A Record Collector's Guide

Fishbone Compilations

Back to the Beach Soundtrack

Columbia C 40892 LP, released 1987

Contains the Fishbone track "Jamaica Ska"

Fishbone and Annette Funicello.  Together.  In a beach movie.  In 1987.  What?  No, really.  This happened.  And must be seen to be believed.  They team up to do "Jamaican Ska." It's silly.  Also, it is absolutely worth tracking down a video copy of this movie solely for the clip containing this song.  Oh wait, we have YouTube now...  The soundtrack was released on both vinyl and CD.

Folkways: A Vision Shared - A Tribute to Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly

Columbia C 44034 LP, released 1988

CBS 460905 LP (Netherlands), released 1988

CBS 188.012/1-460905 LP (Brazil), released 1988

Contains the Little Richard and Fishbone track "Rock Island Line"

Okay.  For the tribute to Woodie Guthrie and Leadbelly, Fishbone teamed up with Little Richard.  Made perfect sense, actually.  "Rock Island Line" is good, but is more Little Richard than Fishbone.

Sound Blasts EP1

BLASTS! 1 7", released 1988

Contains the Fishbone track "Love and Bullshit"

This was a random British compilation 7".  Fishbone appears right after Iggy Pop.  The Fishbone song on here is also available on the various incarnations of the Bonin' in the Boneyard EP.   Pretty common.

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka Soundtrack

Arista AL 8574 LP, released 1988

Arista 209 622 LP, released 1988 (Germany)

Contains the Curtis Mayfield and Fishbone track "He's a Flyguy"

How could Fishbone not appear on this one?  The band joins Curtis Mayfield for "He's a Flyguy," Flyguy's theme song in the movie.  Much like the case of " Rock Island Line" on the Folkways comp, Fishbone basically acts as the backing band for a much more established artist here.

Say Anything... Soundtrack

WTG P 45140 LP, released 1989

Epic 465377 1 LP, released 1989 (Netherlands)

Epic 177.168/1-465377 LP, released 1989 (Brazil)

Contains the Fishbone track "Skankin' to the Beat"

As I mentioned in the write-up for the 7" that came from this album, the presence of Fishbone plays a big role in this movie, probably more because John Cusack was a fan than anything else.  The soundtrack features a great version of "Skankin' to the Beat" (different from the one that appeared on the "Party at Ground Zero" single).  The album did come out on vinyl in several countries.

The Mask Soundtrack

Chaos 66207 CD, released 1994

Contains the Fishbone track "Let the Good Times Roll"

Fishbone lends its version of "Let the Good Times Roll" to this Jim Carrey...uh...classic?   Can we call this a classic?  Worth a listen.

A Tribute to Hard Core Logo

BMG 8625 CD, released 1996

Contains the Fishbone track "Words and Music"

This was an unofficial soundtrack to the Hard Core Logo movie.  I have read that the director asked a bunch of bands to cover all of the songs from the movie.  "Words and Music" was a song that actually made regular appearances in Fishbone's live set, but never made it onto an album.  It's a pretty good one, and it has a whole bunch of energy live.

Silencio = Muerte: Red Hot & Latin

H.O.L.A. Recordings 119-341-005-2 CD, released 1996

Nacional Records NCL 68474 CD, released 2006

Contains the Fishbone and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs track "What's New Pussycat?"

Fishbone and Los Fabulosos Cadillacs doing "What's New Pussycat?" is one of the greatest things that has ever happened.  That's all there is to it.  This is immensely silly.  It never gets old.  If you have not heard this, go now.  Track it down.   This comp was released to promote AIDS awareness in Latin America.  It was reissued in 2006 as Silencio = Muerte: Red Hot + Latin Redux.

Fled Soundtrack

Rowdy 75444-37012-2 CD, released 1996

Contains the Fishbone track "Fled"

This song is often overlooked within Fishbone's body of work.  It's actually very good.  This one was kind of doomed, though.  I actually saw this movie with a friend of mine the day it was released...at a second-run movie theater.  I am not making that up.  Not a really good sign for large grosses.  The Fishbone song, which was the title track, never appeared in the movie.  I don't understand it, but, well...what can you do?  Anyway, it's a pretty good song.

Steady Sounds of the Underground

Side 1 SD1206 CD, released 1997

Contains the Fishbone track "I'm a Weed Plant"

This disc was part of the endless parade of ska compilations in the mid-to-late '90s.  It's a pretty good comp overall.  Most of the tracks on it are available elsewhere.  The Fishbone track is not.  This song ended up turning into "Where'd You Get Those Pants?" on the Psychotic Friends Nuttwerx album.

Ska Island

Island 314-524 392-2 CD, released 1997

Island ISLANDCD 3, released 1997 (UK)

Island PHCR-1856 CD, released 1997 (Japan)

Contains the Fishbone track "Crazy Bald Heads" and the Hepcat track "Penny Reel"

This was on of my absolute favorite compilations from the third wave ska period.  It was released in conjunction with the anniversary of Island Records.  It features ska bands covering classic Island songs.  Fishbone does "Crazy Bald Heads" by the Wailers.  Solid.  Honestly, most tracks on here are really good.  Hepcat covers "Penny Reel" by Eric Morris.  The Japanese version of this disc has several bonus tracks on it.  There are additional exclusive songs from the Ska Flames, Determinations, and Dreamlets.

Look at All the Love We Found LIVE: A Tribute to Sublime

Cornerstone RAS #44 CD, released 2006

Contains the Fishbone track "Date Rape"

I can't say I have listened to this whole disc...I have never been a Sublime fan.  Fishbone lends its distinct touch to a cover of "Date Rape" on here, though, and it is interesting. The track also later ended up on their Still Stuck in Your Throat album.

The ChangeRing Compilation

Released 2008

Contains the Fishbone track "Changes"

This compilation was released by the ChangeRing group during the Obama presidential run.  It is a digital compilation featuring a bunch of bands covering songs about change.  Fishbone contributes "Changes"...not to be confused with their 1988 classic, "Change."

New Wave '80s Hits/Generation Rubick's Cube

Cleopatra Records, released 2009

Contains the Fishbone track "Our House"

These two digital compilations were put out by '80s reissue specialists Cleopatra Records.  Fishbone covers the Madness classic, "Our House."  As far as I know, the two comps only came out in download form.