The Cramps' Lost Album Gravest Gravy Set for Release

The Cramps ended in 2009 after Lux Interior’s death, and no new music or archival releases followed. Interest surged after Jenna Ortega’s viral dance to “Goo Goo Muck,” but no releases appeared until Gravest Gravy. The collection contains songs recorded in 1977 with Big Star frontman Alex Chilton. In October 1977, the band recorded two 7-inch singles with Chilton producing, then later bundled four songs into the Gravest Hits EP in 1979 with a cover of “Lonesome Town.” Additional songs from those sessions were shelved for unknown reasons. Years later, reels were transferred in pristine condition, mixes were reviewed by longtime friends Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye, EQ and levels were adjusted, tracks were mastered, and Poison Ivy approved the final versions for release.

"The Cramps formally ended in 2009 following the sudden death of their co-founder Lux Interior. Ever since, there's been no new music, reissues, or archival releases from the band, not even after Jenna Ortega's viral dance to "Goo Goo Muck" in caused a surge of interest. That changes today with Gravest Gravy, a lost collection of songs the Cramps recorded with Big Star frontman Alex Chilton in 1977. It's out August 21 via Vengeance. Listen to the previously unreleased track "TV Set" below."

"In October 1977, the Cramps recorded their first two 7" singles-"Surfin' Bird" with "The Way I Walk," and "Human Fly" with "Domino"-with Chilton producing, which they released the following year on their own label. Come 1979, they bundled the four songs with a cover of Ricky Nelson's "Lonesome Town" and called it the Gravest Hits EP. During those storied sessions, the Cramps also tracked a number of additional songs, many of which never saw the light of day."

"Nearly a decade later, Lux Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy returned to those sessions hoping to release the recordings. Yet, for "reasons lost to time," per a press release, they were shelved. Fast forward to present day, where Brian Kehew transferred the music from the old reels, which were in "pristine condition." From there, Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye, both longtime friends of the Cramps, listened to the multiple mixes available for each song and agreed on the final versions."

"MacKaye then volunteered to handle EQ and level adjustment on two tracks with Don Zientara at Virginia's Inner Ear Studios, while Pete Lyman mastered the final versions at Nashville's Infrasonic Sound and Poison Ivy gave them the final stamp of approval for public listening. "This new chapter for the band is a combined effort of people whose lives were changed by the music of the Cramps," Rollings wrote in a statement."

Read at Pitchfork