Cadillac Men: The Sun Masters The Jesters

£12.56

Genre:
Psych / Garage
Label:
Big Beat
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDWIKD 282

It’s remarkable to ponder the fact that, as thoroughly as the vaults of the legendary Sun Records have been mined over the forty years since Sam Phillips shut up shop in 1967, some of the best rock’n’roll the label produced has remained hidden until now. I speak of course of the incredible Jesters, and the small but incendiary collection of recordings they made at Sun in 1965. True, a few bits and pieces have snuck out over the years, but always with the implication that, aside from their well regarded 1966 single ‘Cadillac Man’, the rest of the band’s material was substandard British Invasion-influenced fare.

A quick listen to the hair-raising contents of “Cadillac Men” will show just how blindingly wrong that idea is. This is some of the most cathartic and crazed 60s rock I have ever come across, comparable to Dean Carter or the Sonics in its sheer power and fury. As the Sun historians know, playing guitar for the Jesters was Sam’s son Jerry, along with a quixotic individual by the name of Teddy Paige, whose leads are the proverbial headless chicken of rockabilly yore, hot-rodded with a corrosive blues edge. Add to that a pumping rhythm section and the soulful bawling of lead singer Tommy Minga, and there can be no doubt that the Jesters stand up there with Billy Lee Riley or Sonny Burgess as great Sun rockers; the true garage analogue to the wildmen of Sun Records’ 50s heyday.

“Cadillac Men” contains everything the Jesters recorded for Sun, produced by Knox Phillips, with Sam no doubt smiling approvingly over his son’s shoulder. We have also added four essential tracks by Minga’s subsequent combo the Escapades. ‘I Tell No Lies’ and ‘Mad Mad Mad’ are acknowledged Memphis garage classics, and are presented here for the first time legitimately licensed and in great sound quality.

And if the sounds weren’t enough, the combo’s brief history, as revealed in the lengthy liners, is even stranger than fiction, encompassing as it does Memphis maverick Jim Dickinson, a future medieval knight, and The World’s Most Perfectly Formed Midget Wrestler. It’s been mentioned to me on more than one occasion that with a story like the Jesters’, you don’t actually need any music to be entertained, but believe me, you’ll be as excited as I was upon discovering the incandescent magic of this amazing combo.

By Alec Palao

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Track listing

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Side 1

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

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Wonderful. ★★★★

Mojo

This will pleasurably raise many eyebrows. ★★★★

Record Collector

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