I was gonna review this terrific Detroit´s team tonight, , but then , never know on what moment, my head got in a new migraine episode, so I make an effort to post this, I popped 2 pills and drank a too charged linden tea before spinning this. So let’s see how far I can get before passing out in midst of my two sons that sweetly sleep next room while King Tuff sounds
Obviously you knew this band would appear here at some point, and I assume that most of you already have some of this in your collections, but just in case someone out there has never been exposed to the garage psych punk insanity that was / is The Go, here’s a great collection of everything about them managed to get in their career, and it even has a early appearance from currently mainstream´s favorite guitar alchemist Jack White.
Reality is that dream is gaining me ,and the keyboard is starting to turn into a gray splotch
, so before I pass out, I’ll encourage you to enjoy this shit—
Ah, here was friendship´s day, so, Happy Day ….

A Fan’s Notes on The Go

by Mark J. Norton

I’ll immediately dispense with any notion of being objective about The Go, because I haven’t written any “rock criticism” since about 1987, and have no intention of ever doing that odiferous task again. Back in the day, I just liked to goof on folks’ sensibilities regarding what they thought art was / is. With few exceptions, people know very little about art.

When I got the editorial gig at Creem in 1979, I had access to more than I should (in every dimension – it got pretty ugly after awhile), including Lester Bangs’ home phone number. I called him, asked for some advice On Becoming a Rock Critic. He said, “If you love a band, tell everyone, spread the joy, and say why. You’ll do everyone a favor if you do that.”

Well, I’ll take his advice here for the first time – I love The Go. I consider them to be the distillation of what rock music is all about, all the way from the top of Bobby Harlow’s pointy little head to the dog shit on John Krautner’s Chuck Taylors. Have you heard The Go’s “American Pig”? It’s Number One of the Top 10 songs of the first decade of the new millennium. Who says so? Me, you little bastards, that’s who – because it’s clean, vibrant, catchy as herpes, but much too wise to have that happen.

The song asks questions you might want to ask yourself, and I hope you will. Our country needs to take a good long look in the mirror and ask itself if it likes what it sees. And that’s what “American Pig” is all about – your sorry ass. Look in the mirror, then slap your own face.

The Go are world-class songwriters. The rough edges, however interesting they might be, are being sanded down and they’re becoming newly minted classicist in the vein of The Kinks, Lou Reed, with this vague nod to The Pretty Things, Mott the Hoople, the Yardbirds. The Go are like having Harry Nilsson fronting the Exile on Main Street-era Rolling Stones. Shit, what more can I say? Okay, they really rock too (we Detroiters see this as our birthright, don’t we?), and if you’re a Detroit rocker the “ability to rock” is issued to you along with a motorcycle jacket in the 9th grade.

I just saw The Go on May 6th at the Larimer Lounge in Denver, a few blocks away from where Jack Kerouac’s hero Neal Cassady was born, and The Go must have been imbued with Neal’s spirit that night because they played an incendiary set, a wild-ass loud’n’proud rock’n’roll show.

Ace song writing is what The Go are about. Their latest offering on Lizard King doesn’t have a dud on it, it’s exactly what I want from my favorite band. Sure, they re-invent “Hey Linda We’re in Trouble” but like Frank O’Hara and Larry Rivers said, who do you like best anyway? Steal from yourself. And that’s exactly what all the greats do. After you develop a style – which connotes snobbery, doesn’t it? – don’t sweat it, because we artists need to know who we’re dealing with in the first place anyway – and we’re dealing with snobs and complete jerk-offs.

The big kick in the ass comes every time The Go release a new album, because they are constantly changing, evolving, honing and re-inventing themselves in a way that isn’t much different from Lou Reed, The Kinks or David Bowie. “Learn from the best, to hell with the rest” just might be The Go’s motto.

I heard people are booking vacations to Detroit to take in rock culture – can you believe this stuff? Which hotel would you stay at in Hamtramck anyway? The mind boggles. If you’re going to Detroit, wear some rust in your hair and be there when The Go play. You’ll thank your prettiest stars that you did.

THE GO ALBUMS

The Go ‎– Whatcha Doin’

Label:Sub Pop ‎

Format:CD, Album

Country:US

Released:1999

Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Buick

Drums – Marc Fellis

Guitar – John Krautner

Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Jack White

Producer – Matthew Smith

Recorded By, Engineer – Jim Diamond

Voice – Bobby Harlow

Tracklist

1 Meet Me At The Movies 3:24

2 Summer Sun Blues 3:27

3 Keep On Trash 3:33

4 You Can Get High 2:11

5 It Might Be Bad 3:47

6 Suzy Don’t Leave 3:24

7 Get You Off 3:18

8 Tired Of The Night 2:53

9 But You Don’t Know 2:41

10 Whatcha Doin’ 2:44

11 On The Corner 3:28

12 Time For Moon 3:30

The Go ‎– The Go

Label:Lizard King Records ‎

Format:CD, Album

Country:UK

Released: 04 July 2003

All songs written by John Krautner & Bobby Harlow.

