Oi to the World!

Oi to the World! is a Christmas album by the southern California punk rock band The Vandals. It was released in 1996 by their label Kung Fu Records, who also re-released it in 2000 with altered artwork and a bonus track. It was the band's sixth full-length studio album and presented holiday-themed songs written and performed with the tongue-in-cheek humor for which the band is known.

Because Kung Fu Records itself had been formed in 1996 and was at this point still a small label, the original pressing of the album was somewhat limited and it remained relatively obscure for several years (the band's major studio albums at this time were being released by Nitro Records). The Vandals maintained a close friendship with fellow Orange County band No Doubt, who covered the album's title track "Oi to the World" for a Christmas compilation in 1997. Their version, which was produced by Vandals guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, received mainstream exposure and popularity and spawned a music video. Partly thanks to the exposure brought by association with No Doubt (with whom the Vandals also toured), fan interest in Oi to the World! increased and in 2000 Kung Fu Records, which by now had grown in size, re-released the album with new artwork and a bonus overture, as well as a new intro for the title track.

Because Vandals full-time drummer Josh Freese was involved with other musical projects at the time of the album's recording, a number of fill-in drummers were recruited to play most of the drum tracks on the album: Brooks Wackerman of Infectious Grooves and Suicidal Tendencies, Erik Sandin of NOFX, and Rat Scabies of The Damned. Freese did play on three of the album's tracks, and both his brother Jason Freese and father Stan Freese also appeared playing horns. The original release was dedicated to the memory of Pat Brown, a friend of the band during their formative years and subject of their 1982 song "The Legend of Pat Brown." He had died in 1996.

Almost every year since the album's release the Vandals have played a traditional "Christmas Formal" concert in Anaheim during the holiday season, at which they perform Oi to the World! nearly in its entirety. Other than at this special show songs from the album are rarely performed in concert, with the exception of "Oi to the World," which has become a regular part of their setlist.

Reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album a negative review, remarking that "If you do happen to enjoy their ridiculously stupid jokes, Oi to the World is nearly as fun as anything else in their catalog, even though you might admit their fast, goofy, and essentially tuneless songs are beginning to wear a bit thin."^[1]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Warren Fitzgerald, except where noted. 

Personnel

Band

• Dave Quackenbush - vocals
• Warren Fitzgerald – guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on track 12, string arrangements on track 6
• Joe Escalante – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on track 10
• Josh Freese – drums on tracks 4, 10 and 11

Additional musicians

• Brooks Wackerman – drums and traps on tracks 1, 5, 7 & 9
• Erik Sandin – drums on tracks 3 & 8
• Rat Scabies – drums on track 2
• Stan Freese – tuba
• Jason Freese – saxophone
• Suzanne LaRoque – cello
• Christina Placilla – viola
• Elizabeth Johnson – violin
• Vidal Hulbert – violin

Production

• Warren Fizgerald – producer, engineer

Artwork

• Warren Fitzgerald – drawings
• "Punker Tommy" – band photo
• Adam Swinbourne – cover art (re-release)
• Lisa Johnson – band photo (re-release)
• Scott Matthews – back cover and insert background photos (re-release)
• Sergie – artwork (re-release)

References