The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was an American three-piece rock band from New York City, formed in 1991. The group consisted of Judah Bauer on guitar, backing vocals, harmonica and occasional lead vocals; Russell Simins on drums; and Jon Spencer on vocals, guitar and theremin. Their musical style is largely rooted in rock and roll; however, the band draws influences from punk, blues, garage, rockabilly, soul, noise rock, rhythm and blues and hip-hop.
The band released nine official studio albums, as well as collaborative records with Dub Narcotic Sound System and R.L. Burnside and numerous live, singles, out-take albums, compilations, remix albums. In 2010, the band released a series of expanded reissues. Throughout the course of their career, this experimental sound and occasionally unconventional recording techniques has allowed the band to work with such artists as Elliott Smith, Beck, Solomon Burke, Steve Albini, Martina Topley-Bird, and Mike D of the Beastie Boys.
History Formation Originally from Hanover, New Hampshire, US, Jon Spencer attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was part of the noise rock band Shithaus, with Tod Ashley (Cop Shoot Cop, Firewater). Spencer moved to Washington, D.C., in 1985, where he formed the band Pussy Galore with Julia Cafritz; they relocated to New York in May 1986. Spencer played and recorded with Gibson Bros., Boss Hog and The Honeymoon Killers prior to the formation of the Blues Explosion.
Judah Bauer, from Appleton, Wisconsin, had been in an early line-up of The Spitters, and with Russell Simins, from Queens, New York, recorded as part of Crowbar Massage.
It was with Jerry Teel's Honeymoon Killers that Bauer, Simins and Spencer would all perform and record and from which they would go on to form The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.Gladstone, Eric. "New Route: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion ", August 1992.
The sound of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was informed by previous bands with influence taken from working with the Gibson Bros. which was already evident in the last Pussy Galore album. "That final Pussy Galore album exuded a very Gibson Brothers-bent version of what was to come with Spencer's next, more successful venture the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion."Davidson, Eric. "We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut: 1988–2001", Back Beat Books, , 2010.Edison, Mike. Year One (sleeve notes), July 2010.
They were signed to the large independent label Matador Records between 1993 and 2002 in the US, Crypt Records between 1992 and 1994 in Germany and Mute Records between 1996 and 2005 in the UK although they have released material on a number of different labels including the 2010 reissues on Shout Factory in the US and Shove Records in the UK.
First albums (1991–1992) The band had been playing together for six months when they had their first recording session with Kramer at Noise NY in July 1991 and recorded fourteen songs over the course of three hours, "only doing second takes here and there, we didn't even go to the mixing board". This session was issued in its entirety as a bootleg album, A Reverse Willie Horton at some point between late 1991 and early 1992 in an edition of 500 or 1000 copies (the figure varies between sources). It has been suggested that the source of the bootleg was a cassette that Jon Spencer let somebody copy during a tour with the Gibson Bros. in August 1991. The front cover image on the album is a negative of Clarence Thomas, his wife, and George Bush at Thomas' swearing in ceremony for the Supreme Court on October 19, 1991.The title refers to the convicted felon William R. Horton who featured prominently in political advertisements during the 1988 presidential campaign.
A second session was recorded by Steve Albini at the Waterfront, Hoboken, New Jersey, in November/December 1991. Tracks from both the Kramer and Albini sessions were then officially issued on the Caroline (US) / Hut (UK) release The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion; in larger amounts by Crypt Records as Crypt Style; and in an alternate version of Crypt Style by 1 + 2 Records (Japan), including the track "Colty" which was unavailable elsewhere until 2010. This was the only Blues Explosion album to be issued by Caroline Records, and the band's tenure there was short-lived and acrimonious.
The first single release was "Shirt Jac" on In The Red Records (1992) also from the second recording session with Steve Albini. The b-side is an arrangement of "Latch On," a song previously recorded in 1956 by both the Cochran Brothers and Ron Hargrave.
In late 1992 Jon Spencer Blues Explosion embarked on a long tour in the US supporting the Jesus Lizard. It has been said that during this time Jon Spencer's stage persona evolved into what is now synonymous with a Blues Explosion live performance.Edison, Mike. Extra Width (sleeve notes), 2010.
Extra Width (1993–1994) The band signed with Matador Records. Recording sessions for their second album, Extra Width, took place in Memphis at Doug Easley's studio on November 23/24 and December 3, 1992, during the Jesus Lizard tour and at Waterworks Recording in New York with Jim Waters where all further overdubs and mixing was done.
Extra Width was released in June 1993. "Afro" was later released as a 7" only single in the UK in 1994 and had a music video directed by Tom Surgal. This was the only single to be released from the album and featured b-side "Relax-Her" which is labelled as "Incidental" on the test pressing and introduced as such on the recording.
Their first TV appearance was on Channel 4 UK TV show The Word (Season 4, Episode 12) in February 1994, performing "Afro" and "History of Sex". Afterwards presenter Mark Lamarr said "they're the best live band I've ever seen."
Also in early 1994, In The Red Records released "Train No. 3" and "Train No. 1" as the third installment of the Explosion Juke Box Series ("Train No. 2" appeared on Extra Width).
