It Means Everything

While studying at Fullerton College in Fullerton, California, Monique Powell joined the bands Larry and the Shanties.Partridge 2021, p. 42 After Los Pantalones broke up in 1995, former members guitarist Brian Mashburn, bassist Bull Uechi, saxophonist Eric Zamora, and trumpeter José Castellaños formed a new band with a new vocalist. When the vocalist left, the other members considered engaging Powell, who they knew from shows with Larry. Despite not previously being a lead vocalist, Powell agreed to join the band on the condition everyone was committed to the band because she wanted to work full-time in the music industry after she quit attending Fullerton. The trombonist left because he did not want to be committed, and was replaced by T-Bone Willy of the Nuckle Brothers, who was a friend of Powell. Drummer Marc Harismendy joined afterwards.{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-means-everything-mw0000027654 |title=Save Ferris Biography, Songs, & Albums |publisher=AllMusic |author=Collar, Matt |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225230748/https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-means-everything-mw0000027654 |url-status=live}}

The band was named Save Ferris after the film Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986). Powell, who had connections in the Orange County music scene because of being in Larry and her contact with Reel Big Fish, became the band's manager. The band's profile quickly rose; they reached headlining status at a point that angered other long-time bands. Save Ferris recorded their debut Extended Play (EP) Introducing Save Ferris (1996) after Powell's sister paid for the studio sessions. The EP released through Starpool Records,{{cite AV media notes |title=Introducing Save Ferris |author=Save Ferris |year=1996 |type=sleeve |publisher=Starpool Records |id=STRPL0001-1}} the band's own label. and was planned to be promoted with "The World Is New" in early 1997.Rodrigues 1996, p. 109 Despite their work not being distributed at the time of its release, the EP gained radio play on KROQ-FM. Although they were unable to keep up with demand,Oseary 2016, p. 156 the EP sold 12,000 copies.

Save Ferris performed at a Grammy Awards showcase for bandsTrakin 1998, p. 11 and won the final round of the competition, which took place in New York City in February 1997.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-04-ca-38972-story.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820211628/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-oct-04-ca-38972-story.html |title=Save Ferris Steps Out of O.C. Ska Pack |work=Los Angeles Times |author=Scribner, Sara |date=October 4, 1997 |archivedate=August 20, 2023 |access-date=August 20, 2023}} Senior vice-president of artists and repertoire (A&R) at Epic Records David Massey witnessed this and decided to sign the band, saying it was "one of those spontaneous things. They simply drove the crowd wild." Powell was dismissive, saying since California-based band No Doubt were having success, "all of these A&R guys had very little creativity [on who to sign next]. They were looking for the next female in ska or whatever." After signing in March 1997,{{cite web |url=http://www.universalstudios.com/unichat.30/newchat/transcripts/saveferris.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990203061533/http://www.universalstudios.com/unichat.30/newchat/transcripts/saveferris.html |title=Save Ferris & Unwritten Law |publisher=Universal Studios |date=June 17, 1998 |archivedate=February 3, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2023}} the label re-issued Introducing Save Ferris.{{cite AV media notes |title=Introducing Save Ferris |author=Save Ferris |year=1996 |type=sleeve |publisher=Epic/Starpool Records |id= EK 68138}} When radio stations in Southern California asked about a live recording of their cover version of Dexys Midnight Runners{{'}} 1982 hit "Come On Eileen", the reception of it saw the band recording for their debut studio album.

It Means Everything was largely recorded at NRG and The Hook studios, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, between April and June 1997. "The World Is New" was recorded at Front Page Studios in Burbank, California and The Hook; along with "Superspy", "Sorry My Friend", "Spam" and "Under 21", "The World Is New" was re-recorded during the sessions. Collins produced the tracks except for "The World Is New", which the band and Craig Nepp produced, and "Come On Eileen", which Collins produced with Clive Goddard and the band. Goddard did additional production on most of the songs and acted as engineer during recording. Orchestration was recorded at Sonics studio in London, England, with engineering by Mat Clark. Goddard mixed the album at Record Plant in Hollywood; Greg Collins, Steve Mixdorf, Kenji Nakai and Lisa Lewis served as secondary engineers. Stephen Marcussen then mastered the album at Precision Mastering.

