Thursday, October 20, 2011

Cramps Box suggested program

.....I'll catch up with the Checklist Of Shame for the Hall Of Fame omissions later. I've got until April for those, after all, and I really want to get this Cramps project off the back burner before Halloween. Here are some ground rules: all songs are written by Ivy Rorschach and Lux Interior except as noted in parentheses after the song titles; tracks marked "PK excerpt" are taken from an hour-long guest spot Lux spent as a DJ (details below); tracks marked {*} are currently available on 2CD HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER Vengeance 677 (US) 09/21/04; and each track is preceded by a format code showing where the track would be found on the compilation. The format code is simpler than it looks and while you might be able to figure it out from context, I'd rather just spell it for the sake of completeness. "T" stands for "tape format", meaning a 90-minute chromium oxide cassette. "D" stands for"digital format", meaning a standard audio compact disc, typically with a 80-minute upper limit. Following each of those letters will be a volume number, colon and track number. The format code ends with a letter A through T which stands for the line-up of the band playing that particular track. I've largely ignored video sources in the hopes that someone can compile a comprehensive theoretical DVD with every video document prior to the 2006 concert video. This compilation is intended to be more of an over view.

.....The Purple Knif Show was broadcast from a Hollywood radio station in July, 1984. Lux Interior sat in as a guest DJ for an hour, temporarily renaming the show "Purple Knif"after an expression used by a childhood hero, midwestern TV horror show host Ghoulardi. ('Knif' is just 'fink' spelled backwards, but was enough to establish a synergy with artist Big Daddy Roth, creator of Rat Fink.) Much of what he played was from the late 1950's and early 1960's and not surprisingly reflected the rockabilly sensibilities he and Ivy brought to the Cramps. (They are or were both fanatic record collectors.) The entire show has been sold on CD several times from a variety of labels in different territories. My own copy is from Munster Records (MR CD 151, 1999) but was licensed from Skydog (CD 62 246 2).

.....Because this post is going to be unusually long, I'm going to post the band line-ups A-T on a subsequent post.
  1. [T1:01/D1:01-Lux] 0:34 Introduction, probably from VACD TRADEMARK OF QUALITY VOLUME 3 Warner Bros. PRO-CD 7206 (US) 1994 and currently available on the 2001 Vengeance edition of BIG BEAT FROM BADSVILLE as the introduction to "CONFESSIONS OF A PSYCHOCAT".
  2. [T1:02/D1:02-A] 1:15 LUX'S BLUES - From rehearsals, Summer 1976 {*}.
  3. [T1:03/D1:03-A] 2:57 SUNGLASSES AFTER DARK (adapted from Dwight Pullen and "FAT BACK" by Link Wray; also attributed to James Noble) - From rehearsals, Summer 1976 {*}.
  4. [T1:04/D1:04-B] 3:11 I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF - Recorded live at Max's Kansas City, NYC Jan. 14, 1977 {*}.
  5. [T1:05/D1:05-B] 2:34 I'M CRAMPED (The Cramps) - Recorded live at Max's Kansas City, NYC Jan. 14, 1977 {*}.
  6. [T1:06/D1:06-C] 5:08 SURFIN' BIRD (Sonny Harris, Turner White, Carl White, Al Frazier) - A-side 7" Vengeance 666(US) 04/78.
  7. [T1:07/D1:07-C] 2:43 THE WAY I WALK (Jack Scott) - B-side 7" Vengeance 666(US) 04/78.
  8. [T1:08/D1:08-C] 2:15 HUMAN FLY - A-side 7" Vengeance 668(US) 11/78.
  9. [T1:09/D1:09-C] 3:09 DOMINO (Sam Phillips) - B-side 7" Vengeance 668(US) 11/78.
  10. [T1:10/D1:10-C] 3:16 LONESOME TOWN (Thomas Knight) - This outtake was recorded Oct. 1977 with the two singles above but not released until the EP GRAVEST HITS and is now on the compilation OFF THE BONE.
