This is the first LAIF with some liner notes (about the music contained herein). I felt a need to at least tell a bit about the songs etc. This is also the first edition with a title other than LAIF and a volume number. This volume, I felt, should always be remembered as the one that “came out” after Lux’s passing.
While most of it was being compiled, it was being compiled with the knowledge that Lux is no longer with us. It really affected the song choices and their sequencing. It was sort of spooky how everything came together.
I had read the INCREDIBLY STRANGE MUSIC interview again and noticed I missed a song. THE RAVENS – A SIMPLE PRAYER. I can’t believe I missed this song until now. It’s such an amazing song. The last note truly transports you to another world. Plus the sentiment of the song really hit a chord with me around the time I was hearing it (days after Lux’s death).
Before all this I had also received a tape that The Cramps had used as intermission music on some of their tours. The tape, converted to cd, had been labeled as coming from 1986. A lot of the songs on this volume came from that tape. The tape also contained 3 songs or bits of songs from the JIMMIE HASKELL AND HIS ORCHESTRA “COUNTDOWN” LP. I’ve had the album for years and love it to death. The music was used back in the day as music beds for the Mad Daddy’s radio show.
This coupled with the FOOL’S PARADISE interview, where Lux and Ivy talk about space a lot, really set the tone of the volume, thus, the subheading; a journey into space.
Speaking of the Mad Daddy, he makes an appearance (or two?) in this edition as well. Sections of this edition came from a proposed record Lux had worked on to come out based on his hero, Pete “Mad Daddy” Myers. This was years before the eventual Norton Records “WAVY GRAVY” CD release. These bits have never appeared anywhere else that I know of.
Lastly, this edition was locked and ready to go as of today, but then I read the account of Lux’s memorial and had to rework it a little. Originally, the comp ended with Jimmy Scott’s DAY BY DAY, a song mentioned by Ivy in an interview. It’s a fucking beautiful song about love and I thought it would be a great way to end this edition.
But then I read the write up of Lux’s memorial and the fact that “For All We Know” was played there. I thought for a while if I would include it or not, but decided that if this was an aural memorial for Lux (from me), that it should be included for everyone to hear.
I hope everyone likes it and discovers some great music. This volume truly runs the gambit of sounds and I hope it truly can transport you to space too…it totally shows the range of music they listened to, haunting doo wop, exotica, crazy rockabilly, instrumentals, 60’s garage/dance and novelty tunes (you’ll never think of Andy Griffith the same way again!).
Thanks go to Moses Longpiece aka Count ThrillHammer, Rex Doane, Howie Pyro, Mop Top Mike, Dirk Ungawa, and anyone else who helped along the way.
Journey well, Lux.
Thank you.
Posted by: Holly | March 14, 2009 at 12:16 AM
What a treasure trove of trash!
Thanks so much!
I still can't believe Lux is gone.
Posted by: rich | March 14, 2009 at 01:52 AM
Check out the radio show Lux Interior did back in July 1984 here
http://thecherrypicker.tumblr.com/
Posted by: Me | March 14, 2009 at 05:08 PM
You go, Gorilla. I didn't expect volume 12 so soon! I'm still making my DJing notations on the liner notes that I made up for vol.s 1-11, marking the most outstanding stuff- which is tough with such nice material to wade through. Funny that you came back to 'space', as I used an outer space art-theme for the first two covers that I made up. Thanks for the extra words about this volume, project assemblies should always be serendipitous and fun, eh? Well, I look forward to hearing what you've brought this time. I just recorded a cover this week of "Calling All Cows", of all things, which is wonderful, and I wouldn't have known of it but for Ivy & Lux and you and yer pals. Cheers.
Posted by: Mindwrecker | March 15, 2009 at 02:58 PM
On first listen, it's one of the better volumes in the set.
Posted by: Mindwrecker | March 16, 2009 at 11:40 PM
These amazingly weird tunes almost took me as long to download as it did for the "swinging ape" to compile, but it sure was worth it. They make me throb and ooze.
Thanks Kogar and R.I.P. Lux.
Rory Murray
San Bernardino,CA
Posted by: Rory Murray | March 18, 2009 at 06:10 PM
Kogar, thanks a lot!!
On his Purple Knif Show, Lux also plays portions of SUSPENSE by Dickie Goodman.
Posted by: Cooper | March 19, 2009 at 02:21 PM
What's the Ken Nordine-ish word-jazz nonsense that's the second half of the Dick Hyman track?
Thanks so so much for all these.
Posted by: Mr Fab | March 19, 2009 at 07:08 PM
Kogar do no wrong.
Hey man, I still miss "Radio Kogar" every Tuesday at feeding time.
Posted by: djack | March 20, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Thanks much for these killer comps! I'll always remember Lux performing a half-hour-long version of "Surfin' Bird" while climbing the stacks as an encore, Papa-Oom-Mow-Mowing everyone into a trance (himself included). While we're on the subject...there is a comp of the "Mad Daddy's Favourites" available (DL link appears to be up & running) here:
http://v-rocket.blogspot.com/2007/10/various-artists-mad-daddys-favourites.html
Stay sick, sick, SICK!
Posted by: J. R. Williams | March 21, 2009 at 07:51 PM
Hi , are you going to keep at 12 files or try for a 13th
Posted by: phil | May 22, 2009 at 10:49 AM
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!
Posted by: Peter | June 17, 2009 at 03:58 AM
Peter: Nice cover art. Thanks!
Posted by: King Zog | July 23, 2009 at 08:57 PM
Thank you so much for compiling this and making it available. Such a goldmine. RIP Lux.
Posted by: David Morrison | January 08, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Fantastic, thanks for this. Love these compilations and will treasure them as I do my memories of getting to see the Cramps back in the day.
Posted by: Andy Maccallum | January 25, 2010 at 02:16 PM
I absolutely love the track Sick! Sick! Sick! by Terry Corin & her (soon to be ex-)boyfriends but can find information next to none about her/the backing band. any help??
Posted by: fryfry | February 10, 2010 at 04:28 PM
Thank you so much for doing this! Where else could we hear this kind of music? Nowhere! I am grateful for the blog crowd, you cats make
life more interesting!
Posted by: Curly Hand | March 04, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Yeah, lux comes from luxury and I love this word because I want every thing should be luxury in my life. It's beautiful keep sharing !!
Posted by: transportation from san diego to LAX | February 20, 2013 at 01:52 AM