The Cramps are back from the dead (sort of) with ‘Gravest Gravy’

Some records don’t just get released — they get exhumed. That’s exactly what’s happening on August 21st, when ‘Gravest Gravy‘, a never-before-heard Cramps album produced by the great Alex Chilton back in 1977, finally sees the light of day. It’s been sitting in the vault for nearly 50 years, and the story of how it got out is almost as wild as the music itself.

How We Got Here

Back in October 1977, the Cramps — Lux Interior, Poison Ivy, Bryan Gregory, and Nick Knox — holed up at Ardent Studios in Memphis with Chilton at the boards. Those sessions birthed the band’s first two singles on Vengeance Records: Surfin’ Bird / The Way I Walk and Human Fly / Domino. A few more tracks trickled out on the 1979 UK EP ‘Gravest Hits’, including a swampy take on Lonesome Town.

But there was more tape than anyone knew what to do with. In the late ’80s, Lux and Ivy started assembling a full LP from those leftovers — mixing sessions happened in North Hollywood and Memphis, a cover was commissioned from photographer Stephanie Chernikowski, and the record even had a title: ‘Gravest Gravy’. Then, for reasons lost to time, it got shelved.

The Resurrection

Enter Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye, working together as RAM Prod. on behalf of the newly formed Cramps Inc. The two tracked down all seven reels of quarter-inch tape, had them transferred by Brian Kehew, and spent night after night comparing mixes to figure out which versions were the real keepers. Spoiler: the final mixes always won out. From there it was off to Inner Ear Studios in Arlington and Infrasonic Sound in Nashville for mastering.

The result is twelve tracks of unfiltered, unhinged Cramps — covers of Hungry (Paul Revere and the Raiders), Problem Child (Sam Phillips), Rocket In My Pocket (Jimmy Lloyd), plus early versions of songs that would later show up on ‘Psychedelic Jungle’, like Jungle Hop, The Natives Are Restless, Can’t Find My Mind, and Rockin’ Bones.

Full Tracklist

• TV Set
• Weekend On Mars
• Twist & Shout
• Jungle Hop
• Can’t Hardly Stand It
• Hungry
• The Natives Are Restless
• Domino
• Can’t Find My Mind
• Rockin’ Bones
• Problem Child
• Rocket In My Pocket

What’s Next

A limited 7″ called ‘More Gravy’ follows in September (TBD), featuring an alternate vocal take of TV Set and an alternate mix of Can’t Find My Mind. Rollins and MacKaye also say two more archival releases are already in the works for 2027 — so this isn’t a one-off resurrection, it’s the start of a whole afterlife for the Cramps’ back catalog.

“When I first saw the Cramps at CBGB, I was overjoyed — entertained and inspired! And there was a girl in the band!” — Debbie Harry

“Funny, sexy, and dangerous, I was not sure if the concert would end in an orgy or a riot. Either would do.” — Kid Congo Powers

‘Gravest Gravy’ is out August 21st on multiple coloured vinyl, CD, and all digital platforms via Vengeance Records.