The Fleshtones – Face of the Screaming Werewolf

As I have previously gushed, The Fleshtones have been key to my listening pleasure for something like 30 years now. They keep on putting out new records, and I keep on buying them. This latest one was a Record Store Day release that I thought I would have to miss out on. I wasn’t sure if there was a way to order it direct from Yep Roc Records, and I wasn’t willing to make the trek to any record store, let alone one of the bigger ones where I’d have a better chance of finding this. So, I thought perhaps the ship had sailed.

Face of the Screaming Werewolf
Face of the Screaming Werewolf – still haven’t gotten it out of the wrapping

Happily, Siren Records in Doylestown, PA had a section set aside just for remaining copies from RSD releases this year. So when we went up there a few weeks back for a special, socially distanced social gathering of friends with a common interest in vinyl, I thumbed through the RSD bins, not really expecting to find anything I needed, and it crawled into my hand, honest! (Uncalled-for Fugs reference, sorry). Not only did they produce this on fabulous splatter colored vinyl, they included a werewolf mask! (I think I have only ever before had one record that came with masks, the debut by The Laughing Dogs, and that may have been a promotional copy. And I don’t think I have the masks anymore, because we used to actually use them.)

Otherwise, you know: it’s a Fleshtones record. It’s great. It’s super rock! It will probably be noted for having a song in tribute to Alex Trebek that was released just days before he died (“7 PM and what to do / I know a show and education is cool”). “Face of the Screaming Werewolf” is a welcome return to the spooky vein, and another song references “Violet Crumble,” an Australian candy I only just discovered.

Screaming Werewolf back cover
Screaming Werewolf back cover
Screaming Werewolf picture sleeve
Screaming Werewolf picture sleeve
Screaming Werewolf picture sleeve
Screaming Werewolf picture sleeve
Screaming Werewolf splatter vinyl
Screaming Werewolf splatter vinyl – I don’t know why I suddenly like color vinyl, but it’s always a treat.
Werewolf mask
The werewolf mask even came with elastic!

Originally published 11-29-20

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