The discography of Rocket from the Crypt, a San Diego–based alternative rock band active from 1990 to 2005, consists of seven studio albums, two EPs, one live album, two DVDs, twenty-eight singles, and eight music videos.
Rocket from the Crypt was formed in 1990 with an initial lineup of singer/guitarist John Reis (Speedo), guitarist Andy Stamets (ND), bassist Pete Reichert (Petey X), drummer Sean, and backing vocalist Elaina. Their debut album, Paint as a Fragrance, was released in 1991 through the Cargo Music imprint Headhunter Records. Sean and Elaina then moved away from San Diego and drummer Adam Willard (Atom) and saxophonist Paul O'Beirne (Apollo 9) joined. The band released a series of vinyl singles on various independent record labels, followed by their second album, Circa: Now!, on Headhunter in 1992. Trumpeter Jason Crane (JC 2000) joined the band just as Circa: Now! attracted the attention of major record labels. Rocket from the Crypt signed with Interscope Records, who re-released Circa: Now! while Cargo released All Systems Go, a compilation album of the band's vinyl singles.
The band's contract with Interscope included the freedom to record vinyl releases for other labels. They had three releases in 1995: The EP The State of Art is on Fire, the LP Hot Charity, and the album Scream, Dracula, Scream! The singles "Born in '69" and "Young Livers" reached the UK Singles Chart at #68 and #67 respectively. "On a Rope" was a greater success, reaching #12. Music videos for all three singles were played on MTV and MTV Europe, and Scream, Dracula, Scream! peaked at #41 on the UK Albums Chart. RFTC was released in 1998 but did not fare as well as its predecessor, reaching only #63 while its lead single "Lipstick" reached #64. Rocket from the Crypt left Interscope in 1999 and released the EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud independently. Disagreements over the band's direction led to Willard leaving the group, and the band took a hiatus during which Reis founded Swami Records and released All Systems Go 2.
Rocket from the Crypt next signed to Vagrant Records and released Group Sounds in 2001, including contributions from Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster as well as their new permanent drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Ruby Mars). Group Sounds was their first album to chart in their home country, reaching #40 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. Live from Camp X-Ray followed in 2002 and reached #45. It proved to be their final studio album, as the members drifted into other projects over the next few years and decided to disband. Rocket from the Crypt's final performance on Halloween 2005 in San Diego was filmed and recorded, and was released in 2008 as R.I.P. All Systems Go 3 followed that same year, and Reis plans to eventually release a fourth, final installment in the series. In October 2011 the band reunited for the children's television Yo Gabba Gabba! where they would perform a brand new song titled "He's a Chef" which was released as a limited edition single exclusively through Volcom clothing stores and later on the 2017 compilation Yo Gabba Gabba! Hey!. A reunion tour followed in 2012. In March 2015 Vintage Piss was released under Sonny Vincent and Rocket from the Crypt. Rocket from the Crypt, minus the horn section, served as Vincent's backing band. The album was originally recorded in 2003 but left unmixed and unfinished until Reis, who also produced the album, decided to go back and give the album a proper mixing and release
Studio albums YearAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUS(Top IndependentAlbums)UK1991Paint as a Fragrance Released: February 1991 Label: Headhunter (HED #003) Format: CD, CS, LP — —1992Circa: Now! Released: November 1992 Label: Headhunter (HED #015-2) Format: CD, CS, LP — —1995Hot Charity Released: August 8, 1995 Label: Perfect Sound Format: LP — —Scream, Dracula, Scream! Released: October 10, 1995 Label: Interscope (INT #92596-2) Format: CD, LP — 411998RFTC Released: June 2, 1998 Label: Interscope (INT #90167) Format: CD, LP — 632001Group Sounds Released: March 6, 2001 Label: Vagrant (VR #352) Format: CD, LP 40 —2002Live from Camp X-Ray Released: October 22, 2002 Label: Vagrant (VR #377) Format: CD, LP 45 — "—" denotes albums that were released but did not chart.
