The REV 105 Radio Archive – Vol. 1 is a 21-track compilation album released in 1995 by Cargill Communications, capturing the essence of former Minneapolis’s alternative radio station, REV 105. Featuring rare acoustic performances recorded live in the station’s studio, the compilation highlights both local talents and nationally recognized artists. These in-studio sessions were a hallmark of REV 105, offering listeners intimate renditions of songs that resonated with the station’s eclectic audience.
Lisa Germano’s acoustic performance of “Stars” is included, including a brief moment where Lisa speaks about what the song is about.
“Well, this song is called ‘Stars’ and it’s kinda about how when you, you have to dream anyway even though you don’t… you know your dreams aren’t gonna come true. Or, you gave up anyway, but you still gotta keep dreamin’.”
Other notable tracks include Frank Black’s “Jumpin’ Beans,” Evan Dando’s “Down About It,” Semisonic’s “No One Else,” Ben Harper’s “Waiting on an Angel,” and They Might Be Giants’ “Meet James Ensor.”
To commemorate the album’s release, a benefit concert was held at the iconic First Avenue mainroom in Minneapolis. Tickets were priced at approximately $15, and attendees received a complimentary copy of the CD. Following the concert, REV 105 staff distributed the CDs from the back of their distinctive red-and-black REV bus, parked across 7th Street from the venue, in exchange for concert ticket stubs.
Embodying REV 105’s commitment to community engagement, all proceeds from the album and concert were donated to support the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, an organization dedicated to aiding families in crisis.
Released: 1995
Label: Rev 105
Catalogue No: NAN 0105-2
Format: CD
Country: US
Availability: Rare
Tracklist
| No. | Artist | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frank Black | Jumpin’ Beans | 2:08 |
| 2 | Evan Dando | Down About It | 2:31 |
| 3 | Arcwelder | Free Me | 2:39 |
| 4 | Freedy Johnston | Hotel 17 | 3:14 |
| 5 | The Verve | Make It Till Monday | 3:44 |
| 6 | Semisonic | No One Else | 3:27 |
| 7 | American Music Club | Fearless | 4:09 |
| 8 | Ben Harper | Waiting On An Angel | 4:20 |
| 9 | Spearhead | Hole In the Bucket | 3:37 |
| 10 | Grant Lee Buffalo | The Ongoing Story of Mighty Joe Moon | 1:16 |
| 11 | Lisa Germano | Stars | 2:42 |
| 12 | Dead Hot Workshop | Midwestern Arms | 3:33 |
| 13 | Cows | Sieve | 2:27 |
| 14 | Soul Coughing | Down to This | 4:37 |
| 15 | Rev. Horton Heat | Liquor, Beer, and Wine | 3:32 |
| 16 | They Might Be Giants | Meet James Ensor | 1:30 |
| 17 | Kristy MacColl | Caroline | 2:48 |
| 18 | Rex Daisy | The Last Pufferbird | 4:02 |
| 19 | Epic Soundtracks | Meet Me On the Beach | 3:05 |
| 20 | Peter Lack | Blown | 3:40 |
| 21 | G. Love and Special Sauce | Later Tonight | 3:24 |
Packaging & Design
Rev 105 Radio Archive Vol. 1 was issued in a standard jewelcase. The album artwork consisted of a fold-out panel consisting of individual track credits, compilation personnel, and thank-you notes.
Personnel
“Jumpin’ Beans”
Performed by Frank Black
(Black)
Spimesongs (BMI)
Frank Black appears courtesy of the Elektra Entertainment Group
“Down About It”
Performed by Evan Dando
(Dando / Morgan)
EMI Virgin Music, Inc.
Dave and Darlene Music (ASCAP), Polygram International Publishing O/B/O Moo Chewns Music (BMI). Evan Dando appears courtesy of TAG Recordings
“Free Me”
Performed by Arcwelder
(Macdonald) © 1995 (BMI)
Arcwelder is Rob and Bill Graber and Scott Macdonald. Arcwelder can be reached at P.O. Box 2726 Loop Station, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Arcwelder appears courtesy of Touch and Go
“Hotel 17”
Performed by Freedy Johnston
(Johnston) EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. / Trouble Tree Music (BMI). Freedy Johnston appears courtesy of the Elektra Entertainment Group
“Make It Till Mondy”
Performed by The Verve
(Jones, Salisbury, McCabe, Ashcroft) EMI Virgin Music, Inc (ASCAP), OBO EMI Virgin Music Ltd. Acoustic version of the song featured on A Storm in Heaven, YARD CD3 Vernon Yard Recordings © 1993
“No One Else”
Performed by Semisonic
(Wilson, Slichter) United Packages Music (BMI) All rights administered by WB Music Group
“Fearless”
Performed by American Music Club
(Eitzel) I Failed In Life Music (ASCAP) / Songs of Polygram International, Inc. American Music Club appears courtesy of Reprise Records
“Waiting On An Angel”
Performed by Ben Harper
(Harper)
EMI Virgin Music, Inc. / Innocent Criminal (ASCAP) Ben Harper appears courtesy of Virgin Records America, Inc.
