Personal Effects’ first EP was recorded for NYC’s Cachalot Records in 1982. By 1983 the band was ready to record again and we decided to do so on our own label, Earring Records. “This Is It” was the first release. Believing there was strength in numbers we offered the imprint of the label to other Rochester bands. Bands paid for their own recording, production and distribution. We were not very good at book-keeping and seem to have two EAR6’s in the catalog. We also lost track of an Urban Squirrels cassette only release.
Some physical copies remain for some of these releases. Contact us for availability.
EAR1 – Personal Effects, This Is It – EARRING RECORDS 1984
“This band has a haunting, unique sound based on musical ability, not gimmicks.”
– Billboard Magazine
“What we’ve heard is so disturbing
It takes time to settle in
Our destination doesn’t matter
This is it… life hereafter”
See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR2 – Absolute Grey, Green House – EARRING RECORDS 1984
Absolute Grey was an alternative rock–jangle pop band formed in September 1983 in Rochester, New York, United States. The group’s original lineup included drummer Pat Thomas (who later founded Heyday Records), guitarist Matt Kitchen, vocalist Beth Brown and bassist Mitchell Rasor.
PEEP1 – Personal Effects, Bring Out The Jazz – Earring Records 1985
Dwight Glodell produced this EP in his studio in the Village Gate. We went for a big 80’s sound and re-recorded “Bring Out The Jazz,” a song from our self-produced LP, “This Is It” along with “My Desire,” an outtake from “This Is It.” And we recorded three new songs including “Big Man,” “An Idea” and “All Over Me.” See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR3 – Personal Effects, It’s Different Out There – Earring Records 1985
See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR4 – THE COLORBLIND JAMES EXPERIENCE – EARRING RECORDS 1987
The Colorblind James Experience began life as Colorblind James & The White Caps in Oswego, New York. Chuck moved the band to San Francisco in 1980 and they returned to Rochester, Chuck’s hometown, in 1984. Here the band included former White Caps guitarist G. Elwyn, Phil Marshall, who played guitar with Colorblind in SF, bassist Bernie Heveron (an alumnus of Personal Effects) and Jim McAvaney on drums. The band pressed 1000 copies of this debut LP in 1987. Chuck sent one copy abroad, specifically to BBC radio’s John Peel. The song “Considering a Move to Memphis” made Mr. Peel’s year end Festive Fifty list. See Earring Press Release.
EAR5 – Wilderness Family, Crossing Lake Riley – EARRING RECORDS 1987
G. Elwyn Meixner, formerly with Colorblind James Experience, with Patrick Morgan, Leigh Kimmelman and Eileen Fugmann. Colorblind James plays on ‘Poor Able’
Tracks include : Days of 49 / Jumping Through The Fire / Seven Little Ponies / The Death Of John Henry / Penny’s Farm / Skippin’ & Flyin’ / Poor Able / Acres Of Clams / Old Man Mose / Crossing Lake Riley / A March From Victory
EAR145 – Personal Effects, Porch/A Mess 45 – Earring Records 1987
This limited edition (500) single was free with admission to Personal Effect’s March 22, 1986 show at the Warehouse in Rochester, New York. “Porch” and “A Mess” from the lp “This Is It” and were remixed at Saxon Recording for this special release. See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR6 – Personal Effects, 90 Days In The Planetarium – Earring Records 1987
Original soundtrack to Personal Effects Laser Light Show, a multimedia event that was performed at the Planetarium in Rochester New York for three months in 1987. Originally released on cassette only. See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR6 – The Essentials, Gas Money – EARRING RECORDS 1990
That’s Christopher Earl from the Squires of the Subterrain with the sunglasses and Greg Townson from the Hi-Risers on the right. Mark Bradley, Scott Bradley, Todd Bradley and Peter Gregory are also featured on this Earring Records release.
EAR7 – Invisible Idiot, Outta Sight, Outta Mind CD – Earring Records 1998
Invisible Idiot is actually the original Margaret Explosion and this is their first recording. The cd was recorded and released under the name, “Invisible Idiot” while a new Margaret Explosion lineup was performing around town. Peggi Fournier sax, and Paul Dodd, drums, were in both line-ups. Pete LaBonne plays bass and Jack Schaefer plays guitar. Listen to Invisible Idiot tracks on the Margaret Explosion page.
