it’s really cool to see the instrumental infrastructure underlying all the vocals. I needed to ask you something, since you’ve known Curt and Cris for so many years. I think I’m suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, and was wondering if Curt or Cris ever got this. It’s making guitar playing very difficult, and I was wondering if it is still possible to play guitar.
Left by Ian Goodell on October 28th, 2006
None of us ever got CTS, certainly not the Kirkwoods. Just a little tinnitus. I would recommend you let it heal completely if you want to keep laying guitar!
Left by Derrick Bostrom on October 28th, 2006
My wife Wendy said she thought about dedicating her English masters thesis to the Meat Puppets because she listened to Meat Puppets music almost exclusively as she worked through it.
And she does think that Curt is cute!
Don
Left by Don on October 30th, 2006
ive heard instrumentals for other (meatpuppets) sessions. its nice to hear these as some of the best instrumental work ever, the provoking thread in the pin needle bass guitar interplay, the insistent urgent percusion. can almost picture you guys first setting out on the desert highways and taking in the warm dry air. you guys are very much the extended jam of southern rock.
Left by meat man on October 30th, 2006
The [quote] “extended jam of southern rock”…
Huh!?!?!?!
I prefer to respectfully disagree.
I am thinking:
More like:
HOT TUNA vs. ZZ TOP vs. GRATEFUL ALLMAN BROS….
On peyote!!!
Anyways… Differences of opinion?
Feh!!!
Whatever… It SURE is some GOOD SHIT!!!
Thanks again, Derrick!!!
Left by Eric on October 31st, 2006
I agree.
ZZ Top and Allman Bros are southern rock. I hear as much Dicky Betts as Jerry Garcia in Kirkwood’s guitar playing, although I think that’s just because they all use that same scale.
And they were all on peyote.
Left by Kevin on November 2nd, 2006
The Meat Puppets board on Yahoo would actually be a really great place for this discussion.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on November 2nd, 2006
just to be clear I meant geographicly these guys grew up in the south and the songs remind me of a migration west, more of a folkie urban cowboy thing. I was even suprised to hear acoustic in a few of these I hadnt noticed before.
Left by meat man on November 3rd, 2006
But we LIKE it here because YOU are here!!!
I mean “duh!”
Left by Eric on November 7th, 2006
Hey Bostrom-
To alleviate some of the whack-job download sites, i’m uploading the 2mixes.zip file to:
http://www.wohlers.org/puppets/2mixes.zip
for those who wanna download from there instead. And it’s OK…we’ve been slashdotted before and came through it fine
When you say ‘if this site lasts that long’, are you anticipating the new record label getting all pissy with you and this site? Or is it more about holding your interest? Just curious.
Best,
Peter
Left by Peter on November 9th, 2006
It’s about me having more things I want to post than I’ll ever have time for.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on November 9th, 2006
This stuff is awesome. I’ve put the instrumental mixes here in a shuffled list with the finished II tracks, and it procures an absolutely lovely experience. Mm-mmm.. thanks!
Left by Shade on November 9th, 2006
I know you have gone through much, but I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I have dial-up, and no access to DSL. I was wondering if you (Derrick) or anyone else would be willing to burn me a copy and send it to me through the mail. I can provide a disk and mailing envelope. This would be a great favor, and I would be forever indebted.
P.S. I started a Meat Puppets myspace group, because nobody else has made one. Shame. The ul is http://groups.myspace.com/themeatpuppets . check it out.
Left by Gavin on November 9th, 2006
thanks a ton. it was nice of you to post all this.
Left by brandan on November 9th, 2006
Nice! Thanks Derrick, for dragging the band into the digital age.I would like to suggest,that you encourage the brothers to get together with you for a videography session that once and for all archives these stunningly original compositions for history.It seems that Curt doesn’t really wish to play all that much from the early SST years….but it is inspired work and a few old analog films just won’t do it justice.Long after were all gone, budding guitarists would love to study Curt’s riffing in crisp digital sight and sound.
So many fantastic songs and instrumentals!A few cameras and a few days and the world could enjoy these works forever.I have enjoyed your nice work on the “Alive in the 90′s”DVD too.
( Some film maker would probably do all the work for you guys, just to be involved in something to be proud of…..)
