Name: Why Do Birds Sing?
Brand: Violent Femmes

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CR03844

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "CR03844"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Colour

Grey

Colour details

Smoke Vinyl

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "Smoke Vinyl"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Indie Exclusive

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "Indie Exclusive"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2021-10-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Unive­rsal

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

888072286979

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "888072286979"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Total Cap

1 / Extended format: Yes / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / grey

CR00465

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "CR00465"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Black

Extended format: No

888072269187

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "888072269187"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

9999

Black LP

CR00466

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "CR00466"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

888072269125

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "888072269125"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

2 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Violent Femmes

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Craft Recordings

Violent Femmes were founded in 1980 by bassist/multi-instrumentalist Brian Ritchie and drummer Victor De Lorenzo. The name is a contradiction in terms, with "Violent" being self-explanatory and "Femmes" being Milwaukee slang for wimp.

The rhythm section added high school singer/songwriter Gordon Gano in 1981. Gano and Ritchie had previously performed together at Gano’s National Honor Society induction ceremony, where they caused a near riot. Gano was expelled from the Society and suspended from high school for this outrage.

One of the only stable aspects of the band is their aversion to rehearsal. Due to this, they would take the music to the streets in an attempt to hone it and earn some spare change. It was on one of these occasions that they were spotted by the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde and the gang were so amused by Violent Femmes' antics that they invited them to open their show. The hometown Milwaukee audience initially booed them but ended up converting approximately 50% of the audience during their set.

The Femmes borrowed $10,000 from Victor De Lorenzo's dad to record their legendary first album in 1982. Slash Records in Los Angeles was the only label to offer them a deal with no advance payment. Despite facing numerous challenges such as world tours, nervous breakdowns, band members quitting, solo albums,

Why Do Birds Sing? is the 5th studio album from the textbook American cult band, Violent Femmes. It was their last studio album with original drummer, Victor DeLorenzo. Featuring the fan favorite “American Music,” which reached #2 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart, as well as a cover of Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me.”

Available as an LP or Deluxe 2CD, 6-panel Softpak. For 2CD version, Disc 1 contains the remastered album, plus 2 bonus tracks, 3 outtakes, and 1 alternate mix. Disc 2 contains an audio recording of their show at The Boathouse in Norfolk, VA, in 1991.

Why Do Birds Sing?

Music US

Buy Violent Femmes - Why Do Birds Sing? (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.