History Is What's Happening

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

History Is What's Happening was released in March 1982, two years after the Dutch punk band's debut. It contains songs that the group had played live in 1981, supplemented with material that came about in the studio. Recording began in the spray-painting room of the factory of the guitarist's uncle in Zaandam. Vocals and overdubs followed at the Koeienverhuur Studio, and by December 1981 everything was finished.

The twenty short songs are about Dutch domestic policy, the squatters' movement (Barricades), mechanisation on the shop floor (Machinery), government interference (Watch-Dogs) and the influence of the media on politics (Who Pays). A 24-page lyric booklet and a large poster were included. The sleeve shows a photograph of the Jewish orchestra in the Janowska concentration camp. The distributor had asked for 10,000 copies, but by the time the record came out the drummer had left. Performing was therefore impossible, and copies remained unsold for fifteen years.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Six of One and Half a Dozen of the Other0:58Apple Music ↗
2. 2Barricades1:03Apple Music ↗
3. 3Life Live1:39Apple Music ↗
4. 4Machinery0:46Apple Music ↗
5. 5E.M.Why1:47Apple Music ↗
6. 6Moving Pictures1:32Apple Music ↗
7. 7Shoes1:45Apple Music ↗
8. 8Watch-Dogs1:50Apple Music ↗
9. 9Dutch Disease1:21Apple Music ↗
10. 10Blessed Box at the Backseat1:14Apple Music ↗
11. 11Who Pays2:44Apple Music ↗
12. 12Strong & Muscled1:30Apple Music ↗
13. 13Grey2:23Apple Music ↗
14. 14Equals Only1:47Apple Music ↗
15. 15H'wood-W'ton0:56Apple Music ↗
16. 16Sports1:02Apple Music ↗
17. 17$0:57Apple Music ↗
18. 18Pep Talk1:58Apple Music ↗
19. 19Attacked1:55Apple Music ↗
20. 201482:26Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• The Ex