Jennifer Clay of Wall of Sound compared It Means Everything to the sound of No Doubt and said Powell is "more of a long-lost Andrews sister than a Gwen Stefani clone". AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine said Save Ferris tried to differentiate from their ska-punk contemporaries by incorporating elements of swing music, which he thought was adapted from the work of the Squirrel Nut Zippers. Clay also acknowledged the swing connection, adding with a touch of power pop, "this young gang of seven has created its own ska hybrid". Nude as the News writer David Thomas said the album is "short on punk, sticking to an elemental version of ska"; he said the horn section "itself doesn't try to imitate guitars" as members of Less Than Jake do, instead styling "themselves after big bands from the swing age" of the 1920s and 1930s. Paul Hampton played Hammond organ and electric piano on "Nobody But Me", "Goodbye", "Sorry My Friend", "Lies" and "Little Differences" while Kid Tracy played tenor and baritone saxophone. Clay noted the lyrics involve "meat by-products, spies, and the woes of relationships".

"Nobody But Me" displays Powell's vocal range. "Superspy" is a swing track in the vein of Poi Dog Pondering, on which Powell duets with Mashburn. Save Ferris' version of "Come On Eileen" shifts towards ska compared to the Dexys Midnight Runners original; the staff at Billboard said Save Ferris have a "deft way of serving from jittery guitars to sunny horns" with tempo changes as the "verses dart from a breathtaking pogo pace to the more shoulder-shaking rate of the chorus".Flick ed. 1997, p. 62 Powell became enamored with the song when she was eight years old and was adamant about the band covering it.Bambarger 1997, p. 73 "Lies" and "Everything I Want to Be" feature string orchestration, the former composed by Simon Warner and Richard Benbow, and the latter by Benbow alone. The orchestration consisted of violinists Howard Gott and Laura Williams, violaist Naomi Fairhurst and cellist Ed Jeffries. Clay said "Lies" "seduces [the listener] with a well-placed string backdrop and horns that seem to weep along with Powell's voice". "Spam", which includes additional vocals from the Starpool Elementary School Choir, is a homage to the food of the same name, which is manufactured by Hormel Foods Corporation. "Under 21" discusses a woman trying to get into a concert for nothing.{{cite web |url=http://westnet.com/consumable/1997/06.24/revska.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991004152242/http://westnet.com/consumable/1997/06.24/revska.html |title=Save Ferris, Introducing Save Ferris / Buck O Nine, Twenty Eight Teeth- Bob Gajarsky |work=Consumable Online |author=Gajarsky, Bob |date=June 24, 1997 |archivedate=October 4, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2023}} According to Willy, the band, who do not wish to exclude younger audiences, try to avoid performing at clubs that restrict shows to patrons 21 and older.Savio 1998, p. A11

It Means Everything was released during the third wave of ska on September 9, 1997,Frampton ed. 1997, p. 69 through Epic and Starpool Records. Bradley Bambarger of Billboard wrote Save Ferris would come to define the "sound of young America on the radio this year" alongside other ska acts The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Sublime and Reel Big Fish.Bambarger 1997 – 1998, p. 83 The following month, Save Ferris embarked on a US tour supporting Goldfinger and Kara's Flowers.Clark 1997, p. 12 The album was subsequently promoted with an appearance on Warped Tour alongside performances with The Offspring, Sugar Ray and other acts. "Come On Eileen" was released as a single on October 20, 1997;{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/come-on-eileen-mr0001275039 |title=Come on Eileen - Save Ferris / Release Info |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820165115/https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/come-on-eileen-mr0001275039 |url-status=live}} the US edition included mixes of the song titled "For You" and "night mix",{{cite AV media notes |title="Come On Eileen" |author=Save Ferris |year=1997 |type=sleeve |publisher=Epic/Starpool Records |id=34K 78729}} while the French version also included a "day mix" of "Come On Eileen".{{cite AV media notes |title="Come On Eileen" |author=Save Ferris |year=1997 |type=sleeve |publisher=Epic Records |id=665474 2}} "Goodbye" was released to modern rock radio stations in the US in early December 1997.Ross ed. 1997, p. 1 In April 1998, the band toured Europe. "The World Is New" was released as a single in Europe with live versions of "Spam" and "Artificial Life", and Operation Ivy cover, as its B-sides.{{cite AV media notes |title="The World Is New" |author=Save Ferris |year=1998 |type=sleeve |publisher=Epic/Starpool Records |id=EPC 665897 2}} "The World Is New" was released to modern rock radio stations in the US the following month.Ross ed. 1998a, p. 1 By June 1998, Harismendy had left the band, saying he wanted to be at home in Artesia, California. He was replaced by Mindrot member Evan Kilborne, who the band met through Home Grown. "Superspy" was released to modern rock stations in August 1998.Ross ed. 1998b, p. 1