  11. [T1:11/D1:11-C] 3:01 RED HEADED WOMAN (Sonny Burgess) - Recorded with James Luther Dickinson in Oct. 1977 during the same excursion to Memphis but in a different studio from the singles session. Dickinson's project wasn't completed but this eventually surfaced on VALP ROCKABILLY PSYCHOSIS AND THE GARAGE DISEASE Big Beat WIK18 (UK) 06/84.
  12. [T1:12/D1:12-C] 3:01 WHAT'S BEHIND THE MASK? - Recorded live at CBGB's, NYC Jan. 13, 1978 and first released on the promotional LP FRANK FURTER AND THE HOT DOGS Medicine/WB PROA-6736 (US) 12/10/93 {*}.
  13. [T1:13/D1:13-C] 3:02 BABY BLUE ROCK [early version of DRUG TRAIN] - (see above)
  14. [T1:14/D1:14-C] 2:54 SUBWIRE DESIRE [aka UNDER THE WIRES] - (see above)
  15. [T1:15/D1:15-C] 2:31 TWIST AND SHOUT [early version of DRUG TRAIN] - Demo produced by Alex Chilton, probably from Ohio in July 1979. Commonly found as a bonus track on the CD for SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US.
  16. [T1:16/D1:16-C] 2:39 MYSTERY PLANE (original mix) - This may have been the version on the B-side of a known test pressing in Dec. 1979 coupled with the original mix of "GARBAGE MAN". The entire first album was remixed and the planned single was cancelled, but this track was also a bonus track on the CD for SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US.
  17. [T2:01/D1:17-C] 3:27 FEVER (John Davenport, Eddie Cooley)(edited) - A-side 7" Illegal ILS 0017 (UK) 03/80. This 7" edit is not available on CD. The album edit is 4:16 and will easily fit on the CD configuration here.
  18. [T2:02/D1:18-C] 3:32 GARBAGE MAN - B-side 7" Illegal ILS 0017 (UK) 03/80 and A-side 7" I.R.S. IR9014 (US) 05/80.
  19. [T2:03/D1:19-C] 3:12 TV SET - A French B-side and US compilation BAD MUSIC FOR BAD PEOPLE. Most commonly found on LP SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US I.R.S. SP007 (US) 04/80.
  20. [T2:04/D1:20-C] 1:55 ZOMBIE DANCE - From LP SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US I.R.S. SP007 (US) 04/80.
  21. [T2:05/D1:21-C] 3:47 MAD DADDY - From LP SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US I.R.S. SP007 (US) 04/80.
  22. [T2:06/D1:22-C] 1:47 ROCK ON THE MOON ("Burden"; also credited to Jimmy Stewart) - From LP SONGS THE LORD TAUGHT US I.R.S. SP007 (US) 04/80.
  23. [T2:07/D1:23-Lux] 0:15 (PK excerpt) "THE DE-LUX EDITION OF THE NIGHT TRAIN"
  24. [T2:08/D1:24-C] 2:38 DRUG TRAIN - B-side 7" I.R.S. IR9014 (US) 05/80 and A-side 7" Illegal ILS 0021 (UK) 09/80.
  25. [T2:09/D1:25-C] 2:02 LOVE ME (Marty Lott) - B-side 7" Illegal ILS 0021 (UK) 09/80.
  26. [T2:10/D1:26-C] 2:43 I CAN'T HARDLY STAND IT (Charlie Feathers, Jody Christian, Jerry Huffman) - B-side 7" Illegal ILS 0021 (UK) 09/80.
  27. [T2:11/D1:27-C] 2:28 URANIUM ROCK (Warren Smith) - From VA2LP I.R.S. GREATEST HITS VOLUMES 2&3 I.R.S. SP70800 (US) 01/81. This is more commonly found on the US compilation BAD MUSIC FOR BAD PEOPLE and some later editions of OFF THE BONE.
  28. [T2:12/D1:28-D] 3:59 TEAR IT UP (Johnny Burnette, Dorsey Burnette, Paul Burlison) - Live recording from VA2LP URGH! A MUSIC WAR A&M SP6019 (US) 05/81.
