Seattle band Swallow was formed in 1987 with Rod Moody on guitar and vocals, Andy Scheen on bass, Chris Pugh on guitar and vocals, and Scott Schickler on drums.
Sub Pop Records released Swallow's first single (and Sub Pop's third), "Trapped"/"Guts" in 1988. Another song, "Zoo," was included on the label's Sub Pop 200 compilation that same year. In 1989, Sub Pop and British label Tupelo co-released Swallow's full-length eponymous record, and the band proceeded to tour the Southwest.
The pop elements and harmonies that dominated many of the songs Pugh wrote and sang offered a welcome contrast to the band's more aggressive punk/metal songs typically growled by Moody. This caused one reviewer to exclaim "wow, the singer actually cleared his throat on this song!" Other writers dubbed the bands sound "motorcycle pop" and claimed that Swallow put the "pop" in Sub Pop.
The original lineup of Swallow reconvened in 2006 for two shows, and they liked it enough to start practicing regularly, write new songs, and play the occasional show. The lost third album, titled "Teach Your Bird to Sing" is out NOW on Flotation Records .