''Can of Pork'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...

of various punk rock artists. It was released as two 12-inch

vinyl records A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog signal, analog sound Recording medium, storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove ...

or one CD in April 1992 by

Lookout Records Lookout Records (stylized as Lookout! Records) was an independent record label, initially based in Laytonville, California and later in Berkeley, California, Berkeley, focusing on punk rock. Established in 1987, the label is best known for having ...

(LK 44). The vinyl version has a booklet of lyrics and photography and the CD version has information on contacting the bands and a detailed description of the compilation's production.

Background, recording and production

In August 1990, Lookout Records' owner and co-founder,

Larry Livermore Lawrence Hayes (born October 28, 1947), better known by his stage name Larry Livermore, is an American singer, musician, record producer, and author, best known as the co-founder of Lookout Records. Biography In 1977, Hayes began to attend pun ...

, and

Chris Appelgren Chris Appelgren, also known as Chris Applecore, was owner and president of Lookout! Records from, 1997 when label founder Larry Livermore and partner Patrick Hynes retired, until 2012 when the label folded due to financial troubles and non-payment ...

, founder of the ''Puddle'' fanzine, decided to make a compilation album of various artists. Appelgren contacted groups such as

The Offspring The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guita ...

Cringer Cringer is a fictional large cat in the '' Masters of the Universe'' franchise. He has green and orange striped fur, similar to that of a tiger (although his species is not truly known), and is Prince Adam’s feline companion. Whenever Adam t ...

and Jawbreaker in October 1990, asking them if they wanted to record a song for a compilation album, all of whom declined the offer. In December, Livermore met Pat Hynes, a U.C. student, artist and the founder and publisher of the fanzine ''2+2=5'', and hired him to work for Lookout and asked him to be involved with the production of ''Can of Pork''. They then contacted bands such as

The Wynona Riders The Wynona Riders are an East Bay pop punk band formed in 1988 as Miss Conduct by Jim Tyler (drums), Eric Matson (guitar), Ron Murphy (bass) and Mike Lipari (vocals). In 1989 Ron Greer (Skip) joined the band as the lead singer, changing their name ...

, Fifteen and

The Mr. T Experience The Mr. T Experience (sometimes abbreviated MTX) is an American punk rock band formed in 1985 in Berkeley, California, United States. They have released eleven full-length albums along with numerous EPs and singles and have toured international ...

in February 1991 and asked them to record songs for the upcoming compilation, all of whom accepted. A deadline was set for April, which was changed a number of times for 11 months. Livermore, Hynes and Appelgren came up with working titles for the compilation such as ''The Thing That Ate David'' (a reference to the previous Lookout compilation ''

The Thing That Ate Floyd ''The Thing That Ate Floyd'' is a compilation album released in December 1988 by Lookout! Records as a double LP, and in 2002 as a double CD. The album is a compilation of bands from the 924 Gilman St. punk rock scene. It includes bands such as ...

'' (1989)), ''Lookout Avenue'' and ''This Is Why We Are the Smart Punx'', all of which they decided they were not satisfied with. In June, they found out that David Hayes, the owner of the contemporary punk label

Very Small Records Very Small Records was an independent record label, formed in 1989 by David Hayes, co-founder and former co-owner of Lookout Records. The name of the label was changed to Too Many Records around 1994, but was changed back around 1997. The label ter ...

, was to release a double compilation that year titled ''Very Small World''. Because of this, they debated canceling the project, but ultimately decided to continue. From December 1991 to February 1992, Livermore was in England and left the production of the compilation to Hynes and Appelgren. The same month, Hynes and Appelgren contacted the bands they had decided on and went to record the compilation with Andy Ernst and Kevin Army at Art of Ears Studios in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

. After the recording process was finished, they settled on the title ''Can of Pork'' and Hynes began drawing the cover art. ''Can of Pork'' was mastered by John Golden at K-Disc in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

Release and reception

After a year and a half of production, ''Can of Pork'' was released on two 12-inch records or one CD in April 1992 by

(LK 44). The vinyl version has a booklet with lyrics and photography, while the CD version has only information on contacting the bands and a detailed description of ''Can of Porks production. ''

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' rates the compilation 2 and a half out of 5 stars.

Track listing

Personnel

The Lookouts *

lead vocals The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...

rhythm guitar In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...

* Kain Kong -

Bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are use ...

