Explosión de blues de Jon Spencer

La explosión de blues de Jon Spencer
Jon Spencer actuando con Blues Explosion en 2006
Información de contexto
También conocido como	La explosión de blues JSBX
Origen	Nueva York, Nueva York , EE. UU.
Géneros	Blues punk roca de garaje blues rock rock alternativo
Años activos	1991-2016 [1]
Etiquetas	Matador ¡Gritar! Fábrica ¡Empujón! En el rojo Silencio Santuario Víctor de JVC Fábrica de juguetes Ultrapop Roca Au Go Go Eterno K Fábrica de golpes rebeldes Cripta Garra cabaña 1 + 2 Lata de pop público
Actos asociados	Los asesinos de la luna de miel
Sitio web	thejonspencerbluesexplosion .com
Miembros pasados	Jon Spencer Judah Bauer Russell Simins

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion fue una banda estadounidense de rock de tres miembros de la ciudad de Nueva York , formada en 1991. ^[2] El grupo estaba formado por Judah Bauer a la guitarra, coros , armónica y voz principal ocasional , Russell Simins a la batería y Jon Spencer en voz , guitarra y theremin . Su estilo musical tiene sus raíces en gran parte en el rock and roll ^[3], aunque tiene influencias del punk , blues , garage , rockabilly ,soul , noise rock , rhythm and blues y hip hop . Lanzaron nueve álbumes de estudio oficiales, discos colaborativos con Dub Narcotic Sound System y RL Burnside , así como numerosos álbumes en vivo, singles, álbumes eliminados, compilaciones, álbumes de remezclas y, en 2010, una serie de reediciones ampliadas.

A lo largo de su carrera, este sonido experimental y, en ocasiones, técnicas de grabación poco convencionales le han permitido a la banda trabajar con varios artistas diversos, incluidos Elliott Smith , Beck , Solomon Burke , Steve Albini , Martina Topley-Bird y Ad Rock de los Beastie Boys .

Historia

Formación

Originario de Hanover, New Hampshire , Estados Unidos, Jon Spencer asistió a la Brown University en Providence, Rhode Island, donde formó parte de la banda de noise rock Shithaus, con Tod Ashley ( Cop Shoot Cop , Firewater ) antes de mudarse a Washington, DC, donde estuvo al frente. la banda Pussy Galore que se trasladaría rápidamente a Nueva York. Spencer tocó y grabó con Gibson Bros., Boss Hog y The Honeymoon Killers antes de la formación de Blues Explosion.

Judah Bauer, de Appleton, Wisconsin , había estado en una formación inicial de The Spitters, y con Russell Simins, de Queens, Nueva York , grabado como parte de Crowbar Massage.

Fue con Jerry Teel's Honeymoon Killers que Bauer, Simins y Spencer tocarían y grabarían y de donde pasarían a formar The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. ^[4]

"Russell y yo ensayaríamos con Honeymoon Killers y el ensayo terminaría y Russell y yo seguiríamos tocando, eventualmente invitando al amigo de Simins, Bauer, a unirse". ^[5]

El sonido de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion fue informado por bandas anteriores con influencia tomada del trabajo con Gibson Bros. que ya era evidente en el último álbum de Pussy Galore. "Ese último álbum de Pussy Galore exudaba una versión muy inclinada de Gibson Brothers de lo que vendría con la próxima y más exitosa aventura de Spencer, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion". ^[6]

"... después de cinco años de Pussy Galore pude conectarme con el rock 'n' roll de una manera que antes no podía", recuerda esos días formativos. "Estaba enojado por muchas cosas ... tanto rock 'n' roll de mierda que me enojó, y Pussy Galore estaba pateando contra eso. Con Blues Explosion, hubo algo de eso, pero ahora estaba celebrando eso." - Jon Spencer ^[7]

Firmaron con el gran sello independiente Matador Records entre 1993 y 2002 en los EE. UU., Crypt Records entre 1992 y 1994 en Alemania y Mute Records entre 1996 y 2005 en el Reino Unido, aunque han publicado material en varios sellos diferentes, incluido el de 2010. reediciones en Shout Factory en los Estados Unidos y Shove Records en el Reino Unido.

Un Willie Horton inverso / The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion / Crypt Style (1991-1992)

La banda había estado tocando juntos durante seis meses cuando tuvieron su primera sesión de grabación con Kramer en Noise NY, Nueva York en julio de 1991 y grabaron catorce canciones en el transcurso de tres horas, "solo haciendo segundas tomas aquí y allá, no lo hicimos". ni siquiera ir a la mesa de mezclas ". ^[8] Esta sesión se publicó en su totalidad como el primer álbum de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, A Reverse Willie Horton. Este fue un álbum no oficial editado por "Pubic Pop Can", en algún momento entre finales de 1991 y principios de 1992, en una edición de 500 o 1000 copias (la cifra varía entre fuentes). Se ha sugerido que la fuente del pirateo fue una copia doblada de un casete que Jon Spencer dejó que alguien copiara durante una gira con los Gibson Bros. en agosto de 1991. ^[9]

La imagen de la portada del álbum es un negativo de Clarence Thomas , su esposa y George Bush en la ceremonia de juramento de Thomas para la Corte Suprema el 19 de octubre de 1991, con el título y el artista escritos en una fuente estilo máquina de escribir. La manga trasera presenta títulos escritos a mano e información de etiquetas en la parte superior de una fotografía de una mujer en topless. Tanto la obra de arte frontal como la trasera se pegan en una funda negra lisa. El título se refiere al delincuente convicto William R. Horton que fue utilizado ampliamente para anuncios políticos durante la campaña presidencial de 1988.

La segunda sesión fue grabada por Steve Albini en el Waterfront, Hoboken, Nueva Jersey en noviembre / diciembre de 1991. Las pistas de las sesiones de Kramer y Albini se publicaron oficialmente en el lanzamiento de Caroline (EE.UU.) / Hut (Reino Unido) The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion ; en mayores cantidades por Crypt Records como Crypt Style ; y en una versión alternativa de Crypt Style de 1 + 2 Records (Japón), incluida la pista "Colty" que no estuvo disponible en otros lugares hasta el 2010 Shout! Lanzamiento de fábrica del año uno que compiló todas las pistas lanzadas de ambas sesiones con la excepción de una toma alternativa de "Feeling of Love" (lanzada elDirty Shirt Rock N Roll: Los primeros diez años ).

La banda hizo un video musical para la canción "Rachel" dirigida por Jim Spring y Jens Jurgensen, que luego fue publicado por Matador Records en el Live Promo Video de 1997 .

El primer álbum de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion fue el único publicado por Caroline Records .

"En 1992, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion firmó un contrato con Caroline Records y solicitó un bono de firma muy específico: la nueva caja de Jerry Lee Lewis 10xCD. Como dice la tradición de la banda, Caroline nunca saltó al set, y el El mandato de Blues Explosion allí fue breve y amargo ". ^[10]

El primer single fue "Shirt Jac" en In The Red Records (1992) también de la segunda sesión de grabación con Steve Albini. Este fue el primero de los sencillos de Explosion Juke Box Series inspirados en "una serie similar de Charlie Feathers lanzada en los años 70" ^[11] (el tercer sencillo de la serie, "Get With It", era en realidad un arreglo de un sencillo de Feathers desde 1956).

El lado b "Latch On" es un arreglo de Jon Spencer de una canción de rockabilly a pesar de que la grabación de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion tiene muy poco en común con las grabaciones más conocidas de esta pista (lanzada por Ron Hargrave y The Cochran Hermanos ). Es más que probable que la versión de Jon Spencer Blues Explosion sea una versión de la versión de Cochran Brothers de esta canción, ya que ambas pistas incluyen las palabras "realmente te has ido", que no aparecen en la letra cantada por Ron Hargrave.

Ancho adicional (1993-1994)

Cuando la banda firmó con Matador Records, "pidieron los 9xCD Stax-Volt Complete Singles 1959-1968 ... Matador hizo bien con Stax, y la banda disfrutó de una asociación de una década con el sello". ^[10]

A finales de 1992, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion se embarcó en una larga gira por Estados Unidos apoyando a Jesus Lizard . Frank Kozik diseñó carteles para espectáculos en Emo's, Austin, Texas y Kennel Club, San Francisco.