  29. [T2:13/D2:01-E] 3:32 PRIMITIVE (Steven Venet and The Groupies [Norman Desrosiers, Pete Hendleman, Ronnie Peters, Gordon McLoren and Bobby Cortez]) - From LP PSYCHEDELIC JUNGLE I.R.S. SP70016 (US) 04/81. This is also the only track from the rare promo-only compilation A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRAMPS that hadn't made it onto the first draft of this theoretical boxed set. I had originally tried to emphasize original compositions when selecting representative album tracks since covers were already inevitable among the singles.
  30. [T2:14/D2:02-E] 2:49 ROCKIN' BONES (Jack Rhodes, Don Carter, Dub Nalls) - From LP PSYCHEDELIC JUNGLE I.R.S. SP70016 (US) 04/81.
  31. [T2:15/D2:03-E] 2:04 DON'T EAT STUFF OFF THE SIDEWALK - From LP PSYCHEDELIC JUNGLE I.R.S. SP70016 (US) 04/81.
  32. [T2:16/D2:04-E] 3:59 BEAUTIFUL GARDENS - From LP PSYCHEDELIC JUNGLE I.R.S. SP70016 (US) 04/81.
  33. [T3:01/D2:05-E] 3:07 GOO GOO MUCK (Ronnie Cook, Ed James) - A-side 7" I.R.S. IR9021 (US) 05/81.
  34. [T3:02/D2:06-E] 3:17 SHE SAID (Hasil Adkins) - B-side 7" I.R.S. IR9021 (US) 05/81.
  35. [T3:03/D2:07-E] 1:48 THE CRUSHER (Bob Nolan) - A-side 12" I.R.S. PFSX 1008 (UK) 09/81.
  36. [T3:04/D2:08-E] 2:57 SAVE IT (Mel Robbins, Mary Biggs) - B-side 12" I.R.S. PFSX 1008 (UK) 09/81.
  37. [T3:05/D2:09-E] 3:32 NEW KIND OF KICK - B-side 12" I.R.S. PFSX 1008 (UK) 09/81.
  38. [T3:06/D2:10-E] 1:50 RUMBLE BLUES (Milt Grant, Link Wray) - From rehearsal at Modern Music Studio, Hollywood,CA in Fall, 1981 {*}.
  39. [T3:07/D2:11-F] 3:03 SOMETIMES GOOD GUYS DON'T WEAR WHITE (Ed Cobb) - Recorded live in Seattle, WA May 20, 1982.
  40. [T3:08/D2:12-F] 2:11 I'M FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF MY TIME (Rusty Evans, Victoria Pike) - From secretly recorded demos, probably recorded Oct. 1982 {*}.
  41. [T3:09/D2:13-F] 4:36 CALL OF THE WIGHAT - (see above)
  42. [T3:10/D2:14-E] 3:03 THEE MOST EXALTED POTENTATE OF LOVE - From EP SMELL OF FEMALE Enigma 21 (US) 1/83.
  43. [T3:11/D2:15-E] 2:31 {2:47 on LP} FASTER PUSSYCAT (Bert Schefter) - A-side 7" New Rose NEW28 (France) 02/84. The single edits for these four songs are not commonly available on CD (for details please read the Livejournal entries from Feb. and Mar. 2011, also posted under the name pblfsda). The slightly longer edits from the Vengeance CD for SMELL OF FEMALE are included in brackets and the total additional time, should you choose to employ them in assembling this compilation, is only 0:42 and should not exceed the time limits of either format.
  44. [T3:12/D2:16-E] 3:21 {3:33 on LP} YOU GOT GOOD TASTE - B-side 7" New Rose NEW28 (France) 02/84.
  45. [T3:13/D2:17-E] 3:02 {3:16 on LP} I AIN'T NOTHING BUT A GOREHOUND - A-side 7" New Rose NEW33 (France) 02/84.