Produced by Bobby Harlow & Martin Heath.

Mastered by Emily Lazar.

Cover photo by Jeff Sauger.

Album art by Michelle Potter.

Tracklist

1. Capricorn 02:49

2. Ain’t That Bad 02:18

3. American Pig 03:21

4. Come Back 04:20

5. Blue Eyes Woman 03:01

6. Summer’s Gonna Be My Girl 03:41

7. Hardened Heart Blues 04:28

8. Games 03:49

9. You Can Rock & Roll 03:22

10. Hey Linda 02:43

11. Growd Up Wrong 03:15

12 . He’s Been Lying 05:11

13. I Got It 11:39

The Go ‎– Supercuts

Label:Not On Label ‎

Format:Vinyl, LP

Country:US

Released: 23 September 2003

All songs written by John Krautner & Bobby Harlow. Engineered & produced by Bobby Harlow. Mastered by Pat Haight. Cover photo by Ami Barwell. “Straight On” written by Wilson/Wilson/Ennis

credits

Demos for the ST GO album recorded on 4 track cassette. Bobby Harlow: vocals, rhythm & lead guitar / John Krautner: vocals, bass / Marc Fellis: drums

Tracklist

1. Growd Up Wrong 03:43

2. Try A Little Harder 03:57

3. Aint That Bad 02:43

4. Hey Linda 02:41

5. Straight On 04:49

6. Games 04:04

7. He’s Been Lying 05:35

8. Love, And If We Try 02:55

9. Come Back 06:34

10. Blue Eyed Woman 02:35

Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride cover art

The Go ‎– Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride

Label:Cass Records ‎

Format:CD, Album

Country:US

Released: 01 April 2007

Producer, Recorded By – Bobby Harlow

Howl: to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.

Haunted: preoccupied, as with an emotion, memory, or idea; obsessed.

Beat: one’s assigned or regular path or habitual round.

Ride: to appear to float in space, as a heavenly body and to continue without interruption or interference.

Bobby Harlow: vocal, piano, harmonica, bass, lead gtr / John Krautner: vocal, rhythm gtr, bass / Marc Fellis: drums / James McConnell: vocal, lead & rhythm gtr

credits

Written by Bobby Harlow & John Krautner / Engineered & produced by Bobby Harlow / Mastered by Warren Defever / Album art by Wartella

Tracklist

1 You Go Bangin’ On 2:32

2 Invisible Friends 3:38

3 Caroline 4:12

4 So Long Johnny 3:20

5 Yer Stoned Italian Cowboy 4:03

6 Refrain 2:46

7 Down A Spiral 4:47

8 Help You Out 3:49

9 Mercurial Girl 3:56

10 She’s Prettiest When She Cries 3:36

11 Mary Ann 3:32

12 Smile 5:41

Tracking The Trail Of The Haunted Beat cover art

The Go ‎– Tracking The Trail Of The Haunted Beat

Label:Italy Records ‎, Bellyache Records ‎

Format:2 × Vinyl, LP, Album

Country:US

Released:30 March 2008

currently out of print.

All Songs written by John Krautner & Bobby Harlow. Engineered & produced by Bobby Harlow. Mastered by Jim Kissling. Album art by Wartella.

Tracklist

The Alternate Haunted Beat Album

1 You Go Bangin’ On 2:34

2 Invisible Friends 3:26

3 Our Love’s Alive 4:09

4 Kevin & George 3:05

5 Yer Stoned Italian Cowboy 4:22

6 Ami 3:36

7 Gimme Back My Love 1:40

8 Help You Out (Extended Version) 6:36

9 Downward Spiral / Jigsaw Man 12:58

The Haunted Beat Demos

10 So Long Johhny 3:52

11 I Need Your Love 3:53

12 Poisined Man 2:45

13 Remain Lovely 3:22

14 Our Love’s Alive 4:29

15 Help You Out 2:31

16 Fits Of Laughter 3:30

17 Mercurial Girl 4:35

18 Mary Ann 2:56

19 Gimme Back My Love 1:37

20 Find Me A Feeling 3:47

The Go ‎– Free Electricity

Label:Not On Label (The Go) ‎

Format:Vinyl, LP, Album

Country:US

Released:2011

Recorded At – Ghetto Recorders

Produced At – Ghetto Recorders

Bass – Dave Buick

Drums – Marc Fellis

Guitar – John Krautner

Horns – John Olson

Lead Guitar – Dion Fisher

Other [Tamura] , Other [Spoken Word] – Cory Loren

Producer – Matt Smith

Recorded By – Jim Diamond

Vocals – Bobby Harlow

Originally recorded for Sub Pop in 2000 but rejected for being too uncommercial. The Album remained unreleased until it was finally issued as a bootleg (but from the master tapes – and featuring the band confirmed final mix ) in 2011 in a numbered edition of 200 with insert. Of the pressing of 200 there are 50 “deluxe” copies with hand painted paste on sleeves.

