Ocean Beach is the fourth studio album by Red House Painters, released in 1995 by 4AD. It is the first album that demonstrates what would become both the group's and Mark Kozelek's move toward a more pastoral and folk-influenced arrangement style, and away from the lengthy, droning epics that had made their early albums notable. Ocean Beach was also the last album to feature founding guitarist Gorden Mack, as well as being the band's last studio album released by 4AD. The album features an unlisted hidden track, referred to as "Brockwell Park (Part 2)" less than 20 seconds after "Drop" ends. The double 10" vinyl release of the album (now long out of print) features the band's acoustic cover of Yes' 1971 hit "Long Distance Runaround." Kozelek would go on to record another version of the song (with electric guitars and an extended outro) for Red House Painters' next album, Songs for a Blue Guitar.
A rarely seen music video was produced for the song "Summer Dress."[3]
An original idea for the album's front cover artwork was a photo of what could be broken pews in an abandoned church, or old beds in an abandoned hospital ward.[4]
Ocean Beach was ranked #58 on Pitchfork Media on the original version of the Top 100 Albums of the 1990s list. [5]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mark Kozelek, except where noted
Additional musicians: Dan Barbee and Carrie Bradley.
Recorded and mixed at Coast Recorders, San Francisco.
Additional recording at Hyde Street Studios, San Francisco; and David Wellhousen's Studio, San Francisco.
Art direction and design by Paul McMenamin at v23.
Photography by Melodie McDaniel.
"Summer Dress" single
Although no commercial singles were ever released from the album, a promotional-only CD was issued for "Summer Dress" in the US in April 1995. The single features an exclusive radio edit of "San Geronimo."
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