The Aquabats discography
Studio albums6
Compilation albums2
Video albums1
Music videos3
EPs3
Other appearances11

The discography of The Aquabats, an Orange County, California-based rock band, consists of six studio albums, one compilation album, one soundtrack album, two EPs, one live album, one video album and three music videos, among other recordings.

The Aquabats were initially formed as a ska band in 1994 by vocalist The MC Bat Commander, bassist Crash McLarson and trumpeter Catboy.[1] Attracting a significant local cult following for their eccentric music and theatrical stage shows, the band independently recorded and released their debut LP The Return of The Aquabats in 1996, ultimately selling over 24,000 copies without any distribution.[1] After being signed to Goldenvoice Records in 1997, the band released their sophomore album The Fury of The Aquabats! during the height of the American ska revival, becoming their minor mainstream breakthrough, peaking at number 172 on the Billboard 200.[2] The Aquabats' third album, 1999's The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!, proved to be a relative commercial disappointment following the band's complete shift in musical direction, resulting in The Aquabats' dismissal from Goldenvoice in 2000.[3]

Despite releasing a B-sides compilation and live DVD through Fearless Records in the early 2000s, The Aquabats spent most of this period in relative inactivity, leading to radical changes in both the band's line-up and musical style. In 2004, the group independently recorded the EP Yo! Check Out This Ride!, signing to Nitro Records several months later.[4][5] 2005's Charge!!, The Aquabats' first release as a new wave-influenced quintet, effectively revitalized the band's career, meeting with positive reviews and a return to consistent touring. Although plans for a follow-up album were announced in 2007, The Aquabats were dropped from Nitro in 2009, continuing as an independent band before rejoining Fearless in late 2010 to release their fifth studio album, Hi-Five Soup!, which debuted at 181 on the Billboard 200.[6][7][8]

In 2019, as the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign to help produce several new albums and the continuation of The Aquabats' live-action television series The Aquabats! Super Show!, the band digitally released their first live album, The Fury of The Aquabats! Live at The Fonda!, as well as a compilation of songs from Super Show!'s first season, The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One, which was later given a wide physical release and debuted at 165 on the Billboard 200, The Aquabats' highest placement on the chart to date.[9] The band's sixth studio album, Kooky Spooky...In Stereo, was released on August 21, 2020 on The Aquabats' own independent label, Gloopy Records.

Albums

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10] 		US
Ind.
[11] 		US
Heat
[12] 		US
Rock
[13]
1995 The Return of The Aquabats[14]
  • Released: December 1995
  • Label: Horchata
  • Format: CD, CS
 — — — —
1997 The Fury of The Aquabats![15]
  • Released: October 28, 1997
    April 6, 2018 (re-issue)
  • Label: Time Bomb
    Gloopy (re-issue)
  • Format: CD, CS, LP
 172 — 12 —
1999 The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death![16]
  • Released: October 26, 1999
  • Label: Goldenvoice
  • Format: CD, CS
 — — 35 —
2005 Charge!![17]
  • Released: June 7, 2005
  • Label: Nitro
  • Format: CD
 — 30 21 —
2011 Hi-Five Soup![18]
  • Released: January 18, 2011
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD
 181 24 5 45
2020 Kooky Spooky...In Stereo[19]
  • Released: August 21, 2020
  • Label: Gloopy
  • Format: CD, LP
 — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
[10] 		US
Ind.
[11] 		US
Heat
[12] 		US
Rock
[13]
2000 Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2[20]
  • Released: November 7, 2000
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD
 — — — —
2019 The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One[21]
  • Released: March 19, 2019 (digital release)
    June 7, 2019
  • Label: Gloopy
  • Format: CD, LP
 165 3 1 32
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

Year Album details Notes
2019 The Fury of The Aquabats! Live at The Fonda!
  • Released: March 19, 2019
  • Label: Gloopy
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 A recording of The Aquabats' 20th anniversary performance of The Fury of The Aquabats! at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California on April 8, 2018. Released as an exclusive download for backers of The Aquabats' 2018 Kickstarter campaign, a general release was released May 8, 2020.[22]
Live bootlegs
Year Title Notes
June 6, 2014 The Aquabats Cadet Beach Party[23][24] An 18-track bootleg recording of The Aquabats' all-request acoustic campfire sing-a-long set at the 2002 Aquacadet Summit in Huntington Beach, California on January 19, 2002. This was an officially endorsed bootleg released by Related Records and Pirate Ship Records as a limited run of 300 compact cassette tapes as well as a digital download.