  46. [T3:14/D2:18-E] 2:33 {not on LP} WEEKEND ON MARS - B-side 7" New Rose NEW33 (France) 02/84.
  47. [T3:15/D2:19-G] 4:12 SURFIN' DEAD (Ivy Rorschach, Lux Interior, Nick Knox) - From VALP RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD Enigma 72004-1 (US) 06/85.
  48. [T4:01/D2:20-G] 3:19 CAN YOUR PUSSY DO THE DOG? - A-side 7" Big Beat NS110 (UK) 11/85 and A-side 7" New Rose NEW66 (France) 11/85.
  49. [T4:02/D2:21-G] 2:39 BLUE MOON BABY (Meridan?, Satalsky, Rowe) - B-side Big Beat NS110 (UK) 11/85. By most accounts this was originally recorded by Dave Diddle Day, but I've found conflicting songwriting credits, none of which include first names. In at least one case, Satalsky's name was spelled "SĂ©talsky".
  50. [T4:03/D2:22-G] 3:20 GEORGIA LEE BROWN (Hafner, Zinn, Hafner) - B-side New Rose NEW66 (France) 11/85.
  51. [T4:04/D2:23-G] 2:36 ALOHA FROM HELL - From LP A DATE WITH ELVIS Big Beat WIKA 46 (UK) 02/86.
  52. [T4:05/D2:24-G] 3:18 THE HOT PEARL SNATCH - From LP A DATE WITH ELVIS Big Beat WIKA 46 (UK) 02/86.
  53. [T4:06/D2:25-G] 3:47 PEOPLE AIN'T NO GOOD - From LP A DATE WITH ELVIS Big Beat WIKA 46 (UK) 02/86. Improbably, this one is performed with The McMartin Preschool Choir. And the title is not ironic.
  54. [T4:07/D3:01-G] 3:23 WHAT'S INSIDE A GIRL? - A-side 7" Big Beat NS115 (UK) 04/86.
  55. [T4:08/D3:02-G] 3:12 GET OFF THE ROAD (Herschell Lewis) - B-side 12" Big Beat NST115 (UK) 04/86.
  56. [T4:09/D3:03-G] 2:26 GIVE ME A WOMAN (Willie Jacobs) - B-side 7" Big Beat NS115 (UK) 04/86 and above.
  57. [T4:10/D3:04-G] 3:02 KIZMIAZ - A-side 7" New Rose NEW71 (France) 06/86.
  58. [T4:11/D3:05-G] 4:11 HOW FAR CAN TOO FAR GO? - B-side 7" New Rose FREE7 (France) Spring 1986. This album track was the flip of the promotional copy of "KIZMIAZ". The stock copies of the 7" and 12" used the B-sides from the UK "WHAT'S INSIDE A GIRL?" singles.
  59. [T4:12/D3:06-I] 4:50 CORNFED DAMES (based on the novel by Dave Stuckey) - Recorded live at The Galaxy, Aukland, NZ on August 30, 1986. From LP ROCKINNREELININAUKLANDNEWZEALANDXXX Vengeance 669 (US) 09/87.
  60. [T4:13/D3:07-Lux] 0:07 (PK excerpt) "OO-WEE-AHH, LISTEN TO THAT CLICKIN'; TIE ON THEIR BIB NOW AND LET'S HAVE SOME CHICKEN." This is a tough edit, but worth it. Lux interjected this snippet into the play order while guest DJ-ing as an introduction to the original version (by The Spark Plugs) of the next song.
  61. [T4:14/D3:08-I] 1:37 CHICKEN (Traditional, arranged by IR/LI)(live) - From the same source as "CORNFED DAMES".
  62. [T4:15/D3:09-I] 2:44 DO THE CLAM (Sid Wayne, Ben Weisman, Delores Fuller)(live) - From the same source as "CORNFED DAMES".
.....I'm going to cut off here at the half-way point and continue tomorrow. This project is so overdue that I'm anxious to let people to know I haven't abandoned it.


[Posted November 16, 2011 after editing and revision.]