Smell of Female

Released in 1983 after a lengthy court battle with IRS Records, Smell of Female originally contained just the first six songs. These, plus out-of-control ad-lib freakouts Beautiful Gardens and She Said (previously omitted due to legal restrictions) were recorded live at New York s famous Peppermint Lounge. There is nothing like the sound of The Cramps, and this set distills that cross of swamp water, moonshine and nitro down to a dangerous and unstable musical substance, captured live like a crazed animal. They rocked like few others could. Additional bonus track Surfin Dead was recorded at A&M Studios in Hollywood and originally appeared on the 1984 soundtrack for Return of the Living Dead when asked to write a pop song for the movie, The Cramps (by then a three-piece) threw into their cauldron a mix of Link Wray, Jan & Dean, Davie Allen, The Righteous Brothers, bongos, Phil Spector and eye of newt.