This Is Fred

This Is Fred is the third album by Fred Rechid (Known professionally as The Legs) This is Fred is a concept album, about having a stolen identity. The album is widely considered one of the firestarters for shoegaze.

Writing
In an interview in 1989, shortly before his death, Fred explained that he wanted to have a certain identity as a musician, but everywhere he'd go, people would keep stealing those ideas from him and becoming massive. He did add on that he regrets writing the album, though, because it just seems like a selfish, envious act.

Recording
Fred recorded much of this album in his apartment in Bikini Bottom. He often joked about him playing all the instruments on the album at the same time, although this was not the case. With the very limited tools that Fred had at the time, Fred had to layer every song by tape recorder. He would spend hours trying to get the timing on each and every instrument, on each and every track. It took him about a month to record the album and even longer to mix it.

Studio time.
He paid for studio time, during the production phase and just messed about with the mixing console until it sounded right. Fred said that he didn't really know anything about mixing and just kind of dived in.

Release and Reception
This is Fred was released on January 24th, 1985 and was largely ignored at the time of it's release. It sold about fifty copies in its first week and went out of print pretty quickly. In 1987, Fred pushed through a reissue and the album sold really well by indie pop standards. The album sold about ten thousand copies and received glowing reviews by critics on land and in sea. (Yes, it spread that far.)

This is Fred is now widely known as his magnum opus.

Tracklist
Length : 1: 23: 28
 * 1) This is Fred          7:12
 * 2) Fred is tired          10:53
 * 3) Fred hasn't had a real life  9:21
 * 4) Fred's Legs Shatter           6:20
 * 5) Fred Just Wants To Lay on his couch and die 1:11
 * 6) Fred Gets His Identity Taken 17:42
 * 7) Fred dies Miserable   30:56