VIA PRESS RELEASE | C/Z Records, the influential independent label formed in 1985, announced today the upcoming release of a limited edition colored 7×7” vinyl curated box set consisting of tracks from seminal Seattle proto-grunge band Skin Yard. Entitled Skin Yard Select, the set is in an edition of 1,000. Featuring previously released tracks, alternate versions, rarities, remixes and a new, previously unreleased track, the set is available direct from C/Z Records here for pre-save or pre-sale.
Skin Yard was one of the seminal Seattle bands that launched the scene that would eventually become known as “grunge.” Skin Yard co-founders, bassist Daniel House and then guitarist, now noted producer Jack Endino carefully curated the songs for Skin Yard Select primarily from their four studio albums spanning the years 1985–1991. Skin Yard featured four distinct drummers who appear on these recordings. They are Matt Cameron (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam), Jason Finn (Presidents of the United States of America, Love Battery), Norman Scott (Gruntruck with Skin Yard singer, Ben McMillan), and Barrett Martin (Screaming Trees, Mad Season, Walking Papers).
“The recordings that make up Skin Yard Select are essential tracks that helped birth what the international media would eventually call “‘Grunge.’” said founding Skin Yard member and C/Z Records owner Daniel House. “In many ways, this compilation will help tell the story of Skin Yard and their place in the Seattle scene that rarely gets told—the heavier, more metal side of the scene. Next year, Words on Bone, my upcoming Skin Yard oral history book, is expected to be published to tell the whole history. Over 60 interviews have been conducted as part of the book.”
Skin Yard (1985–1991) were an influence on several of their grunge contemporaries, including Soundgarden, Screaming Trees, and Green River. In 1987, Skin Yard released their self-titled debut-album and their first single, “Gelatin Babies.” The band released four highly acclaimed albums that are often cited as a precursor to what became known as “Grunge.”
Skin Yard were in fact one of the 6 bands on the renowned Deep Six compilation featuring some of the earliest recordings from Green River, Melvins, Malfunkshun, Soundgarden, and The U-Men. In addition to featuring the first commercial recordings of Malfunkshun, Melvins, Soundgarden, and Skin Yard, this record was the first to showcase the grunge sound as it was just beginning to form. In 2017 Metal Injection ranked Skin Yard at number eight of their list of “10 Heaviest Grunge Bands.”
While Skin Yard remains popular across all digital platforms (the track “Words on Bone” has more than five million plays on Spotify alone) Skin Yard Select will not be released in stores or available on DSPs. The 7 x 7” vinyl box set can be ordered directly from the label, and will be the only place to purchase this collection.
