"Pay to Cum" (titled "Pay to Cum!" on the record cover) is the debut single by Washington, D.C.–based hardcore punk band Bad Brains. It was released in June 1980 on Bad Brain Records. The single was recorded in New York City by Jimi Quidd at his Dots Studios.

"Pay to Cum"
Single by Bad Brains
B-side"Stay Close to Me"
ReleasedJune 1980
RecordedDecember 1979 at Dots Studio in New York City
GenreHardcore punk
Length1:33
LabelBad Brain (BB 001)
Songwriter(s)Paul Hudson, Dr. Know, Darryl Jenifer, Earl Hudson
Producer(s)Jimi Quidd
Bad Brains singles chronology
"Pay to Cum"
(1980)
"Sailin' On"
(1982)

The A-side to the original single was "Pay to Cum", while the flipside was "Stay Close to Me", identified as Side 1. The original 7" had no B-side or Side 2.

Reception

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Trouser Press called it a "memorable ... 1:33 of free-fire guitar rage" that established Bad Brains' "mastery" of hardcore punk.[1]

In 2007, Filter magazine called it "one of the fastest, most furious songs ever recorded".[2]

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The song was featured in the 1985 film After Hours, directed by Martin Scorsese. It was later featured during the opening credits of the 2006 documentary American Hardcore.

Personnel

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Production

  • Jimi Quidd – producer
  • Steve Horton, Reese Virgin – engineers, mixing
  • Leigh Sioris – assistant engineer
  • Bob Ludwig – mastering
  • Charles Davis – front cover photo
  • Paul Bishow – photography

References

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  1. ^ Fleischmann, Mark; Fasolino, Greg (2007). "Bad Brains". Trouser Press.
  2. ^ McGuire, Pat (June 7, 2007). "The Blessings of Versatility: MCA Interviews the Bad Brains". Filter Magazine. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007.