Disc One:
01. R.L. Burnside – Georgia Women
sftri 494 (march 97)
Born in 1926 near oxford, mississippi r.l. burnside is to the blues what the sex pistols were to punk rock !! his incredible “ass pocket of whiskey” album was filled with real raw emotion and received accolades normally reserved for saints…his music has established him as one of the few true blues artists of our time…
02. Billy Childish & Dan Melchior – Length Of Pipe
sftri 529 (january 98)
When originally released billy had already been a well-respected artist, but this was the first anyone had heard of dan melchior…the album, “devil in the flesh” is a supreme blues album in the time honored medway/hangman style and it has an authentic old field recording quality…it was recorded live on 1 / 2 track machine in billy’s cellar and kitchen…
03. South Filthy – Hot Dog
sftri 701 (november 02)
Spearheading the memphis/texas roots rock explosion, these guys are amonth the most talented and prolific around…it was difficult picking a track, but monsieur jeffrey evens won by a nose over jack oblivian and walter daniels with this seriously trashy rendition of the corky jones a.k.a. buck owens tune…god bless jeffrey evans…
04. Chris Wilson – Dark Haired Girl
sftri 249 (january 94)
this line-up features four old friends, consummate rock ‘n’ rollers with pedigrees as long as your arm…each is a former member of the legendary flaming groovies with links to the charlatans and the barracudas as well…”dark haired girl” chips away at the rolling stones domain and effectively captures the “beggars banquet” feel and it’s just what you’d expect from rockers of this caliber…
05. Soledad Brothers – Shakey Puddin’
sftri 623 (april 01)
Although actually from toledo, they somehow weaselled their way onto the “sympathetic sounds of detroit” collection as a token motor city band and turned in one of it’s standout tracks…it is an original, but not completely original if you know what I mean…it’s old, but new, borrowed and blue with followers such as john sinclair (MC5 manager/white panthers founder) singing their praises more serious attention has gotta be just around the corner…
06. Compulsive Gamblers Featuring Jack Yarber – Rock ‘N’ Roll Nurse
sftri 572 (june 00)
the compulsive gamblers have deservedly achieved legendary status in their home- town of memphis and around the world…they have produced many of my favourite sympathy releases and they have always upheld the mantle of great original music…this track with jacko in command is driving, hypnotic and moody with a soulful organ and a low distant wail…
07. Mr. Airplane Man – Sun Sinking Low
sftri 690 (september 02)
Adding their personal spin to this mississippi fred mcdowell classic this genre-defying due are seriously shakin’ things up and currently have the critics on their knees and foamin’ at the mouth with their bigger, louderm window-smashin’, amped-up, ass-movin’ abandon and non-stop sonic assault…if the air-brushed rock ‘n’ roll and “feel good” blues of today leaves you cold and unfulfilled I’m certain mr airplane man will surely free your soul,…
08. Junkyard Dogs – Lightning Bar Blues
sftri 246 (september 94)
This is actually the supersuckers, well the supersuckers and about twelve of their inbred white-trash friends getting together to drink too much ripple wine and to make an impressive racket…the release of their “good livin’ platter” was met with overwhelming rave response and this version of hoyt axton’s song is just one of it’s many highlights…
09. T. Tex Edwards – You Ain’t Never Gonna Live
sftri 043 (february 89)
from the amazingly brilliant, “pardon me i’ve got someone to kill” album this is one of the earliest signs of a penchant towards roots music…this record, by tex and his backing band out on parole, was essentially serious murder ballads but this track walks the line between being a pretty frantic rocker and bonafied honky-tonk bliss….
