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The Cramps' Lost 1977 Album Gravest Gravy Set for August Release

The announcement launches a campaign to reclaim the band’s archive and replace decades of bootlegs with authorized reissues and merchandise.

Overview

  • The release was announced Wednesday and Gravest Gravy is scheduled for August 21 on the relaunched Vengeance imprint with pre-orders and merchandise now available.
  • Henry Rollins and Ian MacKaye, working through their RAM Prod. partnership, are overseeing tape restoration, mix selection and archival production for the project.
  • Archivist Brian Kehew transferred seven quarter-inch reels from the 1977 Ardent Studios sessions and reported the tapes were in pristine condition before restoration.
  • Poison Ivy formed Cramps, Inc. with Larry Hardy and Jimmy Maslon to relaunch Vengeance, manage official reissues and sell authorized merchandise to counter long-running bootlegs.
  • Gravest Gravy gathers Chilton-produced 1977 recordings that include covers, early versions of later songs and guest organ from Alex Chilton, and the releases were mastered at Inner Ear and Infrasonic for vinyl, CD and digital formats.