Al Barile (1962-2025) - The Vinyl Guide Interview

Replay of our 2024 interview with hardore legend Al Barile of SSD and X-Claim! Records.

Photos by Alison Braun

-------

Society System Decontrol (SSD) self-released several landmark hardcore punk records in the early 80s. Out of print for over 4 decades, SSD has only recently reissued their two masterpieces "The Kids Will Have Their Say" and "Get It Away" on vinyl. SSD founder Al Barile takes us through the making of those records.

Topic Include:

• Interview start
• The continued popularity of SS Decontrol music
• Al was a natural leader for the hardcore scene
• Naturally managing risk
• Jumping to an album – no singles for SSD
• 1900 units of “The Kids Will Have Their Say”
• Self-funding the album, selling the initial pressing
• Recording “The Kids Will Have Their Say”
• Was Al happy with the original recordings?
• Al doesn’t enjoy listening to “The Kids Will Have Their Say”
• Comparing Trust reissue with original Xclaim
• Issues getting the tapes back from a label
• Original pressing of “The Kids….” goes for > $1k
• Why were there no repressings before the recent Trust reissue
• CD issue of “Power”
• Has Al hung onto his records?
• White cover of “The Kids Will Have Their Say” designed by Bryan Ray Turcotte
• Original concept & artwork for “The Kids Will Have Their Say”
• The difference in recording “Get It Away”
• Was “Get It Away” always envisioned as an EP?
• The cover songs that SSD performed
• Original 4800 copies of “Get It Away”
• Running the X-Claim! label/imprint
• All X-Claim! bands ran their own vinyl pressings
• What is the source of the “Get It Away” reissue
• Will there be reissues of “How We Rock” and “Break it Up”
• Al’s health update
• Al wants everyone to get a colonoscopy
• The SSD book “How Much Art Can You Take?”
• Interview wrap up

Order "The Kids Will Have Their Say" and "Get It Away" on vinyl here.

Order the book "How Much Art Can You Take" here.

EXTENDED, Commercial free, high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8