EAR8 – Pete LaBonne, Glob CD – EARRING RECORDS 2001
City Newspaper says “Pete Labonne is a genius. A master of the little word/big concept school of songwriting.”
These twelve songs from the legendary Pete LaBonne fit together so well that they might contain the secrets of the universe. Only repeated listening will tell. Pete LaBonne has released twenty two CDs. Earring Records released Glob in 2001. Here’s what Pete has to say in the liner notes for Glob: “I usually finish a song in a couple hours. This Glob contains a song which took 3 days to record; just because I lacked the vocal range to toss off a version of “Don’t Dream It’s Over.'”
The album is available as a download directly from PeteLaBonne.com.
EAR1111 – Bob Martin, 11:11 CD – EARRING RECORDS 2002
Bob Martin’s 11:11 is an organic soundtrack for everyday living; a collection of instrumental collages designed to induce and enhance relaxing states. Each of these soundscape songs evolves slowly, almost imperceptibly, taking you on a meditative journey.
Vist Bob Martin’s website
EAR9 – Margaret Explosion, Happy Hour CD – EARRING RECORDS 2003
City Newspaper says: “Margaret Explosion is an otherworldly lounge band that played an esoteric weekly Friday night happy hour at the Bug Jar. The ethereal soundtrack they provided cast an often eerie, slow-motion effect on the just-out-of-work crowd’s revelries. The group’s improvised minor-key melodies bathed the room in a melancholy glow, suggesting old eight-millimeter home movies, and blurring the line between experience and reminiscence.”
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR10 – Margaret Explosion, 1969 CD – EARRING RECORDS 2003
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR11 – Live At The Little, CD – EARRING RECORDS 2004
Live AT The Little CD features 10 live tracks from eight artists, all regular performers at the Little Theater Café, Brady Miller Trio, The White Hots, Ben Gallina Trio, Margaret Explosion, Trio East, Bob Sneider Duo, Diane Armesto Quartet and Gene Bertoncini “
“Yessir, the Little Theatre Café; where time and calories are of no concern or consequence and where mellow is allreet.
Wish you could’ve been there. You shoulda seen me; the perfect two-tone, gabardine, patent leather personification of lonely and hopeful. Man, it was tres cool. I strolled in the joint rejected, dejected, determined to wallow in my woe over a cup of joe, to replace lost affection with confection. And dig the tunes.
Now, the cheesecake never bent to adjust its hose, nor did the brownies waltz around with bellies full of Ektachrome, but I knew them all well. We were pals. We had indulged in each other over the blood of the bean for many, many nights.
Nestled in the hip pocket of Rochester’s art house movie palace, the café hops and hums and buzzes nightly with the smart set’s witty back ’n’ forth and live jazz.
Jazz groups like those you now hold in your hot little hands serve as punctuation to each point you make, every mood you feel…even a little heartache.
You see, the red head beauty with the green eyes had just given me a one-way ticket on the adiós express leaving me with little ‘cept for a burning passion for music and dessert.
And besides the carnival monkey playing a calliope in my head, jazz has always been my soundtrack.
In fact it’s yours too.
The subtle pangs of joy or righteous indignation or elation are jazz. Those lows so low they seem like numb-less highs are jazz. If it’s in the back of your mind working its way to the tip of your tongue, it’s jazz. It’s the way you walk, the way you talk. Now you know.
It’s taken me years to arrive at this, and when I finally did, I felt pretty damn smart. As well, every time I emerge from a movie, I feel somehow smarter. And I find myself (post cinematically, I suppose) wanting to prove it in the Little Theatre Café waxing – reflectively, esoterically while waving a hand that would have a cigarette in it if John Houston directed my life. Then again if he did, maybe the redhead wouldn’t have left. Or maybe she would have simply killed me instead. Perhaps he’d have me sipping espresso as opposed to my usual cup of java with enough sugar to stand a spoon in. I do know one thing…he’d have this music, sho’ ‘nuff.
