View source for Yes L.A.

{{Short description|1979 compilation EP by various artists}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Yes L.A.
| type         = compilation
| longtype     = [[Extended play|EP]]
| artist       = various artists
| cover        = VA YesLAEP artwork.jpeg
| border       = yes
| alt          = 
| released     = {{start date|1979|08}}
| recorded     = 1978 – 1979
| studio       = 
| genre        = [[Punk rock]]
| length       = {{duration|m=13|s=26}}
| language     = [[English language|English]]
| label        = [[Dangerhouse Records|Dangerhouse]]
| producer     = 
| prev_title   = 
| prev_year    = 
| next_title   = 
| next_year    = 
}}
{{Album ratings
|rev1 = ''The Vinyl District''
|rev1score = A<ref name="TVD_YesLA">Neff, Joseph (August 13, 2013). [http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2013/08/regraded-on-a-curve-dangerhouse-records-compilationyes-l-a/ "(Re)Graded on a Curve: Dangerhouse Records' Compilation, ''Yes L.A.''"]. ''The Vinyl District''. Retrieved September 12, 2016.</ref>
}}

'''''Yes L.A.''''' is a six-song [[Compilation album|compilation]] [[Extended play|EP]] featuring first-generation Californian [[punk rock]] bands. It was also the final release of the short-lived but influential [[Dangerhouse Records]] label.<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/>

==Overview==
A one-sided [[picture disc]] [[music release|released]] at the twilight of the early [[Los Angeles]] [[Punk subculture|punk scene]],{{refn|group=nb|"Just as the scene was being split into harder-driving, superadrenalized extreme power metal-punk on one side and simpy new wave power pop on the other, the first L.A. punk compilation album, ... ''Yes L.A.'', was released..."<br />{{in5|32}}–&nbsp;[[Brendan Mullen]]<ref name="WeGotheNB_p181">[[Marc Spitz|Spitz, Marc]]; Mullen, Brendan (2001). ''[[We Got the Neutron Bomb|We Got the Neutron Bomb: The Untold Story of L.A. Punk]]''. [[Three Rivers Press]]. {{ISBN|9780609807743}}. p. 181.</ref>}} ''Yes L.A.'' features some of its most acclaimed bands:<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/> the [[Bags (Los Angeles band)|Bags]], the Eyes, [[The Alley Cats (punk rock band)|the Alley Cats]], [[Black Randy and the Metrosquad]],<ref name="AllMusic_BlackRandyBio">Lewis, Uncle Dave. [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/black-randy-the-metrosquad-mn0000080005/biography "Black Randy & The Metrosquad: Artist Biography by Uncle Dave Lewis"]. ''[[AllMusic]]''. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref> [[X (American band)|X]], and the [[Germs (band)|Germs]].<ref name="WeGotheNB_p181"/>

The record title makes [[parody]] of ''[[No New York]]'',{{refn|group=nb|Antilles #AN-7067}}<ref name="WeGotheNB_p181"/> the seminal [[no wave]] [[compilation album]] [[music release|issued]] a year earlier,<ref name="Frontier_YesLA">[http://www.frontierrecords.com/site/frontier-reissues-rare-punk-classic-yes-la-ep/ "Frontier Reissues Rare Punk Classic: Yes LA EP!"]. ''[[Frontier Records]]''. Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref> perceived as pretentious by [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] punkers.<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/> The EP even included a [[Satire|satirical]] [[disclaimer]] printed on the disc saying: "Not produced by [[Brian Eno]]".<ref name="Frontier_YesLA"/>

The compilation includes a 1978 rawer early version of X's song "Los Angeles", described by Dangerhouse Records co-founder David Brown as "a scathing, literal depiction of the scene which needs no explanation".<ref>Various artists (1991), ''Dangerhouse: Volumen One''. [[Frontier Records]]. #FLP 31039. Liner notes.</ref> The record also features a rare [[Remix|alternate mix]] of the Germs' "No God",<ref name="CA_LisaFancher_Ivw">LeBlanc, Larry. [http://www.celebrityaccess.com/news/profile.html?id=526 "Industry Profile: Lisa Fancher"]. ''CelebrityAccess''. Retrieved May 21, 2016.</ref><ref>[[Karl Backman|Backman, Karl]]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20161007032615/https://www.acc.umu.se/~samhain/summerofhate/germsrecords.html "The Germs Discography"]. ''The Summer of Hate''. Archived from [https://www.acc.umu.se/~samhain/summerofhate/germsrecords.html the original] on October 7, 2016.</ref> a song originally [[Record producer|produce]]d by [[Geza X]]{{refn|group=nb|"... We [Dangerhouse Records] were kind of feuding with him [Geza X] about some of his production techniques, which at the time was squirrelly because he's such a creative guy and he'd try anything. So we had taken the tapes of the Germs that [[Slash (fanzine)|Slash magazine]] owned and remixed them the way we would do it – sort of the Geza way. It was interesting to compare..."<br />{{in5|32}}–&nbsp;David Brown<ref name="BMF_DH_p2">Richardson, Ryan. [http://www.breakmyface.com/bands/dangerhouse2.html "Dangerhouse Records"] (history and commented discography, page 2/2). ''Break My Face''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref><ref>[[Tim Yohannan|Yohannan, Tim]] (August 1991). Title unknown (interview with David Brown from Dangerhouse Records). ''[[Maximumrocknroll]]'' (99).</ref>}} for the EP ''[[Lexicon Devil]]'',{{refn|group=nb|Slash #SCAM 101}} previously released in May 1978.

