In 1996, after reforming and releasing God of Love on Madonna’s new label, Maverick, with a thick, clean, measured sound of mid-tempo rock, Caroline Records unearthed the first recorded work of Bad Brains, appropriately done in Don Zientara’s basement. It was recorded in June 1979 at the nexus of DC recorded history, Inner Ear Studios (Zientara’s house initially) in Arlington, VA.
Many heralded the DC natives as the birth of hardcore and the greatest live band ever. But, some would argue about the recorded triumphs soon to come after the Brains moved to NYC. The ROIR cassette (1982; recorded at 171-A Studios, NYC in 1981 by Jerry Williams) was lauded and worshipped, while many thought the Rik Ocasek-(yes, of The Cars) produced Rock for Light in 1983 was too polished (it’s still pretty nasty).
But all that was quashed when Black Dots was released. With each member perched in a separate room of their recording space: HR by the bulkhead, Earl in the bathroom, and Doc and Darryl in their own tight space, Bad Brains’ electric spirits and raw passion were channeled through four meager material manifestations of music to unleash the brilliance and sweat that would only be emitted from these four men.
We mere mortals were blessed with 16 tracks and that spur-of-the-moment synergy. It’s rare to hear someone yell, “Can you hold it for it a minute?” or the Zientara’s kid tugging and asking, “you remember when Rick had that red tape recorder?” to HR as HR’s growing moans and Dr. Know’s feedback ascended in the mix. This is one of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest treasures ever given to the earthlings.
If you didn’t get your hands on either the black vinyl or the white vinyl (only 1000 pressed), now Wax Audio Group releases Black Dots, one time, on white vinyl. The run is limited to 1500, and the records will ship out around April 12.
