For this excursion into the Vinyl Vault we travel all the way back to 1983. Seven years into their career - which continues to this day - psychobilly forerunners The Cramps unleashed a live album on the world. Live, from the Peppermint Lounge, NYC! Play, Ivy, Play!
On a purely observational note, "Thee Most Exalted Potentate of Love" is one hell of a song title. It's not a bad song, either! Here lies proof that bands needn't play at 100mph to sound tough or cool. The Cramps did it.
Part of the appeal of The Cramps was in their refusal to release hold on their musical influences (60s proto-punks and early bluesmen), but instead to meld them with trashy fashion sense and B-movie humour. What resulted was a decidedly warped take on rock 'n' roll (as heard on "Call of the Wighat") that would itself be an inspiration to many a speed-stricken psychobilly act in years to come.
A suitably menacing take on the Count Five's "Psychotic Reaction" fits well with the lyrical and musical direction of the album. In many ways it's a shame that this delightful record didn't come with video footage for although it is nice to use the imagination to set the scene during "Beautiful Gardens", there's always that desire to actually see it as it was. It would've been worth it for Lux's attire alone surely.
Anyone familiar with the Appalachian outsider that is Hasil Adkins would understand why The Cramps saw fit to put their spin on "She Said". Although I'd be lying if I was to say that anyone could outdo Hasil at his own game, The Cramps do it pretty good. For a band with such comically morbid song titles, The Cramps come off terribly good at playing innocent surf songs (as on "Surfin' Dead"), and then distorting them. And so the album ends.
Although perhaps a little too polished for my liking, this album is a decent exhibit of The Cramps in the live environment. A good one for annoying the neighbours as well.