The Roots of Psychobilly: 40 Original Recordings (2-CD)

by Various Artists

Psychobilly is generally thought of as being a blend of ‘70s punk with ‘50s rockabilly. It first surfaced in the 1970s with bands like The Cramps, then expanded into the ‘80s with a whole wave of bands led by The Meteors and King Kurt, and went one step further in the ‘90s with Tiger Army and all the bands that followed in their wake. However, it’s only the roots of Psychobilly that concern us here, in this collection of wild vinyl oddities from the 50s and early 60s: a curious mix of rockabilly, surf instrumentals and overall beatnik weirdness, often thrashed out by genuine wildmen in the middle of nowhere.