Fleshtones vs. Reality


Fleshtones vs. Reality is an album by The Fleshtones, released on Emergo Records in 1987. The album was recorded at the Record Plant in New York City in the fall of 1986 with the exception of two songs, "Return of the Leather Kings" and "Too Late To Run", which were recorded in May 1986 at Axis Sound Studio in Atlanta, Georgia. All songs were composed by band members with the exception of "Treat Her Like a Lady", a cover of the 1971 hit by the Cornelius [Brothers & Sister Rose|Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose].
The back cover artwork displays a large image of a person's right hand with about 20 mystical symbols |Taurus], Virgo, the Sun, Moon, Jupiter, and Venus drawn on the [palm of the hand in ink. Also highlighted in ink are the "life line" and "heart line". Photos of the five band members appear where the five fingers should be, surrounded by handwriting identifying the band members and listing the instruments that they played on the album.
The remaining liner notes are also hand written on the album cover at various orientations. A long humorous message to the reader occupying most of the left side of the album reads as follows:

Critical reception

The Washington Post wrote that "for those who prefer to lose, rather than sooth, their minds, Fleshtones vs. Reality amplifies the noisiest sounds of the '60s in a perfectly mindless way." Rolling Stone wrote: "The Fleshtones are nearly legendary on the basis of their survival alone, and their latest album, Fleshtones vs. Reality, is a testament to their tenacity."

Track listing

All songs by Peter Zaremba and Keith Streng, except as indicated.

"The First Side"

  1. "Another Direction"
  2. "Way Up Here"
  3. "Way Down South"
  4. "Treat Her Like a Lady"
  5. "Too Late To Run"
  6. "The Return of the Leather Kings"

    "The Other Side"

  7. "Our Own Time"
  8. "What Ever Makes You Happy"
  9. "Mirror Mirror"
  10. "The End of the Track"
  11. "Nothing's Gonna Bring Me Down"

    Personnel

;The Fleshtones
  • Peter Zaremba — vocals, harmonica, piano, organ, marimba, and FLEX unbreakable pocket comb
  • Keith Streng — guitar, backing vocals, percussion, and bells
  • Bill Milhizer — drums, percussion, backing vocals, marimba
  • Jan Marek Pakulski — bass, backing vocals, marimba
  • Gordon Russell Spaeth — harmonica, alto sax, baritone saxophone, organ, soprano and tenor recorders, brain-storms
  • Robert Warren— bass on "What Ever Makes You Happy" and "Way Down South"
;Additional personnel
Horns
Squad Car - Ed, Dan, and Joe, 'Mid-Town North'
Super-Gang vocals
Backing vocals on "What Ever Makes You Happy"
Special "Phone-a-Rama" guest - "Mustang" Mike Cerezo
  • James A. Ball - producer
  • Teddy Treuhella - additional engineering
  • George Pappas - additional engineering, co-producer of "Return of the Leather Kings" and "Too Late To Run"
  • Paul Special - assistant engineer
  • Joe Hennehan - assistant engineer
  • Dan Vajanek - assistant engineer
  • Mixed at the Record Plant by J.A.B. with various combinations of the Fleshtones and George Pappas
  • Mastered by Greg Calbi
  • Special assistance in Studio "D" - Joe and Mike
  • Cover photo - Lawrence Ivy
  • Art and design, etc. - P.Z.
  • Carrie Hamilton - graphics consultant