Various Artists — Strontium 90, Shrimps & Gumbo – Lux And Ivy Dig Mo

Here’s another trip back in the past- with a selection of rough, ready, and quirky 45’s from Righteous- all compiled by respected music journalist Dave Henderson. This twenty-nine-track collection largely focuses on tracks from the late 50s/ early 60s- with a leaning towards more crude ‘n’ raw rock ‘n’ roll fare- though there still are a few darts into the quirky & bizarre.

Like all of the releases in this series, the CD comes presented in a clear jewel case. This features an eight-page inlay booklet, with a few-page write-up about the compilation tracks and their themes by Mr Henderson. Also dotting throughout are 45’s vinyl labels, retro pictures, and brief track details in the back pages.

The collection moves from crudely wavering chants ‘n’ weaving doo-wop meets slack bass ‘n’ guitar of “That Jim” by Mackey Beers And The Rockitts. Onto the sassy horn ‘n’ jiving vocal intentions of “Twistin’ Out I Space”. Or we have the bashing pots ‘n’ waving mambo groove of Dave Bartholomew’s “Shrimp And Gumbo”.

Moving into the second half of the disc, we have the glum country twang ‘n’ slide of “Six Pallbearers” which finds Bob Gallion singing about the funeral of his beloved. There’s jiving guitar, nervy whistling & almost yodelling vocals of “You Tell Her I Stutter” by Jimmy Lee Prow. We have the sing-song bound piano and Broadway way vocals of “I’m In Love With A Mutant” which finds detailing Sonny Adams detailing his love for a three-eyed female monster.

Strontium 90, Shrimps & Gumbo – Lux And Ivy Dig Motorcycle Boots And Mutants is another rewardingly varied journey back into the strange, dusty and rather wonderful past of the long-forgotten 45’s. With Mr Henderson once again presenting another well-compiled and layered-out compilation.