Camper Van Beethoven’s ground breaking debut album, “Telephone Free Landslide Victory“, is back on vinyl for the first time since the 1980s. This Record Store Day release is pressed on limited edition clear and orange marbled vinyl, making it a must-have for fans and collectors. Featuring the cult classic “Take the Skinheads Bowling”, the album showcases Camper Van Beethoven’s unique blend of folk, punk, ska, and absurdist wit.
Beloved for its playful, offbeat charm and eclectic instrumentation, “Telephone Free Landslide Victory” cemented the band’s status as pioneers of alternative music. The sleeve design has been recreated to match the original 1980s pressings, complete with a kraftpak board cover.
The band’s line-up at the time of recording was David Lowery (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jonathan Segel (violin, keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), Chris Molla (guitar, backing vocals), Victor Krummenacher (bass, backing vocals), and Anthony Guess (drums). The album is the only Camper Van Beethoven record not to feature guitarist Greg Lisher. Lisher is actually listed in the album credits as a band member, but he did not join the band until after the album was recorded.
The reunited Camper Van Beethoven frequently features several of the album’s songs in their set lists, including “Take the Skinheads Bowling”, the countrified Black Flag cover “Wasted”, the hardcore send-up “Club Med Sucks”, “The Day That Lassie Went to the Moon”, “Ambiguity Song”, and several of the instrumentals.
The band originally intended the album to be titled “Telephone Tree Landslide Victory”, but a friend who was producing advance copies of the LP on cassette mistakenly replaced “Tree” with “Free”
The Fat Angel Sings 