A Date with Elvis

by The Cramps

Overview

After Psychedelic Jungle, the Cramps experienced personnel and record label difficulties; they would not release another studio album until this one, four years later. Gone here are the tinny sound quality and horror-flick-based lyrics of prior releases, replaced by clearer sonics and an often hilarious obsession with sex (examples of the latter can be found on "What's Inside a Girl?," "The Hot Pearl Snatch," "Cornfed Dames," "(Hot Pool of) Womanneed," "How Far Can Too Far Go?," and the uproarious single "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?"). There are numerous sly references in the verses to high and low cultural icons, including "Shake it one time for me" (a line from Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"), "I'll be dancing through the flames/Like a devil in disguise" (a nod to the Elvis Presley hit), and "Now there's more things in Tennessee/Than is dreamed of in your philosophy" (a paraphrase of a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet). Most of the songs here are in various rockabilly-derived styles featuring either garage rock fuzz or Duane Eddy twanging guitar from Poison Ivy. Vocalist Lux Interior is in excellent form here, exhibiting a fair bit of variety within his usual 1950s-derived approach. "Kizmiaz" is unique in the band's oeuvre, being a smarmy parody of 1960s hippie feel-good music; Ivy joins Interior on vocals here. Intonation is off in a few numbers (notably on "Kizmiaz," "The Hot Pearl Snatch," and "Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?"), but this is not enough to detract from the overall excellence. This rollicking and energetic platter in particular is the equal of any in their canon, and an essential listen. ~ David Cleary

Product Details

Release Date:	05/27/2013
Label:	Big Beat
UPC:	0029667404617

Tracks

1. How Far Can Too Far Go?
2. The Hot Pearl Snatch
3. People Ain't No Good
4. What's Inside a Girl?
5. Can Your Pussy Do the Dog?
6. Kizmiaz
7. Cornfed Dames
8. Chicken
9. (Hot Pool of) Womanneed
10. Aloha From Hell
11. It's Just That Song

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Cramps   Primary Artist
Lux Interior   Vocals
Poison Ivy   Bass,Guitar,Vocals
Nick Knox   Drums,Bongos
Chris Amouroux   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Wendy Harrison   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Jennifer Stokes   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Tiffanie Winton   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)
Tracy Underwood   Choir/Chorus,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Traditional   Composer
Steve MacMillan   Engineer
The Cramps   Producer,Photography,Cover Layout,Layout Design
Lux Interior   Composer
Walter Jacobs   Composer
Charlie Feathers   Composer
Mark Ettel   Engineer
Eddy Schreyer   Mastering
Phil Smee   Lettering,Title Lettering
Interior   Arranger,Composer
Joe Schiff   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Little Walter   Composer
Ramon Maupin   Composer
Meridan   Composer
David Cheppa   Remastering
Ivy Rorschach   Arranger,Composer
Tony Chiappa   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
H.G. Lewis   Composer