84. The Cramps - Cornfed Dames
I'll let otb_lifer do the honors here. Thanks, otb!
gimme equal parts: bourbon, fishnets, brylcreem, acid, cheesecake, burlesque, whips, stilettos, Tiki gods, 50s/60s cheezy 3-D SciFi, beehives, switchblades, platters from garage/rockabilly acts so obscure that even Lenny Kaye couldn't find 'em, leather trousers, mile high pomps, hotrods, infectious hooks, strait-jackets ...
shake well, pour over some dry ice ... and you got the Cramps.
i cannot think of a band with a more distinct sound and style in the rock era - combining all those elements that i love so passionately - every note they hit was a homerun with my cultural sensibilities, and they did more to shape the way i consume and view the entertainment world than any other musical act.
it's really the story of Lux & Ivy, and their love affair of all things kitsch and ginchy and perverse and obscure ... their slice of Americana is the aural landscape of the degens and the freaks and the fetishists - it's a big tent, and the party inside was second to NONE.
the two met in the early 70s, and were kindred from jump ... was only matter of time before they unleashed it in some sorta artistic fashion - they got their chance at CBGB in the mid-70s ... funny how they are never credited, nor cited, as part of that scene ... prolly too fringe, even amongst the fringiest.
the lineup changed quite a bit, but Lux and Ivy were constants - and their love for each other superceded all else ... they always had each other's backs.
Lux was a showman, 'nufced. one of the greatest frontmen in history, he embodied all that was his band's persona moreso than any other singer i know - long, lanky, psychotic ... shirtless in leather pants (usually unzipped waayyy down), and in patent leather 6" stilettos (and that was just for a trip to the market).
Ivy was more reserved in her demeanor ... icy, if you will - but her raw sex appeal was never in doubt, and they unapologetically sold it as such - true hedonists.
and, much like Lux, she is a criminally under-rated musician - her pickin' and twangin' and orgasmic chord crunching put the stamp on their incomparable uniqueness ... hey, they could walk the ####### talk.
they'd play anywhere that would have 'em ... from corner dives to hoedowns to tractor pulls to tiki joints to S & M clubs to huge festivals ...
to mental hospitals ... and they were always the most gracious and fan friendly (lest Lux was on a severe bender).
they were still out there rocking and ripping'til Lux finally shuffled off, breaking Ivy's heart, but leaving us with one of the richest musical legacies this country ever saw - never skip 'em, always turn 'em up - perfect for pre party/during party/after party - you name it - you can't ignore them ... they are absolutely ####### irresistible.
their D.I.Y. ethos, coupled with their impeccable style ... backed by putting their own spin on Rockabilly and spawning a genre - PSYCHOBILLY - merit them inclusion on any list discussing the greatest 'punk' acts, etc.
the track selected here is from the deliciously decadent "A Date With Elvis" ('86) - this was probably their most commercially successful span (mid to late 80s) - they started to garner some recognition and exposure simply by being the most compelling act on the planet.
this is Ivy's finest hour on guitar right here - impeccable, starting with the Link Wray homage on the opening vibrato, right thru the solo chord crushing - woman can ####### flat out play.
ladies and gents - the Cramps!
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5hzQ1vDKPy0rJfr7taiy1p?si=78ff565f3e66472a