Tracklist

1 Free Electricity

2 Secular Century Man

3 All Dimensions Are Loose

4 Peacock Angel

5 Pharoah’s Tomb

6 Into Outer Space

7 Turnin’ On

8 Blood Red Sun

9 Mothers Of The Earth

10 Golden Dawn

The Go ‎– Fiesta

Label:Burger Records ‎

Format:2 × Vinyl, Limited Edition, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, LP

Country:US

Released:21 January 2012

Published By – Peacock Angel Publishing

Double LP’s in gatefold sleeve with tip-on covers, pressed on 333 Red, 333 Green, and 333 Orange Vinyl.

All songs written by John Krautner & Bobby Harlow. Engineered & produced by Bobby Harlow. Mastered by Jim Kissling. Album art by Amy Harlow.

Tracklist

1. Voices Rant On 04:17

2. Beyond The Beyond 03:34

3. Inside A Hole 04:07

4. So Let’s Pinch 04:13

5. Labor Of Love 03:02

6. Action Man 05:41

7. It Always Happens To You 02:53

8. I’m A Dot In Place 02:53

9. Bet I’m Late 03:11

10. Hire A Navy 05:27

11. For Me Alone 02:43

12. No More Stars 03:46

13. Can’t Rely On It 02:52

14. Tease My Ears 03:08

15. I Fear To Think I’m Here 06:17

16. Ya Gimme That Feelin 03:24

17. Girls In Trouble 02:57

18. In The Garden 03:42

19. Dirty Room 04:37

20. Last To Know 05:23

The Go – Singles, Jingles, & EPs

released 01 March 2013

This is a collection of rare songs. Some have never been released until now. Tracks 1 – 4 were recorded at the tail end of the “Free Electricity” sessions. They were the beginnings of a new record but were either set aside or used on the Lizard King Records EP. They became tied up in a label dispute and were re-recorded for the ST album. Most of the songs here have only been released on vinyl 45s and Eps. Tracks 16 & 17 were issued on vinyl as a “children’s record.” Tracks 18 – 23 are songs that we wrote when we were commissioned to provide a theme song for an animated television show about a family of dentists who quit their mundane lives to take a road trip. We recorded 6, dental tunes in 1 night and they hated all of them, apparently. 😉

See individual tracks for production details.

Tracklist

	1.	Rock & Roll (I got it) EP 03:59
	2.	Is It Good EP 03:28
	3.	You Can Rock & Roll EP 03:17
	4.	Capricorn EP 02:46
	5.	Hey Linda EP 02:33
	6.	Come Back EP 03:50
	7.	Growd Up Wrong EP 04:29
	8.	Get Me Free SP 03:18
	9.	It’s Only In Your Mind SP 03:37
	10.	Yer Stoned Italian Cowboy SP 03:17
	11.	Invisible Friends SP 03:50
	12.	Maribel SP 04:29
	13.	Christmas On The Moon SP 04:15
	14.	Howl On The Haunted Beat You Ride SP 03:51
	15.	Scenic Railway SP 03:26
	16.	Knock Knock Banana! SP 04:15
	17.	Pin The Tail On The Donkey SP 03:03
	18.	The Open Road 02:54
	19.	Fun Machine 03:25
	20.	Motorcar (Beep Beep) 00:28
	21.	Wheels Don’t Fail Me Now 00:34
	22.	Now We’re Rolling 00:30
	23.	Laughing Gas 00:32

The Go ‎– Unreleased 1996-2007

Label: Burger Records

Format:5 × Cassette, Compilation, Box Set

Country:US

Released:2012

First press limited to 250 copies, the first 100 came on clear cassette tapes.

200 Box Sets Repressed.

TAPE ONE

(1996-1997)

The GO :

Bobby Harlow – guitare, basse, claviers, chant.

John Krautner – guitare, basse, chant.

Marc Fellis – batterie, percussion, flûte.

