not through beauty, but through blood

Some actual Caulfields news today: The Sisters are going to be on a compilation album with the likes of Kristin Hersh, Lori McKenna and one of the Blake Babies. And they'll be performing, believe it not, the Go-Go's song "We Got the Beat" -- though perhaps, in deference to Cindy's poetry background, they should retitle it "We Got the Beats."

While I never in my most twisted, spackle-induced hallucinations thought I'd be using the Caulfield Sisters and the Go-Go's in the same sentence, and I'm a bit lukewarm on the whole unknown-band-covers-someone-else's-hit phenomenon (plus Cindy, Mary and Kristin deserve to be better known for their own stuff; and besides, I always kinda thought "Our Lips Are Sealed" was a better song) this is mighty cool news, if only because it could get Las Hermanas heard by folks who don't live in Williamsburg, don't hang out at Sin-e and never heard of Oneida.

The details, from Billboard:

Kristin Hersh, Lori McKenna, John Strohm (Blake Babies, Antenna) and the Caulfield Sisters are the first artists confirmed to contribute to "High School Reunion." The American Laundromat Records/Face Down Records compilation will pay tribute to the touchstone music featured in a decade of such films as "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," "Pretty in Pink," "Say Anything," "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," among others.

... Strohm and the Caulfield Sisters take on "Fast Times" -related tracks in Jackson Browne's "Somebody's Baby" and the Go-Gos' "We Got the Beat," respectively, while McKenna covers Lloyd Dobbler's "Say Anything" love anthem, Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes."

The full roster for the 17-track set, which Spadaro tells Billboard.com is shaping up to be "most impressive," is expected in April, with the disc's release targeted for Sept. 15.

Ain't it cool how Billboard just throws out the name "the Caulfield Sisters" as if everybody should automatically know who they are? Of course, everybody fucking should.

I expect their version will totally rule. May great things come from this!


further info!

Straight from the source, American Laundromat Records says this about the project (and also releases the complete list of songs being covered -- yay, that includes a Replacements song):

ALR founder and president, Joe Spadaro says… "I was very fortunate to grow up in the 80’s. There were many important films that spoke to me as a teenager and I wanted to tribute those films as a small thank you. It was essential for us to only approach artists that grew up during this time, artists who had similar connections to the films and songs, and who would enjoy being a part of the tribute with little concern of who else was on it."

The ending of that last sentence is kinda snarky, isn't it?

Joe adds:

Well it all started when my good friend, and well-respected forum member Atomic Doug suggested "High School Reunion" for the title of our John Hughes Tribute CD. It immediately struck me how cool it would be to broaden the tribute record to include films like Valley Girl, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Say Anything. There are some amazing songs in those films.

And someone named Fiona is already kicking off the Caulfields-mania:

Good job on getting the Caulfield Sisters for the tribute. Not only do they have the coolest band name ever' (Catcher In The Rye is a favorite of mine). They write great songs.

American Laundromat is from New York. Face Down Records, which is from Burlington, New Jersey, has this to say:

Contributing artists include Kristen Hersh (!), The Bennies, the Dipsomaniacs, Blank Pages, and many ,many more to be announced soon.

Face Down says it's also done Who and Replacements tribute albums (the former included Guided by Voices doing, whoa, "Baba O'Riley"), and it seems to have some affiliation with Philadelphia '80s rock guy Tommy Conwell. Also its releases are available on iTunes -- which means it's just a matter of time before the Caulfield Sisters are rocking iPods across America.

OK, I'll shut up now.