Dead! The Grim Reaper's Greatest Hits Various Artists (Fun Time)

£11.50

Genre:
Rock'n'Roll
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1100

Hello Vault-lovers! Greetings Crypt-kickers! Here at Ace Towers we are not above letting down our hair and having a little fun from time to time. A lot of the music we dig up in our specialist fields is of a strictly quirky nature. Whatever genre one digs down into one finds little gems that don’t fit in anywhere too tidily. Or they are just downright weird. And when things get that strange, well … we get interested.

In this tradition we have brought up “The Golden Age Of American Rock’n’Roll Special Novelty Edition” (CDCHD 980), “Great Googa Mooga” (CDCHD 880), and last Halloween “These Ghoulish Things” (CDCHD 1070) and now we present “DEAD!”, a compilation that would speak for itself … if it could.

This collection brings the fan-addict who likes his (hers? its??) black humour on the lighter side, the first of a planned two-volume set of “Death Discs” from the classic era of the late 50s through to the end of the 60s. Included are lively hits like Terry by Twinkle and Give Us Your Blessings by the Shangri-Las, both of which straddle the Death Disc and Girl Group genres. The Joe Meek production Johnny Remember Me shares digital space with Tell Laura I Love Her. The hit-makers on this set also include the Everly Brothers, Jan & Dean and Bob Luman. In fact, the compilation is so radio-friendly that it’s almost impossible to believe that most of the tracks were banned during the less-enlightened time of their release!

On top of this two of the selections once appeared on Kenny Everett’s 1978 vomit-coloured vinyl album, “The World’s Worst Record Show”. This deadly duo consists of Jimmy Cross, who Wants [His] Baby Back and Ferlin Husky, telling us about The Drunken Driver.

Earthy followers of the obscure will be delighted to know we have included quite a few little-known stiffs who will delight and who very rarely share the same digital plot. May we present DEAD!, our title track by the soul-full Carolyn Sullivan; Last Kiss by J Frank Wilson (that’s two from the cauldron of Major Bill Smith); the morality tale of Once You Understand by Think; and the rarely heard Mother Mother (I Feel Sick) by the Martin Sisters.

To keep Terry company we bring you the Goodees with the favourite Condition Red, another biker tragedy which just goes to show that rockers usually came off worse than mods. We’re savouring Leader Of The Pack until volume two, as there are just so many “goodies” on this one. Walter Jackson brings a little more adult theatre as he tells his tale of woe while chewing rather too many night-night pills, while Jody Reynolds sings of a slightly different Endless Sleep. Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires challenge us with the theory that angels can die, while Jack Kittel pleads with his mother to keep him away from the kitchen knives, he’s already squeezed the life out of his brother’s pup.

Teen Angel might have started the whole “Death Disc” brouhaha in 1960 … it’s here. As is the uncensored US version of Patches, where the hapless maid from across the muddy river doesn’t quite get across it. And, my dears, what do you think about an instrumental “Death Disc”? Yep, we got that too.

And on that happy note, we hope you enjoy this walk on the dark side; this dig into to the vaults; this veritable resurrection of fun-filled paeans to the departed. Apart from the qualms of either the FBI, various senate committees or cuddly old Aunty Beeb, there has always been an interest in the macabre in rock ‘n’ roll, and when all is said and done … you gotta laugh.

By the very pale Brian Nevill

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Terry - Twinkle

  • 02 Preview Give Us Your Blessings - The Shangri-Las

  • 03 Preview Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds & the Storms

  • 04 Preview Death Of An Angel - Donald Woods & the Vel-Aires

  • 05 Preview Condition Red - The Goodees

  • 06 Preview I Want My Baby Back - Jimmy Cross

  • 07 Preview Dead Man's Curve - Jan & Dean

  • 08 Preview The Drunken Driver - Ferlin Husky

  • 09 Preview Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton

  • 10 Preview Last Kiss - J Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers

  • 11 Preview Patches - Dickey Lee

  • 12 Preview Once You Understand - Think

  • 13 Preview The Death Of A Surfer - The Riviares

  • 14 Preview Dead! - Carolyn Sullivan

  • 15 Preview Psycho - Jack Kittel

  • 16 Preview Ebony Eyes - The Everly Brothers

  • 17 Preview Requiem (For A Girl Born Of The Wrong Times) - Betty Barnes

  • 18 Preview A Beginning From An End - Jan & Dean

  • 19 Preview Tell Laura I Love Her - Ray Peterson

  • 20 Preview The Dream - The Fox

  • 21 Preview Teen Angel - Mark Dinning

  • 22 Preview Mother Mother (I Feel Sick) - The Martin Sisters

  • 23 Preview The Bed - Walter Jackson

  • 24 Preview Let's Think About Living - Bob Luman

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

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Some silly songs you'll totally dig. ★★★★

Mojo

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