Happy Accidents (Expanded Edition)

by Rascal Reporters

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Sven B. Schreiber (sbs) It's good that the "Rascal Reporters" are back on Bandcamp! And "Happy Accidents" is exactly the re-release I've been waiting for. The band is nothing short of awesome, and it's a mystery to me that the English Wikipedia, which usually is a reliable source of information about rock music, is almost completely agnostic of "Rascal Reporters", Steve Gore, and Steve Kretzmer. This version of the album is the 1996 re-edit, released by "ZNR Records", comprising three additional tracks written by Steve Kretzmer, and a 25+-minute Steve Gore epic recorded as a special bonus for this reissue. Watch out for Guy Segers of "Univers Zéro" playing bass on "Karen's Chalky Pilgrim"! Favorite track: Stabbing At Air.

Dr. "Buzz" Frenzy (Matthew J Hesse) thumbnail

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Full Digital Discography

10

releases

Get all 10 Rascal Reporters releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Ridin' on a Bummer (2023 Edition), We're God (2019 Remaster), Happy Accidents (Expanded Edition), Unknowable [single], Nice Not To Be Here (Bonus Tracks 1976-2008), The Mind Boggles, The Human Chain (A Steve Gore Band), Steve Kretzmer's Oil Of Lavender, and 2 more. , and , .

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	1.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: Pilgrim's Pride (1988 LP Mix - 24bit/96kHz Transfer) 10:19
	2.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: The Chalky Substance Variations (1988 LP Mix - 24bit/96kHz Transfer) 05:08
	3.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: Karen's Chalky Pilgrim (1988 LP Mix - 24bit/96kHz Transfer) 05:32
	4.	Trucks: Thunderstruck (1988 LP Mix - 24bit/96kHz Transfer) 09:54
	5.	Trucks: Moonstruck (1988 LP Mix - 24bit/96kHz Transfer) 08:15
	6.	Sent Flying (Happy Accidents version) 02:52
	7.	Bones Chorale (Happy Accidents version) 01:59
	8.	Another Excerpt From 'Psychlops' 04:44
	9.	Stabbing At Air 25:32
	10.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: Pilgrim's Pride (1996 CD Mix) 10:19
	11.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: The Chalky Substance Variations (1996 CD Mix) 05:12
	12.	Weigh In On The Way-Out: Karen's Chalky Pilgrim (1996 CD Mix) 05:35
	13.	Trucks: Thunderstruck (1996 CD Mix) 10:21
	14.	Trucks: Moonstruck (1996 CD Mix) 08:19

about

Updated 30/06/2023: A new and improved 24bit 96kHz vinyl transfer has been completed with upgraded equipment and a fresh (sealed) copy of the Happy Accidents LP, replacing the original transfer previously on this page. If you have previously purchased, you can re-download from your Bandcamp account to get the updated version.

"Now out-of-print! This classic album from 1988 is reissued with 30 mins of bonus tracks! It has been described as 'the most complex rock album ever made' - it might be true! Hints at Soft Machine, Zappa, Gentle Giant, and more! Guests include Nick Didkovsky of Dr. Nerve, James Grigsby of U Totem, Dave Kerman of 5 UUs & Present, Dave Newhouse of The Muffins, Guy Segers of Univers Zero and Steven Feigenbaum of Cuneiform Records! There are equal parts Canterbury and RIO styles as well as a hefty dose of Zappa and some influence of modern composers like Subotnik or Stockhausen. The band consists of Steve Gore and Steve Kretzmer. They play all manner of keyboards, guitars & percussion (including drumset) equally well. You can never really tell which Steve is playing any particular part. These guys are the real deal having been active since the mid-70s. At this point they were probably an influence on many of the artists they will be compared to!
If you like any of the names dropped here or any of the bands that the guests are from, then you will undoubtedly enjoy 'Happy Accidents'." -ZNR Records

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"'Happy Accidents' is filled with some very addicting melodies and rhythms. The complex music (mostly RIO, and symphonic prog in nature) focuses on the interplay between keyboards (which range from cool-analog to cheesy-organ) , and everything from flute to guitar. Both [side-long] epics are built in the cut-and-paste style so many musical ideas are linked together to form a much larger body of work. The thing that really struck me about 'Happy Accidents' is that the music changes every measure. There is little to no repetition, but the melodic development is so intelligent, and witty, that it boggles the mind how anyone could have come up with music this perfect. If you are a fan of Zappa, U Totem, 5uu's, Ennio Morricone, and similar then you will end up loving this music. " - Steve Hegde

credits

released May 8, 2019

Tracks composed by Steve Gore (tracks: 1-3, 9-12) & Steve Kretzmer (tracks: 4-8, 13-14)

Produced by Rascal Reporters

Steve Gore - Keyboards, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Melodica, Drums, Percussion, Voice
Steve Kretzmer - Keyboards, Melodica, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, Percussion

Featuring:
Nick Didkovsky - Electric Guitar (1)
Dave Newhouse - Flute, Saxophones, composition of selected flute and horn parts (1, 3, 5)
Dave Kerman - Percussion (1)
James Grigsby - Percussion (1)
Lecy Fredo - Violin (2)
Paul Kretzmer - Bass Guitar and composition of selected bass parts (2, 5)
Guy Segers - Bass Guitar (3)
Steve Feigenbaum - Electric Guitar (3)

Written, recorded and mixed November 1985 through November 1987 at Sonic Crayon Studios, Detroit, and The Living Room, Oak Park.

Album cover design by Michelle Reska

This edition of the album is based upon 1996 CD version, except highlighting the original 1988 vinyl mix of the album with the CD mixes included as extras. The 1996 CD mixes and bonus tracks were edited (with a few musical arrangements added), remastered, and re-mixed by Steve Gore in the Fall of 1995 at Bass Mint Studios.

Vinyl LP transfer engineered by James Strain

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about

Rascal Reporters Detroit, Michigan

Formed in the mid-1970s by high school chums Steve Gore & Steve Kretzmer, the Rascal Reporters made music together for over 30 years. From their basement studio in suburban Detroit, this duo delighted in confusing audiences & smudging the lines between genres. ... more

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