Fred Schneider & The Shake Society – Monster (US 12″ Promo)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

A. Front

“Monster” is a 1984 US only promotion single released by Schneider frontman of the rock band The B-52’s. The track was taken from Schneider’s first solo album Fred Schneider and the Shake Society. Kate Pierson, also from The B-52’s, performs backing vocals on this track.

“Monster” is one of my favourite tracks, as there is an innuendo implied, although Fred states in the disclaimer that this wacky space-age song with tag team guitars that it’s about a dinosaur walking around in his polka dot PJ’s and not what some dirty-minded people might think. Think about it: “There’s a monster in my pants and it does a nasty dance. When it moves in and out. Everybody starts to shout. Monster aah!”

The music video was actually banned from MTV in 1983. The video stars Keith Harring and Chris and Tina from the talking heads & tom tom club and the late Drag performer, playwright, and actor, artist Ethyl Eichelberger.

SIDE A:
Monster 3:30

SIDE B:
Boonga (The New Jersey Caveman) 4:45

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Warner Bros. Records ‎– PRO-A-2224
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:
Co-producer – Bernie Worrell
Mixed By – Steve Peck, Ted Currier

NOTES:
From the LP “Fred Schneider & The Shake Society”

Find The 12″ On DISCOGS

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Speed Control: Pro-Ject Speed Box S
Phono Pre-amp: Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube: Tung-Sol 12AX7ECC803-S Gold Electron Tube
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removeal: ClickRepair (DeClick Level 3)
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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opoder
opoder
October 11, 2014 8:19 pm
B's fan
B's fan
October 10, 2014 12:42 pm

Love this. I never ripped my vinyl in 24 bit. This is PERFECT timing as I am remastering the video for this with the X-rated ending right at this very moment! As in, it is working in the background right now! Too coincidental, but I’m working on my Halloween videos playlist.

THANK YOU!

NKelly
NKelly
October 10, 2014 8:24 am

Awesome! I thought i needed these tracks at first then remembered that i recently purchased the CD which includes both of these tracks. On further research i discovered that some tracks on the album were remixed in 1991 (why?) when the CD was issued. Four in total. That includes both of these! Been waiting a year on the status of the B’s and Kate’s solo album (still no news). They are still going (4 members) but the touring band since Keith quit kind of retired a year ago. If they are still going as a recording band it beggars the… Read more »

Dirk
Dirk
October 10, 2014 4:21 am

Should i picture Paul, back in the original days of this record, at halloween, dressed up as kids did, and shaking his elvis for all the classmates and neighbours, and then to go ask for candy 🙂 ?

Dirk
Dirk
Reply to  DjPaulT
October 10, 2014 3:40 pm

H! It didn’t catch on overhere in The Netherlands, besides the blockbuster movies. (The appropriate age-level for this kind of record, well i didn’t quite get to hear it after the remark i made , haha – it’s not meant as a soundtrack for kids roaming the streets i guess haha.
But great for shouting at karaokebar’s maybe 🙂 , for some.

Ezequiel
Ezequiel
October 9, 2014 10:21 pm

Wow! Produced by Bernie Worrell, what a fine surprise! An endless musician. Love the “Pieces of Woo” album.

Thanks a lot, Paul.

Cdman
Cdman
October 9, 2014 5:07 pm

Maravilloso !!!! I didn’t know this song, love it !! Thank Paul good one!

RA Feutz
October 9, 2014 3:51 pm

Love this one Paul! This was such a massive underground hit at the clubs during my ‘heyday’! I’ve been working on the ‘original’ LP to post, but alas, it has been going on several months and I shelved it for a bit. The CD version blows and is nothing like the original. I only bought it because, well, it is Fred Schneider! Thanks again!

DanaDotCom
DanaDotCom
October 9, 2014 1:52 pm

Love this song. This side project should have gotten a bit more attention. Although, the B-52’s weren’t getting much attention at this point, either. I was thrilled when this album was finally issued on CD, then horrified by the unnecessary “remix” many of the tracks were given. All the bounce and animation had been removed from such lively songs! The artwork was shame, too. The original should not have been tampered with at all. Oh well, perhaps there’s an authentic reissue is on the way.

DanaDotCom
DanaDotCom
Reply to  DjPaulT
October 9, 2014 2:28 pm

And too bad Arthur Baker didn’t get his hands this to remix!

woz
woz
October 9, 2014 1:23 pm

A friend of mine brought this song to my attention when we were young and we danced and laughed quite a bit! Did this album also have ‘cut the concrete’ on it? We loved that one too!

Thanks for the post, Paul!

Omar
Omar
October 9, 2014 12:15 pm

Thanks Paul. I hope the b52s put out another album soon. Love their stuff. Especially Channel Z and Girl From Ipanema…..

Jeff
Jeff
October 9, 2014 11:06 am

Paul!!!….I love you!!! I absolutely LOVE YOU!!!! Such an awesome record!!! I have the CD and Fred is a genius!!! This takes me back. I love the imagery to this one and the video is an absolute riot!!! The animation just makes it!!! This is such a fun record that suits the Halloween season so well and thank you for sharing your rip with us.

Hysterical!!!

Jeff