10. Elmore Williams – Hoopin’ And Hollerin’
sftri 526 (december 97) from natchez, mississippi elmore williams kicked off the “for the love of jesus” series collaboration between sympathy and fat possum records in a grand and admirable fashion and he set the pace for what was to follow…while steeped knee-deep in the traditions of the real delta blues, elmore has graciously tossed a little bit of his own personal lunacy into the brew and you the lucky listener are much, much richer because of it…
11. Speedball Baby – Blackish Man
sftri 531 (april 98)
Originally (de)formed as an impromptu wedding band speedball baby come on here like a heavily drugged bull in a china shop…they offer this blues/gospel hybrid as if thoroughly chewed to a pulp and spat out at the nearest clean wall…it’s about greasy hair, greasy hands and greasy guitars…it is a dirty rotten and raunchy celebration i.e. fun for your whole stinkin’ family…
12. Mark Spitz Freestyle – Three Shiny Nails (march 03)
country music takes a new turn (a u-turn ??) and spins wildly outta control with the unlikely named marc spitz freestyle which features l.a.’s ever-present jula bell and a cast of equally disturbed luminaries…this is the only track that didn’t come from the sympathy catalog, but has been included because it busts out some mule-kickin’ jesus bashing with an undeniably great thrashabilly style (freestyle perhaps??)
13. Reigning Sound – As Long
sftri 654 (may 01)
Reigning Sound have a story to tell…it is a story older than you or me of found love and eventual catastrophic breakdown…does it sound familiar ?? this is from their first record which I believe is one of the best albums ever released by sympathy and main man, greg cartwright is a as of yet to be realized national treasure…they have since moved on to redder pastures, but I continue to respect and love them just the same…
14. Kirby Grips – Needless
sftri 896 (september 02)
Likened to bikini kill on a sugar high the kirby grips go straight for your heart…this one taken from their second album, “rotations” manages to blend despair and hope and features drummer, michelle on lead vocals and as you will discover it is a testament to the strength and healing powers of a very sweet and tender country ballad…
15. Earl Lee Grace – Kitchen Girl
sftri 317 (august 95)
i think this is the only instrumental in this collection…is it?? i’m kinda losing track, anyway, , this comes from the “blackgrass” album and it seemed to fit nicely into the “root damage” profile (profile ?? i’m kidding, right??) this project was brought to life by the dwarves, blag dahlia…he assembled an impressive team of “professional” play- ers in san francisco and knocked out an authentic sounding bluegrass album whilst uncharacteristically managing to remain completely dressed…
16. The Cool Jerks – Man And A Woman
sftri 689 (september 02)
while it continues to get rarer and rarer in music these days, rock ‘n’ roll ain’t dead yet!! straight from the heart of the south the cool jerks turn the respirator off of rock’s dirty-ass carcass and make the lazy bitch get up and dance…they create an impressive unholy racket guaranteed to please even the most discerning rock dork…
17. Gun Club – Preaching The Blues
sftri 478 (november 97)
mention the gun club’s, “fire of love” to any underground music fan and he or she will usually start gushing…not a bad debut for an unknown little blues/punk/avante garde combo…being able to release “early warning” which contains their first ever recording session was a highlight in sympathy’s illustrious history and the versions were substantially different than the tracks eventually released…this is their take on the immortal robert johnson classic…
18. Deadly Snakes – Love Undone
sftri 562 (may 99)
Formed as boyhood pals in 1996 the deadly snakes are a 6 piece gang from toronto, canada…seems they were real sick of seeing fourth generation punk and indie bands treat rock ‘n’ roll as an ironic joke so they taught themselves to play instruments as if their lives depended on it…this is the title track from their wild and brutal debut album…
19. Jack Oblivian – I’m Too Old For You
sftri 475 (february 97)
Taken from his first solo sympathy release, “american slang” this is kind of a pretty song about morals being stronger than love (a unique slant)…jack is being backed by members of impala and other memphis luminaries…this song was actually performed by the oblivians during 1994, but was never officially in their set because it apparently didn’t rock…hmmmmmph !