The ''Yes L.A.'' EP has become highly sought after by [[Record collecting|record collector]]s.<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/>

==Production and release==
''Yes L.A.'' was [[Audio mastering|mastered]] by Jeff Sanders at Crystal Sound Studios in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], California.

All songs on the compilation were previously unissued, with the only exception of Black Randy and the Metrosquad's tune "Down at the Laundrymat", featured on the band's [[Album|studio album]] ''Pass the Dust, I Think I'm Bowie''{{refn|group=nb|Dangerhouse #PCP-725}}<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/pass-the-dust-i-think-im-bowie-mw0000118572 Black Randy and the Metrosquad, ''Pass the Dust, I Think I'm Bowie'']. ''[[AllMusic]]''. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref><ref name="DCG_BR-PassDust">[http://www.discogs.com/Black-Randy-And-The-Metrosquad-Pass-The-Dust-I-Think-Im-Bowie/release/1366031 Black Randy and the Metrosquad, ''Pass the Dust, I Think I'm Bowie'']. ''[[Discogs]]''. Retrieved September 2, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/black_randy_and_the_metrosquad/pass_the_dust__i_think_im_bowie_.p/ Black Randy and the Metrosquad, ''Pass the Dust, I Think I'm Bowie'']. ''[[Rate Your Music]]''. Retrieved September 7, 2015.</ref> from July 1979.<ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/>

''Yes L.A.'' was originally released in August 1979 on Dangerhouse Records,<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/><ref name="WeGotheNB_p181"/> in a limited edition of 2,000 copies<ref name="Frontier_YesLA"/><ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/> [[Record press|press]]ed on [[Gramophone record#Common formats|12-inch]] [[Transparency and translucency|clear]] vinyl discs.{{refn|group=nb|Dangerhouse #EW-79}}<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/><ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Various-Yes-LA/release/581821 ''Yes L.A.'']. ''[[Discogs]]''. Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/various_artists_f2/yes_l_a_.p/ ''Yes L.A.'']. ''[[Rate Your Music]]''. Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref>

==Artwork and packaging==
Designed by Pat Garrett,<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/><ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/> the record [[Work of art|artwork]] was [[Screen printing|silkscreen]]ed by hand on the ungrooved side of each single disc,<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/><ref name="Frontier_YesLA"/><ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/> with one of three different color combinations, namely, green/black,<ref name="TPV_YesLA_G-Bk">[http://www.punkvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/HF5A2205.jpg ''Yes L.A.'', image of the green/black Frontier version]. ''The Punk Vault''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref> green/blue,<ref name="TPV_YesLA_G-Bl">[http://www.punkvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/HF5A2201.jpg ''Yes L.A.'', image of the green/blue Frontier version]. ''The Punk Vault''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref> and green/red.<ref name="TPV_YesLA_G-Rd">[http://www.punkvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/HF5A2198.jpg ''Yes L.A.'', image of the green/red Frontier version]. ''The Punk Vault''. Retrieved August 10, 2015.</ref> Some of those copies were misprinted.{{refn|group=nb|20 or 30, according to David Brown from Dangerhouse Records.<ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/>}} Examples include discs with text only,<ref>[http://www.breakmyface.com/images/yesLA02.jpg ''Yes L.A.'', image of a misprinted copy]. ''Break My Face''. Retrieved August 8, 2015.</ref> with the background image in front of the text, or the image and text on the side with the grooves, rendering such a record unplayable.

Some non-silkscreened black vinyl test pressings are known to exist.<ref name="BMF_DH_p2"/>

Original copies came without a [[Record sleeve|sleeve]], instead packaged in a clear [[Polyvinyl chloride|plastic]] bag with a white [[cardboard]] backing.<ref name="Frontier_YesLA"/>

==Reissues==
At some point during the 1990s, the [[Copyrights|right]]s to ''Yes L.A.'' (and the entire Dangerhouse Records [[Music catalog|catalog]]) were acquired by [[Frontier Records]].<ref name="CA_LisaFancher_Ivw"/>

In June 2013, after 34 years [[out of print]], ''Yes L.A.'' was reissued by Frontier in a one-time limited edition of 1,000 almost exact [[replica]]s of the original EP{{refn|group=nb|Frontier #FLP 31079}}<ref name="Frontier_YesLA"/><ref>[http://www.discogs.com/Various-Yes-LA/release/4748862 ''Yes L.A.'', 2013 reissue]. ''[[Discogs]]''. Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref><ref>[https://rateyourmusic.com/release/ep/various_artists_f2/yes_l_a__f1/ ''Yes L.A.'', 2013 reissue]. ''[[Rate Your Music]]''. Retrieved August 21, 2015.</ref> to commemorate the label's 100th release.<ref name="TVD_YesLA"/><ref name="CA_LisaFancher_Ivw"/>

==Track listing==
''Where it is necessary, songwriting [[Credit (creative arts)|credit]]s are listed in the format [[Lyricist|lyrics]]/[[Composer|music]]''.

