I never feel that Screaming Lord Sutch came from the world of rock n' roll. The legendary Lord I feel came from the theater and film world of Tod Slaughter. A horror icon who traveled throughout the United Kingdom performing in Victorian-era macabre theater plays as well as appearing in borderline exploitation horror films. Theater of absurdity meets rock n' roll plus a dash of Tod equals Screaming Lord Sutch.
Only one man can capture the intensity and eccentricity of Lord Sutch and that, of course, is Joe Meek. Probably their most famous recording is "Jack The Ripper" which even out cramps The Cramps in horror rock. If one has to compare Lord Sutch to another artist, Alice Cooper comes to mind, but Alice (and that band) strikes me as more intellectual. Sutch is in one's face, and it's entirely music hall entertainment, but not in the tasteful sensibility.
Meek brings the horror out of Sutch's visions into the 3D sound of its production. Screams, laughter, and the savage rocking of the backing band, The Savages, of course, are remarkable then as well as now. The membership of that band is a mystery. Possibly Jimmy Page, but more likely Ritchie Blackmore (of Deep Purple fame) played guitar in the Meek recordings, but due to the insane world of Meek and company it is never obvious or explicit, which comes to this album or compilation of Lord Sutch cuts - "Story."
The album is a lovingly put together bootleg, but even with liner notes, it gives no credit to Joe Meek, or any information regarding the recordings, or who plays what. With the help of the Internet, I figured that Meek produces all except one cut. For sure all the early trademarks of the Meek aesthetic is tattooed on these set of recordings. Side one is devoted to horror, which is Lord Sutch's natural habitat, and side two is "rock." The highlight for me is the demented version of "The Train Kept A Rollin" which is insane. As for the others, they seem to be the blueprint for bands like the excellent Cramps to follow or connect their dots. Punk rock in a garage rock manner, Screaming Lord Sutch plus Joe Meek was a brilliant team.
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