Wednesday, October 12, 2016

ABCs of My Vinyl Collection (Letter C, Part 28)

This one goes back 32 years to the infancy of my record collection, and holding the cover of the Cramps' 1984 album 'Bad Music for Bad People' today instantly took me back to my carefree early high-school days. I had a pal with a terrific stereo in his beat-up Fiat, and we loved to play this compilation of rockabilly voodoo very loudly over and over again.

Now, I know we have some die-hard fans out there. So, while you're listening to, perhaps, my favorite cover from Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, let me know your go-to song. That only gives you two minutes, however, and I'm reminded this song always made for a great ending to mix tapes, especially if you could time that last cymbal crash just as the cassette was concluding. I'm also wondering, dear readers, if you are from the UK and beyond, did you have this compilation? Many years after I bought 'Bad Music for Bad People,' I learned of the eerily similar 1983 UK release '...Off the Bone.' I have to say with the inclusion of "Surfin' Bird" and a few other additional nuggets, you chaps over there got the better end of the deal.

"Love Me"

7 comments:

drew said...

New Kind of Kick for me Brian. I had Off The Bone, for a long time the only thing Imhad by them. I was always put off by the connection to the psychobilly Scooterists here in the mid 80s, most of whom really aspired to the psycho part of their name.

Swiss Adam said...

Off The Bone was the one in the UK I think. I could name a dozen Cramps songs but in recent years I've been most partial to Stay Sick (1990). I'll take anything off that. New Kind Of Kick as Drew says takes some beating. I think the first song I heard by them was Sunglasses After Dark which still works for me. I'll have that one.

The Swede said...

It's a very tough call to pick one tune by The Cramps - here's another band ripe for an ICA I reckon. The first things I heard by them were the early singles 'Human Fly' and their version of 'Surfin' Bird'. I happened to hear the latter on the radio just a couple of days ago and have to say that it sounded absolutely terrific, Mrs S was less impressed though!

Charity Chic said...

I'm with the Swede - an ICA is clearly required

Brian said...

Thanks for the input, fellas. Every song mentioned is top-notch. I'm not nearly as well versed in the later years... not even the monetarily successful period in the late '80s/early '90s, but I have been curious. I always thought Adam did a good job covering everything during his old Friday rockabilly series.

JC said...

And to think that The Cramps turned out to be the second band I ever saw play live when I went along to my first ever gig in May 1979. Born lucky I guess....

Can Your Pussy Do The Dog? is the one for me just for its amazing title.

Brian said...

Tip of the cap for your choice, JC. That's a smile. Your second live band is much much better than mine.