20. Holly Golightly – Anyway You Like It
sftri 474 (august 97)
After releasing many records in england, germany and japan this was from holly’s first released in the united states… “painted on” quickly established her as an important singer and song writer and garnered her rave reviews outside of her main focus as one of thee headcoatees… we went on to do many projects with miss golightly and she continues to be a label favorite…
21. The Blackhands – Black Girl
sftri 222 (march 93)
Yes, it’s another billy childish project and no, they never cease…this time it’s with a six piece band including according and trumpet and they have recorded a pretty damn cool and thoroughly convincing version of leadbelly’s “black girl”..this is a shining moment in a long history of shining moments from this modern day renaissance man…
22. Junior Kimbrough – You’re Gonna Find Your Mistake 23. Monsieur Jeffrey Evans – Otto Wood
sftri 542 (july 98)
possibly the most important blues guitarist of the second half of the 20th century, junior kimbrough singlehandedly redefined the blues….as an originator, he did more than build on the tradition or perfect a certain style, he completely re-imagined the blues and he made a sound for himself…junior has put his indelible brand on music forever…this is from the sixth single in the “for the love of jesus” series…
24. Cedell Davis – Keep On Snatchin’ It Back
sftri 540 (may 98)
in anticipation of cedell’s third album on fat possum records this was one of the tracks released as the fourth single in the “for the love of jesus” series…in a very rare moment of clarity billboard magazine called cedell “one of the most original blues artists ever”…all the way from pine bluff, arkansas you get this living legend with just vocals and guitar and that’s the whole story kids…
25. Greg Oblivian & The Tip Tops – Watching My Baby Get Ready
sftri 513 (march 98)
yes, this is greg cartwright of the oblivians, the compulsive gamblers and reigning sound…this is from his first solo record…this song is pleasingly simple and whole- some and features a sour saxophone and the kind of sweet sentiment that puts me in to orbit every single time i hear it…i wanted this track to end disc one even though i’m not completely certain that it fits the stringent “root damage” criteria…oh well…
Disc Two:
01. Je & Ill With Joe Coleman – Intro/Kiss And Kill
sftri 287 (july 94)
a couple of seriously demented guys from austria and an even more demented guy from new york while in the throes of a drunken stupor somehow got the idea that they could actually sing and play instruments…that impromptu disease-infested hoe- down produced this curious track…if you are looking for competent vocals and inspired musicianship i think you better look somewhere else…if you want cheap entertainment performed by inbred mutant hillbillies then this one is for you…
02. Oddball’s Band – Hangdog Blues
sftri 547 (july 98)
known as germany’s finest blues/punk trio, this was the oddball’s band’s first release in the united states…representing one of the most skillful acts around in the rhythm and blues culture, dirty slim oddballs and his two sidekicks, steamboat and thunder- bird know how to do the real stuff justice so dig this or dig nothin’ and go find a copy of their brilliant album, “49 songs of hatred and despair”…
03. Interstate Leisure Kings – Best Liquor Store
sftri 537 (april 98)
This is one of the 21 tracks on the ever-popular “shine on sweet starlet” soundtrack…it was recorded under the worst possible conditions in stereotypical sound…the project began during the “sore losers” vice party tour…j. michael mccarthy and his elitist entourage shot super-8 stag footage of starlets and collected music from the bands that played with the sore losers…this jangly, irresistible offering is one of the best…
04. Big Foot Chester – Harpoon Man
sftri 419 (may 96)
This confined explosion features walter daniels on blues harp and whisky-soaked vocals and he is joined by former members of poison 13 and the hickoids…’harpoon man’ was the debut release by this infamous austin blues/punk combo and this, dear listeners is a welcome musical aberration of extraordinary proportions…
05. T Model Ford – Morning Gown
sftri 527 (january 98)
this little charmer is from installment number two in the “for the love of jesus” series…t-model ford toured extensively with fellow blues legend, r.l. burnside and when the last call for alcohol echoed off the walls in the early morning it was a tough task to choose which one of them had turned in the meanest/leanest performance…it is refreshing to witness (can i get a witness ??) a genuine blues artifact and t-model is as real and true blue(s) as it gets…(how corny am i ??)
