Innocence and Experience (1993)
Blake Babies
Track list
- Wipe it Up
- Rain (demo)
- Boiled Potato
- Lament
- Cesspool
- You Don't Give Up
- Star (demo)
- Sanctify
- Out There
- Girl in a Box
- I'm Not Your Mother
- Temptation Eyes
- Downtime
- Over and Over (live)
A compilation of Babies' material released at the height of Juliana’s commercial success as a solo artist. There is enough in the way of unreleased demos, live versions to appeal to the loyal fan. (You can never have enough versions of Rain). Of particular note is the previously unreleased Boiled Potato, an early version of what would become Juliana’s b-side Feed Me. A fabulous selection which includes most of the essential songs.
2019 Vinyl Reissue
In December 2018, American Laundromat Records announced a 2019 vinyl reissue:
We are beyond excited to reissue this fantastic Blake Babies collection on vinyl. It's always been a favorite and we worked with John, Freda and Juliana on every aspect of the reissue.
Our good friend and long-time collaborator Sean Glonek at SRG Studios handled remastering, and Carl Saff in Chicago cut metal. Vinyl was pressed by hand at Burlington Record Plant in Burlington, VT. The artwork has been recreated from the original Mammoth art but with a little twist thanks to the skill and creativity of award-winning designer, Aaron Tanner of Melodic Virtue. We also included the liner notes and photos from the original CD booklet as a newly-designed inner sleeve. We're very proud of this reissue and hope you enjoy it.
Ordering info:
Reviews
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Blake Babies — Innocence And Experience
Select, January 1994
BLAKE BABIES — Innocence And Experience — MAMMOTH
Hey, it's the sound of young collegiate Boston! Before Juliana Hatfield was feted in her own right as the plucky, off-kilter Donna Tartt of guitar rock and the mysterious alleged paramour of Lemonhead Evan Dando, she was a Blake Baby. The Babies made five LPs between the mid-'80s and early '90s, from which has been distilled this compilation. And distilled is le mot juste since this is the essence of what Blake Babies were—namely awkward, youthful emotions seen through a fug of raddled but tuneful plaid shirt rock. It's always unenviable, but not to do with Juliana's later work. Still you may find it the very stuff of life itself, and fans will be tempted by the inclusion of five rarities and demos. ■■■□□
Stuart Maconie
Show Vox review transcriptHide Vox review transcript
Blake Babies — Innocence And Experience
Vox, January 1994
BLAKE BABIES — Innocence And Experience (Mammoth MR0058-2)
Blake Babies were what rich kids did on their holidays, turning cute pocket-money songs like 'Wipe It Up', 'Boiled Potato' and 'Rain' into a career move and famous boyfriends. Lemonhead Evan Dando sat in on the songs that became Slow Learner. Juliana Hatfield's smart combo rattled up preppy tunes with flashes of lyrical wit. After graduating to sexual politics and the ambitious Sunburn, they resorted to covering Neil Young and The Grass Roots and lost it in recrimination, but Blake Babies made more than a little go a fair way.
On this desirable artefact demos, EP out-takes, bite-sized singles and the odd live item ensure the Juliana, John and Freda show rolls along charmingly—only 'You Don't Give Up' gets nasty. It doesn't go off the rails until John Strohm's self-conscious 'Girl In A Box', but even that's forgivable because Innocence And Experience is like a fan's tape or a souvenir which, if you liked Blake Babies, you'd need right this minute, and if you knew little about them, you'd still need right this minute. ● 7
Max Bell
Artwork
