Why Do They Rock So Hard? is the third full-length studio album by the ska punk band Reel Big Fish, released on October 20, 1998, under Mojo Records. This is the only Reel Big Fish studio album where the band line-up has not changed from the previous album.
Aaron Barrett has said in two interviews that this was his favorite album until the release of Our Live Album Is Better than Your Live Album. The album was mixed at Scream Studios by Tim Palmer.
Track listing All songs written and arranged by Reel Big Fish, except where noted.
Notes A cover of the A-ha song "Take On Me" (2:54) appears on some international releases in between "Somebody Hates Me" and "Brand New Song". Titled "In the Pit" on subsequent albums. On the clean version of this album, "Song #3" is stripped of its vocal track and called "Sleep All Day". Hidden track; begins with 5:20 silence. On the Japanese release, a cover of the Duran Duran song "Hungry Like the Wolf" (3:39) appears in place of this track.
Personnel Reel Big Fish Aaron Barrett – guitar, lead vocals, synthesizer, celesta Grant Barry – trombone Andrew Gonzales – drums Scott Klopfenstein – trumpet, vocals, keyboards, Celesta Dan Regan – trombone, screams Tavis Werts – trumpet, flügelhorn Matt Wong – bass guitar, vocals
Additional musicians Coolie Ranx (Pilfers) – vocals on tracks 6 & 10 Brandon Werts – percussion Sam Avila – organ John Avila – piano True: 129 – scratching Jay Gordon – backing vocals
Production Tim Palmer – mixing Joe Zook – mixing Jay Rifkin – executive producer Steve Baughman – engineer Jay Gordon – engineer Steve Gamberoni – engineer Jenny O. – art direction Dave Holdredge – digital editing David Holdrege – digital editing John Avila – producer, mixing Donnell Cameron – engineer, mixing Kevin Dean – engineer Lisa Johnson – photography
Charts + Chart performance for Why Do They Rock So Hard? Chart (1999) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 54
References
External links
Why Do They Rock So Hard? at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)