MusiClack – Christmas with The Cramps

by Michael Noble

The Cramps' influences were far and wide and even delved into the Yule season. Some of their favorites are featured in this week's 'MusiClack' ...

Down the line, there will be an edition of MusiClack featuring one of my all-time favorite bands — The Cramps.

However … it’s the holidays! And I don’t care who you are: musically speaking there can’t be Christmastime without festive yule tunes during the season. Right? Right!

About 20 years ago, Bust Magazine interviewed The Cramps’ Lux Interior (Erick Lee Purkhiser) and Poison Ivy (Kristy Marlana Wallace) and were asked to about some of their favorite Christmas songs. The result is the fictional mixtape sleeve you see below:

Not so fictional are some of the tunes included herewith to aid in lending you a touch of Christmas spirit you may not have thought you had in you.

You see … when each and every one of us thinks about Christmastime, a vast myriad of feelings and images and thoughts are conjured up. You may love the season or otherwise but, as with many things in life, music can set the tone and leave an indelible mark. Even with a band as interesting as The Cramps.

Merry Christmas, everyone … and please enjoy some of the sounds off the faux Black Christmas compilation.

But wait … the eagle-eyed reader out there will call me on what the television connection is with this chapter of MusiClack … and I have just the answer for you. A double dose as a matter of fact.

As a taste of things to come, I offer rare footage of The Cramps on the television program Spotlight from many moons past performing one of there seminal, signature songs TV Set. Again, please enjoy: