Originally forming in Germantown, Maryland, USA in 1991, Clutch comprised of Dan Maines (bass), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Tim Sult (guitar) and Neil Fallon (vocals) when they signed to Warner imprint East West Records in 1993 for their first full-length album, Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths. Produced by Jon Burnside and Steven Haigler, the album is a good showcase for their earlier, more American punk and hardcore influenced roots.
Also released by East West, tracks such as Escape from the Prison Planet, Spacegrass and Big News from 1995s self-titled Clutch album saw the band move more towards a bluesy, stoner rock vibe in 1995.
After several independently released records, plus a brief spell on Columbia, Clutch signed to Atlantic for their fifth long-player, the self-explanatory Pure Rock Fury in 2001. Notable for guest appearances from stoner rock legend Scott Wino Weinrich (The Obsessed, Saint Vitus & Spirit Caravan), as well as Mountains Leslie West, the latter co-wrote the song Immortal with Neil Fallon. Released as a single, Immortal was adapted from the Leslie West song Baby Im Down. Pure Rock Fury concludes with a live version of Spacegrass from 1995s Clutch album.
CD4 collects together seven non-album tracks; Tight Like That (Edit Remix) originally appeared on the promo E.P. Songs Of Much Gravity; Apache appeared as an extra track on the Big News single, as well as the Japanese edition of the Clutch album; Immortal (Remix) was an extra track on the Immortal single; 7 Jam was recorded live at The Metropol, Pittsburgh, PA.; Careful With That Mic (Radio Edit), Guild Of Mute Assassins and the near 13 minute version of Frankenstein (Extended) were all taken from the Careful With That E.P. collection.
FOR FANS OF: MONSTER MAGNET / KYUSS / QUEENS OF THE STONEAGE