Midweek Mixdown: F. Booij presents 17 Songs About Murder

Fans of classic country murder ballads will enjoy F. Booij's selections created for friends which you can hear via the links below.   

Writes Olaf Jens...

"Of course there were cool comps with obscure Hillbilly and Country 50’s/60’s comps prior to these (like “Country Hicks” and “Grand Daddy’s Rockin’”, and lotsa rare Rockabilly comps since the mid 70’s) but Tim’s “God Less America” and also “Death Dealers” (both from 1995) started a trend that continues to this day. THEMED Country comps filled with cool, crazy & moody vintage C&W obscuros like the brilliant “Hillbillies in Hell” and the “Twisted Tales from the Vinyl Wastelands” series which have been around for over a decade, but before it became a hip thing, my best friend Fake Booij (Graphic Designer extraordinaire at Crypt Records etc.) put together three MURDER themed Country comps that are my faves. There’s quite a few tracks on those that have become cult classics over the years, but I never get sick of listening to them. Some of them are like little Film Noir movies put to songs, all very visual. Unfortunately Fake never officially released them, they were just home-burned CDs handed out to friends." 

Listen to Seventeen Songs About Murder, Vol. 1 right here and Vol 2 right here and Vol. 3 right here. Check out the tracklisting for Vol. 1 below.  

 

Midweek Mixdown: Country, My Way with The Vinyl Avenger

Fans of the Gibson Bros, Country Teasers, Beasts Of Bourbon and/or DM Bob will enjoy this Olaf Jens mix. 

Listen to the Vinyl Avenger's latest mix "Country, My Way" via Mixcloud right here.

Midweek Mixdown: Tie One On Tonight with Blackout Benny

Check out the latest episode (#13) of Blackout Benny's classic country show Tie One On Tonight below. Swank art by Olaf Jens.

Here's the scoop...

Happy New Year! Welcome to Tie One On Tonight - country music record party #13. This episode brings songs songs about the end result of living too hard, what to do with the blues, one of the best bar brawler 45s I got, a tune about Patty Hearst and much much more. My newer artist this go around is the fantastic Croy and They Boys from Austin TX. and they have a public service announcement I 100% can get behind. Cheers, Benny

Listen to Blackout Benny's Tie One On Tonight #13 via Mixcloud right here. Fans of late 50s and early 60s country gems by Skeets McDonald, Wanda Jackson, Slim Whitman, Sonny Curtis, Kirk Hansard and others will be delighted. 

Remembering Sabu Martinez on his birthday

Celebrating the birthday of conguero deluxe Sabu Martinez with some of his stellar recordings. Snazzy artwork by Olaf Jens. 

Swiss garage rippers The Jackets cut new Intuition album with Jim Diamond

The Jackets' new Intuition album – boasting boffo sleeve art by Olaf Jens – is due out October 18 from Chaputa! Records. 

Here's the scoop from Chaputa! Records...

Swiss garage punk sensations The Jackets are back with their highly anticipated new album, “Intuition”, available from October 18th on Chaputa! Records. Since forming in 2007 in Bern, The Jackets have been a driving force in the garage rock scene, known for their high-energy performances, raw sound, and infectious melodies. The band, featuring Jackie Brutsche (aka Jack Torera) on vocals and guitar, Chris Rosales on drums, and Samuel Schmidiger on bass, delivers a gritty mix of 60s garage rock, punk, and psychedelic influences.

The Jackets have garnered widespread acclaim for their music and electrifying live shows. Their previous albums have been celebrated, with “Shadows of Sound” praised by Shindig! magazine as a “perfect example of how modern garage-punk should sound,” and “Queen of the Pill” described by Louder Than War as “a blistering, fuzz-filled ride.” Their live performances are often highlighted for their “pure energy and charisma,” bringing the spirit of ’60s garage rock into the modern era.

“Intuition” continues this legacy with 10 tracks that showcase The Jackets’ signature raw power and infectious hooks. The album was recorded by Jim Diamond at Strawberry Studios in Bern, mixed by Diamond, and mastered by Adi Flück at Centraldubs. The striking cover art by Olaf Jens complement the band’s vibrant and surreal aesthetic.

The Jackets have built their reputation through explosive live shows across Europe, North America, and beyond, performing at many renowned festivals and venues. With their upcoming tours in Japan and the USA, The Jackets are set to bring “Intuition” to fans worldwide. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of the most electrifying bands in the garage punk scene today! 

You can pre-order a copy of The Jackets' Intuition album (with dazzling sleeve art courtesy of Olaf Jens) directly from Chaputa! Records right here. Check the teaser trailer following the track listing below.