Mo' Width was issued in July 1994 by Au Go Go Records and was composed of out-takes from the Extra Width-era, featuring covers of "There Stands The Glass" (Webb Pierce), "Beat of The Traps" (Teri Rodd & MSR Singers), and Ole Man Trouble (Otis Redding), an alternate mix of "Afro" with a much more prominent organ solo, and "Rob K" featuring Rob Kennedy from The Workdogs.
Orange (1994–1995) Orange was recorded at Waterworks, NYC with Jim Waters and released in October 1994. "Bellbottoms", featuring a string arrangement by Kurt Hoffman. opens the album and was released as a single. Multiple music videos were released to promote the album.
In August 1994, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion played a number of tour dates in Australia and New Zealand with Beck. In September 1994, they played in the Netherlands at Vera, Groningen on the 18th and recorded a live set for VPRO radio on the 25th. The VPRO session was issued as an unofficial 10" bootleg which included some previously unreleased songs.
In October 1994, the Blues Explosion made their first attempt to record a live album at DPC, Tucson, Arizona, but the performance was plagued with technical problems and was stopped when an audience member threw a stink bomb.Edison, Mike. Controversial Negro (sleeve notes), 2010. Some of the songs were later released on the 2010 reissue of Controversial Negro. In December 1994, they performed live on The Jon Stewart Show at MTV Studios in New York City.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion played UK shows in March 1995 with the Beastie Boys, and in May they toured the US with The Roots and Beastie Boys.Davidson, Eric. "We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut" 2010.
The Experimental Remixes EP was released in May 1995 featuring various tracks from Orange reworked by artists including UNKLE, Beck, Mario Caldato Jr., Mike D, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Moby and GZA (featuring Killah Priest). By September 1996, Orange had sold 70,000 copies.Sprague, David "Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off" July 14, 1996
Now I Got Worry (1996–1997) On February 6, 1996, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion recorded the album A Ass Pocket of Whiskey with R.L. Burnside and Kenny Brown at Lunati Farms in Holly Springs, Mississippi. A further two tracks, "Alice Mae" and "Highway 7", also recorded at Lunati Farms in February 1996, would be released on the 1997 R.L. Burnside album Mr Wizard. The musical arrangements used on the tracks "2 Brothers" and "Tojo Told Hitler" from A Ass Pocket of Whiskey would evolve into The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion song "Cool Vee". which was released as a b-side to "2Kindsa Love". "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" is a jam based on "Vacuum of Loneliness" originally released on the 1992 self-titled album.
"It was pretty intimidating to go down [to Mississippi] and record with R.L. since he's such an idol of mine," says Spencer, who toured with the guitarist/singer in 1995. "You definitely get the feeling you're playing for him, rather than with him. It was pretty much the same with Rufus Thomas.""Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off", David Sprague, 14 July 1996,
Now I Got Worry was produced by Jon Spencer and Jim Waters and recorded at Easley Studio, Memphis; G-Son, Los Angeles; and Waterworks West, Tucson. These sessions were mostly between February 5 and 13, 1996 (the same time as the recording with R.L. Burnside). The album was released by Matador Records and Mute Records in October 1996 (reaching number 50 in the UK album chart) and features appearances by Thermos Malling of Doo Rag (credited with "Bang" on "2Kindsa Love"), Rufus Thomas and Money Mark and a cover version of "Fuck Shit Up" originally by Dub Narcotic Sound System with Judah Bauer on lead vocals.
R.L. Burnside joined The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion for the Now I Got Worry tour dates in the UK, Europe, and the US in October and November 1996. On October 23, 1996, Lola da Musica, VPRO TV filmed both artists in a pre-show jam session at De Melkweg, Amsterdam and the footage was used for a music video, "Boogie Chillun". On October 29, the band recorded a short live set for MTV Studios in London, selections of which were used for a music video.
"2Kindsa Love" was released at a single in the UK by Mute Records and reached 122 on the UK charts. The second UK single, "Wail" was released by Mute Records on May 10, 1997 and reached number 66 on the UK singles chart.BRITISH HIT SINGLES & ALBUMS (17), 2005, Hit Entertainment, A music video for "Wail" was directed by Weird Al Yankovic.
In May 1997, Controversial Negro was released. This was a promotional only live album issued on vinyl in the US, CD in the UK and it was officially released in Japan on CD with five additional tracks. The title for this album comes from the Public Enemy song "Burn Hollywood Burn" from their 1990 album Fear of a Black Planet.
In June 1997, the band performed at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in New York City and a live version of "Blues X Man" was released on the accompanying triple CD album (which also featured Russell Simins performing with Cibo Matto).
Acme (1997–1999) In March 1997 the band recorded a track at Dub Narcotic Studios, Olympia track for the K Records released the compilation Selector Dub Narcotic (released May 1998). The song titled "Blues Explosion Attack" name checked Calvin Johnson, Doo Rag, Subsonics, Speedball Baby, Demolition Doll Rods, R.L. Burnside, Dub Narcotic Sound System and Sleater Kinney who had supported the Blues Explosion at their Moore Theatre gig the previous day (The song would later be re-written and re-recorded for the album Acme).