Extended plays and singles

EPs

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US
Hot Singles Sales[25]
2004 Yo! Check Out This Ride! EP
  • Released: 2004
  • Label: none
  • Format: CD
 —
2010 Radio Down![26] 10
2021 I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas Too!
  • Released: November 19, 2021
  • Label: Gloopy
  • Format: Download, CD
 —

Singles

Cassette singles
Year Title Album Notes
1996 "Martian Girl"
"CD Repo Man" 		The Return of the Aquabats A cassette-only Horchata Records release of two songs from The Return... which was handed out by the band to promoters, venues and labels prior to the album's official release. The songs on this cassette were a different mix than the ones on the final album.[27]
CD singles
Year Title Album Notes
1997 "Super Rad!"[28] The Fury of The Aquabats! Official CD singles issued by Goldenvoice and Time Bomb Recordings
"My Skateboard!"[29]
Digital singles
Year Title Album Notes
April 1, 2005 "Fashion Zombies!" Charge!! Digital download offered exclusively through The Aquabats' website, posted on the same day the band officially announced Charge!!.
December 14, 2010 "The Shark Fighter!" Hi-Five Soup! Digital stream first released through The Aquabats' Facebook page before being put up for iTunes download on January 4, 2011.
April 26, 2019 "COBRAMAN THEME! / BURGER RAIN!"[30] The Aquabats! Super Show! Television Soundtrack: Volume One
October 25, 2019 "Skeleton Inside!"[31] Kooky Spooky...In Stereo
April 10, 2020 "Pajamazon!"
May 1, 2020 "No One Wants to Party!"
July 31, 2020 "Karate Body!"
Vinyl singles

From 1998 to 1999, The Aquabats planned to release a series of nine limited edition 7" picture discs, one for each member of the band, featuring an unreleased demo or B-side alongside a track from The Fury of The Aquabats!. Due to Goldenvoice Records' financial constraints at the time, only four of the nine discs were produced.[32]

Year Title Tracks Label
1998 Catboy vs. The Cat With 2 Heads[32] 1. "Cat With 2 Heads" Goldenvoice/Time Bomb
2. "Tiny Pants" (demo version)
Dr. Rock vs. Clowny Clown Clown[33] 1. "Magic Chicken" Goldenvoice/Time Bomb
2. "Why Rock?"
Ultra Kyu vs. The Sandfleas[34] 1. "The Ballad of Mr. Bonkers" (demo version) Goldenvoice/Time Bomb
2. "The Story of Nothing"
Chainsaw vs. Powdered Milk Man[35] 1. "Powdered Milk Man" Goldenvoice/Time Bomb
2. "Radiation Song" (demo version)

In July 2017, to coincide with a U.S. tour, The Aquabats released an exclusive 7" single as part of a fan ticket package featuring alternate full-length recordings of two songs from The Aquabats! Super Show!.

Year Title Tracks Label
2017 Burger Rain[36] 1. "Burger Rain" Self-released
2. "Beat Fishin'"
Miscellaneous singles
Year Title Tracks Notes
December 2009 Holiday Extravaganza![37] 1. "Holiday Road!" (Lindsey Buckingham) A free CD-R passed out to attendees of The Aquabats' 2009 holiday shows. Its songs were later released for download on the band's website and much later appeared on their 2021 Christmas EP I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Too!.
2. "Santa Claus' Party!"

Demos

The following are demo versions and otherwise unreleased recordings of songs released exclusively by The Aquabats.

Year Title Tracks Notes
1994 The Revenge of the Midget Punchers[38] 1. "Ska Robot Army" The Aquabats' debut demo cassette. Under 500 copies were released. The untitled track is a spoken word story.
2. "CD Repo Man"
3. "Martian Girl"
4. "Marshmellow Man" [sic]
5. "Untitled"
6. "Pinch and Roll"
1995 Bat Boy 1. "It's Crazy, Man!" Two different pressings of this demo cassette were printed in a combined run of 360 copies. The song "Doll Art" is an upbeat acoustic cover of Hole's "Doll Parts" with semi-improvised lyrics.[39]
2. "Marshmallow Man"
3. "My Skateboard"
4. "Phantasma del Mar"
5. "Doll Art"
1999 Three Song Sampler[40] 1. "The Thing in the Bass Amp" A CD sampler of three unmixed and unmastered tracks from The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death!. "Better Than This?" is an alternately titled "Lotto Fever". Issued by Goldenvoice Records and Time Bomb Recordings.
2. "Giant Robot-Birdhead"
3. "Better Than This?"
July 2002 Versions Not Demos[41] 1. "Awesome Forces" This was a free CD-R printed in a limited run of 100 copies, passed out to attendees at an Aquabats show at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on July 31, 2002.
2. "Comic Book Man"
May 2003 May 2003 Demos[42] 1. "Awesome Forces" (new mix) These were three demo tracks The Aquabats released through their website via download between the hours of 12 AM and 8 AM on May 9, 2003.
2. "Yo, Check Out This Ride"
3. "Mechanical Ape"

"Other Rarities" (digital b-sides)

In November 2000, to promote the release of the b-sides compilation Myths, Legends and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 2, The Aquabats launched a sub-section of their website providing free downloads of the majority of their then-unreleased demos and rarities dating from 1995 to 1999.[43] The following songs are demos and b-sides that were not previously released on either a demo cassette or compilation:

Videography

Further information: The Aquabats! Super Show! § Home media
Year Album details
2003 Serious Awesomeness![54]
  • Released: November 18, 2003
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: DVD

Music videos

Year Song Director Album
1995 "CD Repo Man" The Return of The Aquabats
1997 "Super Rad!" Bobcat Goldthwait[55] The Fury of The Aquabats!
2005 "Fashion Zombies!" Christian Jacobs Charge!!
2018 "Powdered Milk Man!" The Fury of The Aquabats!
2020 "Pajamazon!" Kooky Spooky...In Stereo
2020 "Karate Body!" Kooky Spooky...In Stereo!

