The Cramps were one of the most outrageous and memorable bands of the American punk movement. They combined Link Wray rockabilly, surf music, garage rock, The Ramones, R&B, B movies, and sci-fi and created an insane amalgam the critics called "psychobilly" and the Cramps themselves termed "gothabilly".
But despite the obviously campy, high concept performance art aspects, it worked then and holds up well today because it was deeply musical and the songs were really good. Killer choruses, great bridges, 2 guitars and no bass initially (though they later added bass guitar), minimalist drums, and an underlying R&B vibe. Leaders and husband and wife Lux Interior (vocals) and Poison Ivy's (guitar, bass) were stunningly great performers. And they rocked it so hard.
"Garbageman" from 1980 was the Cramps at the very top of their game, and a fitting song for Friday Nuggets as it names drops various garage rock classics like "Louie Louie". I jumped for joy when I found this video:
The Cramps are so great, you deserve one more. Ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present The Cramps doing "Goo Goo Muck" (1981), a cover of a previously obscure song by Ronnie Cook and The Gaylads from 1962.
You'd better duck when I show up!
garbageman was insanely cool
ReplyDeleteYOU AIN'T NO PUNK, YOU PUNK!
ReplyDeleteIf you can't dig me, you can't dig nothin
ReplyDeleteHere's one of my favorite bands covering the Cramps. I don't know how links work in this box, but here's the address. I wore out the grooves on my vinyl "Bad Music for Bad People."
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/AVs_qQ5LN58