[2015-09-25] Sneakers (early Chris Stamey/Mitch Easter) "Sneakers" expanded remaster of 1976 EP (Omnivore)

Linda · **Posted:** Thu Jul 23, 2015 5:05 pm

Description
Chris Stamey, an icon of indie pop, and friend Mitch Easter began to explore recording techniques in Winston-Salem, NC, during their youth. In 1976, Chris and his band, Sneakers (including drummer Will Rigby, with appearances from Easter), released a single on Stamey’s own Carnivorous Records. The sessions were engineered by Don Dixon, who would eventually produce bands like R.E.M. (with Easter) and The Smithereens. Stamey & Rigby would go on to form The dB’s and Easter would reappear in Let’s Active—but the Sneakers single remains vital in not only independent record history, but music in general.

Omnivore Recordings is proud to reissue this seminal 7″ single as an expanded CD—also available digitally. Sneakers’ original six tracks are joined by five bonus tracks, including a cover of The Grass Roots’ “Let’s Live For Today.” 9 of the tracks were available on Omnivore’s 2015 10″ vinyl reissue for Record Store Day/Black Friday, but this new version adds “Be My Ambulance,” which previously appeared on the 1978 collectable mini-album, In The Red and “Some Kinda Fool” from the out-of-print 1992 collection, Racket.

Featuring photos and an essay from Scott Schinder, Sneakers will give people the opportunity to experience this genesis of jangle pop.

Fans of the ’80s indie scene will be beyond happy to add this release to their collection, and to experience the birth of the music they love. Whether to run to the record store or just to dance, everyone needs Sneakers.

Tracklist
1. Ruby
2. Condition Red
3. Driving
4. Love’s Like A Cuban Crisis
5. On The Brink
6. Let’s Live For Today
7. Story Of A Girl
8. Nonsequitur
9. S’il Vous Plaît
10. Be My Ambulance
11. Some Kinda Fool

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B012D2W3MU/?tag=imwan-20

NoPhoneNoPoolNoPets · 17 Jul 2007

I love the dB's and Mitch Easter, and Don Dixon is a genius in my opinion.

However, I have never really been able to "get into" Sneakers, from the previous releases of this material. Maybe third time will be the charm?

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Aug 09, 2015 6:54 pm

Let me also add this to the thread -- the previous CD release of Sneakers material on the defunct Collectors' Choice label, from 2007:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IAZNC2/?tag=imwan-20

It contains a bunch of exclusive tracks, so I recommend grabbing one before the price goes up into the stratosphere, but it was done from '90s remixes so it's not a truly accurate representation of the group's sound. Omnivore's new remaster (based on the original mixes) also contains an exclusive track. Get both if you want the "complete" Sneakers.

Rick A · 23 Jul 2006

Linda wrote:

Let me also add this to the thread -- the previous CD release of Sneakers material on the defunct Collectors' Choice label, from 2007:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IAZNC2/?tag=imwan-20

It contains a bunch of exclusive tracks, so I recommend grabbing one before the price goes up into the stratosphere, but it was done from '90s remixes so it's not a truly accurate representation of the group's sound. Omnivore's new remaster (based on the original mixes) also contains an exclusive track. Get both if you want the "complete" Sneakers.

I have this one and enjoy it.

Rick A.

NoPhoneNoPoolNoPets · 17 Jul 2007

Linda wrote:

Let me also add this to the thread -- the previous CD release of Sneakers material on the defunct Collectors' Choice label, from 2007:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IAZNC2/?tag=imwan-20

It contains a bunch of exclusive tracks, so I recommend grabbing one before the price goes up into the stratosphere, but it was done from '90s remixes so it's not a truly accurate representation of the group's sound. Omnivore's new remaster (based on the original mixes) also contains an exclusive track. Get both if you want the "complete" Sneakers.

I own this 2007 Collector's Choice reissue, and also the 1992 release of "Racket" on East Side Digital.

Linda, is there anything on this new release that I don't already have?

Linda · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 5:26 pm

I didn't think the Racket CD would still be out there, but used copies are actually pretty cheap (new copies are priced like a collectable):

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000008KVJ/?tag=imwan-20

Considering only the tracks themselves and not how they're remixed or remastered, the new Omnivore release will have one recording you're missing, the cover of "Let's Live For Today". The Collectors' Choice CD contains the other tracks plus a bunch more.

All of the Sneakers recordings were remixed in the early '90s, and Racket was compiled from those versions. The tracks on the Nonsequitur Of Silence collection are also from those remixes. Omnivore's 2014 vinyl edition of Sneakers' debut EP was composed of remasters of the original 1976 mixes, and WAN assumes that the original mixes will also be used for this new expanded CD edition.

If you're a Stamey/Easter completist, get everything (this is what I do). If you're a purist, get only the new Omnivore. If you want the most Sneakers in one CD, get Nonsequitur.

pobbard · 18 Jun 2007

NoPhoneNoPoolNoPets wrote:

However, I have never really been able to "get into" Sneakers, from the previous releases of this material. Maybe third time will be the charm?

Yeah, same here -- love the dB's, love the Stamey/Holsapple solo albums, love the pre-dB's solo singles by both men.... but Sneakers have never done it for me.

[2015-09-25] Sneakers (early Chris Stamey/Mitch Easter) "Sneakers" expanded remaster of 1976 EP (Omnivore)

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