Cramps
Do The Clam (2lp)
Formed in 1976 and active until 2009, The Cramps only called it a day after the death of mainstay Lux Interior who, along with wife and musical partner Poison Ivy, were the only permanent members of the group. Indeed it was the Interior/Ivy partnership which provided the impetus, inspiration and drive for the entire Cramps ethos and body of work. The gig presented here, from a live FM Radio Broadcast and so in the finest quality possible, presented on limited edition white vinyl 2LP, features a good splattering of tracks from 'A Date With Elvis,' alongside a number of Cramps fave-raves and a good helping of cover versions - most interesting of which is rockabilly legend Charlie Feathers' 'It's Just That Song,' the number that finishes the album but which has rarely been performed live by the band. During this show they perform the song also as the final number albeit with an intro by Lux that has to be heard to be believed. Completed with a fascinating interview with Lux Interior, recorded by the radio station responsible for the broadcast, this 2LP set provides a hugely entertaining and inimitable performance by one of the most individual and respected bands of the decade that all too often saw music as a vehicle for risible haircuts, rather than one to promote alternative attitudes and unique sounds.