CALVIN JOHNSON
What Was Me
catalogue number: KLP117 Format: LP and CD
Release date: July 16, 2002

Ten songs: The Past Comes Back to Haunt Me á Can We Kiss? á Love Will Come Back Again á Ode to St. Valentine á Palriga á Nothing to Hold Us Here á Warm Days á Lies Goodbye á Lightnin' Rod for Jesus á What Was Me

The first of what promises to be many posthumous solo albums from Calvin Johnson, culled from the extensive archive of tapes left behind by the prolific songmaker and performer. Calvin Johnson made up songs about the feeling inside for over twenty years. What Was Me collects ten bits of lifeness and spreads them thickly with voice and acoustic guitar; a capella 40% of the time. There are patches that are worn and threadbare but the overall effect is gutty and moist. The affect is also noteworthy. Calvin is joined by the K divas Mirah on "Ode to St. Valentine" and Beth Ditto (the Gossip) on "Lightnin' Rod for Jesus". Calvin Johnson is also known for his work with Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System and Halo Benders. He has performed all over the country and the world, in basements, gymnasiums, theaters, art galleries, nightclubs, city parks, coffee shops, outdoor amphitheaters, hotel lobbies and ice cream stands; his songs have been recorded by the likes of Jon SpencerBlues Explosion, Spectrum, Luna, Seaweed, Jazz Butcher, Lois Maffeo and Yo La Tengo. He has produced work by such folks as Mirah, the Gossip, Make-Up, Built to Spill, Gene Defcon, Sarah Dougher, Versus, godheadSilo, Modest Mouse and Robyn Hitchcock.

á First solo album by K records founder Calvin Johnson, who has also done well by previous bands Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System and Halo Benders.

Previous K Releases featuring Calvin Johnson: Beat Happening Crashing Through (KLP115), Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in a Dance Hall Style (KLP103), Dub Narcotic Sound System Out of Your Mind (KLP083), Halo Benders The Rebels Not In (KLP081), Dub Narcotic Sound System Bone Dry (KLP068), Dub Narcotic Sound System Boot Party (KLP040), Halo Benders Don't Tell Me Now (KLP046), Dub Narcotic Sound System Industrial Breakdown (KLP039), Dub Narcotic Sound System Ridin' Shotgun (KLP050)

Box 7154, Olympia, Wash. 98507 U.S.A. (360) 786-1594 facsimile 786-5024 www.krecs.com, promo@krecs.com Distributed by Secretly Canandian, 1021 South Walnut, Bloomington, In. 47401, (812) 335-1572, fax 323-8494