Las sesiones de grabación para Extra Width , el segundo álbum de estudio de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, tuvieron lugar en Memphis en el estudio de Doug Easleys el 23/24 de noviembre y el 3 de diciembre de 1992 durante la gira de Jesus Lizard y en Waterworks Recording en Nueva York con Jim Waters donde se hicieron todas las sobregrabaciones y mezclas adicionales. El diseño gráfico del álbum copia un paquete de pantimedias comprado en Memphis, Tennessee. ^[12] El empaque original de las pantimedias se puede ver en una foto de banda utilizada en Mo 'Width y las reediciones posteriores de Extra Width .

Se dice que durante este tiempo la personalidad escénica de Jon Spencer evolucionó y estableció lo que ahora es sinónimo de una actuación en vivo de Blues Explosion.

"Jon tuvo un gran avance. Fue el momento y el arte. Mejoró en eso. El espectáculo al estilo de James Brown era un método antiguo, pero Jon lo llevó a otro nivel. Antes de eso, era punk, él estaba en eso, pero era tímido. Finalmente cruzó y se convirtió en un intérprete de pleno derecho. Quería ser observado ". ^[13]

Spencer se retuerce, poseído por Presley durante el asombroso "Vacío de la soledad", su alma torturada arrastrada sobre fragmentos de vidrio para que todos la vean. El theremin aullante escupe un sonido y se suma a la confusión catártica. Si esto es real y no teatro, estoy perturbado ". ^[14]

Extra Width fue lanzado en junio de 1993. "Afro" fue lanzado más tarde como un single de 7 "en el Reino Unido en 1994 y tenía un video musical dirigido por Tom Surgal. ^[15] Este fue el único single que se lanzó del álbum y presentó el lado b "Relax-Her" que está etiquetado como "Incidental" en la presión de prueba y se presenta como tal en la grabación.

El 11 de septiembre de 1993, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion apareció en el evento Blast First The Lost Weekend en London Astoria 2 con The Afghan Whigs , God Machine y Hair & Skin Trading Company. El álbum recopilatorio de Lost Weekend estaba limitado a 3000 copias e incluía la canción "Afro". Se entregaron 2000 copias a los asistentes al evento de dos días y las 1000 restantes se vendieron a través del semanario musical británico Melody Maker (ahora desaparecido) por 1,50 libras esterlinas cada una.

Su primera aparición en televisión ^[16] fue en el programa de televisión de Channel 4 UK The Word (temporada 4, episodio 12) en febrero de 1994, interpretando "Afro" e "History of Sex". Posteriormente, el presentador Mark Lamarr dijo que "son la mejor banda en vivo que he visto". ^[17]

También a principios de 1994, In The Red Records lanzó "Train No. 3" y "Train No. 1" como la tercera entrega de la serie Explosion Juke Box ("Train No. 2" apareció Extra Width ).

Mo 'Width fue publicado en julio de 1994 por Au Go Go Records y compuesto de tomas extraídas de Extra Width -era con versiones de "There Stands The Glass" ( Webb Pierce ), "Beat of The Traps" (Teri Rodd & MSR Singers) y Ole Man Trouble ( Otis Redding ), una mezcla alternativa de "Afro" con un solo de órgano mucho más prominente y "Rob K" presenta a Rob Kennedy de The Workdogs y la canción se tituló más tarde "Rob K is President" en la reedición de Mute Records 2000.

Durante una entrevista con la revista holandesa Oor, Jon Spencer dijo que el lanzamiento de Mo 'Width se retrasó hasta dos meses antes del lanzamiento como el próximo álbum de estudio.

Orange (1994-1995)

Orange se grabó en Waterworks, NYC con Jim Waters y se lanzó en octubre de 1994. El vinilo original Matador Records era como un disco de imágenes de color plateado y el primer número de la edición de Crypt Records tenía fundas de color naranja en lugar del plateado habitual.

"Bellbottoms" abre el álbum y presenta un arreglo de sección de cuerdas de Kurt Hoffman. ^[18] La canción también fue publicada por Matador Records como un single de vinilo blanco de 7 "único en el Reino Unido y tenía un video musical dirigido por Tom Surgal. ^{[ Cita requerida ]} También hubo videos musicales para" Dang "dirigidos por Steve Hanft , ^[19] "Flavor" dirigida por Evan Bernard y con apariciones de Beck (quien también aparece en la canción) y Mike D de los Beastie Boys . ^[20]

En agosto de 1994, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion tocó en varias fechas de gira en Australia y Nueva Zelanda con Beck y en septiembre de 1994 tocaron en los Países Bajos en Vera, Groningen el 18 y grabaron un set en vivo para la radio VPRO el 25. La sesión de VPRO se publicó como un bootleg no oficial de 10 "que incluía canciones inéditas" Curfew Blues "y" Wriggle and Move "y la" Intro "se edita en conjunto de la misma manera que" Tour Diary "en Experimental Remixes y al menos dos aparecen segmentos en ambos lanzamientos. "Curfew Blues" se lanzó más tarde en Jukebox Explosion Rockin 'Mid-90s Punkers y la reedición de 2010 de Orange incluye dos pistas de sesión VPRO "Very Rare" y " Amor de mujer "(título que a veces se da como" Frustrar ").

En octubre de 1994, Blues Explosion hizo su primer intento de grabar un álbum en vivo en DPC, Tucson, Arizona, EE. UU., Pero la actuación estuvo plagada de problemas técnicos y se detuvo cuando un miembro de la audiencia lanzó una bomba fétida . ^[21] Algunas de las canciones se lanzaron más tarde en la reedición de 2010 de Controversial Negro .

En diciembre de 1994 actuaron en vivo en The Jon Stewart TV Show en MTV Studios, Nueva York. " Get With It " de este programa fue lanzado en el video promocional en vivo de 1997 por Matador Records.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion tocó en conciertos en el Reino Unido en marzo de 1995 con los Beastie Boys (incluida Brixton Academy, Londres, donde encabezarían la gira Plastic Fang en abril de 2002 ) y en mayo realizaron una gira por los Estados Unidos con The Roots y Beastie Boys. ^[22]

Experimental Remixes EP fue lanzado en mayo de 1995 con varias pistas de Orange reelaboradas por artistas como UNKLE , Beck, Mario Caldato Jr. , Mike D, Dub Narcotic Sound System , Moby y GZA (con Killah Priest ).

En septiembre de 1996, Orange había vendido 70.000 copias. ^[23]

En 2000 Experimental Remixes fue reeditado con nuevos remixes en CD y vinilo doble y Orange fue reeditado en CD con una sección mejorada con videos musicales de "Dang", "Flavor" y "Bellbottoms" y en la edición de vinilo fue empaquetada con un póster. El álbum fue reeditado nuevamente en 2010 por Shout! Factory (EE. UU.) / Shove Records (Reino Unido) como un CD doble, esta vez combinando Orange , Experimental Remixes y varias pistas raras, en vivo e inéditas.

Ahora me preocupo (1996-1997)

En la tarde del 6 de febrero de 1996, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion grabó el álbum A Ass Pocket of Whiskey con RL Burnside y Kenny Brown en Lunati Farms en Holly Springs, Mississippi. Otras dos pistas, "Alice Mae" y "Highway 7", también grabadas en Lunati Farms en febrero de 1996, serían lanzadas en el álbum de 1997 de RL Burnside, Mr Wizard . Ambos álbumes contaron con la portada de Derek Hess .

Los arreglos musicales utilizados en las pistas "2 Brothers" y "Tojo Told Hitler" de A Ass Pocket of Whiskey evolucionarían en la canción de The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion "Cool Vee", que fue lanzada como cara B de "2Kindsa Love". "¿Alguna vez te has sentido solo?" es una mermelada basada en "Vacuum of Loneliness" originalmente publicada en el álbum homónimo de 1992.

