The Mr. T Experience

Next up in my Lookout! Records series is a band called The Mr. T Experience. The band existed from 1985 until the early 2000s and released 12 full lengths (including a reunion record in 2017). They are definitely considered a 'pop punk' band, which means they are not really what I would usually listen to, although I did listen to a fair bit of that stuff back in 1993/94. When I saw their records in my friend's collection, I was keen to play them to see if they brought back any memories, and immediately the answer was 'yes'. I remembered a couple of the songs from the days that we used to play records whilst sitting around and drinking tea, and the nostalgia factor drove me to then play the record a couple more times, and then I quickly started to get hooked. I then got into the another record too, and it was then pretty obvious I was going to have to keep these ones for myself and not sell them.

The first record is the band's debut LP, 'Everybody's Entitled To Their Own Opinion', which is Lookout! Records number 39. This has a pretty cool cover, although this pressing is actually a reissue.

The record was originally released by a label called Disorder Records in 1986, with some copies coming on red vinyl. It was then reissued by Lookout! in 1990 with all copies being pressed on black vinyl.

This record showcases the band at their most 'raw'. There's something about the sound that definitely places it firmly in the 80s.

The second record I kept is the band's 5th album, 'Our Bodies Our Selves', released as Lookout! Records 80 in 1993, although the cover makes it look more like it came out in 1963 I think.

As was the case during this period, all copies came on black vinyl.

This record is super poppy and the whole thing sounds more polished than the first album. By this point the band had been going for 8 years or so, and things were starting to change. A couple of members left and they shrank from a four piece to a three piece. I haven't heard albums 2-4, so I don't know how this one compares, but I love it regardless.

And finally, a 7". This one is titled 'So Long Sucker' and is Lookout! Records number 23, from 1989, and was released between the two albums above.

It feels like whoever was in charge of artwork at Lookout! Records must have been on holiday when this was coming out, so they just went with words on a pink background.

This one also comes on limited blue vinyl, so obviously I want one of those now, but with the state of record collecting what it is right now, it will probably never happen. In fact, the same is true of other LPs by this band. I'd like to get more, but prices these days just seem silly, so who knows if it will ever happen.