In The Trashcan
Records GEM046
"You can't judge a band by looking at the cover..."
Ever heard of the compilation album "S.O.S. be-scheuert"? It features only cover versions of Abba's "S.O.S." and the most outstanding version is this one by the Swiss psychobilly kings. In 1992 it was released by Dionysus Records. And all thanks go to Lee & Zebra of Dionysus, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Hasil Adkins and Betty Pages. Fabulous band with the enigmatic Beatman.
No one will ever beat Little Willie John's version, but a close second is this one by Blasters from 1981. The Alvin brothers managed to capture the finger snappin' vibe of this classic. A Slash Records release.
A Spanish version of "New kind of kick", one of the best Cramps songs. Brother and sister, Miguel and Tere Gonzalez, and a friend, Jordi Sola, were the biggest Cramps fans in Barcelona and translated their songs into Spanish. "TV set", "Beautiful gardens" and also "Strychnine" and "Surfin' bird" got a Spanish makeover on their first two albums. Released in 1983 on 3 Cipreses and also reissued by Munster Reords.
Perhaps Billy's most successful band which came after The Pop Rivets and before Thee Mighty Caesars. It included Micky Hampshire (of Masonics fame) and others like John Agnew, Bruce Brand, Banana Bertie and Russell Wilkins. This band was the official start of the Medway beat, while Thee Mighty Caesars was Medway garage and Pop Rivets Medway punk. A 1984 release on Big Beat.
Debut EP by one of the trashiest Cramps-o-philiac psychobilly bands from Germany. In 1992 they recorded 4 tracks for this Mental Disorder EP. Occasionally they played nude live gigs and the girls were happy when the singer was swinging his goo-goo-muck. Ronnie Cook sang this first in 1962.
On vol 41 you can find the A-side. Here's a live version of the classic "Jezebel", sung brilliantly by Jeff Connolly in 1988 in France. More Lyres info on vols 28 and 31.
Do you like the Velvet Underground? Yes we do! Although The A-Bones recorded it as an instrumental on cassette at a 1993 rehearsal it sounds fresh and I'm sure Reed & Cale would've loved it! Released on Bedrock Records from London. The A-Bones hailed from Brooklyn, New York, not so far from The Flintstones appartment.
This is not the same outfit that recorded a Crass single (see vol 84). This is the French garage rock band, that had two 45s and three albums on New Rose Records. This is from a live EP from 1983, featuring the Willie Dixon song, known to most of us thanks to the magnificent Bo Diddley version.
The or Thee Milkshakes were also an excellent instrumental band. Billy's unique guitar style led to unique versions of various classic instrumentals. Link Wray was one of his favourite musicians. His Comanche is a perfect example, recorded in 1984 for Big Beat Records.
Stinky Sonobuoni is the Lux Interior wax doll from a B-movie with a voodoo clone version of The Cramps as backing band. In 1995 they recorded this Bo Diddley tune for the Austrian label, Pure Vinyl, on a splitsingle with Trash Mavericks.
Splitsingle with Thee Headcoatees who perform the Sonics' classic "Strychnine". One of the many Link Wray tunes in the huge repertoire of Billy Childish. A 1993 Twist Records release.
Blistering rendition of the Roky Erickson classic he wrote for The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, from 1992 on Sympathy For The Record Industry. I must admit that I first bought this 45 because Candy Del Mar used to be a member of the band. They also recorded a 45 with 50s horror legend Vampira, of Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space" fame.
The Swedish garageband I got to know from their magnificent version of "Open up your door" really surprised me with this B-side, an Elvis Presley song, they recorded in 1985 for Teenage Kicks.
Thee Stash or Thee Headcoats in a Clash tribute. This song is of course their interpretation of "Should I stay or should I go?". Get Hip Recordings released it in 1993 together with Billy Childish' version of "I'm so bored with the USA", which they transformed into "We're selling jeans to the USA" (see vol 16). Another Stash 45 can be found on vol 84.
All four tracks on this EP are hits in my universe. Even The Troggs' "I want you" sounds fantastic in the hands of these French Medway lovers. See vol 60 for the best track from this EP.
Barry Murray aka Joe Strange transformed this Jacques Dutronc song into "Alright, alright, alright" and Ray Dorset was happy with the result. In 1973 he recorded it with his band Mungo Jerry.
