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Album Review

The Cramps
File Under Sacred Music: Early Singles 1978-1981 Munster Records

Article written by Ged M - Feb 1, 2012

The Cramps: Early Singles 1978-1981

The fact that Lux Interior died in 2009 only strengthens the Cramps legend. They might not play and release records now, but you can go back to their output – especially their early records – and marvel at the uncategorisable magic they conjured, especially in the period 78-81 covered by this excellent Munster release.

Collecting the early singles on labels like Vengeance and IRS, together with original mixes of debut album tracks, the compilation shows how the Cramps took rockabilly and super-obscure early r’n’r (at a time when flea markets and bootlegs were the only way to hear these sides), added their own darkly humorous originals and a touch of punk attitude, and created something that sounds great and, visually, is the epitome of cool.

These records introduced us to great songs by Hasil Adkins, Charlie Feathers, Ronnie Dawson and The Novas, among others, as well as classics of their own like ‘Drug Train’ and ‘Human Fly’. And they don’t date; everyone has a dark side and their rumbling take on ‘The Way I Walk’ is as chord-striking now as it was for a bunch of big-haired, brylcreamed gorehounds in NYC 34 years ago. I would have liked longer sleevenotes (Lindsay Hutton’s Next Big Thing ‘zine was the bible for Cramps fiends) but there’s enough there to remind us of the Cramps' ghoulish greatness and the fact that they deserve a much bigger reputation. But then it took a few centuries for Jesus to be more than a local cult and he’s still shifting product now…

Links:
http://www.thecramps.com/
http://www.munster-records.com/archivos/cramps/cramps_ing.htm