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-means-everything-mw0000027654 |title=It Means Everything - Save Ferris | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |access-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225230744/https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-means-everything-mw0000027654 |url-status=live}}

| rev2 = E! Online

| rev2Score = C−{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Music/Leaves/0%2C6%2C561%2C00.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19990202044343/http://www.eonline.com/Reviews/Music/Leaves/0,6,561,00.html |title=Music Review - Save Ferris - It Means Everything |work=E! Online |archivedate=February 2, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2023}}

| rev3 = Pitchfork

| rev3Score = 9.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21567-it-means-everything |title=Record Reviews : Save Ferris : It Means Everything |work=Pitchfork |author=Wisdom, James P. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618094521/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/21567-it-means-everything |access-date=December 25, 2021 |archive-date=June 18, 2008}}

| rev4 = Wall of Sound

| rev4Score = 79/100{{cite web |url=http://www.wallofsound.go.com/archive/reviews/stories/3087_52Index.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991011102522/http://wallofsound.go.com/archive/reviews/stories/3087_52Index.html |title=Review: It Means Everything |work=Wall of Sound |author=Clay, Jennifer |archivedate=October 11, 1999 |access-date=August 20, 2023}}

}}

Music critics gave It Means Everything generally favorable reviews; some critics focused on the overall quality of the album. The staff at E! Online said the album is a "wild and wacky trip" that "never stops long enough to take a breath". They concluded there is a "definite lack of weight to [the sound of] Save Ferris, however sweet and charming they may be". Pitchfork contributor James P. Wisdom said the album "knocked my socks off" and "pulled me awake with its clean bouncin' groove". Clay was equally enthusiastic about the album, saying "these catchy, infectious numbers teem with enough quirky style to sway even the most stationary" of listeners. Erlewine noted similar to their peers, Save Ferris have a "tendency to wallow in smirking 'irony' ... which may sound good in concert, but it sinks on record".

Other critics singled out Powell's and Mashburn's contributions. Erlewine highlighted Powell for her "energy and charisma", and Mashburn for his ability to compose a hook, citing "The World Is New" and "Superspy" as examples. Thomas said Mashburn's "strictly ska guitar work makes It Means Everything stand out with its own style" and also praised Powell for her voice, which he said is "sultry at times, but more often pleasantly sweet".{{cite web |url=http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/84 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030116202015/http://www.nudeasthenews.com/reviews/84 |title=Save Ferris It Means Everything |publisher=Nude as the News |author=Thomas, David |archivedate=January 16, 2003 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |url-status=dead}} Megan Frampton of CMJ New Music Report wrote Save Ferris's "strongest attribute is Powell's vocals, and armed with them, this group can no doubt succeed where few ska bands have".Frampton 1997, p. 11

It Means Everything peaked at number 75 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,366 copies in its first week of release.Fong-Torres ed. 1997, p. 27 By October 1997, it had shifted 90,000 copies.Beer ed. 1997, p. 4

Writing credits per booklet.

{{Tracklist

| headline = It Means Everything track listing

| extra_column = Producer

| title1 = The World Is New

| writer1 = Brian Mashburn

| extra1 = {{hlist|Save Ferris|Craig Nepp}}

| length1 = 2:12

| title2 = Nobody But Me

| writer2 = Mashburn

| extra2 = Peter Collins

| length2 = 3:05

| title3 = Superspy

| writer3 = {{hlist|Mashburn|Michael Horton|Mire Molnar}}

| extra3 = Collins

| length3 = 3:00

| title4 = Come On Eileen

| note4 = Dexys Midnight Runners cover

| writer4 = {{hlist|Kevin Rowland|Jim Paterson|Billy Adams}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Collins|Clive Goddard|Save Ferris}}

| length4 = 4:11

| title5 = Goodbye

| writer5 = Mashburn

| extra5 = Collins

| length5 = 3:42

| title6 = Sorry My Friend

| writer6 = Mashburn

| extra6 = Collins

| length6 = 3:05

| title7 = Lies

| writer7 = {{hlist|Mashburn|Monique Powell}}

| extra7 = Collins

| length7 = 3:54

| title8 = Little Differences

| writer8 = {{hlist|Mashburn|Powell}}

| extra8 = Collins

| length8 = 2:42

| title9 = Spam

| writer9 = Mashburn

| extra9 = Collins

| length9 = 2:28

| title10 = Under 21

| writer10 = Mashburn

| extra10 = Collins

| length10 = 2:36

| title11 = Everything I Want to Be

| writer11 = {{hlist|Mashburn|Powell}}

| extra11 = Collins

| length11 = 3:48

}}

Personnel per booklet.{{cite AV media notes|title=It Means Everything|author=Save Ferris|year=1997|type=booklet|publisher=Epic/Starpool Records|id=EK 68183}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Save Ferris

• Monique Powell – vocals
• Brian Mashburn – guitar, vocals, piano, organ
• Bill Uechi – bass
• Marc Harismendy – drums
• Eric Zamora – alto saxophone
• José Castellaños – trumpet
• T-Bone Willy – trombone

Additional musicians

• Kid Tracy – tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Paul Hampton – Hammond organ (tracks 2 and 5–8), electric piano (tracks 2 and 5–8)
• Simon Warner – orchestration (track 7)
• Richard Benbow – orchestration (tracks 7 and 11)
• Howard Gott – 1st violin
• Laura Williams – 2nd violin
• Naomi Fairhurst – viola
• Ed Jeffries – cello
• Starpool Elementary School Choir – additional vocals (track 9)

{{col-2}}

Production and design

• Peter Collins – producer (all except track 1)
• Clive Goddard – mixing, additional production (tracks 1–3, 7 and 9–10), producer (track 4), engineer
• Save Ferris – producer (tracks 1 and 4)
• Craig Nepp – producer (track 1)
• Greg Collins – 2nd engineer
• Steve Mixdorf – 2nd engineer
• Kenji Nakai – 2nd engineer
• Lisa Lewis – 2nd engineer
• Stephen Marcussen – mastering
• Mat Clark – engineer
• Bill Uechi – art direction, design
• Frank Harkins – patron of the arts
• Nathaniel Welch – photography

{{col-end}}

• Honey, I'm Homely! – album by contemporaries Dance Hall Crashers, released on the same day

{{reflist}}

{{refbegin|30em}}

• {{cite magazine |last=Bambarger |first=Bradley |title=The Modern Age |magazine=Billboard |date=November 29, 1997 |issue=48 |volume=109 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5AkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Bambarger |first=Bradley |title=The Modern Age |magazine=Billboard |date=December 27, 1997 – January 3, 1998 |issue=52 |volume=109 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0g0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA83}}
• {{cite magazine |editor-last=Beer |editor-first=Lenny |title=Vibe-Raters |magazine=Hits|date=October 3, 1997 |issue=536 |volume=11 |oclc=15994494 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/90s/1997/Hits-1997-10-03.pdf}}
• {{cite journal |last=Clark |first=Lucky |title=Rock-'n-ska band Save Ferris hits Stonecoast Brewery |journal=Sun Journal |date=October 15, 1997 |oclc=1058326012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x94gAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA73 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314163104/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=x94gAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA73&pg=PA73 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite magazine |editor-last=Flick |editor-first=Larry |title=Reviews & Previews |magazine=Billboard |date=August 16, 1997 |issue=33 |volume=109 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2gkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Fong-Torres |first=Ben |title='Come on Eileen' |magazine=Gavin Report |date=September 26, 1997 |issue=2174 |oclc=39715492 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/97/Gavin-1997-09-26.pdf}}
• {{cite magazine |last=Frampton |first=Megan |title=Jackpot! |magazine=CMJ New Music Report |date=September 8, 1997 |issue=537 |volume=51 |issn=0890-0795 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LhGxd6mX1UUC&pg=PA11}}
• {{cite magazine |editor-last=Frampton |editor-first=Scott |title=Justout |magazine=CMJ New Music Monthly |date=October 1997 |issue=50 |issn=1074-6978 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_CoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69}}
• {{cite book |last=Oseary |first=Guy |author-link=Guy Oseary |title=Jews Who Rock |publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group |year=2016 |isbn=9781250138699 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bpHUDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT156 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820221453/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Jews_Who_Rock/bpHUDAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PT156 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite book |last=Partridge |first=Kenneth |title=Hell of a Hat: The Rise of '90s Ska and Swing |publisher=Penn State University Press |year=2021 |isbn=9780271090535 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yn80EAAAQBAJ&pg=PT42 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820221250/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Hell_of_a_Hat/yn80EAAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PT42 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite magazine |editor-last=Rodrigues |editor-first=Ron |title=Specialty Show Reporters |magazine=Radio & Records |date=December 13, 1996 |issue=1176 |issn=0277-4860 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-12-13.pdf}}
• {{cite journal |editor-last=Ross |editor-first=Sean |title=Rock Highlights |journal=Rock Airplay Monitor |date=December 5, 1997 |volume=4 |issue=49 |oclc=60627318 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1997/Airplay-Monitor-Rock-1997-12-05.pdf}}
• {{cite journal |editor-last=Ross |editor-first=Sean |title=Rock Highlights |journal=Rock Airplay Monitor |date=May 1, 1998a |volume=5 |issue=18 |oclc=60627318 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1998/Billboard-Rock-Airplay-Monitor-1998-05-01.pdf}}
• {{cite journal |editor-last=Ross |editor-first=Sean |title=Rock Highlights |journal=Rock Airplay Monitor |date=August 28, 1998b |volume=5 |issue=35 |oclc=60627318 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/Billboard-Rock-Airplay/1998/Billboard-Rock-Airplay-Monitor-1998-08-28.pdf}}
• {{cite journal |last=Savio |first=Amanda |title=The happy and bright sound of ska overshadows dark grunge |journal=Record-Journal |date=April 9, 1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZulIAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314163106/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ZulIAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA25&pg=PA25 |url-status=live}}
• {{cite journal |last=Trakin |first=Roy |title=Reach for the ska |journal=The Spokesman-Review |date=February 23, 1998 |oclc=11102529 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gF5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA30 |access-date=August 20, 2023 |archive-date=March 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314163102/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=gF5WAAAAIBAJ&lpg=PA30&pg=PA30 |url-status=live}}

{{refend}}

• {{cite magazine |last=Bell |first=Carrie |title=Ska Fever Surges into a New Era |magazine=Billboard |date=October 18, 1997 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93}}
• {{cite journal |last=Cocuzza |first=Tony |title=Audio Reviews |journal=Reading Eagle |date=October 17, 1997 |issn=2469-3448 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ysiAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA39}}
• {{cite magazine |editor-last=Flick |editor-first=Larry |title=Reviews & Previews |magazine=Billboard |date=December 20, 1997 |issue=51 |volume=109 |issn=0006-2510 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4wkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA67}}
• {{cite journal |last=Speese |first=Jim |title=Chameleon Club continues to showcase national talent |journal=Reading Eagle |date=October 17, 1997 |issn=2469-3448 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lEkwAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA26}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l9Xfk4SFg-tZhhykg0ylrLWgZBQDzBpmk It Means Everything] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

{{authority control}}

Category:Save Ferris albums

Category:1997 debut albums

Category:Epic Records albums