Motor Boys Motor: The Cars Mixtape

The Milkshakes (featuring Billy Childish and Mickey Hampshire) were, to coin a term, extra-retro, that is, not simply revivalists or nostalgia merchants, but a group of artists respectful of past traditions who also actually improved on the original. (The original, in this case, being Cavern/Star Club-era British beat.) Kid Vinil in Brazil wrote in his blog about a show he saw where the Milkshakes opened up for Link Wray at the Electric Ballroom in London in the early 1980s. Google Translate mangles his native Portuguese:

But it was there that understand the intent of the sound of Milkshakes "garage" in their smallest detail.

The sound was dirty, the amplifiers were all old vintage, and the voice of Billy was connected to an old valve amplifier that sent you a few boxes of estouradas and voice distorted.

Initially I was disappointed with the technical quality of the sound, as expected at the main stage with all that paraphernalia of light and sound.

Now the originality and authenticity of sound Sixties thing that moment was priceless, it seemed that I was back in time and was seeing a band called the "British Invasion" in the 60s. The show of Link Wray was spectacular, but the brightness of Milkshakes that night was in my memory for ever.

It’s in my memory forever too – I was there, and also at a few other Milkshakes gigs, most memorably at the legendary Hope and Anchor pub in Islington. Listen to their take on Bo Diddley’s Cadillac to hear this sense of respect for tradition without stooping to mere tribute; listen to their own composition – Jaguar – to hear a straight-faced British twist on the long-established American tradition of singing about cars.

Demo Portability X 2:

Check out two (2) demo versions of the Modern Lovers’ “Roadrunner” and also two (2) demo versions of the Beastie Boys’ “Car Thief”.

The Cars Mixtape

Car Thief (Demo) - Beastie Boys
Car Thief (Demo 2) - Beastie Boys
Hot Rod Racer - Dick Dale
[Brand New] Cadillac – The Hergs
Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston
Gas Money - Jan and Arnie
Jaguar – The Milkshakes
Cadillac – The Milkshakes
Cadillac Walk - Mink Deville
Roadrunner (Demo) - Modern Lovers
Roadrunner (Demo 2) - Modern Lovers
Helen Wheels - Paul McCartney and Wings
Phantom Wheels - Scooter Gil and the Accents
Boss Hoss – The Sonics
2-4-6-8 Motorway - Tom Robinson Band
Low Rider - War


Here's the original Cars tape.

No Xmas for John's Cache

And the Christmas lights, they blew up
Now the leccy's all gone dead
I look like a coal miner
And I've a pain inside my head
--A CHRISTMAS LULLABY (1996)

I’m not gonna dwell on the negative, but this theme is woeful. Both the theme itself and my attempt to make a tape. It’s like the baseball theme – there’s just so few songs on topic that are any good. Two of my favorite artists from the borough of Queens – Run DMC and the Ramones – both made very forgettable Christmas songs late in their careers, leaving a bad taste, so I’m not gonna bother with them. It’s ill-timed too, so let’s just get it over with, concede to BD, and move on.

Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
Christmas Greetings – The Beatles
Merry Christmas Baby – Chuck Berry
Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby and David Bowie
Santa Claus is Back in Town – Elvis Presley
No Xmas for John Quays – The Fall
Christmas Episode 1946 – Jack Benny Radio Program
Run Rudolph Run – Keith Richards
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
A Christmas Lullaby – Shane MacGowan and the Popes
Santa Claus – The Sonics
Comanche (Link Wray's Christmas) – Wild Billy Childish & the Musicians of the British Empire
Jesus Christ – Woody Guthrie

Bob Dylan's victorious Xmixtape.