Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

History

The band wasn't originally planning on releasing albums, appearing only on compilation albums for their first year. In 1995, however, the band began releasing singles named after the singer they had covered. They produced Billy, Diamond, Paul, Denver, Barry, Shannon, Stevens, and Elton in this manner. Their first full-length album, Have a Ball, was released July 29, 1997.

Each album by the band is themed differently: Have a Ball focuses on classic 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s songs by singer/songwriters like Elton John, Neil Diamond, and John Denver; Are a Drag consists entirely of showtunes, Blow in the Wind consists of 60s classics, Take a Break consists entirely of contemporary R&B songs by artists such as Boyz 2 Men, Lionel Richie, and Vanessa L. Williams; their fifth album, Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah, was recorded live at an actual bar mitzvah and consists of pop music from the 1960s through the 1980s by artists such as REO Speedwagon, Styx and The Beatles, as well as traditional songs like "Hava Nagila" and Love Their Country's theme is country and western songs such as The Eagles and Garth Brooks. Their latest record, Have Another Ball! has the same theme as their debut which is 60's-80's music.

They entered the studio on April 3, 2006 to work on their sixth album, Love Their Country, which was released on October 17, 2006.[3] The theme of this album is country and western, and includes covers of tracks by Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Hank Williams, Sr. and Johnny Cash.[4]. Prior to the release of the album, Fat Wreck Chords released a digital label sampler, iFloyd which included "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" by the band.[5]

In late 2006, Fat Wreck Chords released another digital label sampler Christmas Bonus, containing a previously-unreleased cover of Arlo Guthrie's "City of New Orleans".[6] In August 2006 Me First and the Gimme Gimmes were scheduled to play three dates at PNC Park after Pirates games, but after they got booed on the first night, the next two nights were cancelled. They were to play along with fireworks during the post-game "Skyblast" shows.

On December 5, 2007, Fat Wreck Chords released a flash MP3 holiday bonus sampler called Hanuk-Comp containing "The Boxer" which was originally released on the "Garf" single (released in 1997).[7] There is also a downloadable podcast that features commentary from Fat Mike and Floyd during breaks between songs in which the next album is revealed.[8] It is named Have Another Ball! and contains all the B-sides from Have a Ball. The album was released on July 8, 2008.

Their cover of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" has been used as the theme song for HBO's documentary series Taxicab Confessions. Their cover of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is currently featured in an ad for Microsoft's Bing search engine.(wikipedia)

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes - Discografia

Have a Ball (1997)

1. "Danny's Song" Kenny Loggins Loggins and Messina 2:10
2. "Leaving on a Jet Plane" (from Denver) John Denver John Denver 2:32
3. "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" (from Paul) Paul Simon Paul Simon 2:42
4. "One Tin Soldier" Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter Original Caste 2:01
5. "Uptown Girl" (from Billy) Billy Joel Billy Joel 2:22
6. "I Am a Rock" Paul Simon Simon & Garfunkel 2:04
7. "Sweet Caroline" (from Diamond) Neil Diamond Neil Diamond 2:53
8. "Seasons in the Sun" Jacques Brel The Kingston Trio 2:27
9. "Fire and Rain" James Taylor James Taylor 1:24
10. "Nobody Does It Better" Carole Bayer Sager, Marvin Hamlisch Carly Simon 2:28
11. "Mandy" (from Barry) Scott English, Richard Kerr Barry Manilow 2:27
12. "Rocket Man" Elton John, Bernie Taupin Elton John 3:15


* Have a Ball (1997)

Are a Drag (1999)

1. "Over the Rainbow" E. Y. Harburg Harold Arlen The Wizard of Oz 1:32
2. "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" Tim Rice Andrew Lloyd Webber Evita 2:29
3. "Science Fiction/Double Feature" Richard O'Brien O'Brien The Rocky Horror Show 2:34
4. "Summertime" DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, Ira Gershwin George Gershwin Porgy and Bess 2:10
5. "My Favorite Things" (contains an interpolation of "Generator" by Bad Religion, written by Brett Gurewitz) Oscar Hammerstein II Richard Rodgers The Sound of Music 1:52
6. "Rainbow Connection" Paul Williams, Kenneth Ascher Williams, Ascher The Muppet Movie 2:18
7. "Phantom of the Opera" Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe, Mike Batt Webber The Phantom of the Opera 1:45
8. "I Sing the Body Electric" Dean Pitchford Michael Gore Fame 1:44
9. "It's Raining on Prom Night" Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey Jacobs, Casey Grease 2:57
10. "Tomorrow" (contains an interpolation of "Surrender" by Cheap Trick, written by Rick Nielsen) Martin Charnin Charles Strouse Annie 1:31
11. "What I Did for Love" Edward Kleban Marvin Hamlisch A Chorus Line 1:46
12. "Cabaret" Fred Ebb John Kander Cabaret 3:24

* Are a Drag (1999)

Blow in the Wind (2001)

1. "Blowin' in the Wind" Bob Dylan Bob Dylan
2. "Sloop John B" (contains an interpolation of "Teenage Lobotomy" by the Ramones, written by Dee Dee Ramone) Brian Wilson The Beach Boys
3. "Wild World" Cat Stevens Cat Stevens
4. "Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)" Barry Mann. Gerry Goffin Barry Mann and The Halos
5. "Elenore" (contains an interpolation of "London Calling" by The Clash, written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones) The Turtles The Turtles
6. "My Boyfriend's Back" Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein, Richard Gottehrer The Angels
7. "All My Loving" John Lennon, Paul McCartney The Beatles
8. "Stand By Your Man" Billy Sherrill, Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette
9. "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" (contains an interpolation of "Stranger Than Fiction" by Bad Religion, written by Brett Gurewitz) John Phillips Scott McKenzie
10. "I Only Want to Be With You" (contains an interpolation of "The Money Will Roll Right In" by Fang) Mike Hawker, Ivor Raymonde Dusty Springfield
11. "Runaway" Del Shannon, Max Crook Del Shannon
12. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" Gerry Goffin, Carole King The Shirelles
13. "Different Drum" (contains an interpolation of "Gimme Some Love" by Graham Coxon) Michael Nesmith Linda Ronstadt
* Blow in the Wind (2001)

