Songs The Cramps Taught Us

Earlier this year, music fiends everywhere mourned the passing of the great Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps. In the wake of that sad event, loads of music both by The Cramps and music that inspired The Cramps has risen from the ashes to keep Lux's legacy alive.

This is a tribute post to Lux, compiling links of the garage/rockabilly/blues/surf/trash music that inspired The Cramps. Dig in. There are some real gems here.

- Songs The Cramps Taught Us volumes One, Two, and Three, courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- The Purple Knif Radio Show, hosted by Lux Interior, also courtesy of Dr. Faustroll.
- Lux & Ivy's Favorites, Volumes 1 through 11, courtesy of WMFU DJ Kogar the Swinging Ape.
- Finally, an obscurity from The Cramps, the 1979 "All Tore Up" demos courtesy of Detailed Twang.

There's a ton of music there. Enjoy. It will take me years to digest it all.

"I think the people who don't understand The Cramps are square, uptight, repressed people, and I don't know, there are probably so many things they don't understand that it's just sad for them". - Lux Interior, R.I.P..

Samples:
The Collins Kids - "Whistle Bait".
The Trashmen - "Surfin' Bird".
The Sonics - "Strychnine".
Hasil Adkins - "She Said".
The Novas - "The Crusher".

Ume - The Conductor

This song has been floating around for a few months and I'm not sure why I never paid much attention to it. These Austinites take the "Loveless" template, put a major fist behind it and then pull it all back in an insanely catchy chorus. I'm addicted.

Ume - The Conductor (purchase here / watch video here).

Slow Club : Bandstand Busking

Just an FYI here. If you are a fan of the mighty Slow Club, then get over to Bandstand Busking and check out these performances. And while you're there, Frightened Rabbit is worth a listen as well.

Pure & Unadulterated Northern Soul : Volume 1

While looking through the archives recently for a certain disc, I came across a self-made compilation entitled "Pure & Unadulterated Northern Soul: Volume 1". I remember that I had four volumes of this which I would use when DJing Northern Soul nights around Los Angeles. I also copied these discs for interested friends.

I'm posting this compilation in its entirety here as it's as perfect a "Northern Soul's Greatest Hits!" mix as anything you are likely to find. Some of these songs are complete classics for me. I could go on and on, but it's better for you to just listen to the music (for more information on Northern Soul go here). More volumes to come if I can find them. In the meantime, put on your dancing shoes and talc up the floor.

01 - George Lemons - "Fascinating Girl" (Instrumental version).
02 - The Majestics - "It Hurts Me".
03 - Detroit Soul - "All Of My Life".
04 - Frank Wilson - "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)".
05 - Willie Tee - "Walking Up A One-Way Street".
06 - The Supremes - "He's All I Got".
07 - Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - "Do I Make Myself Clear".
08 - Timothy Wilson - "I Must Love You".
09 - The Creation - "I Got The Fever".
10 - The Chi-Lites - "Love Bandit".
11 - The Olympics - "I'll Do A Little Bit More".
12 - The Impressions - "You've Been Cheatin'".
13 - Chubby And The Turnpikes - "I Didn't Try".
14 - Frankie Beverly And The Butlers - "If That's What You Wanted".
15 - The Wooden Nickels - "More Than A Friend".
16 - The Remarkables - "I Can't Give Up On Losing You".
17 - Cindy Scott - "I Love You Baby".
18 - Chuck Wood - "Seven Days Too Long".
19 - The Ivories - "Please Stay".
20 - The Jades - "I'm Where It's At".
21 - The Fabulous Peps - "With These Eyes".
22 - Bobby Paris - "Personally".
23 - Percy Wiggins - "It Didn't Take Much".
24 - The Opals - "I'm So Afraid".
25 - The Epitome Of Sound - "You Don't Love Me".
26 - The O'Jays - "I Dig Your Act".
27 - Sunny And The Sunliners - "If I Could See You Now".
28 - The Seven Souls - "I Still Love You".

The Gaslight Anthem (Yet Again)

I was fortunate enough to catch The Gaslight Anthem live this week at Antone's here in Austin and I'm thrilled that I did. I've loved "The '59 Sound" since it came out last year but had never dug deeper.

"And I know you're dying for a good time, I'm dying to breathe again...".

Most of the shows I go to are of the "indie" variety, well attended by the questionably stylish and under-fed. When I walked into Antone's with my friend, his first comment was "way more of a 'mainstream' crowd", which really meant "everybody is of normal weight and wearing t-shirts and jeans". Odd as it sounds, it was really refreshing. This was a night about music and the way it travels with you and can document your life. If you're unfamiliar with these guys, imagine a cooler, younger Springsteen spinning classic American tales about classic cars, sad old soul songs, and waiting in vain at the local diner for that girl ("and the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh..."). Every image belongs in a movie.

"You remind Anna if she asks why, that a thief stole my heart while she was making up her mind...".

All of that said, this was by far the best show that I've been to in ages. Rock'n'roll at his purest core, all pretense wiped aside (gratefully). Arms pumped in the air, choruses rung through the crowd and every word was echoed by the attending faithful. It was awesome. Dig in if you haven't already. This kid has soul in spades.

The Gaslight Anthem - "Casanova, Baby!".
The Gaslight Anthem - "Here's Looking At You, Kid".

"Forget this deadman's town, I'll take you home...".

The Strange Boys

While waiting at Maggie Mae's for Cut Off Your Hands last month at SXSW 2009, I got to talking to the person next to me about good bands we'd seen so far. She mentioned Austin's own The Strange Boys who were completely foreign to me. I asked the always difficult "what do they sound like?" to which she replied, "Like a young Dylan fronting an old 60s garage punk band". She couldn't have been more right and I've been unable to drag myself away from this here tune for the past month plus. Enjoy.

The Strange Boys - "Woe Is You And Me".