Subterranean Singles: Second Serving

1981 was an amazing year for Subterranean Records.  It started with the first Flipper single (SUB 7) and ended with The Dead Kennedys' "Nazi Punks" single (SUB 24). In between was the Red Spot compilation, the Witch Trials EP and albums by Minimal Man and Nervous Gender. Subterranean co-released records with Alternative Tentacles, Thermidor, and World Imitation Records (Monitor's label).

Subterranean also opened its doors to artists from outside the Bay Area. Tucson was the home of Les Seldoms, the Jr. Chemists, and Pre Fix (as well as the Meat Puppets, who first appeared on Monitor's album).  JFA's guitarist Mike Cornelius played with the Jr. Chemists; Les Seldoms shared members with the band Jacket Weather. The Arizona Disease EP influenced Beat Happening, Some Velvet Sidewalk and their ilk.

Ultrasheen was a SF combo that included members of The Mutants and Romeo Void. This interview details Ultrasheen's links to the Club Foot scene, which included Subterranean artists Bay Of Pigs, The Inflatable Boy Clams, Longshoremen, The Alterboys, Arkansaw Man, and Jed Speare (who appeared on Red Spot with Eazy Teeth and Research Library). Subterranean's website has a a free download of the Club Foot compilation LP!

Carol Detweiler and Judy Gittlesohn (pictured above) were in Pink Section, The Inflatable Boy Clams, and Longshoremen. (Photo by Ruby Ray, from her book From The Edge Of The World.) Tommy Tadlock was a producer as well as a performer. His credits include Tuxedomoon, Pink Section, Noh Mercy and Pre Fix. Wilma was a group led by K.D. Davis and Louise Deidrich; after their 1981 EP, they released a self-titled LP on Subterranean in 1985.

Superior Viaduct has reissued recordings by many San Francisco artists: The Avengers, Black Humor, Crime, Factrix, Flipper, The German Shepherds, Monitor, MX-80 Sound, Negative Trend, Noh Mercy, Pink Section, The Residents, The Sleepers, and Tuxedomoon. Superior Viaduct also published the aforementioned book of Ruby Ray's photographs.