06. Bob Log III – Daddy Log’s
sftri 545 (july 98)
in the event the world-famous tuscon duo, doo rag, wasn’t stripped down enough for you, half of that duo, guitarist bob log, created a very successful solo career…this was the debut appearance of his new venture…with his head protector in place, his bass drum and a $7.00 slide guitar bob whoops it anyway but loose and straddles the fence between real music and real shit…needless to say this was an instant classic… 7. TEARJERKERS: BANK, GUN, JAIL sftri 643 (september 01)
07. Tearjerkers – Bank, Gun, Jail
sftri 643 (september 01)
Yet another worth project from ramblin’ jack (oblivian) yarber…I tend to lose track myself, but I think this was his first effort after releasing his two solo records on sympathy…this derailed love song is a modern day bonnie and clyde saga and is taken from the highly recommended (go buy it!!), “bad moon rising” album…
08. The Darlins – Take Me Dancin’
sftri 195 (january 93)
With roots in l.a.’s punk scene, the darlin’s rook a considerable detour and received an enthusiastic response from a usually hard-nosed rock audience with their acoustic guitars and beautifully blended voices…this, the darlin’s debut release was recorded with a full band featuring exceptional fiddle and steel guitar players and it then received a befitting lush country and western production…this is the prettiest track in this collection…
09. Wreckless Eric – Harry’s Flat
sftri 230 (april 93)
wreckless eric was a hot property on stiff records in the late 70’s and early 80’s in the united kingdom…after moving to france and keeping a lower profile “the donovan of trash” album which this track comes from marked the welcome return of this very intriguing and extremely talented artist…”harry’s flat” with it’s boozehouse delivery is one of my favourites on the album…
10. Compulsive Gamblers Featuring Greg Cartwright – Two Thieves
sftri 572 (june 00)
Memphis’ favored sons ended their third full length release, “crystal gazing, luck amazing” with this sad but true story of a friendship interrupted by drugs and eventually untimely death…it is bitter sweet that this tragic tale is delivered with such sentiment and beauty and it is a generous and fitting tribute to the two people that it honors…
11. Holly Golightly & Dan Melchior – I’ll Follow Her Down
sftri 591 (january 01).
sympathy released several records with holly and dan individually so why not one. together thinketh i…this is from their album, “desperate little town” which took for- ever to come together, but as i’m sure you will agree it proved to be well worth the wait…even though this track is predominantly dan it’s the subtle back-ups by holly that lend an eeriness that really knocks me out…
12. Jeffrey Lee Pierce – Goodbye Johnny
sftri 478 (november 97)
taken from the second disc of the “early warning” set this is the elvis from hell alone with a guitar and tape machine predating the gun club’s first recording…those inspired tracks capture pierce as a lone star who was burning up inside and being consumed by personal demons…much of jeffrey’s best work can be heard here and it is a fitting memorial to a true “fire spirit”… this is as close as you’ll ever get to the original idea of the gun club…
13. Gibson Bros – Memphis Chicken
sftri 176 (march 93)
Joined by Jon Spencer this time around this was recorded at world famous sun studios in elvistown… “memphis sol today” was the last release and quite obviously the best recorded effort by this extremely influential band…the sun sessions for the most part evolved into their own personal demented version of rockabilly…this track is sung by monsieur jeffrey evans…
14. Revelators With Walter Daniels – Old Slew Foot
sftri 512 (january 98)
big foot chester’s harmonica-blowin’ daddy joined fellow austin troublemakers, the revelators (on loan from crypt records) and together they brutalized the notorious producer, mike mariconda, until they effectively spit out a couple of rousing blues/hillbilly scorchers…this is a rare performance of stupefying magnitude…
15. Panther Burns – Fun Mob
sftri 62 (march 90)
This little bit of barely controlled musical mayhem is from our first of many releases with the irrepressible and completely unapproachable tav falco and his panther burns…this was a massive coup for the label as tav had long been a personal favorite…there is currently in limbo a massive retrospective two-disc set titled, “souvenirs” and with some luck we’ll have that out in early 2004…