Left by PeyotePunk on November 11th, 2006
Thanks Derrick.
Downloaded, shuffled into the correct order, burned to disk with your notes on the cover. Awesome indeed, makes a cool English winters day nice and warm, in a Marshall stack kind of way!
Left by Denis Copeland on November 12th, 2006
Great tracks! Reading Derrick’s recollections on the making of II again reminds me of the effort and serendipitous good fortune that went into making each MP album. I’d love to hear backing tracks from some of the other albums sometime, especially tracks from Up on the Sun. This download brings back good memories of seeing the Pups live during the Reagan years. Cheers.
Left by El Presidente on November 14th, 2006
I can’t think of too many albums I’d call “classic” from the last 25 years, but II is easily on my list. The vocals is one big reason why, it helped blow the lid off of the studio-sheen approach that seems prerequisite for so many artists.
I don’t know how much credit Spot deserves, but it is nice that he didn’t gloss it up with a bunch of echo or excessive compression. In general, one of the nicest sounding albums to ever hit a turntable or cd tray. Very dynamic
Left by El Presidente on November 24th, 2006
From Brasil in Portuguese without translation:
Muito foda essas musicas instrumentais….Parabéns..não paro de ouvir!!!
abrçs,
Thiago.
Left by Thiago on December 26th, 2006
amazing tracks from the band that dragged my arse from the doldrums of crap punk….thanks
Left by sixo on December 31st, 2006
Derrick:
Thanks for the good music from MP 2.
Wow.
Los Angeles, CA
Left by Timbow on January 5th, 2007
WOW!! Thankyou so much for these! MP II and Up on the sun are 2 of my favourite albums ever (along with safe as milk and the madcap laughs) Its great to hear these mixes THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!!
Will the reformed Meat Puppets be touring Merry ol’ England?
Happy New Year Everyone!
Peace
Left by legloaf on January 11th, 2007
I’m not actually privy to whatever the Kirkwoods are planning. Your best bet would be to look for them on MySpace and ask them.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on January 11th, 2007
Hi Derrick!
I´m jon from spain, thanks for all these good music with the puppets
Do you know how could i contact with Cris or Curt? the mail or whatever would be cool
Lost on the freeway again
Left by Jon on March 16th, 2007
You can try this:
http://www.myspace.com/curtkirkwood
Left by Derrick Bostrom on March 16th, 2007
This will go great with my Zen Arcade instrumentals on SST karaoke night!
Thanks for posting!
Left by Bob Lee on June 3rd, 2007
Are these tracks from a cassette? They sound fantastic! Am I imagining things or do they sound clearer (or more live?) than the finished album? Did you clean them up on the computer at all, or is it that they hadn’t gone through mastering/compression/EQ yet? Maybe it’s just that the instruments don’t have to compete in bandwidth with the vocals. Either way this is great – thanks so much for posting this.
PS Are there any “In A Car” outtakes or demos or (folding hands in prayer) acoustic or a-capella versions, or tunes that were overdubbed on a home stereo (at least it sounds that way) like the “Meat Puppets” demo on the 1st album reissue?
Left by Apple-O on July 31st, 2007
I often add a judicious touch of processing to the cassette rips, usually to remove what hiss I can without introducing artifacts. Results vary, but the source material for these was in good shape.
There were no outtakes for the “In A Car” session. That recording went down quick and easy. There is a handful of demos from that record, however. Time permitting, they’ll make it to this site some day.
Left by Derrick Bostrom on July 31st, 2007
This is amazing, Derrick. Thank you for making these available.
Left by Kip Rainey on November 10th, 2007
slt c est moi ibrahima venez voir merci
Left by ibrahima on April 25th, 2009
For the record alot of “chicks” dig the Meat Puppers…especially back in their “heyday.”
Left by Jenny on June 16th, 2009
Yeah, but which one?
Left by Derrick Bostrom on June 16th, 2009
I’d love to date a female meathead!!!
Left by ChileanWhirlpool on August 8th, 2009
Especially if she can appreciate the perfection of “Oh, Me”
Left by ChileanWhirlpool on August 14th, 2009
WOW! Out takes from one of my all time favorite albums!
I love the web!
Thanks for sharing these, Derrick!
Left by mzinformed on October 28th, 2009