Jealous Again is the second EP by American hardcore punk band Black Flag, and the third-ever release on SST Records. It was Black Flag’s first and only non-compilation release to feature the band’s second vocalist Ron Reyes, as well as a diss track with bassist Chuck Dukowski on vocals.

History

Although eventually released as a 12" 45 RPM extended-play, Jealous Again was initially intended to be Black Flag's first full-length album.

Spurred on by the reception to their first release, the EP Nervous Breakdown, Black Flag entered the studio in late 1979 with new drummer Robo and original singer Keith Morris to begin recording their first LP. Basic tracks for all of the songs were cut live in the studio with Morris singing temporary vocal parts. Almost without warning, however, according to bassist Chuck Dukowski, Morris "smashed his records and guitar and walked out screaming for a week," quitting the band and refusing to complete the album. Already, Black Flag (and many other Los Angeles punk bands) were getting harassed by police; "Revenge" was undoubtedly inspired at least in part by the band's unprovoked encounters with them.

"You Bet We've Got Something Personal Against You!" initially started life as a Greg Ginn/Keith Morris composition, "I Don't Care", recorded during the original album sessions with Morris on vocals. with him and recorded them with his new band the Circle Jerks on their debut album Group Sex. Offended by what they saw as the misappropriation of two Black Flag songs, Dukowski wrote new lyrics to Ginn's music for "I Don't Care" and recorded what is essentially an attack on Morris and the Circle Jerks. "You Bet..." is also the only time Dukowski sings lead vocals on a Black Flag song.

Existing outtakes

Outtakes from all three vocalist's attempts at recording for the EP, including Cadena's version of the title track, dominate the band's 1982 compilation double album Everything Went Black.

Reissued variations

  • The entire Jealous Again EP appeared on the singles compilation The First Four Years, but is also still available separately. It has also been reissued as a 3" CD and as a 10" vinyl EP.
  • The initial CD version of Damaged, for reasons unknown, appended the Jealous Again EP to the CD as bonus tracks.

Reception

At the time of the EP’s release, The Village Voice‘s Robert Christgau wrote, "Black Flag are committed to rage, not in itself—I don't believe their 'I've got something personal against you' even though I know it's true—but as a musical principle. Five songs, seven minutes, as arty as no wave, with a comparable relationship to punk precedents, which for L.A. are basic Brit. The sound is extreme and unique, all forced rhythm and guitar blur with no ingratiating distractions—no humor, irony, hooks, or (God knows) melody. Well, maybe irony."

| all_writing = Greg Ginn, except where noted

| title1 = Jealous Again

| length1 = 1:52

| title2 = Revenge

| length2 = 0:59

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.