Ug & The Cavemen
UG & THE CAVEMEN
TRASH WAX RECORDS
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In 1987 a legend was born when
Media Burn Records released this
wild garage rock classic that
supposedly featured a 1960’s
recording that had been exhumed
from the vaults. Even though the
band on the cover looked
suspiciously like members of British
trash bands The Sting-Rays, The
X-Men and The Vibes, this album
quickly became a national treasure
amongst fans of unhinged rockin’
and frenzied beat. Long deleted
and heavily in demand, Trash Wax
have done an exemplary job
resuscitating this lost gem.Supersonics
69 AUTOMOBILE
EL TORO RECORDS
There is a whiff of Pulp Fiction
about this album and it’s probably
what bad guys with slicked-back
hair, mirrored shades and black
leather driving gloves would listen
to if they had the choice. Following
their debut Close To You, this is a
nicely balanced blend of rockabilly,
country and western swing with a
firmly upfront big sound. Slick and
sharp, if they were not from the
Netherlands, Supersonics are
surely the type of group you would
find as the house band in any
disreputable cantina along the
Tex-Mex border.
The Krewmen
SWEET DREAMS
CRAZY LOVE RECORDS
---
Beloved by psychobillies across the
planet, The Krewmen always
seemed to have something a little
extra about their sound. Although
they could drive wrecking pits on
the dancefloor into a knuckle-
grazing fury they had started their
career in a more bluesy vein. Their
commitment to psychobilly is
unquestionable though and on this,
their second album from 1987, they
really reached their peak. Featuring
10 bruising anthems, this has been
long deleted on this format but
available once again in green, red,
yellow or good ole black vinyl.Kings Of Hong Kong
PRIMITIVE
TRASH WAX RECORDS
Bringing the big beat straight out of
Birmingham, the masked and
mysterious Kings Of Hong Kong
unleash their second full-length
vinyl release which will leave fans of
Link Wray and abrasive rock’n’roll
gasping for breath. It is a crude
blend of dirty rockabilly and trashy
garage punk but it works so well
and rattles past you like a hot rod
leaving only high-octane exhaust
fumes in its wake. Numbers are
limited on this one to only 150
copies each in pink or clear orange
vinyl so rapid record hunting skills
must be employed.
Link Wray
LINK SINGS ELVIS
ACE RECORDS
----
The title of this 10" offering pretty
much says it all but just in case you
were wondering this mini-album
features the legendary twang-
master taking on eight of Presley’s
trademark songs. Side One delivers
turbo-charged blasts through Little
Sister, Heartbreak Hotel and Tiger
Man but Side Two presents a gentler
side of the man in black shades as he
presents surprisingly tender takes on
Elvis’ ballads. All recordings are taken
from Link’s period with Ace in the
1990s and this release includes the
previously unissued That’s When
Your Heartaches Begin.The Bikini Bottoms
BIKINILAND
MENTAL RECORDS
----
This is the Glasgow-based pair’s
debut album and it appears on pink
vinyl on the revamped Mental
Records, the Scottish label behind
very collectable late 1980’s
psychobilly albums from The
Radium Cats and The Long Horns.
Musically, The Bikini Bottoms have a
stripped-down sound that flips
wildly between spooky and rockin’
with an indie edge. Along with
vocals, guitar and drums there
are occasional keyboard stabs and
they even break out the doghouse
bass on their cover of Frenzy’s
I See Red.Various Artists
WINTER DANCE PARTY
EL TORO RECORDS
---
This legendary recording was
originally released on CD to
commemorate the 50th anniversary
of The Day The Music Died. Long
deleted, it is now available once
again as a 60th anniversary release
and makes its way onto a white
vinyl LP. The stylish packaging
includes detailed sleevenotes and
the tracklisting is a mix of favourites
from all three artists. Not much
music that collectors will not
already possess but it also includes
radio promos for the ill-fated and
badly organised 24-day tour across
America’s mid-west.Elvis Presley
LOVING YOU –
THE ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
BIG BEAT RECORDS
----
Big Beat Records in France continue
to deliver exactly what record
collectors want with this lavishly
packaged release. Arriving in a
glossy gatefold sleeve, this package
includes two 10" discs and a 15-track
CD. First on offer is a picture disc
featuring a trio of different cuts of
the song Loving You while the other
platter is a black vinyl version of the
1957 soundtrack. Lovingly crafted,
this is exactly how reissued vinyl
releases should be done and other
Elvis soundtracks are also available
in this format.Vinyl LP Reviews