Bad Brains

One of the most iconic rock albums of all time!

After being banned from all the major clubs in their hometown of Washington DC, Bad Brains moved to New York City in 1981. In addition to their regular gigs at CBGB’s, the band frequented Jerry Williams’ 171-A Studios in Alphabet City. This was a huge room with a stage at one end and an elevated soundproof booth at the other. When the Bad Brains played a gig at 171-A in May 1981, Williams recorded it on reel-to-reel tape. The band liked the sound and returned to 171-A to record between August and October 1981. Twelve of the fifteen tracks on the album came from these sessions, while “Jah Calling”, “Pay To Cum” and “I Luv I Jah” were from Williams’ earlier live recording in May.

It was originally released in 1982 in cassette-only format on ROIR, and was released on other formats for the first time in 1989.

We have the following variants for sale:

• 1992 ROIR tape: clear cassette, black case, in excellent shape (SOLD OUT)
• 2014 ROIR tape reissue: dark red transparent cassette, clear case (first issue that had the logo on the shell instead of regular lettering), in good shape
• 2021 Tapehead City reissue: green cassette, yellow case
• 2021 Tapehead City reissue: black cassette, yellow case, in a cardboard slipcase limited to 1000 copies
• 2021 Revolver exclusive: clear with rasta splatter vinyl, numbered obi strip, limited to 750 copies, includes stickersheet (SOLD OUT)
• 2021 Newbury Comics exclusive: yellow black circles vinyl, limited to 1000 copies, includes stickersheet (SOLD OUT)
• 2021 Newbury Comics exclusive: yellow clear split vinyl, limited to 1000 copies, includes stickersheet
• 1989 Attitude variant – click for more info!
• 2021 Punk Note variant – click for more info!
• 2021 Limited package deal – click for more info!