A Single History: 1991–1997

A Single History: 1991–1997 is a compilation album by Unwound released on Kill Rock Stars. It contains tracks previously released on various 7-inch singles and multiple-artist compilations. "Crab Nebula" and "Stumbling Block" originally appeared on the band's 1991 demo tape. The fourth song is a reference to the U.S. government's secret MKUltra brainwashing program. The "Negated"/ "Said Serial"/ "Census" 7-inch was the first-ever release on Troubleman Unlimited Records. "Plight" is a cover of a Minutemen song, from the tribute disc Our Band Could Be Your Life. "Seen Not Heard" is from a split 7-inch with Steel Pole Bath Tub; the song comes from the Repetition album sessions. Following an extended drum and bass-style intro, "The Light At The End..." features odd vocal snippets from a man trying to persuade some band to make upbeat, "tribal-sounding" aerobics music.

A Single History: 1991–1997
Compilation album by
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1999
RecordedDecember 1991–August 1997
GenrePost-hardcore
Length58:21
LabelKill Rock Stars
Unwound chronology
Challenge for a Civilized Society
(1998)
A Single History: 1991–1997
(1999)
Leaves Turn Inside You
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

According to a Kill Rock Stars Q&A from 1999, the cover art is a composite of photos taken by drummer Sara Lund on the band's overseas tours. The top photo is of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice; "the train in the middle is from Japan, and the nuns on the bottom are from a religious procession we witnessed in Trani, Italy."

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Unwound, unless noted otherwise.

No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."Mile Me Deaf" "The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train", 19972:20
2."Broken E-Strings" "Jabberjaw No.1", 19943:11
3."Totality" "MK Ultra/Totality", 19943:07
4."MK Ultra" "MK Ultra/Totality", 19944:48
5."Seen Not Heard" Split with Steel Pole Bath Tub, 19963:41
6."Caterpillar" "Caterpillar/Miserific Condition/Love & Fear", 19921:58
7."Miserific Condition" "Caterpillar/Miserific Condition/Love & Fear", 19921:57
8."Everything Is Weird" "Corpse Pose/Everything Is Weird", 19962:52
9."Negated" "Negated/Said Serial/Census", 19944:36
10."Said Serial" "Negated/Said Serial/Census", 19942:23
11."Census" "Negated/Said Serial/Census", 19941:50
12."Plight"D. Boon, Mike WattOur Life Could Be Your Band, Minutemen tribute album1:56
13."Stumbling Block" Demo, 19912:01
14."Eternalux" A Day in the Park comp., 19944:58
15."New Radio Hit" The Smitten Love Song Comp., 19942:21
16."The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train" The Light at the End of the Tunnel is a Train, 199710:10
17."Crab Nebula" Demo, 19914:06
Total length:58:21

Credits

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  • Steve Fisk - keyboards, production on 1-8, 14, 16
  • Dustin the Roadie - trombone on 10, 11, spoken word on 12
  • Sara Lund - cover art
  • Kip Beelman - recording engineer for 1, 16
  • Stuart Hollerman - recording engineer for 2-7, 14
  • John Goodmanson - recording engineer for 8
  • Tim Green - recording engineer for 9-12, 15
  • Pat Maley - recording engineer for 13, 17

References

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  1. ^ Stewart Mason (1999-09-14). "A Single History: 1991-1997 - Unwound | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-03.