Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Kill the poor
2. Forward to death
3. When ya get drafted
4. Let's lynch the landlord
5. Drug me
6. Your emotions
7. Chemical warfare
8. California uber alles
9. I kill children
10. Stealing people's mail
11. Funland at the beach
12. Ill in the head
13. Holiday in Cambodia
14. Viva Las Vegas

Disc 2:

1. Holiday in Cambodia
2. Police truck
3. Kill the poor
4. In sight
5. Too drunk to fuck
6. Prey

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10149 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Limited Edition, Extra tracks

Album Description
Digitally remastered in 2001

Customer Reviews

Punk classic , most surely not
The Dead Kennedys debut album Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables was originally released in September 1980 ( On Cherry Red records in the U.K., though it gained a later release on the bands own Alternative Tentacles label).Coming on the coat tails of the original punk movement- which had now morphed into post-punk the album showcased a harder edged hardcore tinged sound with genuinely political themes. It is in fact more a punk album in true punk attitude than just about any released during punks halcyon years.
The music is frenetic and loud but has a real songwriters nous behind the surf punk mayhem. It is not just a barrage of vociferous pummelling rhythms . The odd song apart this is a fiercely intelligent yet aggressive disembowelling of classic American AM rock. The playing too is incredible with Klaus Fluoride providing jet streamed fluid bass while the guitar of East Bay Ray, who also produced, is just sensational , especially on "Holiday In Cambodia" which in my humble opinion is one of the greatest guitar led tracks ever.What makes it even more impressive is the entire album was recorded live with the only additions being backing vocals, courtesy of various guests and some rhythm guitar.
Lyrically too, this is a tremendous album with Jello Biafra providing some of the most stringent satirical barbs ever committed to tape .It,s like Bill Hicks fronting Minor Threat.....or indeed The Dead Kennedys. Biafra lambastes the left and Governor Jerry Brown on "California Uber Alles", the right on "Kill The Poor" and the closeted middle class on "Holiday In Cambodia". Avarice and stupidity in society are lampooned mercilessly though the band are not above a bit stupidity themselves as their breathless cover of "Viva Las Vegas " proves. Biafra,s voice , like Johnny Rotten before him, is very distinctive with a tangible warble adding to the caustic sneer.
This special edition has an extra CD with different versions of "Kill The Poor" and "Holiday In Cambodia" which are,nt as good as the originals but still worth a listen. There is also the notorious and to be honest slightly asinine "Too Drunk To F**K". The other extra tracks are,nt that great but completists will no doubt be thrilled by their inclusion. The most striking aspect about this album , apart from the music of course, is that the very things that Jello Biafra is railing against are if anything even more prevalent today. A song like "Kill The Poor" has even more resonance in George W Bush,s America of 2008 than it did in 1980....same in Britain under New Labour(Though it may have to be amended to Tax The Poor).Which begs the question where are the contemporary bands with the same sense of outrage and indignation as The Dead Kennedys?

All time classic album
To the guy who said this is over-rated, you are obviously allowed your own view. Me? I saw them back in 1980 or so. I was a punk back in the late 70s to early 80s. I also love a lot of metal and this album is way up in my top albums of all time - along with the Pistols 'Never mind the Bollocks', SLF 'Inflammable Material' and newer faves like QotSA 'Songs for the deaf'.
Yes, Jello's vocals take a bit of getting used to but nobody puts as much passion into what they sing about as he did on this album. He voices his anger, cynicism and other feelings as well as Jake Burns on Inflammable Material.
My 17 year old son absolutely loves this album - up there with other faves of his by SOAD, Foo Fighters etc.
Go on, you know it makes sense.

Another Landmark In The History of Punk
For every band thats formed here, an american version is formed overseas. For the simplicity of The Sex Pistols, there was The Ramones, for The Beatles, America had The Beach Boys and for The Clash, there was The Dead Kennedys. Of course in terms of the styles of music, DK owes much more to the likes of Black Flag and Minor Threat, but its the political rants of Jello Biafra that give its comparison to Joe Strummer.

Dead Kennedy's debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables stands as a landmark in punk's history as well as a template for some of todays aspiring acts. Featuring the classics like Holiday in Cambodia, California Uber Alles and Kill The Poor, Biafra sings about third world countries, democracy, poverty, suicide, war and theft with a sarcastic tone that is hard to recreate. An example would be I Kill Children, despite its title, Biafra sings in a way that you could never take him seriously on that subject.

Musically Biafra is backed by some of the greatest yet underrated players. East Bay Ray mixes breakneck speed riffs along with surf style guitar to create this unique sound that has practically inspired me to perserve with my playing. Also along Klaus and Ted, DK has a really tight rhythm section even at this pace. My favourites include Funland at The Beach, Stealing People's Mail and Chemical Warfare.

If that weren't enough, the 2nd disc offers more classics like the notorious Too Drunk To F*ck, the tongue in cheek Police Truck, the simple In Sight, and the haunting sounds of The Prey. Definitely worth checking out even for the different versions of Holiday in Cambodia and Kill The Poor.

Like The Clash, The Dead Kennedys may not be around anymore (they may still be going, but without Biafra, they'll never be The Dead Kennedys), but the mark they left is one of legendary status, politically attuned and musically creative, this album should be in your collection. Period.