New York straightedge/youth crew vets Bold‘s 1988 debut album Speak Out is getting an extensive reissue for its 35th anniversary via Revelation Records. It features the remastered album on color vinyl with a 40-page booklet designed by John Scharbach that gives a visual history of the band through old live photos, flyers, and zine clippings. We’ve got an exclusive clear vinyl variant limited to 300 copies and up for pre-order now.
Vocalist Matt Warnke says:
We quickly became part of a burgeoning scene whose message, values, ideas and vision for an improved version of society was starting to take hold within a significant segment of those we were connected through within the hardcore scene. We made the decision to change the name of the band to BOLD [originally Crippled Youth] for perception reasons and wanted the album which became Speak Out to represent the name change and our overall ambitions and view of things. “Talk Is Cheap,” “Now Or Never,” “Always Try,” and “Nailed To The X” were all written in ’86 and incorporated in our set. “Clear,” “Accept The Blame,” and “Intro/Change Within” soon followed, as did “Wise Up,” which was included on the Way It Is Comp. “Still Strong” and “Search” were written in the weeks just prior to beginning recording sessions.
The songs which comprise the album were recorded at Electric Reels Studio in Pleasant Valley, NY. The four of us spent a good deal of time recording the tracks which make up this record, and feel this version gives justice to the time that we all put into it.
Speaking about designing the booklet, John Scharbach says:
Speak Out always sounded perfect to me so I’m looking forward to the remaster and I would never turn down the opportunity to create a booklet for BOLD. Tried a few different things, but I eventually opted for a scrapbook style layout – no text or anecdotes, just let the visuals tell the story. I talked to [John] Zulu and got a bunch of ephemera from him. He kept a scrapbook with flyers, photos, stickers, backstage passes, etc so I wanted the booklet to reflect that. He passed along a lot of great stories too, the best being the one time BOLD came out on stage for a set at the Anthrax to the theme from Conan the Barbarian because Drew and him were huge fans of the soundtrack. Drew pushed hard for a gatefold layout in 1988 and wanted the cover to have each member showcased in quadrants modeled after the KISS Dynasty cover. Zulu also detailed the time Jordan [Cooper, Revelation Records] showed up to a gig with a multiple page typed report entitled ‘Why BOLD should go with Revelation’ after they had already made a deal with [the label] Wishingwell. I’m always dreaming about a BOLD 4-sided shirt designed with Longrie and Dubar’s direction. This record has always been extremely important to me ever since it entered my life as a youth and I’ve spent hours obsessing over it with all of my DC hardcore family. Very honored to create this.
We’ve also got a sneak peek at some of the contents in the book. Pick up our clear vinyl variant in the BV shop and check out those pics/flyers/etc right here:
Tracklist
SIDE ONE
1. Talk Is Cheap
2. Nailed To The X
3. Now Or Never
4. Always Try
5. Clear
SIDE TWO
1. Intro
2. Change Within
3. Accept The Blame
4. Wise Up
5. Still Strong
6. Search
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Pick up our variant in the BV shop.
