Name/TitleLP record: Free to Fight
About this objectDouble LP compilation album titled 'FREE to FIGHT! An interactive self defence project', produced by Candy-Ass Records and distributed by Revolver USA. The album features various all-women alt rock / punk / Riot Grrrl artists, and also includes recordings of self-defense instructions and personal testimonies. Accompanied by a 75-page booklet.
MakerCandy-Ass Records
Maker RoleProducer
Date Made1995
Period1990s
Place MadeUSA, Portland OR
Place NotesCandy-Ass Records, Portland, Oregon
Medium and MaterialsInorganic, vinyl
Organic, paper
MeasurementsH: 313 x W: 310 mm
Subject and Association KeywordsCampaigns against violence against women
Subject and Association Keywordsmusic, musicians, musical performers
Subject and Association Descriptionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candy_Ass_Records:
Candy Ass Records was an independent record label in Portland, Oregon that was run by Jody Bleyle, a member of the bands Team Dresch and Hazel and of the queercore bands Family Outing and Infinite Xs. The label is best known for the 1995 release of the double LP compilation Free to Fight. Featuring all-women bands and musicians such as The Third Sex, Rebecca Gates of The Spinanes, Fifth Column, Containe, Heavens to Betsy, Excuse 17, Lois, Cheesecake and Team Dresch, all contributing songs dealing with women's safety, defense against harassment and rape and pertinent topics surrounding these issues. The recording also featured self-defense instructions led by Anna LoBianco and Staci Cotler, which were included in a 75-page illustrated booklet accompanying the LPs/CD. As well, the booklet contained a great variety of other contributions from women such as bell hooks, Sue P. Fox and others, in the form of stories, practical advice and poems, all dealing with self-defense. Jody Bleyle is interviewed in the documentary film She's Real, Worse Than Queer speaking about Candy Ass Records and the release of Free to Fight, along with Alice Stagg, who contributed several segments on self-defense on the recording and accompanied Team Dresch on the tour promoting the release. Candy Ass also co-released, with Chainsaw Records, the first Team Dresch LP, Personal Best, in 1994 and the band's second LP, Captain My Captain, in 1995. Jody Bleyle also released recordings by her other band Hazel. After the release of Free to Fight, the label planned to issue several follow-up singles by various artists under the same name as the original compilation and dealing with the same issues. The first release, called Free to Fight #1, was a split single with Sleater-Kinney and Cypher in the Snow accompanied by self-defense tips. However, this first release was also to be the last, due to the label's financial constraints. Aside from these endeavors the label also released separate recordings by artists such as The Lookers (with Sarah Dougher), Vegas Beat, and Cypher in the Snow.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_to_Fight:
Free to Fight is a project consisting of a 1995 double album and booklet, and a single later released by Candy Ass Records. The release is subtitled "an interactive self-defense project." The theme of the project is self-defense for women, and it includes records featuring all-women bands and a 75-page booklet with writings, comics, and graphics by Cynthia Star, Rachel Hanes, Julia Toews, Robin V. Bowser, Nina Landey, Maria Mercedes, bell hooks, Roberta Gregory, Penny Van Horn, Kirsten Ostherr, Laura Sister Nobody, Rachel, Jeannie La France, Alice Stagg, Moira Bowman, Alicia Cohen, Christine Denkewalter, Margaret Denkelwalter, Ellen Crofts, Shannon, Jo, Sara Stout, Lisa Addario, Lake, Bridget Irish, Nikki McClure, Stella Marrs, Staci Colter, Jody Bleyle and Anna LoBianco. The recordings also include self-defense instructions and personal testimonies. It was released as a double album, on two 12" vinyl records, and also released simultaneously as a CD. The recording was spotlighted in the 1997 documentary film She's Real by Lucy Thane, which featured interviews with Candy Ass Records owner Jody Bleyle about the inspiration behind Free To Fight, as well as the practical aspects of releasing it. This project was continued as a 7-inch split single with Sleater-Kinney and Cypher in the Snow, also on Candy Ass Records, released in 1998.
Named CollectionGlasgow Women's Library
Object TypeRecord (music)
Object numberGWL-2023-107-1
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved