It Means Everything

It Means Everything is the debut studio album of American rock band Save Ferris; it was released on September 9, 1997, through Epic Records and Starpool Records. Save Ferris formed in 1995 after its members appeared in other bands. Vocalist Monique Powell became the band's manager because of her connections in the Orange County music scene. Following the release of their debut EP Introducing Save Ferris (1996), they received radio airplay on KROQ-FM, after which the EP sold 12,000 copies. The band performed at the Grammy Awards, which led to them signing with Epic Records. Their debut album was mostly recorded at NRG and The Hook studios, in Hollywood, Los Angeles, between April and June 1997. It Means Everything is a ska album that includes influences from swing music and has been compared with the works of American band No Doubt.

Music critics gave It Means Everything generally favorable reviews; some reviewers focused on the album's quality and others on the contributions from Powell and guitarist Brian Mashburn. The album sold 13,366 copies in its first week and peaked at number 75 on the Billboard 200. Save Ferris promoted the album with performances on the Warped Tour and through touring with Goldfinger, the Offspring, and Sugar Ray. A cover of the Dexys Midnight Runners track "Come On Eileen" (1982) was released as the lead single in October 1997 and the second single "Goodbye" was released at the end of the year. Following a European tour, "The World Is New" was released as a single in May 1998. After this, drummer Marc Harismendy left the band and was replaced by Evan Kilborne. "Superspy" was issued as the album's last single in August 1998.

Background

While studying at Fullerton College in Fullerton, California, Monique Powell joined the bands Larry and the Shanties. After Los Pantalones broke up in 1995, former members guitarist Brian Mashburn, bassist Bull Uechi, saxophonist Eric Zamora, and trumpeter José Castellaños

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. the band's own label, Despite their work not being distributed at the time of its release, the EP gained radio play on KROQ-FM. the EP sold 12,000 copies. and won the final round of the competition, which took place in New York City in February 1997. 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." the label re-issued Introducing Save Ferris. 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. Powell became enamored with the song when she was eight years old and was adamant about the band covering it. "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. 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.

Release

It Means Everything was released during the third wave of ska through Epic and Starpool Records. The following month, Save Ferris embarked on a US tour supporting Goldfinger and Kara's Flowers. The album was subsequently promoted with an appearance on Warped Tour alongside performances with The Offspring, Sugar Ray and other acts. the US edition included mixes of the song titled "For You" and "night mix", while the French version also included a "day mix" of "Come On Eileen". "Goodbye" was released to modern rock radio stations in the US in early December 1997. In April 1998, the band toured Europe. "The World Is New" was released to modern rock radio stations in the US the following month. 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.

Reception

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". 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".

It Means Everything peaked at number 75 on the Billboard 200, selling 13,366 copies in its first week of release. By October 1997, it had shifted 90,000 copies.

Track listing

Writing credits per booklet.

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)

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

Charts

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Chart performance for It Means Everything

! scope="col"| Chart (1997)

! scope="col"| Peak position

! scope="row"| US Billboard 200