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Ama Shubba Dubba

Ama Shubba Dubba was the first collaboration between Michael O'Neill and Alexis Gideon, also including Andy Meerow. The entire recording was improvised and later edited with song titles, band names and a concept. It became a compilation of three "Tony Chaos" label-mates: Goner, The Dreems and Making the Love. We dubbed it "Crack Rock n Roll" and later recorded interviews with each of the bands to fill out the double LP.

"Motortrain" by Goner

"It Was Only a Dreem" by The Dreems

"I Love You" by Making the Love

"In 1978 The Dreems played their first gig to seven people in a loftspace in downtown Manhattan. One of those people happened to be Artie Thompson of Tony Chaos Records. Artie realized, as we all did soon afterwords, that music would never be the same. What The Dreems were then calling Nex Rock, would soon be termed as crack rock n roll -- not only a new genre, but a new lifestyle and vision of the future. Many other bands (such as: Pink Golf Kart, The Bruins, Sausage) would jump on the crack rock n roll bandwagon but none of them would endure. The Dreems would continue to grow and influence another generation of rockers with their eclectic electric post-melodrama throughout the 80's and 90's.

 

During the mid 90's the second generation of crack rock n rollers would emerge with Goner leading the way. If The Dreems were the bad boys when they appeared, Goner was Satan. Goner gained a reputation for being wild early on as the constantly trashed hotels, laundromats, and one roller-disco. One time Scab even pissed on the crowd! But even when acting their worst, Goner made incredible music. They built on The Dreems' post-melodrama while adding their own kill or be killed sound.

 

On the opposite side of the spectrum, nice guys Making the Love appeared on the scene a few years after Goner in the late 90's. Although very different from The Dreems and Goner, Making the Love is undeniably crack rock n roll. Their smoother, soul-influenced, interpretation of crack rock n roll would mesmerize crowds.

 

It is incredible that these three bands are together in this compilation, and that there is new material from all of them on it. These two discs that you hold in your hand are a part of history." - Johnny Johnson, 2001.

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