Tad's Classic Sub Pop Material Treated to Reissue Series

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Sep 21, 2016

Though Tad Doyle most recently dropped an album with Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, the grunge great's eponymous Tad project will be the focus of a new reissue series via old label home Sub Pop.

Three of the defunct outfit's Sub Pop releases will be given deluxe-edition reissues on CD and LP on November 4. God's Balls (1989), Salt Lick (1990) and 8-Way Santa (1991) have all been remastered by producer/engineer Jack Endino from the original tapes.

The new vinyl pressings will preserve the albums as they had been originally presented, while CD and digital editions cull together tracks from 7-inches, demos and unreleased material. These bonus tracks are also being included in the LPs via download cards, while a special bonus compilation 12-inch of the material will be available for free for anyone ordering all three reissues via Sub Pop's online store.

While Doyle had recorded all of the material on the band's 1988 single, "Ritual Device" / "Daisy," he brought aboard guitarist Gary Thorstensen, bassist Kurt Danielson and drummer Steve Wied that fall to record debut album God's Balls. Additionally, the Endino-recorded collection featured the sounds of "an empty gas tank from a car, a hacksaw, a large brass tube from a microwave transmitter, CB radio mics." The band would tour with Nirvana in support of the LP.

Tad issued various singles and a split 7-inch with Pussy Galore before dropping the Salt Lick EP. Recorded by Steve Albini, the six-song set had at one point been packaged together on a CD with God's Balls, but the reissues presents the cycle alongside material from Tad's "Wood Goblins" and "Loser" singles, and more.

8-Way Santa was the band's last full-length with Sub Pop. It was recorded at Madison, WI's Smart Studios with Butch Vig, with a press release noting that the collection adds "melodic touches to their sound," including single "Jinx." The deluxe version adds a series of demos recorded by Jack Endino.

Below, you'll find a video for "Wood Goblins," as well as all of the tracklisting info for the reissue series.

Tad's 1995 swan song, Infrared Riding Hood, had been given a vinyl reissue in 2015.

God's Balls:

1. Behemoth
2. Pork Chop
3. Helot
4. Tuna Car
5. Sex God Missy (Lumberjack Mix)
6. Cyanide Bath
7. Boiler Room
8. Satan's Chainsaw
9. Hollow Man
10. Nipple Belt
11. Ritual Device - (from "Daisy" 7" single) **
12. Daisy - (from "Daisy" 7" single) **
13. Tuna Car (Unreleased) **

Salt Lick:

1. Axe to Grind
2. High on the Hog
3. Wood Goblins
4. Hibernation
5. Glue Machine
6. Potlatch
7. Loser (from "Loser" 7" single) **
8. Cooking With Gas (from "Wood Goblins" 12" & "Loser" 7" single)**
9. Habit Necessity (from "Dope Guns N Fucking in the Streets" 7" single on Amphetamine Reptile) **
10. Damaged (from Pussy Galore split 7" single) **

8-Way Santa:

1. Jinx
2. Giant Killer
3. Wired God
4. Delinquent
5. Hedge Hog
6. Flame Tavern
7. Trash Truck
8. Stumblin' Man
9. Jack
10. Candi
11. 3-D Witch Hunt
12. Cranes Café
13. Plague Years
14. Pig Iron (from Jinx 7" single) **
15. Nuts 'N' Bolts (Unreleased) **
16. Delinquent (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos) **
17. Giant Killer (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos) **
18. Wired God (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos) **
19. 3D Witch Hunt (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos) **
20. Eddie Hook (from U.S. "Jack" CD & all German "Jack" releases – 7", 12" & CD – and from 8-Way Santa Butch Vig sessions) **

** CD, digital, download card only

Bonus LP:

1. Ritual Device (from "Daisy" 7" single)
2. Daisy (from "Daisy" 7" single)
3. Tuna Car (Unreleased)
4. Loser (from "Loser" 7" single)
5. Cooking With Gas (from "Loser" 7" single)
6. Habit Necessity - (from "Dope Guns N Fucking in the Streets" 7" single on Amphetamine Reptile)
7. Damaged (from Pussy Galore split 7" single)
8. Pig Iron (from "Jinx" 7" single)
9. Nuts 'N' Bolts (Unreleased)
10. Delinquent (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos)
11. Giant Killer (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos)
12. Wired God (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos)
13. 3-D Witch Hunt (8-Way Santa Jack Endino demos)
14. Eddie Hook (from U.S. "Jack" CD & all German "Jack" releases – 7", 12" & CD – and from 8-Way Santa Butch Vig sessions)


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