"Fue bastante intimidante ir a Mississippi y grabar con RL, ya que él es un ídolo mío", dice Spencer, quien estuvo de gira con el guitarrista / cantante en 1995. "Definitivamente tienes la sensación de que estás tocando para él. , en lugar de con él. Fue más o menos lo mismo con Rufus Thomas ". ^[24]

Now I Got Worry fue producido por Jon Spencer y Jim Waters y grabado en Easley Studio, Memphis; G-Son, Los Ángeles; y Waterworks West, Tucson. Estas sesiones fueron principalmente entre el 5 y el 13 de febrero de 1996 (al mismo tiempo que la grabación con RL Burnside). El álbum fue lanzado por Matador Records y Mute Records en octubre de 1996 (alcanzando el número 50 en la lista de álbumes del Reino Unido) y presenta apariciones de Thermos Malling de Doo Rag (acreditado con "Bang" en "2Kindsa Love"), Rufus Thomas y Money Mark y una versión de "Fuck Shit Up" originalmente por Dub Narcotic Sound Systemcon Judah Bauer en la voz principal. La edición coreana no incluyó "Fuck Shit Up" y el lanzamiento japonés incluyó "Get With It" y "Cool Vee" como bonus tracks.

Durante este tiempo, Capitol distribuyó los lanzamientos de Matador en un artículo sobre esto. Marc Burton, comprador de Electric Fetus de Minneapolis, dijo: "Creo que con la exposición adicional que obtendrá a través de una distribución más amplia, Spencer podría tener un éxito tan grande como Beck". ^[25]

Capitol / Matador lanzó un sencillo promocional de 7 ”de cinco anuncios publicitarios de radio diferentes.

RL Burnside también se uniría a The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion para las fechas de la gira Now I Got Worry en el Reino Unido, Europa y los Estados Unidos en octubre y noviembre de 1996. El 23 de octubre de 1996, Lola da Musica, VPRO TV filmó a ambos artistas en un pre show jam session en De Melkweg, Amsterdam. Más tarde, "Boogie Chillun" se lanzó oficialmente en el video promocional en vivo .

El 29 de octubre, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion grabó un breve set en vivo para MTV Studios, Londres, compuesto por canciones de Now I Got Worry y "Water Main" y "Vacuum of Loneliness". "Love All of Me" y la presentación de la banda fueron lanzados oficialmente en el Live Promo Video .

"2Kindsa Love" fue el primer sencillo británico lanzado de Now I Got Worry por Mute Records publicado en vinilo rosa de 7 "y en CD en noviembre de 1996 con un video musical dirigido por Mike Mills que alcanzó 122 en las listas británicas.

"Wail" fue lanzado en el Reino Unido por Mute Records el 10 de mayo de 1997 como un CD y dos sencillos de 7 "(vinilo gris y verde), la carátula de" John Spencer Blues Explosion "mal escrita estaba escrita en Tipex en una escalera -Riel en la estación de metro Tottenham Court Road en Londres (también había una segunda parte un poco más abajo que decía "Maldita sea") Cada una de las portadas presenta una foto ligeramente diferente de William Bankhead del mismo texto.

El video musical de "Wail" fue dirigido por Weird Al Yankovic , ^[26] alcanzando el número 66 en la lista de singles del Reino Unido. ^[27]

En Melbourne, Australia , el 6 de septiembre de 1997, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion interpretó "2Kindsa Love" / "Flavor" en el programa juvenil semanal de ABC, Recovery . Se puede ver a Jon Spencer corriendo a través de la audiencia, alrededor del set y destruyendo el telón de fondo de "Blues Explosion". ^[28] Se le preguntó a Jon Spencer sobre esta actuación en particular en una edición de junio de 2010 del semanario de música del Reino Unido NME :

"¿Qué canción tocabas con Jon Spencer Blues Explosion cuando destrozaste un estudio de televisión en Melbourne en el 97?" "Es posible que hayamos comenzado con otra canción y entramos en 'Flavor'. No estaba planeado, simplemente me golpeó un poco. Puede que solo haya sido agotamiento. Llegas a un punto en la gira y te emborrachas un poco. ¡El programa se transmite en vivo por la mañana! ¡Sin embargo, todos fueron muy amables al respecto! " ^[29]

En 2010, Shout! Lanzó una nueva versión de este álbum. Fábrica / ¡Empujón! Los registros se expandieron para incluir caras B, pistas raras y el inédito "Roosevelt Hotel Blues" con Beck y Money Mark .

En mayo de 1997 fue puesto en libertad Controversial Negro . Este fue un solo álbum promocional en vivo emitido en vinilo en los EE. UU., CD en el Reino Unido y fue lanzado oficialmente en Japón en CD con cinco pistas adicionales.

La portada de este lanzamiento se menciona en un artículo titulado "Mo 'bitter blues" publicado originalmente en mayo de 1997:

Para el observador casual, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion puede parecer poco más que nihilistas hoscos y engreídos con un complejo de persecución que lo abarca todo. Sin embargo, su reserva estudiosa frente al interrogatorio periodístico no es sorprendente si se considera que los tradicionalistas acérrimos de los medios de rock estadounidenses los han calificado recientemente de racistas, simplemente porque se han atrevido a tratar el blues como algo más que una pieza sagrada de museo. . Una situación que pronto se verá agravada por el próximo álbum promocional en vivo de la banda, titulado de manera bastante descuidada 'Controversial Negro' e ilustrado de manera chillona con una impresión de Warhol de día completo del rostro icónico de Mick Jagger. En última instancia, Jon Spencer está jugando con fuego. Se burla alegremente de los racistas inversos de la llamada América liberal con imágenes incendiarias. Él es,después de todo, un graduado de semiótica (el tipo de lingüística que se ocupa de los signos y símbolos), por lo que sabe exactamente lo que está haciendo.El controvertido Negro trabaja en dos niveles distintos: en primer lugar, es un recordatorio oportuno para los "cuadrados" periodísticos de tiempos mucho más simples, cuando Jagger y sus Rolling Stones (ahora intocables incondicionales de la vieja guardia) fueron igualmente criticados por "bastardizar el blues"; en segundo lugar, es un comunicado visual contundente que The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion se niega rotundamente a dejarse intimidar a un compromiso artístico. ^[30]

El título de este álbum proviene de la canción de Public Enemy " Burn Hollywood Burn " de su álbum de 1990 Fear of a Black Planet . Hacia el final de la pista, alguien le hace a Flava Flav la siguiente pregunta: "Ahora que te estamos considerando para un papel en nuestra nueva producción, ¿cómo te sientes al interpretar a un controvertido negro?"

La obra de arte utilizada en la versión promocional junto con el título Controversial Negro fue originalmente pensada para Now I Got Worry .

En junio de 1997 actuaron en el Tibetan Freedom Concert en la ciudad de Nueva York y se lanzó una versión en vivo de "Blues X Man" en el álbum triple CD adjunto (que también incluía a Russell Simins actuando con 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).

Work on ACME began in October 1997, when the band entered the studio with Dan Nakamura, a.k.a. Dan the Automator for Right Place, Wrong Time, a cover of the Dr. John hit used on the soundtrack to Scream 2.^[31]

Spencer said: "The reason we did that Scream 2 soundtrack was to try working with a producer. We were definitely into the Dr. Octagon record – it's a great record, and also a bizarre kinda record. So besides 'Right Place.' we recorded some other songs.""^[32]

The next stop was Steve Albini's studio, Electrical Audio, where the Blues Explosion cut some tracks in the days following their 1998 New Year's Eve Chicago performance. "Steve's we cut everything live, like we always do," he says. "I wanted to use Steve because I knew he would do a good job and the tapes would sound great, and we could send them to anybody because we had a great starting point and couldn't really go wrong"^[31]

Whilst in Chicago they also met Andre Williams who was playing locally. He recorded guest vocals for the track "Lapdance" (which wasn't released until the Acme Plus / Extra Acme albums issued the following year).

