Racer-X

1984 EP by Big Black

Racer-X

EP by

Big Black

Released

1985

Recorded

1984

Genre

Noise rock, post-hardcore

Length

15:36

Label

Homestead, Touch and Go

Big Black chronology

Bulldozer
(1983)

Racer-X
(1985)

Atomizer
(1986)

1992 reissue

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	A−^[2]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[3]
Tom Hull	B+^[4]

Racer-X is the third EP by American post-hardcore band Big Black. It was released by Homestead Records in 1985 and reissued by Touch and Go Records in 1992.

Racer-X was the first of Big Black's records to cement their instrumental lineup of two guitars, one bass guitar and a Roland TR-606 drum machine. It was the final album to feature the bass playing of Jeff Pezzati who left to dedicate more time on his primary band Naked Raygun.

Like Big Black's first 2 EPs, the original record contained just six songs (five by Big Black, one by James Brown) clocking in at under 20 minutes total.

Title

Racer X was a character on the seminal anime series Speed Racer. The EP's title track makes numerous references to the original TV show.

Single

The song "Il Duce" (about Benito Mussolini) was recorded in the same session as the songs from the Racer-X EP. The song was released the same year as a 7" single backed with "Big Money" from the Atomizer LP. Homestead records also issued a promotional 12" version of the single with "Il Duce" and "Big Money" on the A-side, plus three live tracks on the B-side.^[5]

Cover art

The original EP featured cover art by Nate Kaatrud (better known as National Kato/Nash Kato) from the band Urge Overkill. When Touch and Go reissued the EP in 1992, the original artwork could not be found and a new cover was produced.^[5]

Track listing

"Racer-X" - 4:01
"Shotgun" - 3:28
"The Ugly American" - 2:41
"Deep Six" - 3:14
"Sleep!" - 2:42
"The Big Payback" (James Brown) - 2:29

Personnel

Steve Albini: guitar, vocals
Santiago Durango: guitar
Jeff Pezzati: bass
Roland: Roland
John Bonhen: saxophone on "The Ugly American"

Recorded by Iain Burgess in Chicago.

Influence

The Japandroids covered "Racer-X" during their Dec 15, 2009 Daytrotter session. Of “Racer X” they say this:

We’re recording a 7-inch in January and this going to be the B-side. This song was originally done by Big Black and came out on the Racer-X EP in 1984. Our version is pretty good, but the original is a masterpiece.

References

^ Kellman, Andy. "allmusic ((( Racer-X > Review )))". Allmusic. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
^ Christgau, Robert (1990). "B". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s. Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-679-73015-X. Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Brackett, Nathan. "Big Black". The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. November 2004. pg. 69, cited March 17, 2010
^ Tom Hull. "Grade List: big black". Tom Hull - on the web. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
^ ^a ^b Anti, Obik. "Big Black: Racer X". Big Black, from pre-history to present. Retrieved 24 December 2012.