Take a Break (2003)

1. "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" Frank Wildhorn, Chuck Jackson Whitney Houston
2. "Hello" Lionel Richie Lionel Richie
3. "End of the Road" Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Daryl Simmons Boyz II Men
4. "Ain't No Sunshine" Bill Withers Bill Withers
5. "Nothing Compares 2 U" Prince The Family
6. "Crazy" (contains an interpretation of "Six Pack" by Black Flag, written by Greg Ginn) Seal, Guy Sigsworth Seal
7. "Isn't She Lovely" Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder
8. "I Believe I Can Fly" R. Kelly R. Kelly
9. "Oh Girl" Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record The Chi-Lites
10. "I'll Be There" (contains an interpretation of "Just What I Needed" by The Cars, written by Ric Ocasek) Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch The Jackson 5
11. "Mona Lisa" Ray Evans, Jay Livingston Nat King Cole
12. "Save the Best for Last" (contains an interpretation of "Pretty Vacant" by the Sex Pistols) Phil Galdston, Wendy Waldman, Jon Lind Vanessa Williams
13. "Natural Woman" Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler Aretha Franklin

* Take a Break (2003)

Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah (2004)

1. "Jonny's Blessing"
2. "Stairway to Heaven" Jimmy Page, Robert Plant Led Zeppelin
3. "Heart of Glass" Debbie Harry, Chris Stein Blondie
4. "Delta Dawn" Larry Collins Helen Reddy
5. "Come Sail Away" Dennis DeYoung Styx
6. "'O Sole Mio" traditional
7. "Strawberry Fields Forever" John Lennon, Paul McCartney The Beatles
8. "Auld Lang Syne" traditional
9. "The Longest Time" (contains an interpretation of "Suspect Device" by Stiff Little Fingers, written by Jake Burns and Gordon Ogilvie) Billy Joel Billy Joel
10. "On My Mind" Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson Thompson Brenda Lee, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson
11. "Take It on the Run" Gary Richrath REO Speedwagon
12. "Superstar" (contains an interpretation of "Kids of the Black Hole" by The Adolescents) Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell The Carpenters
13. "Hava Nagila" (contains an interpretation of "Come Out and Play" by The Offspring, written by Dexter Holland) traditional
14. "Hava Nagila (Christmas Arrangement)" (contains an interpretation of "Feliz Navidad" by José Feliciano) traditional
15. "Seasons in the Sun" (featuring Uncle Roger) Jacques Brel, Rod McKuen The Kingston Trio
16. "Sloop John B" (featuring Jonny Wixen; contains an interpretation of "Teenage Lobotomy" by the Ramones, written by Dee Dee Ramone) Brian Wilson The Beach Boys
* Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah (2004)

Love Their Country(2006)

1. "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)" Garth Brooks, Kevin Taylor Garth Brooks
2. "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" Hugh Edward Thomasson
3. "Desperado" Glenn Frey, Don Henley Eagles
4. "On the Road Again" (contains an interpretation of "Astro Zombies" by the Misfits, written by Glenn Danzig) Willie Nelson Willie Nelson
5. "Annie's Song" John Denver John Denver
6. "Jolene" Dolly Parton Dolly Parton
7. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" Hank Williams Hank Williams
8. "Lookin' for Love" Wanda Malette, Robert Morrison, Patti Ryan Johnny Lee
9. "Goodbye Earl" Dennis Linde Dixie Chicks
10. "East Bound and Down" (contains an interpretation of "Love Song" by The Damned) Dick Feller, Jerry Reed Jerry Reed
11. "She Believes in Me" Stephen Gibb Kenny Rogers
12. "Sunday Morning Coming Down" (contains an interpretation of "Police and Thieves" by The Clash, written by Junior Murvin and Lee "Scratch" Perry) Kris Kristofferson Kris Kristofferson

* Love their Country (2006)

Have Another Ball(2008)

1. "Rich Girl" (from Happy Meals, Vol. 2: The Perfect Marriage) Daryl Hall Hall & Oates
2. "The Boxer" (from Garf) Paul Simon Simon and Garfunkel
3. "Country Roads" (from Denver) John Denver, Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert John Denver
4. "I Write the Songs" (from Barry) Bruce Johnston Barry Manilow
5. "Sodomy" Galt MacDermot, James Rado, Gerome Ragni Hair cast
6. "You've Got a Friend" (from In Your Barkalounger) Carole King James Taylor
7. "Mahogany" Michael Masser, Gerald Goffin Diana Ross
8. "Mother and Child Reunion" (from Paul) Paul Simon Paul Simon
9. "Only the Good Die Young" (from Billy) Billy Joel Billy Joel
10. "Coming to America" (from Diamond) Neil Diamond Neil Diamond
11. "The Harder They Come" (from the Warped Tour 2003 Tour Compilation) Jimmy Cliff Jimmy Cliff
12. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" (from Elton) Elton John, Bernie Taupin Elton John

* Have Another Ball (2008)

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