16. Geraldine Fibbers – She’s A Dog
sftri 314 (august 94)
Preceding their major label debut this is from “get thee gone” which was originally released as a ten inch record…the geraldine fibbers were a dreamy, rain-soaked band that simply and effectively crooned their heartache and desire in a way that few had ever accomplished…the multi-colored moods of miss carla bozulich evoked torment in her lullabies gone awry…this as you may have discovered is one of their much more lighthearted numbers…
17. Lisa Marr Experiment – Shooting Stars
sftri 714 (september 03)
jumping a bit ahead of ourselves this has been taken from the forthcoming album, “american jitters” and features my favourite canadian refugee, miss lisa marr…this will be our second release by this wondrous los angeles assemblage and after seeing their exceptional live show recently i must insist that you experience the experiment at your earliest opportunity and buy their new album when it hits the shelves…
18. Robert Cage – Liza Jane
sftri 541 (june 98)
All that is known about robert cage is what’s been learned from an old man who sells iron skillets and rusty saws painted with smiling black people picking cotton… “robert is what I call a grunter” he said “I call him a grunter cuz he don’t sing as much as he grunts and I think he’s probably the last person on earth that still plays that grunting style. It’s different, but I like it. now my wife, that’s another storey, she can’t stand it at all” this is taken from the fifth single in the successful “for the love of jesus” series…
’68 Comeback – ’68
sftri 422 (may 98)
The brilliant album, “a bridge too fuckin’ far” was nearly two years in the making and at least three years overdue…it was well received and it highlighted some of the finest musicians in memphis…the record was dedicated to dearly departed guitarist, jack taylor who was a member of ’68 comeback from the very beginning…an earlier version of this track appeared on the soundtrack of j. michael mccarthy’s pivotal cult film, “the sore losers” you should of course already own both records… where were you in ’68 ??
19. Workdogs – Our Goodman
sftri 324 (november 94)
Featuring jon spencer while the blues explosion were press darlings and the big “alternative” combo topping everyone’s “best of” list…it is interesting to see where he paid his respects and derived some of his inspiration…the workdogs are a very peculiar hybrid breed as evidenced by their slight popularity and modest sales and it is not a surprise that unbounding talent and originality don’t always equal success…this was a tribute to legendary bluesman, sonnyboy williamson…
20. Frank Roach – Alabama
sftri 528 (february 98)
This glorious track is from the third single in the “for the love of jesus” series…this time we present famed and critically acclaimed louisiana blues man, frank roach…straight outta the fat possum clan he follows the time-honored tradition that began many years ago in backwoods juke joints…this is the real, genuine no fuckin’ around artefact…it’s raw, emotional and way down and dirty, just the way we like it…
21. Dan Melchior’s Broke Review – Laughing To Keep From Crying
sftri 579 (september 99)
Sympathy released dan’s first record which was a collaboration with billy childish and with it’s success a solo project was soon planned…this track is caught somewhere between the blues and country music and has blended them with an authentic down-home flair and it features the added bonus of background vocals by the ever-popular and ever-wondrous, miss holly golightly…
22. Pearlene – Burying Ground
sftri 706 (march 03)
sharing two members with the soledad brothers these guys swaggered outta their loosely organized, whiskey-fueled, late-night, loft party, hip-shakin’ shindigs in northern kentucky with their sweaty, thumpgrinding, inebriated, acid-drenched blues boogie debut record and the rest, dear readers, is history in the making…(did i use too many frivolous adjectives ??)
23. Beck – Leave Me On The Moon
sftri 82 (may 97)
Taken from the original soundtrack album, “kill the moonlight”, this track captured beck before he sold millions of records and won the adoration of the world…at the time of this recording he was still living in a rat-invested tool shed in an alley in downtown los angeles and, as bands were setting up in clubs, he’d boldly jump on stages with his thrashed guitar to play his brand of infections punk, blues and country songs…
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