Tré Cool Frank Edwin Wright III (born December 9, 1972), better known by his stage name Tré Cool, is a German-born American musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the drummer for the punk rock band Green Day. He replaced the band's former drumme ...

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

, backing vocals *

Billie Joe Armstrong Billie Joe Armstrong (born February 17, 1972) is an American musician who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for t ...

lead guitar Lead guitar (also known as solo guitar) is a musical part for a guitar in which the guitarist plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs and chords within a song structure. The lead is the featur ...

, backing vocals Lagwagon *

Joey Cape Randal Joseph Cape (born November 16, 1966) is an American singer and musician. Active since 1989, Cape is best known as the frontman of the California punk rock band Lagwagon. Cape released his first solo album, ''Bridge'', in 2008. His secon ...

- vocals *

Chris Flippin Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which can ...

- guitar * Shawn Dewey - guitar * Jesse Buglione - bass guitar *

Derrick Plourde Derrick William Plourde (October 17, 1971 – March 30, 2005) was an American drummer, musician and artist. Born in Goleta, California, he was active from 1989 until his death in 2005. Although best known as a former member of Lagwagon, Plourd ...

- drums Blatz * Jesse Luscious - lead vocals * Robert Eggplant - guitar, backing vocals * Anna Joy - vocals * Annie Lalania - vocals * Marshall Stax - bass guitar * Joey Perales - drums Fifteen *

Jeff Ott Jeff Ott (born June 24, 1970) is an activist, musician, author, and longtime member of the Berkeley, California, Berkeley Punk rock, punk community, best known for playing guitar and singing in the bands Crimpshrine and Fifteen (band), Fifteen. Ear ...

- lead vocals, guitar * Jack Curran - bass guitar * Mark Moreno - drums Pinhead Gunpowder *

Aaron Cometbus Aaron Elliott (born May 20, 1968), better known as Aaron Cometbus, is an American musician, songwriter, roadie, and magazine editor, best known as the creator of the punk zine ''Cometbus''. Career Born in Berkeley, California, Cometbus started ...

- drums * Mike Kirsch - lead vocals, guitar * Bill Schneider - bass guitar, backing vocals * Billie Joe Armstrong - guitar, backing vocals Downfall *

Tim Armstrong Timothy Ross Armstrong (born November 25, 1965) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and producer. Known for his distinctive voice, he is the singer/guitarist for the punk rock band Rancid and hip hop/punk rock supergroup Transplants. ...

- lead vocals *

Matt Freeman Matthew "McCall" Freeman (born Roger Matthew Freeman; April 23, 1966) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his bass work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade. ...

- bass guitar, backing vocals * Dave Mello - drums * Pat Mello - guitar, backing vocals * Jason Hammon - guitar The Wynona Riders * Ron "Skip" Greer - lead vocals * Eric Matson - guitar, backing vocals * Jack Cheeze - bass guitar * Rico Martinez - drums The Mr. T Experience * Dr. Frank - lead vocals, guitar * Jon Von Zelowitz - guitar, backing vocals * Aaron Rubin - bass guitar * Alex Laipeneiks - drums

Production

* Andy Ernst and Kevin Army -

producers Producer or producers may refer to: Occupations *Producer (agriculture), a farm operator *A stakeholder of economic production *Film producer, supervises the making of films **Executive producer, contributes to a film's budget and usually does not ...

engineers Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the limit ...

, mixing *

, Pat Hynes and Chris Applecore -

executive producer Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...

s * John Golden - mastering * Pat Hynes - cover art * Chris Applecore - artwork * Herriman and Wordburger - booklet artwork

Notes

^* The only song recorded at Dancing Dog Studios was "Benicia by the Bay" by
Pinhead Gunpowder Pinhead Gunpowder is an American punk rock band that formed in East Bay, California, in 1991. The band currently consists of Aaron Cometbus (drums, lyrics), Bill Schneider ( bass), Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Jason White (guitar, ...
.

^ ^* "Noble End" by
Lagwagon Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which can ...
was the only song on ''Can of Pork'' produced by
Fat Mike Michael John Burkett (born January 16, 1967), known professionally as Fat Mike, is an American musician and producer. He is the bassist and lead vocalist for the punk rock band NOFX and the bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me F ...
and the only one recorded at Westbeach Recorders.

References

{{Authority control 1992 compilation albums Punk rock compilation albums Lookout! Records compilation albums