Green Day - 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (1991) [Original Lookout Records' press]

1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours is a collection of early recordings by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on July 1, 1991 through Lookout! Records (despite the 1990 copyright date on the album). Often referred to as the band's first album, the compilation combines its debut album 39/Smooth (1990) and its first two extended plays Slappy (1990) and 1,000 Hours (1989). The album saw regional success in California, and has continuously sold since the band has broken through the mainstream.

When Green Day's first album appeared, anyone predicting that fame, MTV, top-selling albums, and more would be on the horizon in the near future would have been happily patted on the head and then sent to the insane asylum. It helps to remember that Nirvana's breakthrough was still a year away, for one thing, and, for another, 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour isn't a truly great album in the first place. It's not bad, by any means, and quite arguably just about everything on it could be transposed with a slight aural tweak here and there to Dookie or Insomniac without anyone batting an eye. It's just little more than a fun punk-pop album with some entertaining metallic flash here and there, one of many such records that the late '80s and early '90s produced in the indie rock world. After a great start with "At the Library", it's quickly clear that the rest of the record is going to continue in the same vein. What's fun is realizing how much the band already had to work with, pursuing obvious love of three-chord forebears like the Dickies and the Ramones to energetic if not revelatory ends. Billie Joe Armstrong's balance of disaffection and nervous, goofy passion is well in place, while he's already showing his effective, no-frills approach to chewy feedback melody. Songs like "I Was There" and "Road to Acceptance", not to mention the implicitly weed-celebrating "Green Day" itself, are great calling cards for later breakouts on both levels. Mike Dirnt's no slouch himself, providing good backing vocals when needed for harmony, but oddly enough the most prominent performance throughout comes from original drummer John Kiftmeyer, who wouldn't last through to the next album. Call it a quirk of recording, but there it is.

~ Ned Raggett, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. At The Library
02. Don't Leave Me
03. I Was There
04. Disappearing Boy
05. Green Day
06. Going To Pasalacqua
07. 16
08. Road To Acceptance
09. Rest
10. The Judge's Daughter
11. Paper Lanterns
12. Why Do You Want Him
13. 409 In Your Coffeemaker
14. Knowledge
15. 1,000 Hours
16. Dry Ice
17. Only Of You
18. The One I Want
19. I Want To Be Alone

all songs written by Green Day,
except "Knowledge" by Operation Ivy


Tracks 1–10 from "39/Smooth" (LP - 1990)
Tracks 11–14 from "Slappy" (7" - 1990)
Tracks 15–18 from "1,000 Hours" (7" - 1989)
Track 19 from "The Big One", a 'Flipside' compilation that featured bands from the East Bay and Los Angeles.

Produced by Andy Ernst and Green Day
Recorded at Art of Ears Studio, San Francisco
Engineered by Andy Ernst. Mastered by John Golden at K-Disc, Hollywood.

• Billie Joe Armstrong — vocals, guitar
• Mike Dirnt — bass, backing vocals
• Al Sobrante – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Release Date: July 1, 1991
Format: Compilation
Label: Lookout Records
Catalog No.: LK 22 CD