Climate Criterion International is set to release a project by the band Eight and One Half entitled “The Jourgensen Sessions” produced by Al Jourgensen in 1983. This collection spans a tapestry of sounds, from funk inspired dance grooves in the vein of ABC, to dark electro synths reminecent of early Ministry, Planet Xymox, or Depeche Mode.
This previously unreleased record is a “moment in time”, captured and frozen for over 20 years. For serious Ministry collectors, or fans curious about the “early years” of Ministry and the Chicago Industrial movement, this album is a time capsule and sure to please any fan of music of this era.
Wow…This sounds very interesting. Looking forward to this one.
Wow, this is pretty fucking awesome.
8 1/2 were a band from Chicago that Jourgensen supposedly produced - I guess now it’s fact. Also, Patty Jourgensen was their manager for a while.
Right on. Listening to the samples right now, and this definitely sounds like something Al would have produced back in the day.
Back in 1983, very few American bands were doing a synth-based sound. Ministry was one of them. Information Society was another (yes, they were around back then). Good to hear more in that style. In those days, if you didn’t use the standard bass/guitar/drums rock band formula you might as well have painted yourself pink and pranced around in a tutu.
Did 8 1/2 ever “officially” get anything released (prior to now I mean) from those “sessions”? A 12" or two even? A limited run demo tape maybe?
I remember an interview with Al…maybe that 3-part MP3 interview with Richard Skinner that made the rounds a few years ago where he mentions both the Blackouts and 8 1/2.
I’m pretty sure that nothing ever came of 8 1/2… As far as the Blackouts stuff we have a pretty comprehensive section to this somewhere on the site. While Blackouts were a bit obscure this site has managed to pull up stuff about them from all over the place over the years.
I’ll ask David what’s up. I need to check in with him anyway. From what I remember, he was going to release this digitally and then possibly as an actual cd. They did eventually release a 12" in the late 80’s that was pretty decent as well.
There are 2 songs from “The Jourgensen Sessions” posted at the Eight and One half site, a complete version of “Cheap Illusion”, and a two minute sample of “Temple of The Night”. Al Jourgensen also played some keyboards on “Temple of The Night”.