Compilation appearances

The following Aquabats songs were released on compilation albums. This is not an exhaustive list; songs that were first released on the band's albums are not included.

Year Release details Track
1996 California Ska-Quake, Vol. 2: The Aftershock[56]
  • Released: September 3, 1996
  • Label: Moon Ska
  • Format: CD
  • "CD Repo Man"
    (alternate version)
1997 Take Warning: The Songs of Operation Ivy[57]
  • Released: August 26, 1997
  • Label: Glue Factory
  • Format: CD
We Are Not Devo[58]
  • Released: September 30, 1997
  • Label: Centipede
  • Format: CD
  • "Love Without Anger"
    (originally performed by Devo)
The Ska Parade: Runnin' Naked Thru the Cornfield[59]
  • Released: October 14, 1997
  • Label: A to Y
  • Format: CD
Freedom Sounds: A Tribute to the Skatalites[60]
  • Released: October 21, 1997
  • Label: Shanachie
  • Format: CD
2000 Punk Goes Metal[61]
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Fearless
  • Format: CD
  • "Why Rock?"
Rice Capades
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Horchata
  • Format: CD
  • "Lovers of Loving Love!"
    (demo version)
  • "Sandy Face!"
2005 Dead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo[62]
  • Released: May 10, 2005
  • Label: Indianola
  • Format: CD
2010 Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music Is Awesome! Vol. 2[63]
  • Released: August 31, 2010
  • Label: Filter U.S. Recordings
  • Format: CD, download
Mega64: The Soundtrack[64]
  • Released: September 3, 2010
  • Label: Mega64
  • Format: CD
  • "Sequence Erase"
    (instrumental version)
2011 Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music Is Awesome! Vol. 3[65]
  • Released: September 13, 2011
  • Label: Filter U.S. Recordings
  • Format: CD, download
  • "I Like to Share with My Friends"

Horchata Records

Horchata Records was the record label owned and operated by The Aquabats from 1994 to 2001.[66]

Named after the beverage of which the Jacobs brothers shared a particular affinity, Horchata Records was originally conceived by Parker Jacobs in the early 1990s for use with his band GOGO13. Though the Horchata label appeared on GOGO13's demo tapes and show posters, it was not made official until 1994 when Christian Jacobs established the Horchata Records LLC to release The Aquabats' early demos.[67] Following The Aquabats' signing to Goldenvoice, Horchata became used for the band's mail order merchandise until 1999, when Parker Jacobs began re-developing it into a branded record label.[67]

According to Parker Jacobs, he had planned to expand Horchata into its own entity, releasing music from bands both real and fictionalized within The Aquabats' universe: "it wasn't a specific sound", Jacobs explained, "but a movement of fun, theatrical bands like The Aquabats and Sandfleas".[67] The official Horchata Records website listed The Aquabats and all of their respective side projects among their roster, including active bands such as GOGO13, The Sandfleas, The Moon Monkeys and Digital Unicorn, as well as either planned or entirely fictional groups like Planet V, Cactus Jack and The She-Goats. Horchata's line-up also included the indie pop band Majestic, surf-punk group The Immortals, new wave band NU-TRA and Utah ska band The Soulutions, though none of these bands would ultimately release material through Horchata. Many of these bands, both real and fictional, were later represented on the 2000 Horchata sampler album Rice Capades.

Following their dismissal from Goldenvoice Records in 2000, The Aquabats entered a period of extended inactivity and limited finances during which it became clear Jacobs' ambitions for Horchata had become unfeasible and the label eventually faded into a state of non-existence in 2001.

The following is a list of releases under the Horchata Records label:

Year Artist Album
1993 GOGO13 Demo Tape O' Fun
1994 Toy Guns and Pixy Stix EP (unreleased)
The Aquabats The Revenge of the Midget Punchers
1995 Bat Boy
Attaboy Skip Size 8 EP
1996 The Aquabats The Return of The Aquabats
1999 The Moon Monkeys So Far, Far Out! EP
The Sandfleas Four Songs Four Jerks EP
2000 Various artists Rice Capades: Music Sampler Vol. 1
2001 Digital Unicorn Theirs Travel Began and Loaded the Dream

References

  1. ^ a b Boehm, Mike (October 28, 1997). "The Aquabats' Saturday Morning Mission; Who Are Those Masked Men? A Brea Band With a New CD and Plans for Capturing a TV Audience". The Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ "allmusic ((( The Aquabats > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  3. ^ Chun, Gary (May 10, 2002). "The Aquabats fight for justice and good punk". The Honolulu Star Bulletin. Oahu Publications Inc. ((cite web)): Missing or empty |url= (help)
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