Official Mumps Website: Record Store

How I Saved the World
CD/DVD released 2005

How I Saved the World
click for full-scale image

Along with Blondie, Television, and the Ramones, Mumps were pioneers of the NYC CBGBs/Max's scene from 1975-1980, amassing a huge cult following for their wild and unpredictable stage shows, led by the maniacal gyrations of the notorious Lance Loud, the first reality T.V. star. The literate '60s-pop-informed compositions of Kristian Hoffman claimed a lost punk bubble-anthem territory somewhere between the Kinks, Abba, and Wild Man Fischer. Soho News called Mumps a "hard driving, tightly pulled together powerhouse package, with a genuine teen idol out front."

This compilation contains everything on their critically acclaimed 1995 retrospective CD Fatal Charm (about which Mojo simply stated "I love it!") plus 10 unreleased songs, extensive new notes in a 24 page all color booklet, plus a live DVD of vintage never-before-seen footage, directed and edited by Dave Markey (director: 1991 - The Year Punk Broke). All tracks digitally remastered in 2005.

Mail order from the record company, Sympathy for the Record Industry:

Information on the CD: The CD/DVD How I Saved the World -- SFTRI 754

Ordering instructions: SFTRI ordering instructions

Or order from one of the following on-line retailers:

CD Universe

Best Prices

Deep Discount CD

Amazon

Or buy from your local independent record store.

Crocodile Tears/Waiting for the World to Catch Up
pink vinyl 45 released 2005

Pink 45
Pink 45
Pink 45
The original release of Mumps first single “Crocodile Tears” led to nationwide underground radio play, and rave reviews around the world. Coming from a point in time, before MTV, Mumps were a 70's era New York rock band that were too pop for punk and too "old school" for the New Wave. Their music spoke to the true misfit class of American teenager. Not the poetic James Dean type dream outcast, but the real, nerdy, nobody wants em, forgotten teens. You know the type. Too square to be down with the homeboys too idiotic to be up with the illelectuals, too insecure to be the center of attention and too impatient to just sit at home and wait until they get to be 21. Mumps music spoke to the disenfranchised, kids who wanted to fit in any place but fit in no place instead. This record is for the dorky youth. For kids who are dumb, unpopular, and considering a lifetime fraught with serious adjustment problems. It is also for anyone with an itch for brilliant pop music. The B-side, "Waiting For The World To Catch Up" is exclusive to this single...coloured vinyl and limited to 1000 copies.

Mail order from the record company, Sympathy for the Record Industry:

Information on the 45: The 7-inch pink vinyl single "Crocodile Tears/Waiting for the World to Catch Up" SFTRI 759

How to order: SFTRI ordering instructions

Fatal Charm
earlier Mumps CD compilation released 1995

Fatal Charm
click for full-scale image

Mumps are a sensational pop/punk band from the CBGBS era of NYC 70's alternative rock that developed a rabid cult following on both coasts of the U.S. , releasing a couple of seminal 45's that have been included on many important compilations, and recording loads of release quality demos. All these recordings and more are gathered on this CD for the first time! Alan Betrock, who founded ( and was editor of ) respected rock rag New York Rocker to document the exploding NYC CBGBS/Max's scene in the mid 70's, and later wrote the seminal 'girl group sound' history "Wonder Women", said, "Mumps balance their intricate and literate songs by augmenting them with an array of nasty guitar attacks. Kristian Hoffman's melodic compositions are ripe for the full production treatment, and to choose a single from such a dazzling array of originals as 'Anyone But You', 'Ideal' , 'Not Again' and ' I Like to Be Clean' would be an impossible task!"

Order Fatal Charm from CD Baby.

Also available from CD Baby: the Kristian Hoffman solo recordings, I Don't Love My Guru Anymore, Earthquake Weather, and &.

Visit the Kristian Hoffman website for information on Kristian's internet-only releases.