Skewbald/Grand Union (band)
| Company type | Independent record label release |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
| Products | EP (7-inch vinyl, CD, digital download) |
| Parent | Dischord Records |
| Website | www |
Skewbald/Grand Union, alternatively titled 2 Songs, represents the sole studio EP by the American hardcore punk group Skewbald/Grand Union, serving as their eponymous archival release.
Background and band history
Often referred to simply as Skewbald, Skewbald/Grand Union was a brief-lived hardcore punk ensemble originating from Washington, D.C.. The band formed in the aftermath of the initial breakup of Minor Threat in September 1981, initiated by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson. Their lineup featured guitarist Edward Janney alongside bassist John Falls.
The band's name emerged from a disagreement between MacKaye and Nelson: initially named Grand Union after a nearby grocery store, MacKaye suggested "skewbald," a term he discovered in a dictionary, whereas Nelson favored Grand Union. With neither side conceding, the group adopted the combined title.
In November 1981, they laid down three untitled demo tracks at Inner Ear Studios located in Arlington, Virginia. These recordings were self-produced and engineered by Don Zientara. Following the session, rehearsals halted and Falls departed. Subsequently, MacKaye took over bass duties, and the remaining trio rehearsed briefly in early 1982. The band never played live shows and disbanded when Minor Threat reunited in spring 1982.
Release
For approximately ten years, Skewbald/Grand Union's demos circulated informally through tape trading, frequently mistaken for Minor Threat outtakes.
Dischord Records officially issued these recordings in 1991 as a one-sided clear 7-inch vinyl EP titled Skewbald/Grand Union, marking the label’s 50th release. Two of the three songs were merged into a single track for this release.
Reissues
In October 1997, the EP was re-released on CD format, with individual tracks also made accessible via digital download.
The combined track "Sorry/Change for the Same" was later included in the 2002 triple-CD compilation box set 20 Years of Dischord.
Track listing
All compositions credited to Skewbald/Grand Union
- "Side One" (informally known as "Sorry / Change for the Same") (2:54)
- "Side Two" (informally known as "You're Not Fooling Me") (1:13)
Personnel
- Ian MacKaye – lead vocals
- Edward Janney – guitar
- John Falls – bass guitar
- Jeff Nelson – drums
Production
- Skewbald – production duties
- Don Zientara – engineering
External links
- 2 Songs at Dischord Records
- Skewbald at Dischord Records