Jon Spencer
After the demise of Pussy Galore, JON SPENCER formed The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and for the past 22 years has continually proven to be one of the most exciting and innovative performers in rock’n’roll. On stage and in the studio he has destroyed and rebuilt American roots music with such abandon it is hard to believe that there is anything left. When not devastating audiences with Blues Explosion, Jon has found the time to get down with his pal Matt Verta-Ray to cook up some HEAVY TRASH. Be sure to check out Jon’s latest releases "Mighnight Soul Serenade" and "Meat and Bone".
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thejonspencerbluesexplosion.com
Selected releases
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Ike Turner
The man is a genius. Forget everything he did with Tina (and that is A LOT) and as a record scout. This comp of early R&B-soul-twist-country instrumentals is sure enough tough! The band is road-tight and Ike's guitar cuts deep. Crazy whammy/trem action. Stabbing sound! The New Breed, The Gulley, Twist-A-Roo, Prancing. Used to play this on the PA a lot before gigs.
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Screaming Lord Sutch
Long-haired English "eccentric" lets his freak flag fly on some of the greatest horror-novelty garage rockers. So what if he had some of the finest UK rock musicians as session men? All Black & Hairy, Jack The Ripper.
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Wanda Jackson
Queen of Rockabilly indeed! Ms Jackson had the looks and the chops. Great rockabilly with a lot of sass. Mean Mean Man, Fujiyama Mama, Cool One, Funnel Of Love. She set the bar and is still going strong today.
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Dean Carter
This comp of bizarre and cool garage-rockabilly 60s wildness totally blindsided me. My good friend Brian Waters of the Flash Express hipped me a coupla years back. I had heard the cover of Jailhouse Rock but was unprepared for the depth and scope of Mr Carter’s musical madness. It became my soundtrack for a very long lost weekend (lasting an entire Australian tour). Call Of The Wild, Black Boots, The Lucky One.
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Chocolate Watchband
Super cool 60s tough R&B rock. The LA Stones, or one of ‘em. Got this on vinyl when I started to discover garage and wore it out. Who cares if they (sometimes) weren't a real band? Don't Need Your Lovin’, I'm Not Like Everybody Else, Are You Gonna Be There (At the Love In), Blues Theme
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Link Wray
The MAN, the king! Link was the guy who brought it down from the mountain. The greatest, greasiest gtr instrumentals ever. Batman Theme - best version ever! Ace Of Spades, Hidden Charms - oh my gosh! Run Chicken Run
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Rockabilly Psychosis
May have been one of the first Ace-related release I ever got. Not the greatest comp but really helped me and my friends connect some dots when we was just starting to dig some of this music. (There was no internet back then, and no CD comps!) We had heard of the Gun Club and the Cramps but to discover that the "sickness" went way back was the first step in a long journey. Love Me -The Phantom. Psycho - the Sonics. Red Headed Woman - Jim Dickinson. Dateless Night - Tav Falco. Jack On Fire - the Gun Club.
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Funkadelic
The whole album is great. Unparalleled. Amazing stuff. Goes from the Hillcountry Delta to Detroit to somewhere else. Hoo-wee.
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Charlie Feathers
The greatest Rockabilly ever lived. My hero. Two great sides.
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Dead!
This is a great bunch of death-related songs. Many fine morbid and kooky numbers, running the gamut from country, to pop, to country, to inspirational public service, to really drunk and creepy country. Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds. The Drunk Driver - Ferlin Husky. Dead - Carolyn Sullivan. Once You Understand - Think. Ebony Eyes - Everly Bros. Let's Talk About Living - Bob Luman.
