𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗸𝗲’𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 (1989)

intothewellsabyss
Jun 21, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Jun 21, 2023

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…

35 years ago this week, the album containing the song “Tapping into the Emotional Void", which landed Metallica in court for accusations of plagiarism, was released.

On June 20, 1989, Excel released their second full-length studio album, “The Joke's on You” via Caroline Records. The song "The Joke's on You" was already released on the previous album, “Split Image”.

Background:

In late 1988, to promote “The Joke's on You”, Excel released their first single, which was a cover of the song “Message in a bottle” by The Police (originally released on their album “Regatta de Blanc” in September 1979). In early 1989, Excel released another single, "Blaze Some Hate", also to promote the album.

Released in June of 1989, “The Joke's on You” was something of a departure from the Hardcore Punk influences of its predecessor, boasting a more traditional Thrash Metal sound, akin to that of Anthrax and Bay Area bands like Exodus, Testament,Forbidden or Vio-Lence. The album also features Doom Metal influences, as well as some of the earliest examples of Rap Metal (like those used by Mike Patton on Faith No More’s “The Real Thing”) & Groove Metal.

Although “The Joke's on You” never reached any major charts, it is often considered Excel's best release, and it features their live staples "Fired (You're)", "Tapping into the Emotional Void", "Seeing Insane" and "My Thoughts". "Tapping into the Emotional Void" gained considerable attention years after its release, due to accusations that Metallica had plagiarized the opening riff to that song on their 1991 song "Enter Sandman", which had also resulted in Excel taking legal action.

“The Joke's on You” is also the last Excel album recorded with the "classic" line-up of members Adam Siegel (guitar) and Greg Saenz (drums). Following their departure, Excel's music would take a different direction on their next album, 1995's “Seeking Refuge”.

Touring:

Excel played a show in March 1989 at "Chuck Landis' Country Club" in Reseda California and the "Palasades Theater" in San Diego (with the band B'LAST!). In November, Excel embarked on their first tour, which was in the cities of Sneek, Heemskerk, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Goes and Den Bosch, in the Netherlands. On their return to United States, Excel played at "The Palace" in Hollywood, California, the Star Club in Ybor City, Florida, and in Philadelphia on April 29, 1990.

Album Versions:

Three different covers of “The Joke's on You” exist; the original version featured a white cover and the 2001 re-release featured a black cover.

In 2016, Southern Lord reissued "The Joke's on You" with completely new artwork, although the main character from the original cover was present.

Southern Lord Records even went as far as to have a record release party to celebrate the reissue of "The Joke's On You".

Like many Excel albums, the original recording is out of print, but this album, along with the band's others, can readily be found for sale on Chinese, Ukrainian, and Russian mp3 websites.

Noteworthy:

Guitarist Adam Siegel later joined the ranks of Infectious Grooves (feat. Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies) to record the album “The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move...It's the Infectious Grooves” in 1991.

The Metallica “Sandman” Controversy:

In 1991, it had been reported that the members of Excel had considered legal action against Metallica over the latter's song "Enter Sandman", which they had claimed borrowed heavily from the Excel track "Tapping Into The Emotional Void", which was released two years prior to Metallica's self-titled CD.

“You don’t know what to think,” said Excel singer Dan Clements, recalling the first time he heard Metallica’s “Sandman.” — Los Angeles Times (1991)

A fan of Metallica who even stood in line at midnight when their album went on sale, Clements said he was shaken by the similarities of the two songs, and the thought of the potential financial gain from a copyright lawsuit was tempting. Excel’s album, “The Joke’s on You,” has built a solid core of fans, especially in the Los Angeles club scene, but sold only about 20,000 copies. — Los Angeles Times (1991)

“If Excel could write that one (as good as that), I’m sure they can write more,” Metallica co-manager Cliff Burnstein said. “Then they’ll be successful.”

“Void” found a new life in 1991 after Dave Berger, program director at small WXVU-FM at Villanova University near Philadelphia, thought that the Metallica song “sounded familiar.”

“I looked for the Excel record, and there it was,” Berger said. “We played it and some people called thinking it was a demo version of ‘Sandman.’ ”

“Their (Metallica) biggest song, “Enter Sandman”, was ripped off from a band called EXCEL” (Dave Mustaine referring to the bands 1989 track "Tapping Into The Emotional Void"). — from an interview post the release of “Some Kind Of Monster”.

Caroline Records, which released “The Joke’s on You,” later reissued the song as a single with it receiving major airplay on college and Metal stations. It was the “most added” song during the second week of December 1991 on Metal-oriented radio stations reporting to industry tip sheets, the Hard Report and Friday Morning Quarterback.

“Radio has really picked up on it,” said Janet Billig at the time, (then) Caroline Records director of artist and media relations. “Sales--after two years of virtual inactivity--are really going to put the record back on track.”

The lawsuit never moved forward due to improper legal counsel on the behalf of Excel.

"Enter Sandman" currently stands as the biggest hit of METALLICA's career, having peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart back in August 1991. METALLICA's self-titled "black album" has sold more than 14 million copies in the U.S., according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Links to Artists, Albums, and Music Videos:

Click this link to listen to the “The Joke's on You” via Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-jokes-on-you/339946066

Click this link to follow official Excel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExcelOfficial

Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells