Lux and Ivy's Favorites (mp3s)

This is an amazing interview with Lux and Ivy that Rex Doane conducted for his show, Fool's Paradise, back when HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER came out.

Fool's Paradise with Lux & Ivy

This interview is essential for truly understanding the mythos of The Cramps. Yes, The Cramps made amazing music, and amazing contributions to the history of music, but to really get a good idea of where they are coming from, is to listen to the music that inspired them. If you think its all crazy rockabilly, you're wrong.

Now, here are Lux and Ivy's Favorites. Let's start off with a note I put in one of the volumes to give you a background on the series.

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Lux and Ivy's Favorites!!!

Ok, I got kind of sick of repeating this story 1000 times. So figured I'd include this in the latest volume. I'm the guy who compiles the Lux and Ivy's Favorites Compilations.

It started as a way to keep track of some of the songs Lux, and or Ivy, mentioned in THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC BOOK. It was never really intended as anything but a way for a friend of mine and me to have 2 really kick ass compilations.

So we went about the arduous process

of finding all the songs mentioned in that interview. It took a loooong time. We used the file sharing program, Napster, as well as our own personal collections. So, one thing lead to another and when word got around that these compilations were out there, they started being traded from fan to fan to fan. So, at some point I decided to put them up on Napster and let anyone who wanted them have them. As the years went buy, more interviews with Lux and Ivy kept popping up, and the list of songs they mentioned got longer and longer. This resulted in new volumes.

People have asked why songs from THE PURPLE KNIF SHOW have appeared, or why a song or two have appeared that are on the SONGS THE CRAMPS TAUGHT US 3 cd set. Well its simple. The songs that are on TPKS are in less than stellar quality, and some are not featured in their entirety. So, I figured I'd feature them as part of LAIF. Volume one and two of LAIF "came out" or were compiled before STCTU appeared on the scene.

Other people have asked why these haven't appeared as proper releases. The answer to that is easy. I'm not in this to make any money. Like I said above, I just wanted to make compilations for myself with some of the most amazing music ever put to tape. If other people enjoy them, great, but don't expect to see these in stores or on ebay (unless somebody starts bootlegging them, but there is no need since they are easily available thru Soulseek and other file sharing programs).

When the series started I was working mostly from downloads. It was only really meant for a friend of mine and me. This was started in the mid nineties and I wasn't very computer savvy at all. Over the years many of the originals have been acquired, either on vinyl or cd. It has always been my intention to go back and "re-mix" some of these tracks because the quality isn't all that spectacular. Some volumes are better than others. Either way the intent was there, I hope some of the audio flaws aren't too annoying.

Without further ado, here we go!

Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_01.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_02.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_03.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_04.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_05.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_06.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_07.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_08.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_09.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_10.zip
Lux_and_Ivys_Favorites_-_Volume_11.zip

Volume 3 happened about a year after the first two volumes and is one of my favorites. Volume 12 is not finished yet. Maybe sometime as we get closer to summer.

I hope everyone finds something to enjoy on these cd's. They are a labor of love.

In the end, these comps are a tribute to my heroes, The Cramps.

Your humble savant,
Kogar the Swinging Ape

Mention of the first 6 volumes appeared on the WFMU blog in 2006 here.

Thanks go out to Chuck in Milford NH, Patrick in France, Ben in Chicago, Rex Doane, Howie Pyro, The Mello Jello Gang, Haunted George and anyone else along the way who helped out.

Photo at top by Steve Jennings swiped from thecramps.com

Comments

[Henry Fool]

This is absolutely brilliant. I am listening to this whole collection now and can't believe how much awesome music there is on it. Many thanks for the hard work involved, it was worth all the effort.

Dare I say...More?!

[Victoria Korosi]

words can hardly begin to express my gratitude for the effort behind these collections. thanks to all involved, the ape and WFMU especially. to the ferocious Cramps, love & respect forever from an Akron, OH cornfed dame.

[mafia toNe]

many many thanks.

[Tissy]

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou

[Felix Bergman]

THIS COMP HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.

[Peter]

As none of these great comps have cover art, I spent a few unemployed hours making "covers" for them. They're all in a zip file on Mediafire HERE.

I Google Image searched some shots of Lux and Ivy. I also downloaded some appropriately "Cramps-y" fonts beforehand. Then a bit of Photoshop and voila!

I ain't no graphic artist, but I think they're nice. (Vol. 1's I found pre-made, so I didn't do that).
My favorite is Vol. 8's. I think it looks Lynch-ian.

Hope you like!

[Eric S.]

Thanks. I have slowly been listening to each of these. I have gotten through the first six and am listening to volume seven now. This is truly amazing. It further opens up the world that inspired the Cramps. I appreciate the hard work that went into this.

[bama]

You rock. I accept this lavor of love with much gratitude!

[Sid]

Fantastic Job!!! Thanks!!!

[Mark B Vincent]

Straight from the fridge dad-you've helped me re-discover a trunk full of tunes from the attic of my former life and unearthed some delirious gems to add sparkle to my current incarnation...
Massive gratitude

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=2055522]

I'm simply wasting more room on the page, basically again restating what everyone's said, but have to say, THANKS for these efforts... incredible stuff. My wife just measured me for a new strait jacket after listening to a few with me. Of course, a few decades of good music & food and the old strait jacket was getting a little too snug anyway, so I was due. OK, can I have my peanuts now?

[Marla L.P.]

You are super amazing, I admire all of the hard work that you guys put into this! I haven't listened yet, but I'm looking forward to many wonderful hours of music listening.

[Lightning's Girl]

This is the most incredible collection of music - THANK YOU!

[Dolly]

YES! YES! YES!

[Double Jay Jimmy Jazz]

I downloaded these compilations some months ago now, and - I must say - I've seen the light...
Stuff like this is worth more than gold.

Thank you.

[israel]

hi homie, this a very interesting compilatio series, I fickin love the cramps and this comps is like the bible!!!!thank you!

[Chester Rocket]

Just amazing can only add to the thanks from the UK. A lovely tribute to the late great Lux.

[Amber]

Hey you have no idea how much this means to me and I really appreciate all the hard work and effort u put into these.
I'm a 16 year old girl that's pretty much stuck in suberbia with out people who understand the true art of music.
I'm going to listen to these forever and research my heart away!

[oktopus]

Damn man!! Amazing, thank you.

[steph]

This is the greatest collection of music. Thank you!

[alejandra m]

O M G! you've saved me, downloaded the 13th vol. and it's just what I was looking for... what a hero

[Buddy]

"13th" volume? I've only found the first 11 ... where can I catch up?
Yrs trly,
B.L.S.

[albert]

Hi ... Patrick B. from CRAMPS tribute friendly sent me yr blog in 2010... Geeeez... it's what i 'm lookin 'for 30 years (I.e.Tracks into wyld music zone) . I bought my premier 'the way i walk' cover thru Vengeance 7' by the Cramps in the late 7't's ...GOSH ...then i dug alls Crypt / A.I.P./ etc... series , volumes thru our Radio Station in Le Havre/ FRANCE . ( see "Fun 'beat ''zine in the 8 't's / now... it's called :
"Garage Band Revisited" 'zine/(unhappyly alls sold out !!!).
Today , i dig alls this good stuffs thru Radio 103.1 mhz FM based in Frog Land for years !.If any , Lux & Ivy or same music 'spirit still exist ... dont hesitate to dig our Mail ... we answer for sure as we can , sincerely.
A real good job these Lus & Ivy 's Favorites volumes ... Mr Kogars.
Patryck
monsieur_magazine@hotmail.com

[Account Deleted]

:)

[b]

thanks