The Cramps - Bad Music For Bad People

The Cramps have always had some interesting-to-downright-gonzo album covers such as Stay Sick, Flamejob, How to Make a Monster, Smell of Female and A Date With Elvis, but I've always been drawn to this ghoul punk on the cover of Bad Music For Bad People. Since The Misfits stole The Crimson Ghost from an old movie serial, I'm going to give this snarling, Berni Wrightson-esque demon punk the edge for visceral presentation if presenting a less iconic facade.

You can see where psychobilly gets its roots, partially from The Misfits, partially from Reverend Horton Heat and partially from Southern Culture On the Skids, but naturally The Cramps deserve recognition as pioneers of psychobilly for their garage, surf, Texarkana, grease 'n grits twang. Too bad the album itself is only 31 minutes long, shockingly blase for a compilation album. Yes, you're buying this thing for the cover if not for "Goo Goo Muck," "Drug Train," "New Kind of Kick" and "Garbageman."