From The Kitchen Sink The Sting-Rays

£12.56

Genre:
Psych / Garage
Label:
Big Beat
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDWIKD 208

This product is also available in these versions:
From The Kitchen Sink (MP3), MP3 (£7.99)

Or perhaps Kitchen Cinque, given the band's prediliction for magpie-esque assemblage of morsels from the 50s and 60s Rock'n'Roll history book. Can it be 20 years since the Sting-Rays telephoned me on the morning after a chance encounter at a gig at Dingwalls' Dancehall? Two minutes later they were running up the dingy staircase to Ace Records' office, situated over a secondhand record shop in Camden Town.

I remember all four of them, Bal, Alec, Mark and Keith, throwing themselves down on the synthetic zebra skin office sofa (recently purchased from a stall in Golborne Rd fleamarket for £20). They were bursting with enthusiasm and hoping that my alcohol-fuelled interest from the night before hadn't evaporated. When they produced the great full-colour band photo, shot against a ceiling sized reproduction of the first 13th Floor Elevators album sleeve, I knew that we were on to something. I confirmed that yes we did want to make a record with the Sting-Rays and the rest is history.

By this time, Punk had been renamed New-Wave and was taking itself very seriously indeed (with a few notable exceptions). Refreshingly, however, a new thread of lo-tech live music had emerged fuelled by the original Punk ethos and inspired by current bands like the Cramps as well as the "Spirit of Future Past" in the shape of 50s Rockabilly which was readily available on numerous cheap compilation albums. Also thrown into the mix were generous dollops of high-energy inspiration from 60s bands like Them, the Pretty Things, 13th Floor Elevators, Sonics, Standells etc, all readily available on reissued compilations.

The Sting-Rays were just one of a growing number of groups including the Milkshakes, the Meteors, Pogues, Cannibals, Prisoners, Barracudas, Guanabatz, Motor Boys Motor etc who could be seen playing no-nonsense high energy rock'n'roll almost any night of the week for the price of a pint in pubs and clubs around London.

The Sting-Rays were one of the most interesting of these bands as their palette of influences was drawn from all corners of the musical spectrum!! This CD gathers together six previously unissued recordings along with 20 of the Sting-Rays's best recordings for the Ace and Big Beat labels, as well as other available interesting material. Included are the band's super rare recordings as the Bananamen as well as the hard-to-find track from the Four On 4: Trash On The Tube EP. Now a new generation can enjoy the musical mayhem that is the recorded legacy of the wonderful Sting-Rays.

By Ted Carroll

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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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A superb 26-track collection of raucous and intelligent mayhem, well worthy of your perusal.

Record Collector

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