Jay: "Songs were being written all the time. I wouldn't go so far as to say an 'album's worth', but during the U.S. and subsequent European tour into '89, lots of ideas were coming to fruition. I would think that more songs were written during the down time between tours and 'perfected' on the road."
Brett: "No Control was fueled by the momentum of Suffer. I would just sit down and write a song in 30 minutes. I was still working at my recording studio as an engineer and writing those songs on my breaks. I would take off for lunch, grab a guitar and write a song."[1]
No Control was recorded in June 1989 at Westbeach Recorders and was the first record BR did on 1/2 Inch Two Track, which was a big step up for them. Brett put every track through a Compellor by Aphex, a receomendation by Bill Stevenson of the Descendents. Brett eventually hated the weird sound. In the mix he therefore tried to undo all the compression. Now, he likes its aggressive and distinctive sound.[2]
Greg: "When it came out, it left such a bad taste in Brett's mouth, because he used a piece of outboard equipment that he hated that the guy talked him into. He was convinced that he had ruined the record. I think on hearing it again, he realized it's not ruined at all."[3]
To record his bass tracks, Jay used a Hiwatt SA212 combo into an Electro-Voice EVM12L speaker mounted in in a KK Audio closed back cabinet. The same method was used on all albums from Suffer through No Substance, except Against The Grain. In 2010 he again used the same gear on The Dissent Of Man.
The cover artwork was done by Norman Moore, who was also responsible for the artwork of Generator and Stranger Than Fiction.
Released on 11.2.1989. 12,000 copies were shipped at first and, to their amazement, they ended up selling 60,000. By 1992, about 80,000 copies were sold.[4] Imported copies of No Control LP to West Germany were repackaged with a limited edition bootleg 7" of the Bad Religion EP.
Bobby Schayer: "No Control is my favorite album. I just like the pace of the record, the songs on the album, it's very in your face. I find it exciting, because it gives you the same excitement as when I heard the first Ramones album. It makes me want to play music again. It's a little rawer than Suffer, and I like the production and material better".
On the back sleeve of the CD and on the inlay of the LP, track #4 is written as "Sometimes I Feel Like". However, on the CD, as well as on the print on the LP that song is written as "Sometimes It Feels Like".
On the back sleeve and booklet / insert of both the CD and the LP, track #15 is written as "The World Won't Stop". However, on the CD, as well as on the print on the LP that song is written as "The World Won't Stop Without You".
On the cassette it says "Bizzy", whereas on the cassette sleeve "Billy" is printed correctly.
| 02/09 | added bill stevenson tid bit. - By Stinger66 |
| 02/04 | Added a quote from the big takeover 55 - By Marty |
| 06/03 | Added details about Jay's gear - By Marty |