Monday, April 19, 2010

Jason & The Scorchers: Reckles Country Soul


As I've said before, "Cow-punk, roots-rock, alt-country, y'alternative, whatever damn term you use for music that hurts like country and hits like rock n' roll, you're gonna come back to Jason and the Scorchers." (See me review of the new album here.)



And this, Reckless Country Soul, is where it all began back in 1982. It's a four song e.p. recorded under the name, Jason & The Nashville Scorchers which was later re-issued on CD with out-takes from their 1983 e.p Fervor, which had brought them to fame via...are you regular readers ready for this?... a cover of Bob Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie":



The Scorchers sound, a shotgun re-marriage between rock n' roll and country, who'd been divorced after separate sordid affairs involving The Eagles and Kenny Rogers, is clearly being worked out in these early sessions. While the gonzo covers by Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers are fine statements of purpose, it's not till the later track, the lonesome, "Pray For Me Momma, I'm a Gypsy Now", that it's obvious that this union will be fruitful.



Reckless Country Soul link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, What's you take on Jason & the Scorchers' sound?

*

Support the band!


Homepage


Amazon


MySpace


iTunes

16 comments:

  1. .
    .
    .

    DON'T FORGET TO TO LET US US KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK OF THE JASON & THE SCORCHERS SOUND:
    .

    http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?aone3jigyzd

    ReplyDelete
  2. this ep is THE jason and the scorchers! i was never a big fan of the later stuff...thanks, this brought back memories.

    ed

    ReplyDelete
  3. hey garage punk 66 just posted this last week in m4a

    ReplyDelete
  4. p.s. the "cowpunk" thing...lots of great bands, no denying; however, it's funny how the cowpunk and even rockabilly sounds most closely approximate the "original" sound of rock 'n roll. it's all just music and only a few basic elements comprise all genres. just my opinion though. i don't want to offend any of the musicologists with my naive ignorance. great blog!

    ed

    ReplyDelete
  5. excellent band. the new album is fab. seeing them live next week. are you ready for the country ?

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ed

    cow-punk was a lot of fun, even if it was a bit confused as a genre.

    Anon
    I noticed that as I was finishing up this post (this series has been in the pipeline since I reviewed there new album here weeks ago). I used to be more uptight about not offering anything available elsewhere but now I figure as long as I add something (say mp3's instead of m4a's etc.) it's fine. Plus, Garage Punk 66 is a great blog.

    john
    Lucky man! Tell us how the show goes.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jeffen

    I think I have the majority of the Jason & The Scorchers/Jason Ringenberg albums.Good stuff.

    I am also a big fan of bands like The Long Ryders,Evan Johns & The H Bombs,The Leroi Brothers,The Tail Gators,Rank and File,Omar & The Howlers,The Blasters etc.Also the 'Big Guitars From Texas' albums are good.Then ya can move on to the solo albums by Dave Alvin and Alejandro Escovedo.Dave and Alejandro are 'American Treasures'.

    Alejandro Escovedo has a new solo released in June.A must buy for moi.

    While I am here, the new albums by Robyn Hitchcock and Paul Weller are excellent.

    That's it.

    Cheers

    Doug

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jeffen

    The new Graham Parker is also good.

    Doug

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love'em. Jason & The Scorchers that is. (Although they kinda lost their way on their third album) One of the best live bands (if not THE best) I've ever seen. And isn't Jason the most lovable charming guy ever?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was 14 years old when i bought Lost & Found after seeing 2 songs live on TV. They were our Fav band from the first band I played in (12th Wreck). And anyone who plays guitar must wish they could play like that - swoon. J.F.BUG

    ReplyDelete
  12. Doug
    Great list of Roots-rock weirdos (see the Robbie Fulks song of that name) to which I wold add Lone Justice, Blood on the Saddle, The Lost Durangos and more if I wan't so damn sick!

    P.S. The new GP is good - short - but good.

    Dr. Hank
    That third album has some great songs on it (And quite a few ones that are not so good).

    Jason
    Cool - I love the fact that they were biggest in the UK, ironic for such a deeply American band.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I saw Jason & The Scorchers play in LA when their 1st EP was released. The rocked so hard, i thought the place was gonna catch on fire.

    And some nobody without a record label opened for them - he was pretty damn good -- it was DWIGHT YOAKAM !

    ReplyDelete
  14. anon
    Okay the jealousy meter is now in the red! I saw Yoakam on a a stadium tour in the nineties but what I wouldn't have done to see him opening for J & S back in the day!

    ReplyDelete
  15. thanks for share these good sounds

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anon
    You're welcome! MRML readers turned out to be pretty big J & S fans.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for clicking the COMMENTS link.
Now that you're here,I should mentions that
without reader feedback blogs slowly wither and die