Greetings From Death Row is the next in the open-ended ‘As Dug By Lux And Ivy’ series- which sees respected music journalist Dave Henderson crate driving for 45’s from the 50’s and 60’s. And this is another worthy twenty-eight-track compilation- though it has a rather misleading title- as the first half of the comp doesn’t really have a death row or even crime theme. In reality, it’s more of a collection of quirky one-hit wonders & bizarre/ surreal storytelling tracks- with the focus very much on the rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, wonky novelty pop etc. side of things.

The CD comes presented in a see-through jewel case- this features a retro illustration of a woman behind mesh smoking with a man looking on at her- again indicating this comp is focused on wholly prison-based songs. Inside we have a two-page write-up about the collection by Henderson- which briefly mentions the jail theme.

The first half of the comp moves from the bounding boogie piano & jiving horns of “Say Mama” by Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps. Onto gravely female lead vocals  ‘n’ slurred doo-woop/ soulful edged dance fad vibe of The Miller Sisters “ Pop Your Fingers(Hully Gully Dance)”. There’s the fiddle zinging ‘n’ jiving guitar of Faron Young’s “Live Fast Love Hard Die Young”.

In the second half we do have a fair few songs with a prison theme, though they are still a few not theme-related. We go from the mournful country rock plod of Jimmy Minor’s “Death Row”. We have the harmonica jiving, storytelling male vocals & sing-song backing vocals of “Big Mouth Bill” by Philp Mclean. There’s the gunning, rough, ready rock ‘n’ roll novelty of Ed Corey’s “Dingy Dong( background music)”.  With the comp playing out with the wavery soulful vocals, tinkling keys, and sleazy horn swoon of The Chantel's “The Plea”.

In finishing this is another consistent release in this compilation series- and if you enjoy dusty, and stumbling rock ‘n’ rock, 50’s novelty pop, or wacky storyteller-lined fare give this a go….just don’t expect as firm and total focus on prison or death row fare.