The singer explained: "Some of Acme was done in the old-fashioned Blues Explosion way, me working with the engineer, but we were also casting a wide net. Some songs were mixed and remixed by different producers, which is one reason it got so expensive, and some of them were eventually stitched together from two or three different mixes. We weren't being so precious about these songs, we were letting other people work on it and then we'd shuffle the deck."^[33]

Acme was released in October 1998. In the US the first single to be released from the album was "Talk About The Blues". This song was recorded during a session with Calvin Johnson at Dub Narcotic, Olympia, Washington. Most of the other tracks recorded at this time would be released in 1999 as the collaborative album Sideways Soul: Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in a Dancehall Style!.

The music video, directed by Evan Bernard, features Winona Ryder, Giovanni Ribisi and John C. Reilly as the Blues Explosion^[34] with Judah, Russell and Jon acting. The singer told MTV Online: "I think that people are really going to be surprised when they see the acting on the part of the Blues Explosion. When people get a load of some of the heavy, dramatic, really very intense scenes that we pulled out from our souls, I think people are really going to be blown away...".^[35][36][37]

Throughout the life of the band the use of the word "blues" in the band name has caused a great deal of debate. The lyrics of "Talk About The Blues" address this issue referring directly to MTV and Rolling Stone magazine and features the line "I do not play no blues, I play rock 'n' roll" (which itself was a reference to the Mississippi Fred McDowell album I Do Not Play No Rock 'n' Roll).

"Talk About The Blues" was a reaction a Rolling Stone review of Now I Got Worry and Q&A with Jon Spencer.^[38]

"I wrote the song right after we did the interview, inspired by that and also some of the criticism we’ve received over the past couple years. If we tried to record some song that was a response to criticism as it happened, that would be too heavy-handed. The lyrics stayed true to the original off-the-cuff feel, what you call a rant. But it's not such a big deal, you know. A lot of that stuff just doesn't merit a response." ^[38]

"Magical Colors" reached number 92 in the UK singles chart^[39] in November 1998. The Terry Richardson directed video is a compilation of still photographs.^[40]

"Talk About The Blues" reached number 120 in the UK singles chart^[39] in March 1999.

Non-Acme track "New Year (Destroyer)" was released as a split-single with Barry Adamson as the fourth single in the Slut Smalls series.

"Heavy" was the final single to be released from Acme in August 1999: it reached number 106 in the UK singles chart.

In 1998 they appeared on the Canal+ show Nulle Part Ailleurs performing "High Gear" and "Talk About The Blues". During the nine and a half minute performance Jon Spencer made full use of the television studio, running through the audience, standing on the desk and was carried back to the stage by one of the bemused presenters. Whilst on the desk Jon referred to and shook the hand of Jackie Chan who was given a copy of the album Acme.^[41]

On the morning of July 22, 1999, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion tour van was broken into in the loading dock of The Sheraton in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The window was smashed and a mess of gear was stolen, including mics, amps, rack equipment, and the original 1962 Vanguard Model Theremin.^[42] The theremin was never recovered.

Sideways Soul (1999–2001)

In September 1999 they released the collaborative album Sideways Soul under the name Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in a Dancehall Style. The nine track album was recorded at Dub Narcotic Studios, Olympia and featured a line-up of Jon Spencer on Guitar, Vocals and Organ, Judah Bauer on Guitar, Russell Simins on Drums, Jeff Smith on Organ and Calvin Johnson on Vocals and Melodica (Talk About The Blues was also recorded during these sessions).

The Acme out-takes and remixes were issued as Acme + (UK), Xtra Acme USA (US) and Extra Acme (CD) / Ura Acme (LP) / Extra Acme (Promo Only LP) (Japan) all of which had slightly different track listings. Like Acme the album features different production, mixing, remixing credits and guest appearances including; Steve Albini, Nick Sansano, Jack Dangers, David Holmes, Tim Goldsworthy, Calvin Johnson, Moby, Andre Williams, Jill Cunniff, Cody Dickinson, Luther Dickinson and Jim Dickinson.

The Shout Factory! / Shove Records 2010 expanded reissue of Acme included a 22 track version of Acme Plus as the second disc.

In February 2000 a 12" single "Andre Williams Blues Explosion" featured remixes of the Andre Williams collaboration Lap Dance by Jim Waters/Scott Benzel and Jim Thirlwell.

Plastic Fang (2002–03)

The album Plastic Fang was produced by Steve Jordan and recorded at Oorong, the Magic Shop and The Hit Factory. Released in April 2002, it featured art and design by Chip Kidd with the limited CD and vinyl editions being issued in a 'Fang Pack'. The original artwork for this album was culled from comics.

Various editions of this album featured different track listings but there were guest appearances by Dr. John, Elliott Smith, Bernie Worrell, Willie Weeks and Bashiri Johnson.

"She Said" was the first single taken from the album, this had a music video directed by Floria Sigismondi.^[43] On February 8, the group filmed a second live performance video at the 100 Club on Oxford Street, London for "She Said" (directed by Barney Clay).^[44] This single would be, to date, their highest UK single chart entry at number 58.

In April they appeared on the BBC TV show Later with Jools Holland featuring Jools playing piano during "Sweet n Sour".^[45]

The single "Sweet N Sour" came out in July with a video directed by Stylewar ^[46] it reached number 66 in the UK singles chart. Another single "Shakin' Rock'n'Roll Tonight" followed in November, reaching number 126.

On January 31, 2003 the band performed with Solomon Burke at Royal Festival Hall, London as "Solomon Burke Meets Jon Spencer Blues Explosion".

Damage (2004–06)

Damage was the only album to be released on Sanctuary Records and for this release the band were temporarily known as just the Blues Explosion. The shortened name lasted less than two years.^[47]

The album was recorded between December 2003 and April 2004 at Empire View Studios, NYC, Globe Studios, NYC and Elegant Too Studios with production and mixing credits including Dan The Automator, DJ Shadow, Steve Jordan, Free Association (David Holmes), Jay Braun, Alan Moulder, Danny Madorsky, Chris Maxwell and Phil Hernandez (Elegant Too) as well as the Blues Explosion, Jon Spencer and Russell Simins.

During this time the band also recorded the Guitar Wolf cover version Kawasaki ZII750 Rock 'N' Roll at Empire View Recording Studio with Danny Madorsky for the tribute album I Love Guitar Wolf...Very Much. As a side note, the band Guitar Wolf once recorded an homage to the creator of the power chord, Mr. LINK WRAY.

Damage was released in September 2004 and features appearances from artists including Chuck D (Hot Gossip), Martina Topley-Bird (Spoiled /You Been My Baby), James Chance and DJ Shadow (Fed Up and Low Down) and Simon Chardiet (who would later perform with the Heavy Trash live band (Rattling)).

The single "Burn It Off" was issued with music video directed by Stylewar. It number 77 in the charts.

In November, "Hot Gossip", the second single reached 119 in the official UK charts and had a music video directed by David Raccuglia. Issued as a red vinyl 7" only single featuring Elliott Smith on the B-side Meet Me In The City previously released on the tribute album Sunday Nights The Songs of Junior Kimbrough.

"Crunchy" was the third and final single released in April 2005, reaching number 89 in the UK charts.

The sleeves for all the Damage-era released featured photography by Ashkan Sahihi and design by Chip Kidd.

In Japan there were two slightly different promotional Radio Session CDs featuring live recordings of the album tracks Help These Blues, Spoiled, Rattling, Hot Gossip and a cover of the Suicide song Rocket USA which is unavailable elsewhere.

In September(28/29) Russell Simins and Judah Bauer would join Tom Waits and Larry Taylor for a performance on the David Letterman TV show playing Make It Rain from the album Real Gone.^[48]

This particular event caused a furore behind the scenes when Mike Edison wrote a "crazed conspiracy rant" about Jon Spencer being replaced with Tom Waits for the Blues Explosion website . This was part of a bigger plan to get the a picture of Tom with Russell and Judah and send it out with a tongue-in-cheek press release ("Tom Waits Blues Explosion") to see if the story would get picked up by the mainstream press but before the event took place a record company publicist took the text direct from the Blues Explosion website and sent it out as a legitimate press release and very nearly led to the show being called off.^[49]

Between August 2004 and May 2005 the band toured in Europe/UK, the United States, Japan (eight dates with The Kills), Australia, the UK again (supporting The Hives) and Turkey.

At this time in the UK 'garage rock' and bands such as The Hives, The Strokes, White Stripes were popular and it was often noted that The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion never got the recognition many writers felt they deserved.

"It must rankle a little. Jon Spencer has been wrangling his brand of the blues – extrovert, down-and-dirty, pinched by punk and acknowledging a debt to Little Richard and Carl Perkins as much as Hasil Adkins and Son House – for around 14 years now. And have he and his band enjoyed even a taste of White Stripes-like acclaim? Have they flick"^[50]

Of Crunchy NME said it was "packing the kind of irresistible groove that would shoot straight to the number one for 14 years in any right-thinking world." ^[51]

A mock-up newspaper (front page only) titled "The Daily Explosion" and DVD featuring the music videos for Burn It Off and Hot Gossip was available at US gigs in November 2004.

In 2005 an EP titled Snack Cracker was released in Japan. This compiled many of the UK single b-sides album with Hot Gossip and Burn It Off videos, a Jay Braun remix of Hot Gossip and a live recording of Rattling featuring Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols.

The Blues Explosion recorded the theme tune for Anthony Bourdain series No Reservations broadcast on The Travel Channel in 2005. The track lasts approximately 60 seconds and around 20 seconds of this is used during the programmes intro sequence and the menu screen on the subsequent DVD release.

On September 21, 2005 The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion appeared at Ko Ko, London performing as part of the "Don’t Look Back" shows organised by ATP where artists played albums in their entirety. The band played Orange followed by a set of non-Orange songs.

During this time there was a message sent out to the Blues Explosion mailing list outlining a number of future projects and releases including news of a Live Recordings album recorded during the Damage tour (possibly just the Japanese shows) which has, to date, never been released.

Towards the end of 2005 the band went on hiatus and the members worked on numerous different projects with different artists.

Compilations and hiatus (2007–2011)

In October 2008 they released a compilation of rare and unreleased tracks including all tracks from the five Explosion Jukebox Series singles (Shirt Jac, Son of Sam, Train No. 3, Get With It and Ghetto Mom). The album artwork parodied the original Back From The Grave 1983 compilation with drawings of Judah, Russell and Jon replacing the original characters. Both sleeves were created by Mort Todd.

The band also started playing live again in June 2008 with a secret show at Bowery Electric followed by New York City Bicycle Film Festival and a short Jukebox Explosion European tour during August and September 2008.

In 2009 it was announced that The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion would release the 22 track retrospective compilation Dirty Shirt Rock 'n' Roll: The First Ten Years followed by expanded reissues of the previous albums Extra Width, Orange, Acme, Now I Got Worry, Controversial Negro and tracks from the early releases (the original Kramer and Steve Albini recordings) Year One.

On April 16, 2010 they played a one-off show at Brooklyn Bowl and announced more shows taking place from July 2010 including Pitchfork Music Festival, Chicago, the Matador @ 21 Festival at The Pearl, Las Vegas and a number of US and Canadian shows.

In an interview with "Get Back", Jon Spencer responded to a question about the possibility of the band releasing new material with "There's totally a chance. We've been playing concerts, touring and playing live because these records are coming out again. It's been very, very enjoyable. We have been talking about the possibility of something new." ^[52]

The track "Bellbottoms" from the album Orange was featured at number 180 in a chart titled "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s" published by Pitchfork on August 30, 2010^[53]

In October Yahoo! Music interviewed Jon Spencer and the band performed acoustic versions of "Burn It Off", "Wail" and "Blues X Man". On October 15, 2010 videos of the songs and interview were published on the "Maximum Performance" blog along with a short article.^[54]

During 2010 the band started playing more regularly in Europe, US and Australia. They made their first UK appearance at London (Heaven) since the Don't Look Back performance of Orange at Koko in September 2005.

During the live shows the band played some previously unreleased songs including a cover of "My War" by Black Flag. And the band look set to continue playing live with further European live shows in mid-2011 including Primavera Festival in May.

Whilst touring in Australia, they recorded a cover version of "Black Betty" at Linear Recording for a commercial created by Volkswagen of America's agency Deutsch L.A. Inc. broadcast during Super Bowl Sunday on American television (February 6, 2011).^[55]

Meat + Bone (2012)

The band was chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival that he curated in March 2012 in Minehead, England.^[56]

They released their new album Meat + Bone in September.^[57] It was very well received by the likes of Pitchfork,^[58] Mojo,^[59] The Quietus,^[59] The Independent on Sunday^[59] and The Observer.^[59]

Freedom Tower - No Wave Dance Party 2015 and split (2015−present)

After extensive touring to promote Meat+Bone, the band returned to the studio in early 2015 to start work on their next album. The album, titled Freedom Tower - No Wave Dance Party 2015 was released on March 24, 2015. The band toured in support of the record, playing their final show in Nuremburg on March 18, 2016.

In a 2018 interview, Spencer elaborated on the end of the band:

"It's hard to know what to say. It's not like we had an official end but for me it was helpful in order to move forward and to do things like Spencer Sings The Hits to say, ”OK, this is done. It's over” and to really acknowledge that. Maybe one day … I don't know but it's pretty much… Yeah, I had to get going."^[60]

Other work / guest appearances

Judah Bauer

Judah Bauer was part of The Spitters "in their embryonic form" and has recorded or performed with Honeymoon Killers, Crowbar Massage, Twenty Miles aka: Bauer Brothers, Childballads (Stewart Lupton of Jonathan Fire*eater), Tom Waits, Speedball Baby and Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues.

Under the name 20 Miles, Judah has released the following albums and EPs:

• Ragged Backyard Classics (In The Red, 1996)
• R.L. Boyce Othar Turner Fife & Drum Spam LP/CD (Fat Possum/Epitaph, 1997)
• Sinful Tunes & Spirituals (Au Go-Go, 1998; split EP with Doo Rag)
• I'm a Lucky Guy (Fat Possum/Epitaph, 1998)
• Let Every Town Furnish Its Own Women (Epitaph/Sony, 2000; split EP with Bob Log III)^[61]
• Keep It Coming (Fat Possum, 2002)
• Life Doesn't Rhyme (Fat Possum, 2003)

Russell Simins

Russell Simins has produced, remixed and performed with numerous bands including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Honeymoon Killers, Crowbar Massage, Cibo Matto, Grapevine, Ween, Luscious Jackson, Yoko Ono, Money Mark, Fred Schneider, Duran Duran, Asian Dub Foundation, Stereolab, Tom Waits, The Pierces, Tandy, Spalding Rockwell, The Morning Pages, Little Barrie, Jena Malone, Tiny Masters of Today and Harper Simon. Russell Simins' song "I'm Not A Model" was also featured in the 2002 video game Jet Set Radio Future.^[62]

And as a core band member he has released the following albums:

• Honeymoon Killers – Hung Far Low LP/CD (Fist Puppet, 1991)
• Butter 08 (Grand Royal, 1996)
• Crunt (Trance Syndicate, 1994)
• Russell Simins – Public Places LP/CD (Grand Royal, 2000)
• Men Without Pants (Victor, 2006)
• Men Without Pants – Naturally (Expansion Team (US)/Vicious Circle (FR), 2009)

Jon Spencer

Jon Spencer in a Heavy Trash performance in São Paulo, Brazil, on April 23, 2009. Photo by Ariel Martini

Jon Spencer has released some solo material in addition to being a core member of Shithaus, Pussy Galore, Boss Hog, Spencer Dickinson, Solex vs Cristina Martinez + Jon Spencer and in Heavy Trash with Matt Verta-Ray released the following albums:

• Heavy Trash LP/CD (Yep Roc (US)/Crunchy Frog (DK)/Victor/JVC (JP), 2005)
• Heavy Trash – Going Way Out With Heavy Trash LP/CD (Yep Roc (US)/Crunchy Frog (DK)/Victor/JVC (JP), 2007)
• Heavy Trash – Mightnight Soul Serenade LP/CD (Big Legal Mess (US)/Crunchy Frog (DK)/Bronzerat (UK), 2009)

With the Honeymoon Killers he appears on several recordings and made one complete album as a member of the band with Russell Simins, Jerry Teel and Lisa Wells:

• Honeymoon Killers – Hung Far Low LP/CD (Fist Puppet, 1991)

He has also performed with, recorded, remixed and produced a huge number of artists including: Gibson Bros., Workdogs, Nancy Sinatra, Moby, Cheater Slicks, Beck, Demolition Doll Rods, Edison Rocket Train/Mike Edison, Einstürzende Neubauten, Coldcut, Powersolo, Puffy AmiYumi, Eros Ramazzotti, The Sadies, Add N to (X), Rob K, Haze XXL, Lost Crusaders, David Holmes, Khan, Los Straitjackets, Bomb the Bass, Princess Superstar, Speedball Baby, Five Dollar Priest, The King Brothers, The Tremolo Beer Gut, Bikini Machine, Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Micragirls, Cobra Killer, The Japanese Popstars, The Slew and Perrosky.

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Year	Label	Format	Notes
A Reverse Willie Horton	1991	Public Pop Can	LP	US release Kramer recordings
Crypt Style	1992	1+2	CD	Japanese release Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings 25 tracks
	1992	Crypt	LP	German release Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings 17 tracks
	1993	Crypt	CD	German release Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings 18 tracks, includes "Eye To Eye"
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion	1992	Caroline	CD / CAS	US release Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings There was no vinyl release in the US
	1992	Hut	CD / LP	UK release Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings
Year One	2010	Shout! Factory	CD	US reissue Compilation of Kramer and Albini recordings 38 tracks
Extra Width	1993	Crypt	LP / CD	German release
	1993	Matador	LP / CD / CAS	US / UK release
	1993	Au Go-Go	CD	Australian release
	2000	Mute	2xLP / CD	Reissue with complete Mo' Width album
	2010	Shout! Factory	2xCD	US expanded reissue Includes complete Mo' Width album and additional disc of 24 rare and unreleased tracks
Orange	1994	Matador	LP / CD / CAS	US / UK release First vinyl edition of the Matador release was a silver coloured picture disc
	1994	Crypt	LP / CD	German release First editions of the Crypt version of this album had orange rather than silver sleeves
	1995	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese edition Includes bonus tracks "Beat of the Traps" and "Memphis Soul Typecast" from Mo' Width.
	1995	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese edition Includes bonus tracks "Bellbottoms (Old Rascal Mix)" and "Flavor (Remix – Part 1 & 2)" from Experimental Remixes.
	2000	Mute	LP / CD	Reissue, CD is enhanced with videos of "Dang", "Flavor" and "Bellbottoms"
Orange + Experimental Remixes	2010	Shout! Factory	2xCD	Reissue includes Experimental Remixes and bonus tracks; "Haircut", "Woman Love" (VPRO), "Very Rare" (VPRO), "Shakin'" (S60 V JSBX), an alternate recording of "Bellbottoms" and recordings of "Brenda", "BX Man", "78 Style" and "Greyhound" live at CBGB.
Now I Got Worry	1996	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese edition Includes bonus tracks "Cool Vee" and "Get With It"
	1996	Mute	CD / LP	UK release
	1996	Matador	CD / LP / CAS	US release
	1996	Au Go-Go	CD	Australian release
	1996	Rock Records & Tapes	CD	Korean edition Omits "Fuck Shit Up".
	2010	Shout! Factory	CD	US expanded reissue Includes an additional 11 rare tracks, 4 Radio Spots and a previously unreleased song titled "Roosevelt Hotel Blues".
	2010	Shove!	CD	UK expanded reissue Includes an additional 11 rare tracks, 4 Radio Spots and a previously unreleased song titled "Roosevelt Hotel Blues".
Acme	1998	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese edition Includes "Hell" and ends with the full version of "Calvin" rather than "Calvin (Reprise)"
	1998	Labels	CD	French edition
	1998	Everlasting Records	CD	Spanish edition
	1998	Mute	LP / CD	UK release
	1998	Matador	LP / CD	US release
	1998	Rock Records	CAS	Thai release
Acme + Acme Plus	2010	Shout! Factory	2xCD	Reissue includes bonus tracks
Sideways Soul: Dub Narcotic Sound System Meets The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion In A Dancehall Style	1999	K Records	LP / CD	US release
	1999	Au Go-Go	CD	Australian release
	1999	Rebel Beat Factory	CD	Japanese release
Plastic Fang	2002	Mute	CD / Ltd. CD / 2xLP	UK release Ltd CD and vinyl in "Fang Pack". Vinyl edition features "Point of View", "Like A Bat", "Then Again I Will" and "Do Ya Wanna Get It?" which were not on UK CD editions.
	2002	Matador	CD / Ltd. CD / 2xLP	US release Ltd CD and vinyl in "Fang Pack". CD track list replaces "Tore Up & Broke" with "Point Of View" (in comparison to the UK CD edition). Vinyl edition features "Tore Up & Broke", "Like A Bat", "Then Again I Will" and "Do Ya Wanna Get It?" which were not on US CD editions.
	2002	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese release Features "Ghetto Mom", "Alex", "Then Again I Will" and "Like A Bat" which are not on the UK version but omits "Tore Up & Broke" and "Mother Nature".
	2002	Mute / Virgin	2xCD	Australian release Double CD set with B-sides and remixes.
	2002	Ultrapop	CD	Argentinian release In comparison to the UK CD release this edition of the album omits "Tore Up & Broke" which is replaced with "Point of View" and includes a thirteenth bonus track "Do Ya Wanna Get It?"
	2002	Everlasting	CD	Spanish release
Damage	2004	Mute	Ltd CD/DVD / CD / LP	UK release CD/DVD edition in Matchbook sleeve features 22 minute film directed by Niko Tavernese.
	2004	Matador	Ltd CD / CD	US release Ltd CD edition in Matchbook sleeve with enhanced section including 22 minute film directed by Niko Tavernese.
	2004	Victor / JVC	CD	Japanese release Includes "Grinding", "The Funky Gremlin" and enhanced section with 22 minute film directed by Niko Tavernese.
	2004	Modular Records	CD	Australian release
	2004	Ultrapop	CD	Argentinian release
Meat + Bone	2012	Bronze Rat	CD / LP	UK release
	2012	Mom + Pop Music	–	US release
Freedom Tower - No Wave Dance Party 2015	2015	Bronze Rat	CD / LP	UK release
	2015	Mom + Pop Music	-	US release

