PANTS!001 Various Artists "ShoopDeeDoop: A Tribute To Motown"

1998: The Beginning.

Fresh out of high school, I was accepted to Kendall College of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, MI. My parents had bought me a car for graduation, a brand new 1998 Ford Escort. While I say "brand new" let me also ad that this car was the bare bones model. The car only had an AM/FM radio, which was a huge pain in the ass when driving the 2.5 hour drive from Detroit to Grand Rapids. It was during this time that I took to listening to the oldies station, which ultimately caused me to hear quite possibly the catchiest song ever written: The Happening by The Supremes.

I guess before this, I only really knew all the major Motown hits that I had taken for granted my entire life. As I was driving I thought in the back of my head that it would be great to put out a compilation of indie bands covering Motown songs. At this point I had only put out zines and cassettes of my friends bands in high school, so starting what I considered to be a more "professional" record label seemed like the next logical step.

Having admiration for labels such as Kill Rock Stars, Teenbeat, and K Records, I naively decided to go for it. I played with some names, the original name of the label being Easy Bake Audio Recording. After deciding that would be a bad idea due to not wanting to get sued by anybody, I toyed with a combination of words and came up with "Audiopants."

Shoopdeedoop was supposed to be Audiopants first release. I spent years putting this thing together. While not all the bands I wanted to be on it ended up pulling through, it was still an amazing exercise for me. Because of this idea I was able to meet many amazing people who I still consider friends and keep in contact with.

Technically, this was Audiopants second release. The MyBrain EP actually came out before this, but I kept Shoopdeedoop as number PANTS!001 for honorary purposes.

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Tracks
01) Fonda - Love Child
02) Garlands - Tracks Of My Tears
03) Kloey - I Hear A Symphony
04) Bossanova - Love Hangover
05) Red Shirt Brigade - Same Old Song
06) The Rigmas - You've Really Got A Hold On Me
07) The Running Kind - My World Is Empty Without You
08) The Magic Tennies - You've Made Me So Very Happy
09) Clock Strikes Thirteen - Cruisin
10) The Boys' Star Library - Where Has Our Love Gone
11) Tourister - I Second That Emotion
12) The Pop Project - The Happening
13) Red Pony Clock - Ben

Stephen Cramer's Review
Michigan's Audiopants Recordings released the ambitious Shoop Dee Doop: A Tribute To Motown compilation in 2001. The 13-song disc featured a refreshing mixture of underground bands from all corners of the United States. Each group covered the Motown classic of their choice, resulting in a unique and thrilling tribute disc. Each band put their own signature sound into the songs, starting with Fonda's rousing rendition of The Supremes' "Love Child." New York's Garlands' interject with a mellow and heartfelt version of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears," while Minneapolis quartet Kloey shine with their interpretation of The Supreme's "I Hear A Symphony," led by Cindy Iverson's angelic vocals. Diana Ross and The Supremes are covered again on the fourth track, this time by Bossanova on their graceful "Love Hangover." Michigan's Red Shirt Brigade are up next with their playful and inventive cover of "Same Old Song," with Scott Allen on vocals. The band's frantic keyboards and youthful enthusiasm add up to one of the most inspired covers on the disc. The Rigmas follow with The Sights' Eddie Baranek's frantic crooning on a cover of Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me." The Running Kind, featuring members of Pittsburgh's Tourister, contribute a lo-fi, upbeat, keyboard-based version of The Supreme's "My World Is Empty Without You," and Magic Tennies and Clock Strikes Thirteen offer more variations on Motown classics. New York's Boys Star Library shine on yet another ode to The Supremes, with Jimmy Hughes leading the way with his subtle and tender vocals on "Where Did Our Love Go." Tourister is up next with their cover of Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion." The trio adds their bright and soothing indie pop to the already powerful classic. Detroit's The Pop Project are next, covering The Supremes' "The Happening" with a unique and infectious urgency. Dave Lawson's confident vocals, along with Chris Graves' lively backing vocals, more than does justice to the song that inspired Audiopants owner Ryan Cady to assemble Shoop Dee Doop: A Tribute To Motown in the first place. The disc ends calmly with The Red Pony Clock (&Orchestra)'s gentle and maniacal ode to Michael Jackson's "Ben." As Audiopants' debut release, the disc made an immediate and powerful statement for the daring indie label. The collection not only featured a wealth of exhilarating musical moments; it also introduced a slew of indie pop/rock bands to new audiences.