Unused THE CRAMPS "Songs The Lord Taught Us"
1980 Vinyl LP - Promotional Copy - Original Cover

• You are bidding on one unused copy of THE CRAMPS stereo vinyl LP "Songs The Lord Taught Us," released in 1980. This is an promotional copy of the original release. Stamped "Demonstration - Not For Sale" on the back cover, top right. This is the original cover - the back cover text is in pink on a grey background and is essentially illegible! (I.R.S. Records changed this in later releases). Produced by Alex Chilton. Recorded at Sam C. Phillips Recording Studio, Memphis, TN. Duration 37:54.

• Personnel:
  • Lux Interior - Singer
  • Poison Ivy - Guitar
  • Bryan Gregory - Guitar
  • Nick Knox - Drums

• The LP and jacket is considered USED but is in excellent condition. (See grading legend below). The disc is graded NM and is not warped; there are no marks on either side. We believe the disc may be unplayed. The jacket is VG+; there is no edge wear and very minor ring wear on the top, both sides. The top right corner has a 1/2 inch bend. The inner sleeve is generic and in good condition. The pictures below are of the actual item.

• Side One:
  1. TV Set - 3:12
  2. Rock On The Moon - 1:53
  3. Garbage Man - 3:37
  4. I Was A Teenage Werewolf - 3:03
  5. Sunglasses After Dark - 3:47
  6. The Mad Daddy - 3:48
  Side Two:
  1. Mystery Plane - 2:43
  2. Zombie Dance - 1:55
  3. What's Behind The Mask? - 2:05
  4. Strychnine - 2:25
  5. I'm Cramped - 2:37
  6. Tear It Up - 2:32
  7. Fever - 4:17

• AllMusic Review by Ned Raggett
  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.

• © 1980 I.R.S. Inc. I.R.S. SP 007. Manufactured and Distributed by A&M Records.

• Sold AS-IS. NO RETURNS.

• To protect this collectible recording, this auction also includes the packaging necessary to ship a vinyl record. Included is a new cardboard container specifically designed for vinyl records. The record will be shipped in a new paper sleeve. The empty jacket will be shipped in a new plastic sleeve.

Please contact us if you have any questions about the auction. We will respond as quickly as possible.

• M = Mint. In all but the rarest cases, still sealed. If we know that an open record has never been played, and the rating otherwise applies, it will be graded mint.
  
• NM = Near mint, or unplayed condition. Cover is near perfect, new looking, with no surface or ring wear.
  
• EX = Only slight signs of wear; very clean, only light surface marks which do not distract significantly from the sound. Cover has only slight surface wear and is still in nice collectible condition.
  
• VG+ = Evidence of play, with moderate surface wear and some minor noise - still plays well. Cover is solid with no breaks but may have minor surface wear or some ring wear.
  
• VG = Overall wear, but no skips or serious defects. May be somewhat noisy during quiet passages. Cover is worn, with considerable ring wear, and may have partially broken edges.
  
• VG- = Playable, but both the record and cover are well worn.
  
• G or G+ = Poor or Rough condition. Holefiller only!

We make every effort to describe all items as accurately as possible, including defects. However, if you find that this item was not accurately described, or if you have any other claim, dispute, grievance or request, please contact us using the eBay "Contact Seller" function within 3 calendar days (72 hours) of receipt of the auction item and we will discuss the issue. The delivery date and time will be established by USPS Tracking.