Lux, Ivy, Soulseek

All you cheapskates out there better admit it, because everyone knows it anyway: You get more than 90% of your tunes through Soulseek these days, be it the new Scott Walker CD before official release, obscure music from all over the globe, or rips of long out of print vinyl. One great way to discover new music is to search for known good stuff and browse the shared folders of the people who turn up in the search results. Throw in a bit of Google and All Music Guide, and you have the modern day equivalent of spending endless hours browsing record stores and talking to certified music nerds.

One day, when I was browsing Soulseek folders of people with good tastes, I came across a compilation called "Lux and Ivy's Favorites". There is only one Lux and Ivy in music, and everything associated with The Cramps is worth checking out, so it didn't need any convincing for me to download it. Eventually I found more and more volumes of this compilation and downloaded every one of them. Curiously, Google and all the Cramps fan sites seemed to know nothing at all about this, so I asked one of the ultimate experts on all thing Cramps and related: WFMU's own Rex Doane. Not even he had ever heard of these compilations, but he said that it looked "like a combination of the various Songs The Cramps Taught Us comps and the legendary Vip Vop tapes and Forbidden City Dog Food comp they used to play at shows".

What was up with these weird compilations full of great music, where did they come from, where could one buy the CDs or LPs? The answer was buried in the archives of the Yahoo group Staysick, dedicated to all things Cramps. One of the members of this group wrote the following: "I compiled Lux and Ivy's Favorites using Soulseek and music from my own collection. I use interviews etc. of songs Lux and Ivy have mentioned over the years and then collect them in compilation form and post them on Soulseek..."

You can release your own compilations, too. All you need is high-speed Internet, a Soulseek client, and good taste. I would be interested to know what other purely virtual compilations have popped up on Soulseek or other file-sharing networks. Please leave a comment if you know of any (good ones).

As a bonus, here is the complete list of tracks from Lux and Ivy's Favorites, Vol. 1-6. Memorize this list, get the MP3s on Soulseek, this is essential listening. (Mac users can get the soulseeX client, for Linux the best option seems to be Nicotine. And remember, don't break the law, or at least don't get caught.)

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 1

01. Sheriff And The Revels - Shombolar
02. Sid King And The Five Strings - Let 'er Rip
03. Ersal Hickey - Bluebirds Over The Mountain
04. Ersal Hickey - Hangin Around
05. Ronnie Dawson - Action Packed
06. Ronnie Self - Date Bait
07. Vern Pullens - Bop Crazy Baby
08. Donald Woods And The Belairs - Death Of An Angel
09. Gene Maltais - Crazy Baby
10. Billy Ward And His Dominoes - The Bells
11. Bob McFadden - The Mummy
12. Forbidden Five - RFD Rangoon
13. Forbidden Five - Enchanted Farm
14. Medallions - Behind The Door
15. Nervous Norvous - Transfusion
16. Clovers - Crawlin
17. Penguins - Earth Angel
18. Blenders - Don't Fuck Around With Love
19. Sparkle Moore - Skull And Crossbones
20. Versatones - Bila
21. Versatones - Tight Skirt Tight Sweater
22. Tornados - Telstar
23. Treniers - Poon Tang
24. Clovers - Rotten Cocksuckers Ball
25. Collins Kids - Whistle Bait
26. The Chips - Rubber Biscuits
27. Jan And Arnie - Jennie Lee

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 2

01. 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
02. Ric Cartey - Young Love
03. Slim Harpo - Strange Love
04. The Champs - Train To Nowhere
05. Cozy Cole - Topsy, Part One And Two
06. Zacherle - Dinner With Dracula
07. Randey Alvey - Green Fuzz
08. Jackie Morningstar - Rockin In The Graveyard
09. John Buck And His Blazers - Forbidden City
10. Marvin Rainwater - Hot And Cold
11. Blues Rockers - Calling All Cows
12. Five Blobs - The Blob
13. Ric Cartey - Oo Eee
14. June Wilkinson And Mamie Van Doren - Bikini With No Top On Top
15. Wayne Williams - Red Hot Mama
16. Boss-Tones - Mope-itty Mope
17. Keith Courvale - Trapped Love
18. Storey Sisters - Bad Motorcycle
19. Lightnin' Slim - It's Mighty Crazy
20. McFadden And Dor - Noisy Village
21. Crescents - Pink Dominoes
22. Marketettes - Out Of Limits
23. Chimes - Zindy Lou
24. Crystals - The Screw
25. Invectas - The Hump
26. Earl Hagen And The New Interns - New Interns Watusi
27. Billy Ward And The Dominoes - Jennie Lee

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 3

01. Pretty Things - Come See Me
02. The Leather Boy - On the Go
03. Roy Brown - Butcher Pete Part 1
04. Roy Brown - Butcher Pete Part 2
05. The Carnations - Scorpion
06. The Imps - Uh-Oh
07. Doctor Ross - The Boogie Disease
08. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin'
09. Polka Dot Slim - A Thing You Gotta Face
10. The Ventures - The Rat
11. Mohammed Rafi aka Ted Lyons And His Cubs - Jaan Pehechaan Ho
12. Bo Diddley - Congo
13. Anton LaVey - Satan Takes a Holiday (instrumental)
14. The Symbols - Do the Zombie
15. The Scarlets - Stampede
16. Danny Dell & The Trends - Froggy
17. Johnny Kidd & The Pirates - Shakin' All Over
18. Kinks - You Really Got Me
19. The Strangers - Caterpillar Crawl
20. Porter Waggoner - Rubber Room
21. Robert Mitchum - Ballad of Thunder Road
22. Duane Eddy - Ramrod
23. Dick Penner - Cindy Lou
24. Ideals - Go Go Gorilla
25. Jack Nitzsche - The Lonely Surfer
26. Johnny Burnette Trio - Honey Hush
27. Mickey & Sylvia - No Good Lover
28. Duane Eddy - Stalkin'
29. Bo Diddley - I'm A Man
30. Johnny Fortune - Dragster
31. The Gee Cees - Buzzsaw Twist

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 4

01. Gene Summers - Taboo
02. Roland Janes - Guitarville
03. The Citations - Moon Race
04. Electro-Tones - Ghost Train
05. Hank Davis - Woman Train
06. Jack Nitzsche - Rumble (1963)
07. Stingrays - Surfers Mood
08. Charlie Feathers - In the Pines
09. Ric Cartey - My Babe
10. Reverend Charles Jackson - Wrapped Up and Tangled Up In Jesus
11. Les Baxter - Lust
12. Satan's Sadists OST - The Chase Is On
13. Jan Davis - The Time Funnel
14. Atlantics - War Of The Worlds
15. Clyde Stacey - Hoy Hoy
16. Electric Prunes - Dr. Do Good
17. The Five Jones Boys - Mr. Ghost Goes To Town
18. Jackie & The Starlighters - Valerie
19. Musical Linn Twins - Rockin' Out the Blues
20. Hugh Barrett & The Victors - Fungus Among us
21. Cannibal & the Headhunters - Zulu King
21. Charlie Feathers - She Set Me Free
22. Portuguese Joe - Teenage Riot
23. Gene Maltais - Gang War
24. The Musical Linn Twins - Indian Rock
25. Jimmy Rogers - Mule Skinner Blues
26. Ron Thompson - Switchblade
27. Legendary Stardust Cowboy - Paralyzed
28. Vernon Green & The Phantoms - Sweet Breeze
29. Davie Allan & the Arrows - Theme from the Unknown
30. Iggy Pop and the Stooges - 1970

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 5

01. Swamp Rats - Louie Louie
02. The Trashmen - Bird '65
03. Link Wray & The Raymen - The Fuzz
04. Peanuts Wilson - Cast Iron Arm
05. Bo Diddley - The Story Of Bo Diddley
06. Homer Denison, Jr. - Chickie Run
07. Curley Griffin - Got Rockin' On My Mind
08. The Isley Brothers - Nobody But Me
09. Ron Haydock & The Boppers - 99 Chicks
10. Bill Carter - Baby Brother
11. Andre Williams - Andre Williams Is Moving
12. The Quotations - Imagination
13. Carl Perkins - Let The Jukebox Keep Playing
14. The Sparkles - Oh Girls, Girls
15. Julie London - Yummy, Yummy, Yummy
16. The Lifeguards - Everybody Out'ta The Pool
17. Ken Nordine - Strollin' Spooks
18. Ken Nordine - Fliberty Jib
19. Ramones - Beat On The Brat
20. Betty McQuaid - Toungue Tied
21. Ronnie Ray's Playboys - The Vulture
22. The Revels - Midnight Stroll
23. Ray Anthony - Dragnet
24. Link Wray - Genocide
25. Don Charles Presents The Singing Dogs - Oh! Susanna
26. Deadly Ones - Monster Surfing Time
27. Edwin Bruce - Sweet Woman
28. Ted Weems & Elmo Tanner - Heartaches
29. Vito & The Salutations - Unchained melodies
30. Jack Eely and the Courtmen - Louie Louie '66

Lux & Ivy's Favorites - Volume 6

01. Earl Wade - I Dig Rock'n'Roll
02. Ran-Dells - Martian Hop
03. The Saxons - Camel Walk
04. The Nitecats - Jungle
05. Charlie Gracie - Guitar Boogie
06. The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
07. Kenny Owen - I Got The Bug
08. The Phantom - Whisper Your Love
09. Moses Longpiece - Slide Her Under the Door
10. Ray Harris - Come on Little Mama
11. The Cables - Choo choo
12. The Charades - Flamingo
13. Ronnie Isle - Wicked
14. Andre Williams With The Gino Parks Quartet - Pass The Biscuits Please
15. Gene Lamarr - That Crazy Little House On The Hill
16. The Innocents - I'm A Hog For You
17. Thee Midniters - Jump Jive And Harmonize
18. Bob Taylor & The Counts - Thunder
19. Mad Magazine - (She Got A) Nose Job
20. The Five Sharps - Stormy Weather
21. Booker T & the MG's - Green Onions
22. Jack Nitzsche - The Last Race
23. Elvis Presley - Milkcow Blues Boogie
24. The Fleetwoods - Unchained Melody
25. Mad Magazine - When My Pimples Turned To Dimples
26. Grace Tennessee & The American Spirits - Pow Wow
27. Phil & the Frantics - Say That You Will
28. Pasquale & The Lunar-Tiks - Moon Madness
29. Arthur Lyman - Taboo

Comments

[rj]

When I was adding cover art to my collection, I was dismayed to find the comps "Best of Korean Indie vol. 1", "Japan Will Kick Your Ass" and "There Is Only the Ocean" (4 disc noise/experimental set) do not really exist as records, fucked up my whole sence of closure!

Caveat: Don't expect Korean "indie" to sound like Pavement.

[James]

I use Soulseek myself, but, if you have the disposable income, I highly recommend buying the three *Songs the Cramps Taught Us* collections. Along with great sound, you get a quality booklet which runs down a history of each artist, and photos for many of them (as well as photos of some of the 45 RPM singles). Plus, each cover is a killer reproduction of a cover from E.C. Comics' horror line.

[Roger]

I've actually made a purely virtual comp of minimal synth and new wave. It's called "The Anesthetic's Wearing Off" and you can find the tracklisting here.

[Fatherflot]

Isn't that "Lux and Ivy" as in "Poison Ivy Rorschach" (nee Kristy Wallace)?

[Ian]

you've gotta watch out for that wacky Lux and Ivory!

[Lukas]

I think my subconscious interfered with my writing. Corrected the misspelling, but now I have to get that Stevie Wonder/Paul McCartney song out of my head.

[Domenica Clark]

If you're on Soulseek, I suggest a compilation I have in three parts that is called "Andrew's Curious Blue Mix" and my soulseek name is NikkiLighthouse. The stuff on those comps is great Euro disco and synth stuff.

[Lux Answer]

Hi,

These "Home-made" comps have been made by a friend called nimereht (from MONKEY BUTLERS, an extremely good garage band). We are many cramps fans and the idea of these comps was of compiled all the songs that the cramps have cited in interviews, radio or TV shows, etc... or simply compiled by lux himself, like by exemple in the famous Vip Vop tapes. Evidently, there's blanks as by exemple the famous "The First Singles From Outer Space" by NASA & THE SPUTNIKS given in a Lux's Top 10 in march 80 in the NME (but we are sure that it's a joke of Lux), or the famous genius "Peter Gunn" version of the vip vop...

[fffffff]

Hey Roger, I downloaded that whole thing from a bunch of people on Soulseek a while back. Good stuff.

[GeeGeeAllen]

I have downloaded a few good comps over the soulseek.
a good one is called
60's french sountracks and instrumental cd.

soulseek is a big time consumer though.
I think I had my pc on for a year dl'ing the whole time.

it will drive a completist mad though.

[ortsed]

I second the Songs the Cramps Taught Us collection. Best rockabilly comp I've heard (unless this one trumps it)

[djfreshmoney]

Fans of the strange, groovy and eclectic should check out my "djfreshmoney faves" compilations. Soulseek User name: djfreshmoney

[Alexei A. Korolev]

Hi, soulseek rocks. but seems its unstable protocol http://p2pclients.org/2007/02/02/soulseek-is-a-good-old-music-file-sharing/ due using central server :(

[Ray N.E. Ohio]

Does anyone have a method of contacting Lux or Ivy via email or through an agent? I have in my collection the striped jacket Lux is wearing on the back of the Gravest Hits album as he's climbing through the audience. I will be in Hollywood in June and would like to return it to him.

[Tangella Filps]

I've got Forbidden City Dog Food on vinyl and I've been trying for years to find other stuff by these people - thank GOD for soulseek! That's all I have to say. And these Lux and Ivy compilations are amazing, as are "songs the cramps taught us."

[Kid Spoons_UK]

yay...loved Sheriff & The Revels' 'Shombolar' for a while but hadn't actually made The Cramps connection, but then i probably heard the song through The Cramps thing in the 1st place anyway...!!! just to let you guys know, there is now a 7th Volume available on Soulseek...!!! enjoy...!!!

[jdm]

Cool page!!

[andyman]

well, I have one more...

It is called SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY and there are roughly 150 volumes (!!) of the series out there.
It is mainly about early music, lots of 1940s big band stuff and such.
Well, I like it, as it is timeless music.