Other albums and EPs

Title	Year	Label	Format	Notes
Mo' Width	1994	Au Go-Go	LP / CD	11 recordings from Extra Width-era Features alternate recording of "Afro" and covers of "There Stands The Glass" (Webb Pierce), "Beat of The Traps" (Teri Rodd & MSR Singers) and "Ole Man Trouble" (Otis Redding). Only released has a stand-alone album in Australia this has since been issued on the Mute (2000) and Shout! Factory (2010) reissues of Extra Width.
Experimental Remixes	1995	Matador	12" / CD	Orange remix album 12" only included three tracks CD features the unlisted "Tour Diary" in addition to the six remixes by UNKLE, Mike D, Beck, Moby, Dub Narcotic Sound System, GZA and Killah Priest.
	2000	Mute	2xLP / CD	Reissue of the Orange remix album Includes additional remixes by Prince Paul, Plunderphonic (John Oswald) and F. Carles (MC Relov/Hypercard)
Controversial Negro	1997	Mute	CD	Promo only live album 14 tracks
		Matador	LP	Promo only live album 14 tracks
		Toy's Factory	Ltd CD / CD	Original official Japanese release Issued in Ltd album-style card sleeve and plastic case 19 tracks
	2010	Shout! Factory	CD	Expanded reissue 29 tracks Adds "Bellbottoms" to original "Hotel Congress" show and nine tracks recorded live in 1994
Rocketship	1997	AU Go-Go	7" / CD	Single / EP Australia-only release 7" includes "Chocolate Joe" B-side / CD includes four live tracks from the Japanese release of Controversial Negro.
Acme Plus	1999	Mute	2xLP / CD	UK release Acme-era out-takes, B-sides and remixes.
Xtra Acme USA		Matador	2xLP / CD	US release Acme-era out-takes, B-sides and remixes.
Ura-Acme		Toy's Factory	LP	Japanese release Vinyl-only Acme-era out-takes, B-sides and remixes. The only variation of Acme out-takes album to feature "New Year (Destroyer)"
Extra-Acme		Toy's Factory	CD / LP	Japanese release CD and Vinyl editions had slightly different track-listings and running orders. Vinyl version was only issued as a promo. Acme-era out-takes, B-sides and remixes. Another variation on the track-list and running order
Fang Plastique	2002	Toy's Factory	CD	Japanese only EP Features UK b-sides and two different "She Said" videos.
Fang Visual		Matador	DVD	Full length DVD with live tracks, videos and interview footage Given away free via Matador Records or shrink-wrapped with US CD copies of Plastic Fang.
Snack Cracker	2005	JVC / Victor	CD	Japanese only EP Includes remixes, b-sides videos and "Rattling (Live on Jonsey's Jukebox)" which is exclusive to this release.
Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers	2007	In The Red	LP / CD	Compilation of Jukebox Series 7" singles and previously unreleased songs.
Dirty Shirt Rock 'n' Roll: The First Ten Years	2010	Shout! Factory	CD	US release 22 track retrospective album.
		Shove!	CD	UK release 22 track retrospective album.
That's It Baby Right Now We Got To Do It Let’s Dance!	2016	Shove / Bronze Rat / Mom + Pop Music	LP	Live In Tokyo Summer Sonic August 15, 2015 Record Store Day release Pink vinyl LP Limited to 3000 or 4000 copies

Singles

Year	Title	Label	Album	Notes
1992	"Shirt Jac"	In The Red	Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers / Year One	B-side: "Latch On"
	"Son of Sam "		Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers / Extra Width (2010)	B-side: "Bent"
	"History of Sex"	Clawfist	Year One	B-sides: "Write A Song" / "Smoke Cigarettes"
1993	"Afro"	Matador Records	Extra Width	B-side: "Relax-Her"
	"Train # 3"	In The Red	Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers / Extra Width (2010)	B-side: "Train No. 1"
1995	"Bellbottoms"	Matador Records	Orange	B-side: "Miss Elaine" Issued as a white vinyl 7" single
1996	"Get With It"	In The Red	Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers / Now I Got Worry (2010)	B-side: "Down Low"
	"2Kindsa Love"	Mute	Now I Got Worry	UK Chart Position: No. 122 B-sides: "Fish Sauce" / "Cool Vee" / "Let's Smurf" Issued on pink vinyl 7" and CD.
1997	"Wail"			UK Chart Position: No. 66 Non-album tracks issued across formats: Wail (Video Mix) / Yellow Eyes / Buscemi / Turn Up Greene / Wail (Mario Mix) / Flavor (Live Version) / Judah Love Theme / Radio Spot. Released on grey and green vinyl 7" singles and CD.
	"Rocketship"	Au Go-Go Records		B-sides: "Chocolate Joe" / "Down Low" (Live) / "Dynamite Lover" (Live) / "Flavor" (Live) / "Full Grown" (Live) Australia-only single issued on CD and 7".
1998	"Magical Colors"	Mute	Acme	UK Chart Position: No. 92 B-sides: "Confused" / "Bacon" / "Get Down Lover" Issued on red vinyl 7" and CD.
	"Talk About The Blues"	Mute / Matador		UK Chart Position: No. 120 UK B-sides: "Wait A Minute" / "Lovin' Machine (Automator)" / "Calvin (Zebra Ranch)" / "T.A.T.B. (For The Saints And Sinners Remix)" / "Talk About The Blues" (Video) US B-Sides: "Bacon" / "Get Down Lover" / "Lovin' Machine (Automator Mix)" / "Calvin" / "Calvin (Zebra Ranch Mix)" Issued on orange vinyl 7", CD and 12".
1999	"Calvin"	Au Go-Go Records		B-sides: "Wait A Minute" / "Confused" / "Get Down Lover" / "Calvin (Zebra Ranch)" / "T.A.T.B. (For The Saints and the Sinners Remix)" Australia-only single issued on 12" and CD.
	"New Year (Destroyer)"	Slut Smalls	Ura-Acme (Japan-only vinyl album)	A-side: Barry Adamson – "The Crime Scene" Issued as 7"-only split single with Barry Adamson.
	"Heavy (Remix)"	Mute	Acme	UK Chart Position: No. 106 B-sides: Give Ya Some Hell / 2 Kindsa Love (Duck Rock 105.9 FM Remix) Blues Power / Do You Wanna Get Heavy? (Duck Rock Hip 'n' Bass Remix) / Attack (Detroit) / 2 Kindsa Love (Duck Rock 105.9 FM Final Mix) / Do You Wanna Get Heavy? (Duck Rock Hip 'n' Bass Final Mix) Issued on blue vinyl 7", CD and 12".
2000	"Lap Dance (Jim Waters/Scott Benzel Remix)"	In the Red	–	B-Side: Lap Dance (Jim Thirlwell Remix) features Andre Williams 12"-only single original version of Lap Dance released on Acme Plus / Xtra Acme USA
	"Techno Animal Remixes"	Mute	–	Track listing: "Bacon (Radio Edit)" / "Not Yet (Sci-Mix)" / "Bacon (Dub)" / "Not Yet (Splatter Mix)" 12"-only single Remixes of tracks released on Acme Plus / Xtra Acme USA
2002	"Ghetto Mom"	In the Red	Jukebox Explosion Rockin' Mid-90s Punkers	B-Side: "Do Ya Wanna Get It"
	"She Said"	Mute	Plastic Fang	UK Chart Position No. 58 B-Sides: "Ghetto Mom" / "Point of View" / "Do Ya Wanna Get It?" / "Then Again I Will" / "Like A Bat" Released on 7" and two-different CD singles
	"Sweet 'n' Sour"			UK Chart Position No. 66 B-Sides: "Shakin' Rock 'N' Roll Tonight" (Live at VPRO) / "Maureen" / "Alex" / "Sweet N Sour" (Video) / "Plastic Fang Bite Size – Album Excerpts (Mean Heart/She Said/Shakin' Rock 'N' Roll Tonight/Hold On)" Released on 7" and two different CD singles.
	"Shakin' Rock 'n' Roll Tonight"			UK Chart Position No. 126 B-Sides: "She Said (The Tremolo Beer Gut Mix)" / "Over and Over (Techno Animal Mix)" / "Money Rock 'N' Roll (Sub Species Mix)" / "Over and Over (Barry Adamson Mix)" / "She Said" (Video – Floria Sigismondi) "She Said" (Video – Live) / "Point of View" (Video – Live) / "Shakin' Rock 'N' Roll Tonight" (Video – Live) Released on 7" and CD.
2004	"Burn It Off"		Damage	UK Chart Position No. 77 B-Sides: "Fed Up and Low Down" (Edit) / "Serial Number" / "Fed Up And Low Down" (Edit) / "Cold Cold Eyes" (Demo Version) Released on clear vinyl 7" and CD.
	"Hot Gossip"			UK Chart Position No. 119 B-Sides: "Meet Me In The City" Released as a red vinyl 7" only single. Hot Gossip features Chuck D and "Meet Me In The City" is a Junior Kimbrough cover version featuring Elliott Smith on acoustic guitar.
2005	"Crunchy"			UK Chart Position No. 89 B-Sides: "Crunchy (Solex 'Bounce' Remix)" / "Hot Gossip (TMJ (!!!) Remix)" / "Mars Arizona (DFA Remix)" / "Blues Explosion Man" (Live at FMU) Released on 7", 12" and CD.
2011	"No Reservations" / "Black Betty"	Self Released	–	self-released 7"
2011	"Black Betty"	Amphetamine Reptile	–	Split single with Melvins 600 copies on splatter vinyl 200 on tri-color vinyl (100 of these had a two-color, linocut, hand printed sleeve There are 10 copies of each art show design)
2012	"Gadzooks!" / "Tell Me That You Love Me"	In The Red Records	–	7" "Tell Me That You Love me" is a cover of James Brown & His Famous Flames
2012	"Bag of Bones" / "Black Mold"	Mom + Pop Music	Meat+Bone	7"
2014	"She’s On It – Jack The Ripper" / "Audio Vacation"	Mom + Pop Music / Bronze Rat	n/a	12" single Record Store Day release
2015	"Human Obscene" / "Shake That Bat"	In The Red Records	n/a	7" single
2015	"Don’t Wanna Live Like The Dead"	Sony Music Labels Inc.	n/a	CD single includes three versions of the title track released under the name 'Jack Crispin' from the feature film Grasshopper

