Game Theory’s Dead Center Lives Again

GAME THEORY’s 1984 DEAD CENTER ALBUM
GETS DELUXE REISSUE ON OMNIVORE RECORDINGS

Original French compilation, reimagined with 11 bonus tracks,
is set for November 24 release.

Contains remembrances by the Three O’Clock’s Michael Quercio.

In 1984, the French record label Lolita became captivated by the music emanating from Los Angeles’ underground music scene. In the midst of exploring the budding Paisley Underground scene, the heads of Lolita looked north to Davis and found Game Theory. The label loved the band and made a deal to release an album combining tracks from the band’s first two EPs (Pointed Accounts Of People You Know and Distortion), introducing the band to Europe. The result of this alliance was Dead Center; an LP that compiled most of the two EPs with a pair of special surprises. Omnivore Recordings is happy to present a remake/remodel of Dead Center. Expanded, remastered, and reimagined, the new CD/digital release features original recordings and mixes (most unavailable for over 30 years) from Game Theory’s two EPs released in the wake of their debut album Blaze Of Glory, along with a collection of exciting surprises for both long-time Game Theory fans and those just now discovering the band.

In addition to original recordings from the EPs, the CD also features two songs recorded specifically for the original Dead Center LP, a unique version of the song “Dead Center” (the original flexi disc recording is also included) and a cover of “The Letter,” Alex Chilton’s bona fide #1 Record from his pre-Big Star teen years fronting The Box Tops. Both songs appear here on CD for the first time. Add to these 10 rare unreleased recordings including covers of Badfinger’s “No Matter What,” Roxy Music’s “Mother of Pearl,” R.E.M.’s “Radio Free Europe,” Them’s “Gloria,” live versions of Game Theory classics like “Penny, Things Won’t,” “Shark Pretty” and more, making Dead Center an essential piece of the Game Theory puzzle and a crucial part of Omnivore Recordings’ Game Theory catalog relaunch.
The Dead Center CD is housed in a digipak with a 20 page booklet featuring rare photos, liner notes from set co-producer Dan Vallor as well as a remembrance from the Three O’Clock’s Michael Quercio, a dear friend of Game Theory’s Scott Miller and producer of the band’s breakthrough EP Distortion. Michael would himself eventually become a member of Game Theory.
The Dead Center LP has been out of print for three decades. This reissue not only rectifies that, but presents Game Theory’s early material with the reverence it deserves.

Omnivore Recordings will separately announce its Black Friday Record Store Day (November 28) releases, which include vinyl releases of the two Game Theory EPs that inspired Dead Center. Pointed Accounts Of People You Know and Distortion have been remastered and will be presented with their original track sequences as 10″ colored vinyl EPs. Also on tap for Black Friday Record Store Day is a vinyl reissue of the 1976 debut EP by the pivotal North Carolina band Sneakers, featuring Chris Stamey and Mitch Easter.

Track Listing:
Nine Lives to Rigel Five
Penny, Things Won’t
Dead Center (French LP Version)
The Red Baron
The Letter
Shark Pretty
Metal and Glass Exact
Selfish Again
Too Late for Tears
Life in July
No Matter What (Demo)
Mother Of Pearl (Live)
Nine Lives to Rigel Five (Live)
Trouble (Live)
Shark Pretty (Live)
Gloria (Live)
Too Late for Tears
(Michael Q’s “George Martin” Rough Mix)
Radio Free Europe (Live)
Penny, Things Won’t (Live)
Say It Ain’t So Joe (Radio Session)
Dead Center (Flexi Disc Version)