Babes In Toyland – Fontanelle
(Southern Records 1992 185019)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing
Sleeve in Nr MINT- condition
– small dink on top left corners & tiny sticker tear – hype sticker on front
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
Poster in Nr MINT condition
Red Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
Babes in Toyland is an American punk rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1987. The band was formed by Oregon native Kat Bjelland (lead vocals and guitar), with Lori Barbero (drums) and Michelle Leon (bass), who was later replaced by Maureen Herman in 1992.
Between 1989 and 1995, Babes in Toyland released three studio albums; Spanking Machine (1990), the commercially successful Fontanelle (1992), and Nemesisters (1995), before becoming inactive in 1997 and eventually disbanding in 2001. While the band was inspirational to some performers in the riot grrrl movement in the Pacific Northwest, Babes in Toyland never associated themselves with the movement.
In August 2014, Babes In Toyland announced that they would be reuniting, touring and possibly recording again. As of February 2015, the band has booked several shows.
Fontanelle is the second studio album by the American punk rock band Babes in Toyland, released on August 11, 1992 by Reprise Records. It was the band’s first release on a major label, and their first recording to feature Maureen Herman on bass.
After extensive touring throughout 1991, the band entered the studio to record their major label follow-up to their debut album, Spanking Machine. Bassist Michelle Leon left the group in December 1991, shortly before the recording of Fontanelle began, due to the death of her boyfriend, Joe Cole. Maureen Herman was recruited as her replacement.
The album was co-produced by frontwoman and guitarist Kat Bjelland with Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth heading production. Brian Paulson was also studio engineer and the final product was mixed by Dave Ogilvie. The cover photo — an image of a naked doll held up in front of a mirror — was taken for the album by photographer Cindy Sherman.
The band has explained the album’s name as referring to the soft spot on the top of a baby’s skull, as well as to a little fountain used by fairies. It is also the name of a magician consulted by Gilles de Rais, the real-life murderer who inspired the fairy tale “Bluebeard”.
The process of recording the album is described in the book Babes in Toyland: The Making and Selling of a Rock and Roll Band, by Neal Karlen.
Track listing
All tracks written by Kat Bjelland unless otherwise noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Bruise Violet” | 2:52 | |
| 2. | “Right Now” | 2:19 | |
| 3. | “Bluebell” | 2:22 | |
| 4. | “Handsome and Gretel“ | 1:50 | |
| 5. | “Blood” | 2:44 | |
| 6. | “Magick Flute” | Lori Barbero | 3:02 |
| 7. | “Won’t Tell” | 2:27 | |
| 8. | “Quiet Room” | 2:59 | |
| 9. | “Spun” | Bjelland, Barbero | 3:03 |
| 10. | “Short Song” | 0:41 | |
| 11. | “Jungle Train” | Bjelland, Barbero | 2:15 |
| 12. | “Pearl” | Bjelland, Barbero, Michelle Leon | 1:56 |
| 13. | “Real Eyes” | 2:51 | |
| 14. | “Mother” | 3:13 | |
| 15. | “Gone” | 2:28 | |
| Total length: | 37:09 | ||
Personnel
- Babes in Toyland
- Kat Bjelland – vocals, guitar
- Maureen Herman – bass
- Lori Barbero – drums, vocals (6)
- Technical personnel
- Lee Ranaldo – producer, engineer
- Kat Bjelland – producer
- Brian Paulson – engineer
- John Armstrong – assistant engineer
- John Azelvandre – assistant engineer
- Eric S. Anderson – assistant engineer
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
- Dave Ogilvie – mixing
- Design personnel
- Tom Recchion – art direction, design
- Cindy Sherman – photography (front cover)
- Michael Lavine – photography (inlay)
- Fredrik Nilsen – photography (inlay)
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