Music videos

Year	Title	Director(s)	Album	Notes
1992	"Rachel"	Jim Spring and Jens Jurgensen	Jon Spencer Blues Explosion / Crypt Style	Released on Live Promo Video
1993	"Afro"	Tom Surgal	Extra Width
1994	"Dang"	Steve Hanft	Orange
	"Flavor"	Evan Bernard		Features Mike D of the Beastie Boys and Beck
1995	"Bellbottoms"	Tom Surgal
1996	"2Kindsa Love"	Mike Mills	Now I Got Worry
1997	"Wail"	Weird Al Yankovic
1998	"Magical Colors"	Terry Richardson	Acme	A series of still photographs
	"Talk About the Blues"	Evan Bernard		Stars Giovanni Ribisi as Judah Bauer, John C. Reilly as Russell Simins and Winona Ryder as Jon Spencer.
	"Attack"			With Alec Empire, video released on Digital Hardcore compilations
2002	"She Said"	Floria Sigismondi	Plastic Fang
	"She Said (100 Club)"	Barney Clay
	"Sweet 'n' Sour"	Stylewar
2004	"Burn It Off"	Stylewar	Damage
	"Hot Gossip"	David Raccuglia		Features Chuck D of Public Enemy
2012	"Black Mold"	Toon Aerts	Meat + Bone
	"Bag of Bones"	Lucy Dyson and Joseph Jensen
2015	"Betty Vs. the NYPD"	Michael Lavine	Freedom Tower - No Wave Dance Party 2015	Starring Bridget Everett
	"Tales of the Old New York: The Rock Box"	Brook Linder

References

1. Hughes, Andrew (July 29, 2018). "Solo explosion next for Jon Spencer". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
2. Matador Press Release for Extra Width, 1993; "Formed in 1991, the New York-based Blues Explosion are led by Jon Spencer"
3. Sprague, David (September 14, 1996). "Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2010. The Blues Explosion has never been particularly thought out; it really is just us getting together and playing rock 'n' roll.
4. McConnell, Dave (March 1993). "Jon Spencer interview". Fiz. Retrieved August 26, 2010. We just kind of stumbled into each other. He was just this drummer that the Honeymoon Killers had found, and I was coming around playing with them – that's how we met. Judah was the friend that was living with him – this kid – and we just started playing together, the three of us.
5. Gladstone, Eric, "New Route: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion ", August 1992
6. Davidson, Eric "We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut: 1988–2001", Back Beat Books, ISBN 0-87930-972-5, 2010
7. Edison, Mike "Year One: Sleeve Notes", July 2010
8. "VERTIGO ISSUE 3". Vertigozine.co.uk. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
9. McConnell, Dave (March 1993), Jon Spencer interview, Fiz
10. Deusner, Stephen M. "Year One / Mo' Width/Extra Width review". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
11. sleeve notes to Jukebox Explosion Rockin’ Mid-90s Punkers
12. Edison, Mike. "Extra Width: Sleeve Notes", 2010
13. Judah Bauer, Extra Width sleeve notes Mike Edison 2010.
14. BAD VIBE: HEAD EXPLOSION PART II (PRESS, US), 1993, Herb Hitts
15. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Afro (video).
16. "Blues Explosion!". Gravy. September 1994. Retrieved October 12, 2010. was that the first time you were on TV?, Jon, No, we were on TV in England on this show called The Word.
17. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Afro on "The Word" Uk TV 1994 (video).
18. "Jon Spencer Blues Explosion". Thicker. August 1994. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
19. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Dang (video).
20. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Flavor (video).
21. Edison, Mike. Controversial Negro sleeve notes, 2010
22. Davidson, Eric "We Never Learn: The Gunk Punk Undergut" 2010
23. Sprague, David "Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off" July 14, 1996
24. "Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off", David Sprague, 14 July 1996, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
25. Blues Explosion Ready to Blast Off. David Sprague September 14, 1996
26. Yankovic, Weird Al. "Video Facts". "Weird Al" Yankovic.
27. BRITISH HIT SINGLES & ALBUMS (17), 2005, Hit Entertainment, ISBN 0-85112-199-3
28. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - 2 Kindsa Love (Recovery) (video).
29. NME: DOES ROCK'N'ROLL KILL BRAINCELLS, June 2010
30. Mo' bitter blues (Vox, May 1997)
31. ALTERNATIVE PRESS: BUILDING A BETTER EXPLOSION (PRESS, US)
32. ALTERNATIVE PRESS: BUILDING A BETTER EXPLOSION, November 1998
33. Acme + Acme Plus sleeve notes, Mike Edison, 2010
34. Talk about the blues (video).
35. "Winona Ryder Takes Over Reigns Of Blues Explosion For New Video". MTV.Com. October 12, 1998. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
36. "The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Talk About The Blues". YouTube. January 7, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
37. "Jon Spencer of the Blues Explosion: My Life in 10 Songs". RollingStone.Com. March 23, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
38. Daley, David (December 1998). "Cmj new music monthly: acme blues explosives inc". CMJ. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
39. "BRITISH HIT SINGLES & ALBUMS". Hit Entertainment. 2005. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
40. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Magical Colors (video).
41. "The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion live on French TV". Retrieved June 9, 2016.
42. "Matador Records". Matador Records. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
43. Jhon Spencer Blues Explosion - She Said (video).
44. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - She Said (Version 2) (video).
45. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Sweet'n'Sour (Jools Holland) (video).
46. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Sweet'n'Sour (video).
47. "Jon Spencer Blues Explosion website". pop-catastrophe.co.uk. Archived from the original on November 20, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2010.
48. "Tom Waits performing "Make It Rain" on David Letterman". Retrieved August 26, 2010.
49. Edison, Mike, "I Have Fun Everywhere I Go: Savage Tales of Pot, Porn, Punk Rock, Pro Wrestling, Talking Apes, Evil Bosses, Dirty Blues, American Heroes, and the Most Notorious Magazines in the World", May 2008
50. O'Connell, Sharon, "Music Preview, 93 Feet East", The Guardian, Magazine, August 2004
51. PC, "Crunchy review", NME, April 23, 2005
52. Jennifer D'Angelo Friedman (August 19, 2010). "Jon Spencer Talks Nirvana, Black Music, and Why He's Not Bruce Springsteen". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
53. Mitchum, Rob. "The Top 200 Tracks of the 1990s". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
54. Lyndsey Parker. "The Blues Is Still No. 1: The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Reignite At Yahoo!". New.music.yahoo.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
55. "Volkswagen Beetle 2011 Super Bowl XLV television commercial". YouTube. February 4, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
56. "ATP curated by Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) - All Tomorrow's Parties". atpfestival.com.
57. "Meat + Bone Album preorder". The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
58. "Meat + Bone review". pitchfork. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
59. "Meat and Bone". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 5, 2012.
60. Andrews, Mark. "Trump, ageing and the power of rock'n'roll: An interview with Jon Spencer".
61. Discogs – Bob Log III / Twenty Miles – Let Every Town Furnish Its Own Women
62. Smilebit (February 25, 2002). Jet Set Radio Future (Xbox). Sega. Level/area: Credits.

External links

• Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at Matador Records
• Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Discography/Website: Pop-Catastrophe.co.uk
• "The Spencer Report", a complete list of songs and releases these appear on, 1991–95.