Bring a date, save room for dessert. Spin this disc in the meantime.”
— Frank De Blase
EAR12 – Margaret Explosion, Skyhigh CD- EARRING RECORDS 2006
“This is one of the most original and unusual bands in Rochester; a five-piece ensemble exploring all sorts of musical dimensions linked to free jazz, Third World melodies, exotic instrumentation and a spacey, enveloping sort of music that often echoes the works of Scandanavian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and other Europeans who record for the ECM label. The 13 tracks on Skyhigh vary from the funk of “Shep’s Paradise” (a tribute to the legendary local jazz club), to the geographic tributes to “Ionia” and “Bilboa.” Despite the offbeat material, the Explosion plays with a single-minded purpose and organic oneness that’s most impressive.”
– Jack Garner D&C 11.17.06
EAR13 – Personal Effects , A Collection CD – EARRING RECORDS 2008
This compilation was released in 2008 and includes tracks from all six Personal Effects releases. See Personal Effects website for downloads, videos, CD purchase and more.
EAR14 – Margaret Explosion, Live Dive CD – EARRING RECORDS 2009
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR15 – SLT, Dead Gone Dead – EARRING RECORDS 2010
SLT is loud, ugly and simple, like the guest that just won’t leave your party. And it still keeps hanging around with the release of its new CD, Gone Dead Gone. Writing for City News Frank DeBlase says,” SLT is a band that has earned a second chance. It first burst on the scene in 1991 with a raw and menacing stab at classic punk rock. The music was direct, uncompromising, and incendiary, played by musicians that loved it and lived it. There were wild slash ‘n’ burn shows, there was dope, there was chaos, but there were no lifeboats. It was too much, too soon, and not everyone got out alive. Guitarist Luke Warm died of an overdose in 1995 and the band essentially disintegrated.
But there was unfinished business, unreleased recordings, and unresolved emotions; things that the remaining members of SLT finally started to address in the last couple of years. Founding members Chuck Irving (then bassist, now guitarist), drummer Pat Lowery, and singer Matt Sabo finally released the CD “Dirty Sleep” last year on Jargon Records – the album they had laid down at Arpad’s Studio before Warm’s death. Soon after, the itch to mount the stage began to fester, and the remaining original members teamed up with guitarist Phil Marshall and bassist Ken Frank (both ex-Colorblind James Experience members and current Margaret Explosion members) to bring SLT back.”
Matt Sabo: Vocals, synth, Chuck Irving: Guitars, backing vocal, Phil Marshall: Guitars, synth, backing vocal, Ken Frank: Bass guitar, synths and Pat Lowery: Drums, gong.
EAR16 – Margaret Explosion, Juggler/Purple Heart 45 – Earring Records 2011
Margaret Explosion 45, Double A Side. Song titles include: “Juggle” and
“Purple Heart.”
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR17 – Margaret Explosion, Disappear CD – Earring Records 2014
“The sound is immediately recognizable. Margaret Explosion is a narcotic soundtrack, sinuous improvisation on original impulses. Peggi Fournier not so much plays the soprano sax as breathes it. Paul Dodd’s drums are notable not only for the precision of his carefully selected notes, but the notes that he seems to not play. Like bassist Ken Frank, Dodd’s often in a hypnotic state. Guitarist Bob Martin is one of the wondrous curiosities of the local scene.” – Jeff Spevak, Rochester D&C
Disappear was recorded live at the Little Theater Cafe in Rochester, New York and mastered at Saxon Studio by Dave Anderson.
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR18 – Margaret Explosion, Civilization – Earring Records 2017
“On “Civilization,” however, Margaret Explosion had a little studio fun. The basic tracks are still improvised, but they’re left open at one end to make room for another set of layers. There’s stereophonic panning so severe in spots you may fall out of your chair. And the guitar is prominent as the soprano sax snakes and undulates through. It’s trippy in the extreme. It’s darkness at the end of the tunnel. It’s heady, and it’s beautiful.” – Frank DeBlase
Recording by Arpad Sekeres.
See Margaret Explosion website for downloads, videos, CDs and more.
EAR19 – Margaret Explosion, PER LA PRIMA! – Earring Records 2023
