Fluf "The Classic Years" LP

SEALED Original 1995 Pressing!

Fluf was started by singer/guitarist Otis "O" Barthoulameu (RIP) and bassist Jonny Donhowe after the breakup of their prior band, Olivelawn. Barthoulameu had been Olivelawn's guitarist and formed Fluf as a vehicle for his own songwriting (he would be the band's only constant member). He recruited drummer Miles Gillett, who had previously played in the Orange County bands El Grupo Sexo and Gherkin Raucous but had since moved back to New Zealand where he was playing in Salad Daze. Gillette came back to southern California on a visit and jammed with Barthoulameu and Donhowe. Things clicked, so he came back again to record the band's debut album, which was released on local label Headhunter Records (distributed by Cargo Music) in three formats with three different titles: on compact disc as Mangravy, on cassette as Shooting Putty At The Moon, and on 10" vinyl in a shortened version (with 6 tracks to the others' 12) titled Wasting Seed. Gillette soon moved from New Zealand back to Irvine to continue playing with Fluf.

They released their second album in 1994, also on Cargo/Headhunter. It also had a different title for each format, being released as an LP with an added 7" as Whitey On The Moon, on CD as Home Improvements, and on cassette as Stocking The Lake With Brown Trout. Preferring the vinyl format, Fluf released a number of 7" singles and EPs on independent labels; many of the tracks from these were compiled on 1995's The Classic Years. That year they played the inaugural run of the Warped Tour, which they would repeat in 1996.