I Circa: Now! was reissued on CD by Interscope in 1993, and again in 2004 by Swami as Circa: Now! +4.
II Hot Charity was reissued on CD by Swami in 2002 on the compilation album Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
III Despite its title, Live from Camp X-Ray is a studio album rather than a live album.
Live album YearAlbum details2008R.I.P. Released: February 26, 2008 Label: Vagrant (VR #461) Formats: CD, DVD
I R.I.P. is a CD/DVD combination package.
Compilation albums YearAlbum details1993All Systems Go Released: February 1993 Label: Toy's Factory Formats: CD, LP1999All Systems Go 2 Released: October 26, 1999 Label: Swami (SWA #2001) Formats: CD, LP2002Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud Released: July 16, 2002 Label: Swami (SWA #112) Formats: CD2008All Systems Go 3 Released: August 28, 2008 Label: Vagrant (VR #508) Formats: CD
I All Systems Go was initially released only in Japan. A second version with a different track list was released in the United States by Cargo Music later the same year. This version was re-released by Sympathy for the Record Industry in 1998.
II Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud combines the LP Hot Charity and the EP Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
Extended plays YearAlbum details1995The State of Art Is on Fire Released: April 1995 Label: Sympathy for the Record Industry (SFTRI #320) Format: EP1999Cut Carefully and Play Loud Released: November 16, 1999 Label: Flapping Jet Format: EP
I The State of Art Is on Fire was reissued on CD in 1996, including the tracks from Rocket from the Crypt Plays the Music Machine.
II Cut Carefully and Play Loud was reissued on CD by Swami in 2002 on the compilation album Hot Charity / Cut Carefully and Play Loud.
Singles Rocket from the Crypt released 28 singles on both vinyl and CD formats during their career, but only six of these were commercially released singles intended to promote specific songs from their albums. The remaining 22 were vinyl-only singles and are listed below under "Vinyl singles". Promotional singles of "Ditch Digger" and "Sturdy Wrists" from Circa: Now! were released to radio stations for airplay, but these were not released as commercial singles. Year SinglePeak chart positions AlbumUK1995"Born in '69" 68Scream, Dracula, Scream!1996"Young Livers" 67"On a Rope" 121998"When in Rome (Do the Jerk)" —RFTC"Lipstick" 64"Break It Up" — "—" denotes singles that were released but did not chart.
Vinyl singles Rocket from the Crypt released 22 singles during their career that were exclusive to the vinyl format. Most of these were released in limited numbers and were not distributed to radio stations for airplay, unlike the 6 singles which were released to promote specific songs from their studio albums. Many of the tracks from the vinyl singles were re-released on the All Systems Go compilation albums, as noted below.
YearRelease detailsTracksNotes1991Rocket Pack Released: September 1991 Label: Pusmort (#200772) Format: 7" single"Cut It Loose" "Glazed"Released in 2 versions, one by the band and the other for the Pushead fan club. The title was derived from the felt cover in the shape of the band's logo which folded around the record. 125 copies were manufactured, but only 75 were released in this package. The remaining copies were used for the split release with Septic Death.1992Yum Kippered Released: June 1992 Label: Helter Skelter (HS #92712) Format: 7" single"Bad Ninja" "Goodbye" "Kill the Funk (There Will Be No Funk in Outer Space)" "Boychucker" Released: June 1992 Label: Sympathy for the Record Industry (SFTRI #179) Format: 7" single"Boychucker" "Jumper K Balls" "Lefty"Picture disc with artwork by Rick Froberg. Reissued in 1994 as a standard record, but with a new sleeve containing Rocket from the Crypt pogs.Sub Pop Singles Club Released: June 1992 Label: