Track Listing

1. Black Is Black - Los Straitjackets, Raul Malo
2. Chica Alborotada aka Tallahassee Lassie - Big Sandy, Los Straitjackets
3. Treat Her Right - Mark Lindsay, Los Straitjackets
4. I Ain't the One - Los Straitjackets, Allison Moorer
5. Down the Line - Los Straitjackets, Reverend Horton Heat
6. Rey Criollo aka King Creole - El Vez, Los Straitjackets
7. California Sun - Dave Alvin, Los Straitjackets
8. I'll Go Down Swinging - Exene Cervenka, Los Straitjackets
9. Suegra aka Mother in Law - Big Sandy, Los Straitjackets
10. Bumble Bee - Los Straitjackets
11. Shake That Rat - Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe
12. End of the World - Los Straitjackets, Leigh Nash
13. Huevo - Los Straitjackets, The Trashmen

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #72966 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

I HEAR VOICES!
The Straitjackets have accumulated an allstar cast (everybody from Allison Moorer to the Trashmen) for what turnes out to be a pretty decent sing-a-long. I especially liked the strong vocals of Raul Malo from the Mavericks, who does the Los Bravos song "Black is Black. And Big Sandy, a very underrated singer, who contributes two tunes with "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Mother in Law", both sung Los Straitjackets style, in Spanish. Mexican singer El Vez also sings a Spanish version of Elvis's (who else?) "King Creole". This is actually a pretty darn good version that isn't as cheesy as it sounds. I don't know where they found 70's singer Mark Lindsay. But they dusted him off and put him in front of a microphone for a rousing version of "Treat Her Right". The chord lines from this song sounds exactly like the Kinks "You Really Got Me". Or is it the other way around?. Anyway, Lindsay is in fine form here both singing and playing the sax. A couple other favorites is the Reverend Horton Heat doing Roy Orbison's "Down The Line". And Mike Campbell from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, who both sings and plays guitar on a very contagious version of "Bumble Bee". There's also a couple country songs thrown in for good measure from Allison Moorer & Lonesome Bob, who does Jessi Colter's "I Ain't The One". And ex X singer Exene Cervenka tries out some country chops on "I'll Go Down Swinging". There's a little of everything for everybody here. But it's all mainly oldies from the 60's and 70's. I don't know how much this will appeal to the younger generation, but these songs bring back good memories for an old sod like me who grew up with this stuff. It's also a nice detour from a group who knows how to play surf music with a twist better than any band I know. Clocking in at just 34 minutes, this is a little short in these days of 80 minute CD's. But the performances here are all first rate with every singer here giving it their best shot. Besides that, there may not be a better backing band around than Los Straitjackets. A good listen!

A Party in a Jewel Box
This isn't a great album, just a barrel of fun. Make that 2 barrels. Nearly all the songs are recognizable to even the most casual listener of rock & roll of a certain vintage. Los Straitjackets are a band of top-flight musicians out of Nashville who apparently always wear hooded masks, appearing like villainous Mexican wrestlers, speak Spanish and play frantic, kick-[butt], high-quality, surf-guitar, garage rock. They have had a number of albums but this is the first we've run across. Normally a strictly instrumental band, here they have engaged a bunch of first-rate front men and women to sing these classic- rock ditties. The result is a party in a jewel box. The next time your kid puts on a Slipknot CD, blow him out of the ring with your own band of masked marauders.

If you like 60s music that moves, this is for you.
All the cuts on this CD really rock, but the piece that really stands out is Mark Lindsay's version of "Treat Her Right." Those who know Lindsay's voice expect no less. This cover of "Treat Her Right" puts the original to shame. And, contrary to the prior review and as evidenced on this CD, Lindsay never has to be "dusted off." He's always touring and is better than ever. Those who remember all his great work as a 70s solo artist and as former frontman for Paul Revere and the Raiders, can check out Lindsay's web site for tour information and career updates.