Crime

Despite having independently released the first punk rock single on the US west coast, Crime's legend has never spread beyond a comparatively small but extremely adamant cult. The fact that they only released three singles during their existence is certainly a factor in the lack of recognition afforded them. Probably more significant is the fact that Crime's music and image set them apart from what soon became discernable as the typical punk rock scene. The amphetamine blues lead guitar bursts that responded to the vocal lines in nearly every song, as well as the frequently dispassionate vocals, set them apart from the bandwagon-jumping art-schoolers (who were all too often devoid of rock and roll attitude), as did their carefully cultivated look and their anti-social attitude. Crime compiles the complete recorded legacy of the band fans have come to refer to as San Francisco's first and only rock and roll band. It includes three facsimile reproductions of Crime's original singles and four more 7"s featuring ten tracks recorded from 1977 through '79 and unreleased at the time, among them a "Be Bop a Lula/Peggy Sue" medley unavailable elsewhere until now. The records are accompanied by a 20-page booklet with an extensive band interview by Michael Lucas, photos and memorabilia, plus a special text written by film director and Crime fan Jeff Feuerzeig (The Devil and Daniel Johnston). Includes a CD with all 16 tracks.