Operation Ivy - Operation Ivy (1991) [Remastered 2007]

Formed in 1987, Op Ivy are a legendary quartet fronted by future Rancid cohorts Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, along with friends Jesse Michaels (Common Rider) and Dave Mello. This digitally remastered and expanded edition of the Punk/Ska legend's only album, originally distributed by Lookout! Records as a compilation in 1991, which sold in excess of 500,000 copies, Operation Ivy features the group's only LP (Energy) as well as their 7" EP (Hectic) and two songs from the 7" EP compilation Turn It Around.

One of the first bands to fuse revivalist ska with the energy and aggression of post-hardcore punk rock, Operation Ivy were also one of the few ska-punk bands to earn critical acclaim. Part of the reason was that they were one of the genre's innovators, possessed of a freshness that many of their imitators lacked, but their lyrics were often more intelligent and substantive as well. Thanks to their early breakup (the group was only together for two years), Operation Ivy became an enduring, even legendary influence in the neo-punk underground, especially after half of the band went on to hit it big in a new group, RANCID.

Among the best works of the rightfully maligned ska/punk genre, Operation Ivy's Energy is an unsurpassed, highly intelligent, extremely fun record. At the pinnacle of the East Bay punk scene, Operation Ivy sadly fizzled out just before the record was released, but left its mark and is frequently cited as an inspiration to all the bands that came later and played the same sort of music, though never as well. Bassist Matt Freeman and guitarist Tim Armstrong, who eventually formed Rancid, provided the musical foundation for the band, a then novel mix of raging punk and catchy ska, while singer/lyricist Jesse Michaels wrote thoughtful political songs from a personal perspective. The result, on this, their only full-length, was an album full of classic anthems which every one of their rabid fans at Berkeley's Gilman Street used to sing along to at their packed shows. From "Knowledge", a song covered by Green Day, to "Bankshot", a fantastic ska instrumental, to "One of These Days", a punk rock reworking of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walking", to the incisive political commentary of "Gonna Find You" and "Freeze Up", Energy succeeds at combining all sorts of elements into a thoroughly rewarding knockout of a record . The CD also includes Operation Ivy's exceptional Hectic 7", as well as several hard-to-find cuts from various compilations.

~ Adam Bregman, AMG

Tracklist:

01. Knowledge
02. Sound System
03. Jaded
04. Take Warning
05. The Crowd
06. Bombshell
07. Unity
08. Vulnerability
09. Bankshot
10. One Of These Days
11. Gonna Find You
12. Bad Town
13. Smiling
14. Caution
15. Freeze Up
16. Artificial Life
17. Room Without A Window
18. Big City
19. Missionary
20. Junkie's Runnin' Dry
21. Here We Go Again
22. Hoboken
23. Yellin' In My Ear
24. Sleep Long
25. Healthy Body
26. Officer
27. I Got No

all songs written by Operation Ivy


Tracks "1-19" originally from 'Energy' (LP 1989) - Recorded in January 1989
Tracks "20-25" originally from 'Hectic' (7" EP 1988) - Recorded in November 1987
Tracks "20-25" originally from 'Turn It Around' (2x 7" EP 1987) - Recorded in September 1987

Produced by Operation Ivy and Kevin Army. Engineered & Mixed by Kevin Army. Remastered by Gene Grimaldi.

• Jesse Michaels - vocals, backing vocals on "12"
• Tim "Lint" Armstrong - guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "12"
• Matt "McCall" Freeman - bass, backing vocals
• Dave Mello - drums, backing vocals

additional musicians:
- Paul Bae: saxophone
- Pat Mello: backing vocals

Original Release Date: April 1991
Remastered Re-Release: November 6, 2007
Label: Hellcat Records
Catalog No.: 86893-2