Various Artists — Wild Sounds From An Overheated Jukebox

Wild Sounds From An Overheated Jukebox is the next in the Lux and Ivy series of compilations, which finds respected music journalist Dave Henderson bringing together rare, campy and wacky 45’s from the 1950s and 1960s. And I’m happy to report that after the slight disappointment with the last release in the series Lux And Ivy Dig Insane Rockabilly and its largely one genre focus- this two-disc set is back on track, with a good and varied selection of tracks.

Once again the two CD’s come presented in a clear jewel case- this features a colourful green, yellow and pink colour scheme. The set takes in a glossy eight inlay booklet-it features in a four-page write-up about the collection by Henderson and how is literally meant to mimic a lengthy jukebox session,  along with a good selection of 45 record labels.

Each disc takes in twenty-five tracks- so in all, we get fifty tracks over the comp. On disc one we kick-off with the run-down James Brown vibe of Bud Spudd And The Sprouts( what a band name!) “The Mash”. As we move on through this first disc we come to bonding ’n’ twanging keys and guitar of Jules Blattner And The Teen Tones “500 Pound Canary”, which features some great exuberant sax work.  There’s the stalking bass, rolling jazzy piano, and jive-talking spoken word of Dick Summers “That Goatee’s Got To Go”. Or the tick-tock groove and rather creepy joint teen girl singing of  The Threeteens- "Dear 53310761".

Moving onto disc two we go from jiving horn 'n' barbershop harmonies of The Kinglets “Pretty Please”. Onto the dusty skittering guitar ‘n’ upfront drums and mouth noise freak-out solo of Verno Green’s “59 Volvo”, though to the sweet 'n' dartingly waving keys and raised female backing harmonies of Billy Kent And The Andantes “Take All Of Me”. We have urgent horns and keys of “The Bear” by  Johnny ‘guitar’ Watson, who of course was one of Frank Zappa’s favourite artists. There’s the gloomy proto post-punk instrumental of Don Coles “Squad Car”, or playing out the second disc we have the raucous guitar and shooting gun sound effects/hollering of the Renegades “Geronimo”.

So, in conclusion, Wild Sounds From An Overheated Jukebox is certainly one of the most consistent and rewarding of the Lux and Ivy  45 compilations yet. So glad this series is carrying on, and that it’s firmly back on track once again…looking forward to the next comp in the series.