Tracklist

1 Send Me Down Love

2 Sunshine Bee

3 Candy Cane Girl

4 Starlight Child

5 Make Your Way To The Sun

6 The Thinker

7 Open Your Eyes Marie

8 Insane Mother’s Son

9 Beautiful People

10 I’m Standing

11 Hope

12 Prickly Notion

13 Dance Under The Ocean

14 Peel It Back

15 Watcher In The Wood

16 You’re A Friend Of Mine

17 See Me Through The Night

18 Cadmium Queen

19 Black Eyed Susan

20 Please Her Mind

21 Long Is The Tougue For The Year 21

22 Blink Of An Eye

23 She Will Never Know

TAPE TWO

(1997-1998)

The GO :

Bobby Harlow – guitare, basse, claviers, chant.

John Krautner – guitare, basse, chant.

Marc Fellis – batterie, percussion, flûte.

Matt Hatch – basse.

Tracklist

1 Why Ya Gotta Cum

2 Bubble Gum

3 Get You Off

4 Forget That Boy

5 Rock & Roll Girl

6 Shakin’ Baby Boogie

7 Open Naked Eye

8 Watcha Doin’

9 Baby’s On Fire

10 Ride It

11 It’s A Mystery

12 Crawl

13 We Run Together

14 Somethin’ To Do

15 Let’s Get High (Live At The Gold Dollar)

TAPE THREE

(1998-2000)

The GO :

Bobby Harlow – guitare, basse, claviers, chant.

John Krautner – guitare, basse, chant.

Marc Fellis – batterie, percussion, flûte.

Jack White – guitare, chant.

Dion Fischer – guitare, piano.

Dave Buick – basse.

Steve Nawara – basse.

Tracklist

1 Suzy Don’t Leave

2 Turn Your Little Light Bulb On

3 But You Don’t Know

4 Summer Sun Blues

5 Keep On Trash (Radio)

6 Meet Me At The Movies (Radio)

7 Suzy Don’t Leave (Radio)

8 On The Corner (Radio)

9 Time For Moon (Radio)

10 Defeated

11 I’ll Come Down

12 Slippin’ & Slidin’

13 Comin’ On To You

14 Is It Good

15 Gotta Be Free

16 All Dimensions Are Loose

17 Secular Century Man

18 Inot Outer Space

19 Golden Dawn

20 Don’t Want It Anymore

21 You Can Rock & Roll (If You Want To)

22 Baby Blue (Live)

TAPE FOUR

(2001-2003)

The GO :

Bobby Harlow – guitare, basse, claviers, chant.

John Krautner – guitare, basse, chant.

Marc Fellis – batterie, percussion, flûte.

Tracklist

1 Growd Up Wrong

2 Try A Little Harder

3 Aint That Bad

4 Hey Linda

5 Straight On

6 Games

7 He’s Been Lying

8 Love, And If We Try

9 Come Back

10 Blue Eyes Woman

11 That’s When You Fall

12 Return My Love

13 Summer Morning Lover

14 Jelly Roll

15 Aint It Funny

16 Hits You Right

17 Come back (version 2 ; studio)

TAPE FIVE

(2004-2007)

The GO :

Bobby Harlow – guitare, basse, claviers, chant.

John Krautner – guitare, basse, chant.

Marc Fellis – batterie, percussion, flûte.

James McConnell – guitare, chant.

Ross Westerbur– piano.

Tracklist

1 Arterial Angel

2 Blood Jumps In The Sun

3 It’s Only In Your Mind

4 That Stupid Man

5 Follow You Home

6 Girl Named Sandoz

7 Radio Interview 1

8 Caroline (Radio)

9 Radio Interview 2

10 Mary Ann (Radio)

11 Radio Interview 3

12 Down A Spiral (Radio)

13 Tower Of Diamonds

14 Puzzle People

15 Heart Strings

16 In The Dark

BESIDE PROJECTS

Conspiracy Of Owls ‎– Conspiracy Of Owls

Label:Burger Records ‎

Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress

Country:US

Released:2012

145 AVAILABLE WITH WHITE OWLS ON THE COVER

originally released in 2010

All songs written by John Krautner & Bobby Harlow. “Idea” written by Gibb/Gibb/Gibb. Engineered & produced by Bobby Harlow. Mastered by Jim Kissling. Album art by Wartella.

DELUXE VINYL EDITION coming soon to BURGER RECORDS!!

http://www.burgerrecords.org/apps/webstore/products/show/1574866

Tracklist

1.Puzzle People 03:14

2.Tower Of Diamonds 04:09

3.The Lesson 03:31

4.Ancient Robots 04:43

5.Raving Mad 05:46

6.Let The Sirens Go 04:26

7.No Hero 05:15

8.Three 02:31

9.The New Me 03:51