BAD BRAINS- Pay to cum! 7″ (Bad Brain Records, USA, 1980)
There’s nothing I could write about the BAD BRAINS that you didn’t already know. Everything (and I mean everything) the band laid hand on before “I against I” turned into solid gold. All the controversy the band stirred, the boring records, the idiotic statements that followed the bands course couldn’t even scratch the surface of the phenomenal “ROIR Tape”, the “Rock for Light” album or the unearthly “Black Dots” session.
“Pay to cum” might be one of the few Punk songs that appeals to almost anybody. I think it’s because of the power and drive so overwhelming. This is the best version of the song, although I haven’t heard the obscure alternate take that originally appeared on a laquer-disk only version of this 7″. “Stay to close to me” is a catchy song, especially the middle part, which breaks out of the Reggae/Dub scheme a bit and adds that special flavor.
This comes from the 1989 japanese counterfeit bootleg version. I once held the original first press with cover in my hands in a small record store in San Francisco’s Polk St. in ‘86. It cost something like 20$. I thought it was too much cause I already had “Pay to cum” on the “New York T(h)rash” cassette. Yeah, don’t tell me …. these days, I’d cum to pay …..
Frank Mossi wrote:
As a metal head I must say this is RED HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The singing is INCREDIBLE and the musicians are so TIGHT!!! You really got me into punk.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 2:49 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Haha, great to hear Frank.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 2:52 am | Permalink
Javi wrote:
Yay! the Bad Brains… Maybe my favorite band of the first wave of Hardcore bunch (DKs, Black Flag, Minor threat, Discharge), and that’s saying something, cause I adore the other bands, but, man, there was something about the Bad Brains- their tightness, their charisma, their superior musicianship- that somehow made them a better band.
And you’re totally right, after “Rock for Light”, their records are kinda dull, although if one picks the “The youth are getting restless” live Lp, is going to get the better “I against I” tracks played how they’re supposed to be: “House of Suffering” remains one of their better songs, IMO.
Keep the good work, Erich!
Posted on 12-May-08 at 3:25 am | Permalink
Pär wrote:
This is of cause breat stuff! I´m glad that I got to see Bad Brains back in 89 even if I understad now that back then I didn´t understand a thing how great this is. Back then we mostly went to the gig because it was the day before Nuclear Assault and Dark Angel played i Stockholm.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 7:48 am | Permalink
Dave wrote:
I have an original press of this one. I love these two songs and I feel they are even more powerful when you hear them in the context of a 2 song single. I also agree this is by far the best version of “Pay to Cum” period.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 7:57 am | Permalink
77.54 wrote:
“Black dots” is uber-Brains but this comes second! Happy to see you still round Eric. Essential post!
Posted on 12-May-08 at 9:37 am | Permalink
SwePete wrote:
P.T.C is one of best songs in the world, ever! Nuff said!
Posted on 12-May-08 at 2:06 pm | Permalink
justin wrote:
19 comments on the last one and already 7 on this one. Going strong and what better way to say it with Bad Brains. I like the newer stuff alot better but this one’s okay. Ha, ha, no way. This rips I found it somewhere else and they had an extra tune from the same session. On the opposite side of this I do like some reggae, but these guys really sucked at that particular sound. Anyway…thanx for your help and also another post. I did decide to help you out though and if you send me your record collection I will continue posting for you on my site. Ha ha have a good one.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 2:25 pm | Permalink
Jerry B wrote:
Great stuff, best live band I’ve ever seen back in the days. They played only about 45 minutes but the impresion will last a lifetime. I was exposed to the I against I before the older stuff, so I will always hold a soft spot for that one.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 2:47 pm | Permalink
malfeitor wrote:
In addition to collector stories about gems dug up at the odd record store, I also like tales of the ones that got away. Could this be the one 7″ in the world that neither you nor Peter have an original copy of?
Posted on 12-May-08 at 3:17 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
@ Justin:
You will be able to download my complete record collection in a few years, I suppose.
@ Malfeitor: Good to see you’re still around! I wish this was the only record I don’t own an original copy of …. Actually, it’s all a matter of $$$ since internet and eBay, you know, and one day, I’m gonna buy me an original BB “Pay to cum” 7″ for sure. This one cost me like 3$.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 3:22 pm | Permalink
astromouse wrote:
hey thanks for this. never had a decent rip of this 7″ and as always yours sounds perfect. this is the best blog out there. keep up the work, make us kids happy.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 3:28 pm | Permalink
fernando wrote:
The NY Thrash cassette? I guess you mean “Let’em eat jellybeans”…
@ Justin - yes their earliest reggae tracks kinda suck, but on the 1983 LP they’re OK, specially “The meek…”
I against I is a great album! But it’s like another band in some way, yeah. Btw I have this doubt about the “Omega sessions” EP suposed to come from 1980, that sounds to me a bit unbelievable, precisely because of the inclusion of the song “I against I” (less metallic on that version, that’s true). Anybody can confirm my suspicion or, otherwise, the correction of the 1980 dating?
Oh, thanks Ericco for the rips, the scans and for keeping it going and -to speak with astromouse- making us kids happy!
Posted on 13-May-08 at 5:19 am | Permalink
Slurkodan Burker wrote:
Is that cum on the record cover?
Posted on 13-May-08 at 8:58 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Thanks Slobo - I’ve been waiting for this question
Posted on 13-May-08 at 9:05 am | Permalink
Peter - KBD Records wrote:
Ahh malfeitor. Still around :). No I don´t have the original copy :(. Just the test pressing. Sob.
Posted on 13-May-08 at 4:23 pm | Permalink
Ringo Reblaus wrote:
“one day, I’m gonna buy me an original BB “Pay to cum” 7″ for sure”
But Erich, imagine all the bottles of good wine you could get for just this one piece of plastic (even if it’s as great as this one!!!).
Posted on 16-May-08 at 8:51 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Good point Ringo
Actually, I’m just about to open a fine Chianti ……. Cheers!
Posted on 16-May-08 at 9:11 am | Permalink