{{Track listing
| all_writing     = 
| extra_column    = Artist
| headline        = 
| title1          = We Don't Need the English
| note1           = 
| writer1         = Craig Lee
| extra1          = [[Bags (Los Angeles band)|Bags]] 
| length1         = 1:13 
| title2          = Disneyland
| note2           = 
| writer2         = Joe Ramirez, John Richey/Ramirez
| extra2          = Eyes 
| length2         = 2:00
| title3          = Too Much Junk
| note3           = Dangerhouse version
| writer3         = Randy Stodola
| extra3          = [[The Alley Cats (punk rock band)|The Alley Cats]] 
| length3         = 2:41 
| title4          = Down at the Laundrymat
| note4           = 
| writer4         = Black Randy/Bob Deadwyler
| extra4          = [[Black Randy and the Metrosquad]] 
| length4         = 3:26
| title5          = Los Angeles
| note5           = Dangerhouse version
| writer5         = [[John Doe (musician)|John Doe]]
| extra5          = [[X (American band)|X]] 
| length5         = 2:12 
| title6          = No God
| note6           = Dangerhouse mix
| writer6         = [[Darby Crash]]
| extra6          = [[Germs (band)|Germs]] 
| length6         = 1:54 
| total_length    = 13:26
}}

==Personnel==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
'''[[Bags (Los Angeles band)|Bags]]'''
*[[Alice Bag|Alicia Armendariz]] ([[Stage name|pka]] Alice Bag) – [[Lead vocalist|vocals]]
*[[Patricia Morrison]] (pka Pat Bag) – [[Bassist|bass]]
*Craig Lee (pka Craig Bag) – [[Guitarist|guitar]]
*[[Rob Graves (guitarist)|Rob Ritter]] – guitar
*Terry Graham (pka Terry Dad Bag) – [[Drummer|drums]]
'''Eyes'''
*Joe Ramirez – vocals, guitar
*Jimmy Leach – bass, [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
*[[Joe Nanini]] – drums
*David Brown – [[Organist|organ]]
'''[[The Alley Cats (punk rock band)|The Alley Cats]]'''
*Randy Stodola – vocals, guitar
*[[Dianne Chai]] – vocals, bass
*John McCarthy – drums
'''[[Black Randy and the Metrosquad]]'''
*Black Randy – vocals
*Bob Deadwyler – guitar
*[[K. K. Barrett|Keith Barrett]] (aka KK Barrett) – drums
*Pat Garrett – bass
*David Brown – [[electric piano]]
*[[John Doe (musician)|John Duchac]] (pka John Doe) – [[Percussion instrument|percussions]] ([[Waste container|wastebasket]])
'''[[X (American band)|X]]'''
*[[Exene Cervenka]] – vocals
*[[Billy Zoom]] – guitar
*[[John Doe (musician)|John Doe]] – bass, vocals
*[[D. J. Bonebrake|Don Bonebrake]] – drums
'''[[Germs (band)|Germs]]'''
*[[Darby Crash]] – vocals
*[[Pat Smear]] – guitar
*[[Lorna Doom]] – bass
*[[Nickey Alexander|Nicky Beat]] – drums
*[[Don Bolles]] – backing vocals and hand [[clapping]]
*Pat Delaney – backing vocals and hand clapping
{{Col-2}}

'''Production'''
*[[Dangerhouse Records|Dangerhouse]] – [[Record producer|production]] ([[Album#Music track|track]] 4), co-production (1 to 3, 5), [[remix]]ing (6)
*[[Geza X]] – production (6), co-production (1)
*Eyes – co-production (2)
*Randy Stodola – co-production (3)
*Jimmy Nanos – co-production (5), [[Audio engineer|engineering]] (5)
*Pat Rand (Pat Garrett) – co-production (5), [[graphic design]]
*[[X (American band)|X]] – co-production (5)
*Mike Hamilton – engineering (4)
*Jeff Sanders – [[Audio mastering|mastering]]
{{col-end}}

== See also ==
* [[1979 in music]]
* [[Punk rock in California]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb|30em}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.frontierrecords.com/site/frontier-reissues-rare-punk-classic-yes-la-ep/ "Frontier Reissues Rare Punk Classic: Yes LA EP!"]. ''[[Frontier Records]]''.

[[Category:Regional music compilation albums]]
[[Category:1979 compilation albums]]
[[Category:Punk rock compilation albums]]
[[Category:Music of Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Dangerhouse Records compilation albums]]