“Hole in the Bucket”
Performed by Spearheasd
(Franti, Harris)
Frantic Solutions (ASCAP) / Polygram Publishing
Spearhead appears courtesy of Capitol Records
“The Ongoing Story of Mighty Joe Moon”
Performed by Grant Lee Buffalo
(Phillips)
Published by Storm Hymnal Ltd., BMI
Courtesy of Slash Records
“Stars”
Performed by Lisa Germano
(Germano)
Songs of Polygram International, Inc. O/B/O Emotional Wench Music (BMI)
Lisa Germano appears courtesy of 4AD
“Midwestern Arms”
Performed by Dead Hot Workshop
(Babb, Griffith, Grippe, Larson/Maggart Family)
Music (ASCAP)
Dead Hot Workshop appears courtesy of TAG Recordings
“Sieve”
Performed by Cows
(Cows)
Asbestos Diaper Music (BMI)
Cows appear courtesy of Amphetamine Reptile Records
“Down to This”
Performed by Soul Coughing
(Brown, Stept, Tobias, Hibbert)
Published by Our Pal Dolores / WB Music Corp / EMI Robbins Catalogue, Inc. / Ched Music Corp. ASCAP / Island Music, Inc. BMI
Courtesy of Slash Records
“Liquor, Beer and Wine”
Performed by Rev. Horton Heart
(Rev. Horton Heat)
Horton House Publishing (BMI)
Reverend Horton Heat appears courtesy of Interscope Records © 1994 Subpop, Ltd.
“Meet James Ensor”
Performed by They Might Be Giants
(They Might Be Giants) © 1994 They Might Be Giants Music (ASCAP) All Rights administered by WB Music Corp. (ASCAP). They Might Be Giants appears courtesy of the Elektra Entertainment Group.
“Caroline”
Performed by Kirsty MacColl
(MacColl) EMI Virgin Ltd. / Greatness Ltd. c/o EMI Virgin Songs, Inc. (BMI)
Kirsty MacColl appears courtesy of I.R.S.
“The Last Pufferbird”
Performed by Rex Daisy
(Ruekberg) Acrimony ‘n’ Cheese (ASCAP)
Rex Daisy appears courtesy of Geffen Records
“Meet Me On the Beach”
Performed by Epic Soundtracks
(Soundtracks)
Longitude Music on behalf of Dying Art Ltd., doing business as Mute Song
Epic Soundtracks appears courtesy of Bar Non Records
“Blown”
Performed by Peter Lack
(Lack) © Cartwheel Productions
“Later Tonight”
Performed by G. Love and Special Sauce
(Love) Chicken Platters Music (BMI)
G. Love and Special Sauce appear courtesy of Okeh/Epic Records
Compilation Personel
Executive Producer:
Brian Turner
Compilation produced by:
Kevin Cole
Special Contributions by:
Shelley Miller, Brigid
MoGough and Duke Davis
Engineers:
Ken Brahmstedt
Chris Sattinger
Chris Weiss
Carl White
Premastered by Doug Wild
at Wild Audio
Licensing and Manufacturing:
Andrew Volna at Noiseland Industries
Distribution Coordinator:
Tom Korstad at Production Services Unlimited
Layout and Design:
Hunt-Murray, Minneapolis
Critical Reception
The legendary Twin Cities radio station’s only tangible remnant is a superlative collection of acoustic and a cappella in-studio recordings. Kevin Cole, Rev 105 creator and program director, compiled the album and he did an impeccable job. Over the course of 21 live tracks by a who’s who of artists (local and otherwise) circa 1995, the record exceeds the ambition of most various-artist collections: it’s seamlessly poignant, hilarious, and fun. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder that radio — to extend that, popular music in total — in the U.S. doesn’t have to be stifling, homogenous, and oppressive.
Bryan Carroll
AllMusic
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