Search - Scruffs :: Angst: Early Recordings 74-76

Lost Early Scruffs Classic

scott crest | new york | 10/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded amid a decaying post-60s Memphis music scene, the early Scruffs struggled to create an antidote to the nightmarish boogie and southern rock scene that had replaced it with power pop that echoed a mix of the Beatles and what was then popular in the U.K. At this time Alex Chilton was all but forgotten and could be seen clawing his way up to a stage to attempt to join the group for a song, rarely attempted to record anthing, Chris Bell died in a car wreck, and Andrew Loog Oldham cut a few songs with Van Duren at Ardent and left without paying the bill, John Fry had forgotten about Ardent and rarely showed up at the office, had lost interest in music. Tracks 1--10 were recent Exeter graduate Stephen Burns recording without a band, and the final lineup came together for tracks 11--24 at a time before record executives even knew there was a New Wave to ignore."