Sub Pop (SP #154) Format: 7" single"Normal Carpet Ride" "Where Are the Fuckers" "Slumber Queen" "Flip the Bird"Limited to 3,000 copies."Gold" Released: July 1992 Label: Drunken Fish (DFR #02) Format: 7" single"Gold"Originally performed by the MC5.Rocket from the Crypt / Septic Death Released: August 1992 Label: Pusmort Format: 2x 7" singles"Cut It Loose" "Glazed"Released only in Japan and limited to 100 copies. Includes 2 records, one from each band.Smells Like Grease for Peace Released: October 1992 Label: Standard Recordings (SR #72) Format: 7" single"Cha Cha Cha"Split release with Rocket from the Crypt on side A and Deadbolt's "Down in the Lab" on side B.1993Both Good Songs Released: April 1993 Label: Merge (MRG #035) Format: 7" single"Pigeon Eater" "(The) Paste That You Love"Pure Genius Released: 1993 Label: Drunken Fish (DFR #05) Format: 7" single"Pure Genius" "Lift and Love" Radio Wendy / Rocket from the Crypt Released: 1993 Label: Pusmort (#400777) Format: 7" single"Call It a Complex"Split release with both bands' songs on side A (side B is blank). Limited to 417 copies, released in 3 versions with different colored sleeves, only to the Pushead fan club.Ghetto Box Rock Released: 1993 Label: Snap Crackle Punk (SCP #001) Format: 7" single"Lie" "Video Reign Man"Single-sided release with a blank B side. Limited to 2,500 copies included with issue #4 of Speed Kills magazine. Another 2,500 copies were reissued later that year. Both songs recorded in the band's rehearsal space using a ghetto blaster.1994Burn Mouth Off Liar with Punk Heat Blast Released: 1994 Label: Merge (MRG #049) Format: 7" single"UFO UFO UFO" "Birdman"Reissued in 1998.Rocket from the Crypt / Bloodthirsty Butchers Released: 1994 Label: Pusmort Format: 2x 7" singles"Cut It Loose" "On Living and Dying" "Pressure's On"Split release including two records, one from each band. "Pressure's On" originally performed by Red C.1995Rocket from the Crypt Plays the Music Machine Released: 1995 Label: Sympathy for the Record Industry (SFTRI #373) Format: 5" single"Trouble" "Masculine Intuition"Both songs originally performed by The Music Machine. Reissued in 1996 as a 7" single. Both tracks were included on the CD release of The State of Art is on Fire."Tattoo" Released: 1995 Label: Perfect Sound Format: 7" single"Tattoo"Single-sided release with a blank B side. Released exclusively to members of "Speedo's Army", a club of registered fans with Rocket from the Crypt tattoos."I Flame You" Released: 1995 Label: Perfect Sound Format: 7" single"I Flame You"Single-sided release with the band's name and artwork etched on the surface of the B side. Released exclusively to the band's fan club.1996"Used" / "Lose Your Clown" Released: 1996 Label: Dinked Format: 7" single"Used" "Lose Your Clown"Given away at two in-store performances in London and to members of "Speedo's Army". Unmarked jukebox single limited to 150-200 copies. "Lose Your Clown" originally performed by Ray Charles.1998Rocket from the Crypt / Julian Briano y Sus Hermanos Released: 1998 Label: Vinyl Communications Format: 7" single"Lumps"1999Rocket from the Crypt / The Hellacopters Released: October 1999 Label: Gearhead Magazine Format: 7" single"Delorean"Split release packaged inside issue #10 of Gearhead magazine.Dancing Birds Released: December 1999 Label: Glazed (GLZ #001) Format: 7" single"Black Eye" "Bombs Away"Limited to 2,750 copies. An additional 1,650 copies were reissued in April 2000.2000Rocket from the Crypt / The Get Up Kids Released: December 19, 2000 Label: Vagrant (VR #351) Format: 7" single"Free Language Demons"2003"On the Prowl" / "Come On" Released: 2003 Label: Sympathy for the Record Industry (SFTRI #666) Format: 7" single"On the Prowl" "Come On"2012Biz Markie & Wayne Coyne / Rocket From The Crypt Released: 2012 Label: Volcom Format: 7" single"I Can't Believe It's Really Happening"