The Stooges - 1969

OK, so I'm free from the burden of the trunk, but that just means I have no excuse now for my taste. No blaming me from 20 years ago for liking something terrible. Anything I post after that Shellac/Mule single had better be good, right?

This was a 2009 record store day re-release from Rhino/Elektra. It's hard to believe this stuff is over 40 years old. You just don't associate "menacing" with 60's music. "1969" is solid, with its Bo-Diddley beat backing up Iggy's boredom, but I'd really love to track down a 7" of  their "1970". That song rocks. They had a theme going. Rhino re-released that recently too, by the look of things. Hmmm. Might have to track that down.

"Real Cool Time" was written and recorded in an evening after the label told the Stooges that their planned debut record was too short. It's a filler track soaked in wah pedal.

A: 1969
B: Real Cool Time
Enjoy!

Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue

Number 50. OK, this is a curveball, I admit. I went through a Johnny Cash phase around the time of his 3-CD box set that came out in 1992. No one has  more American-punk-rock attitude than Johnny Cash. Iggy Pop might be close, I suppose, but I think that's about it. Way ahead of his time.

Anyway, I picked this up in W. MA at the Hadley "Dead Mall" flea market for $1. How could I say no to that? It's beat to hell. The label and sleeve are battered, and the B-side is a total mess and needs some serious software repair. It was some 20 years old at the time I bought it. What do you want for a dollar? Both of these songs are taken from his Live At San Quentin album, and you can hear the rowdy hooting and hollering of the prisoners in the background.

Fun fact, "A Boy Named Sue" was written by children's author Shel Silverstein. Also, Cash's longtime guitarist Luther Perkins died in 1968. 50's Rockabilly legend Carl Perkins (no relation) replaced him and is on this recording. Listen for a very brief appearance by June Carter Cash, singing "San Quentin..." a couple of times in the background during Perkins' guitar solo.

A: A Boy Named Sue
B: San Quentin
Enjoy!