Please note that I cannot possibly play test every LP all the way through.   I will visually grade the cover and record as best that I can, and will play test a few spots on each side of the vinyl.   If you discover that there are any problems, please let me know.

Artist

The Cramps

Album

 Songs The Lord Taught Us

Year

 1980

Sleeve Condition

 VG

Vinyl Condition

 VG+

Notes

Vinyl record album LP

Radio Station Promo Copy 

 COMBINED SHIPPING ON MEDIA ITEMS SOLD FOR $0.99 OR MORE ONLY - $1.00 each additional media item.

Cramps, The ?– Songs The Lord Taught Us

TracklistHide Credits

Companies etc

• Manufactured By – A&M Records, Inc.
• Distributed By – A&M Records, Inc.
• Copyright (c) – I.R.S. Records, Inc.
• Mixed At – Ardent Studios
• Mixed At – A&M Studios
• Published By – Vernon Music
• Published By – Illegal Songs, Inc.
• Published By – Valet Publishing, Inc.
• Published By – Jay & Cee Music Corp.
• Recorded At – Sam C. Phillips Recording Studios
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – I.R.S. Records, Inc.

Credits

• Art Direction – Carl Grasso
• Drums – Nick Knox
• Engineer – John Hampton
• Guitar – Bryan Gregory, Poison Ivy
• Mixed By – Ivy Rorschach, Lux Interior
• Organ – Booker C* (tracks: B7)
• Photography By – David Arnoff
• Producer – Alex Chilton
• Sleeve [Concept] – Cramps, The
• Vocals – Lux Interior

Notes

Continuing the spooked-out and raging snarls of their Gravest Hits EP, the Cramps once again worked with Alex Chilton on the group's full-album debut, Songs the Lord Taught Us. The jacket reads "file under: sacred music," but only if one's definition includes the holy love of rockabilly sex-stomp, something which the Cramps fulfill in spades. Having spent Gravest Hits mostly doing revamps of older material, the foursome tackled a slew of originals like "The Mad Daddy" and "TV Set" this time around, creating one of the few neo-rockabilly records worthy of the name. Years later Songs still drips with threat and desire both, testament to both the band's worth and Chilton's just-right production. "Garbageman" surfaced as a single in some areas, a wise choice given the at-once catchy roll of the song and downright frightening guitar snarls, especially on the solo. The covers of the Sonics' "Strychnine" and Billy Burnette's "Tear It Up" -- not to mention the concluding riff on "Fever" -- all challenge the originals. Interior has the wailing, hiccuping, and more down pat, but transformed into his own breathless howl, while Ivy and Gregory keep up the electric fuzz through more layers of echo than legality should allow. Knox helms the drums relentlessly; instead of punching through arena rock style, Chilton keeps the rushed rhythm running along in the back, increasing the sheer psychosis of it all.

J

DISC (VINYL) GRADES

SS 

Sealed at factory and never opened. Disc is assumed to be undamaged and mint, but this cannot be proven until the album is actually opened and the disc examined.

(STILL SEALED)

M 

Perfection, no flaws, defects, marks or otherwise indications of being handled or played. Any scuffs, hairline scratches or other marks disqualify discs from this category. 

(MINT)

NM or M- 

The vinyl is virtually flawless, bright and shiny. A very minor, barely visible scuff or two may be permitted, but no scratches. The disc plays with no audible noise. The label is bright, clean and unmarked.

(NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS) 

EX or VG++ 

Disc plays near perfectly, but has minor paper scuffs that do not interfere with the sound quality. There is possibly a hairline scratch or two but nothing that is obvious or affects play. Vinyl is bright and shiny; label is clean and unmarked.

(EXCELLENT or VERY GOOD ++)

VG+ 

Some visible surface wear, very minor scratches and scuffs, but minimal impact on the sound quality. Vinyl still have good luster; labels are clean.

(VERY GOOD PLUS)

VG 

Vinyl has noticeable scratches or scuffs that cause minor surface noise, but do not overpower the music. There are no skips.  Vinyl appears somewhat dull and grayish. Labels may have small tears, tape marks, writing, etc.  

(VERY GOOD)

G 

Well-played, dull, grayish vinyl with deeper scratches and wear causing distracting surface noise (hisses, pops, cracks and other nasties). The record will still play through without any skips. Labels may be significantly defaced or damaged.

(GOOD)

F and P 

Unless the record is particularly rare, I would not try to sell a record in this condition. There will be major noise, surface damage, deep scratches, and skips. Attempting to listen to these discs will be painful. These discs are basically trash unless a collector desires one to fill a space in a collection until a better one comes along.

(FAIR) (POOR)

ALBUM COVER GRADES

SS 

Album is still in the factory-applied shrink-wrapping.

(STILL SEALED)

M 

Absolutely perfect; no corner dings, marks, tears, dents, impressions from the disc, or other flaws. Cover should appear as if a record has never been inside.

(MINT)

NM or M- 

Very minor signs of wear or cover impressions. Artwork is as close to perfection as possible.

(NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS) 

EX or VG++ 

Minor disc impression and slight corner creases, no wrinkles, puckers, seam splits or writing on the cover. Artwork is clean and unworn and there is no ink wear.

(EXCELLENT or VERY GOOD ++)

VG+ 

Cover is clean but has minor writing or marks and shows slight wear. There may be just the start of ring wear. There is slight discoloration due to aging or staining, minor seam wear, but no splits or tears. Corners have small creases or fraying.

(VERY GOOD PLUS)

VG 

Cover is worn and used. Seams may be starting to split or may be repaired with clear tape. There is moderate ring wear, but the artwork is still attractive. There is some yellowing or discoloration and there is larger writing, labels, or marks. Corners have damage (dents, fraying, and/or creases).

(VERY GOOD)

G 

Several (but not all of the following flaws will apply: Seam splits, large marker writing, major seam splits, significant ring wear, damaged corners, tears, cuts, gouges, masking or duct tape seam repairs, or other flaws and damage. Again, probably only useful to fill a collection niche until something better can be found.

(GOOD)

F and P 

Trash, useable only to keep the record off the floor.

(FAIR) (POOR) 

Definitions 

Regular Retail - These are the ones bought in the store.  They are shrink wrapped if new.

Cut-Out – Has either a small slit, punch hole, or corner cut indicating that the record was either placed out of print by the record company, or is a promo copy.

Promo - Has any number of labels stating that it is for Promotion Use Only.  These were submitted by the record company to radio stations or record stores and their employees as a way of promoting airplay and in-store positioning.  The record cover may have ink stamps, often Gold colored saying "Not For Sale, for Promotional use only"  The labels on the record often have typed statements and often have a plain white background (White Label Promo).  There also may be stickers and/or cutout holes.  Usually Promo albums are worth more than the regular releases.

Radio Station Copy - These are usually Regular Retail or Promo albums that a radio station has marked up with often large written marker call letters such as WLIR-FM or may have large white stickers where DJ's make notes of when songs were played.

Import - A record released in another country and brought in to the US for sale.  These records often have thin flimsy covers.

Please note that I cannot possibly play test every LP all the way through.   I will visually grade the cover and record as best that I can, and will play test a few spots on each side of the vinyl.   If you discover that there are any problems, please let me know.