 

The Jackets – Intuition

Side A:

1 – Crossing Streets

2 – Ours Forever

3 – Gambling Town

4 – Coco Loco

5 – Can’t Take It Back

Side B:

1 – Lies

2 – I Tried

3 – Intuition

4 – One Step Ahead

5 – Master Plan

Remembering Jörg Evers of The Pack on his birthday

Raising a glass to the late Jörg Evers with the explosive punk rock album by The Pack and more.   Portrait by Olaf Jens. 

Whaddya mean you don't know Drew Sallee aka Drusalee

Yuba City, CA ceramist Drew Sallee was formerly known as the front man of garage rockers Drusalee and the Dead. 

Listen to an interview with Drew Salleé conducted by artist/collector Olaf Jens right here. 

Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wasteland series explores moonshine trade

The rippin' fifth volume of the Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wasteland features swank cover art courtesy of Olaf Jens!

Fire On Thunder Road: Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wasteland, Vol. 5

A1 Little Montie Jones – Moonshine

A2 Lum Hatcher – White Lightning 'N Excess

A3 Keith Daniels – White Lightning

A4 Bill Long – What A Waste (Of Good Corn Likker)

A5 Harley Gabbard – Uncle Bill's Still

A6 Dicky Dixon – I Love Her Still

A7 Dick Price – Grandpappy And The Revenue

A8 Bill Goodwin – Revenuer Man

B1 Jack Holt – Moonshine Still

B2 Cecil Moore – Moonshine

B3 Whitey Pullen – Moonshine

B4 Johnny Acton – Snuffy Smith (Where You Goin')

B5 Al Ricks – I'm A Moonshiner

B6 Gene Tyndall – Moonshine And Flashing Redlights

B7 Wayne Raney – We Love To Live

B8 Bob Fry – Still On Onion Hill

The gatefold vinyl version of Fire On Thunder Road: Twisted Tales From The Vinyl Wasteland, Vol. 5 is limited to 500 copies and momentarily available via the Slovenly Records site right here. Don't sleep, it'll be gone soon. Check out a few tracks from Bill Long & The Border Jumpers, Lum Hatcher, Little Montie Jones and Bob Fry below. 

Happy Halloween from Blackout Benny!

Check out Blackout Benny's creepy cool 'n' countrified selection of 25 haunted hillbilly classics from beyond the grave. 

Here's the scoop...

Tie One On Tonight episode #11 - Blackout Benny's Halloween Special brings you 25 spooked out, kooked out, haunter hoot'd out country music tunes from 1950 - 1974. Ghost trucks, trains and highways to witches, strange boxes, Devil doings, martians, witch doctors, murder and more! This episodes "NEWER" band is the recently PNW relocated Bear Flag Trio. Originally from Sacramento, CA. these 2 fellas and 1 gal nail down a solid tune about the lonely highway 395. Crack a cold one, turn it up and give in to the darkest slabs of country vinyl 45s I've found yet featuring goulish gems courtesy of Jack Rivers, Ted West, Bill Carlisle, Jimmy Wolford, Carson Robison And The Pleasant Valley Boys and more. The legendary Olaf Jens created the suitably chilling artwork. 

Check out Blackout Benny's Halloween Special on Mixcloud right here. 

Happy Birthday Walter Daniels!

Celebrating the birthday of bluesharp hero Walter Daniels with a couple of gems. Cheers to Olaf Jens for the ace caricature! 

Pow Wows announce split single with Davie Allan & The Arrows

Here's the Olaf Jens sleeve art for the forthcoming Pow Wows / Davie Allan split seven-inch due in March. 

Writes Pow Wows' guitarist Chris McCann:

Anyone who knows me well probably knows that "one of my guys" is musical icon Davie Allan aka the King of Fuzz Guitar. His albums, 45s and psycho collectible '60s soundtracks have been among the most exciting and influential discoveries in my life as a musician and yes, record collector. If you don't know him you probably do: the Wild Angels, Born Losers and Wild in the Streets soundtracks, the Arrows albums Cycle-Delic Sounds and Blues Theme and on and on. 

Today we announce the release of a DAVIE ALLAN & THE ARROWS / POW WOWS split 7" on Get Hip Recordings with cycle-delic art by Olaf Jens, linernotes from Phantom Surfers' guitarist Mel Bergman and mastering by Jim Diamond!! It is beyond an honour to now know Davie, to (unbelievably) become a small part of his incredible musical history and of course to dedicate to him our Canadian-history instro biker-anthem "Satan's Choice". Dreams do come true!!! Thank you Gregg, Barbara, Brian, Ryan, Jon, Steven, Olaf, Mel, Jim and the legend and coolest man in California, Davie Allan.

The Pow Wows / Davie Allan & The Arrows split single is slated for release March 17th but you can pre-order a copy directly from Get Hip right here. Have a listen to the Pow Wow's ripper Satan's Choice below...