Spanks for the Memories

Spanks for the Memories
Studio album by
Asylum Street Spankers
Released1996
LabelWatermelon
ProducerMark Rubin
Asylum Street Spankers chronology
Spanks for the Memories
(1996)		 Live
(1997)

Spanks for the Memories is the debut studio album by the American band Asylum Street Spankers, released in 1996.[1][2] They supported it with a North American tour.[3]

Production

Recorded over three days on the east side of Austin, the album was produced by Mark Rubin.[4][5] The band used one microphone to capture all ten members.[6] "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day" is a cover of the Robert Johnson song.[7] "Startin' to Hate Country" criticizes the country-pop sound of mid-1990s Nashville.[8] "Shave 'em Dry" is a cover of Lucille Bogan's version of the song.[9] "Lee Harvey", about Lee Harvey Oswald, employs yodeling.[10]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All Music Guide to the BluesStarStarStarStar[9]
Austin American-StatesmanStarStarHalf star[11]
MusicHound Country: The Essential Album GuideStarStarStarHalf star[12]
Springfield News-LeaderStarStar[13]
Winston-Salem JournalStarStarStar[14]

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that the band "produce a lazy, retro sound, although sometimes they mug as fiercely as Louis Armstrong trying to steal a scene from Barbra Streisand in Hello Dolly."[15] The Austin American-Statesman opined that "all the Spankers' good songs are covers that already have been done to perfection."[11] The Winston-Salem Journal stated that the album "combines hipster satire with witty original songs".[14] The Springfield News-Leader called the band "experienced—and very good—players ... [who] aren't very funny".[13] Robert Christgau praised "Startin' to Hate Country" and "Funny Cigarette".[16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Introduction" 
2."If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day" 
3."Superchief" 
4."Song with No Words" 
5."Introduction" 
6."Lee Harvey" 
7."I'll See You in My Dreams" 
8."Hesitation Blues" 
9."Startin' to Hate Country" 
10."Walkin' & Whistlin' Blues" 
11."Shave 'em Dry" 
12."Brazil" 
13."Tradewinds" 
14."Introduction" 
15."Funny Cigarette" 
16."Hometown Boy" 

References

  1. ↑ Lyden, Jacki (July 31, 1995). "Interview: Christina Marrs and Wammo discuss the music of their band, the Asylum Street Spankers". All Things Considered. NPR.
  2. ↑ "Musical Whimsy". Reno Gazette-Journal. July 19, 2007. p. H8.
  3. ↑ Cotter, Kelly-Jane (June 27, 1997). "Pop Music". Alive. Asbury Park Press. p. 19.
  4. ↑ "Wammo splits time between poetry, band". San Antonio Express-News. November 20, 1996. p. 12G.
  5. ↑ "Street Shorts". XL Ent. Austin American-Statesman. October 17, 1996. p. 21.
  6. ↑ "Asylum Street Spanks Spanks for the Memories". Missoula Independent. April 30, 1998. p. 27.
  7. ↑ Davidson, Tony (December 26, 1996). "Off the beaten path". Bryan-College Station Eagle. p. B1.
  8. ↑ "Austin group runs genre gamut". Waco Tribune-Herald. January 18, 1997. p. 5C.
  9. 1 2 All Music Guide to the Blues (3rd ed.). Backbeat Books. 2003. pp. 22–23.
  10. ↑ "Our Picks". The Tennessean. July 5, 1997. p. 3D.
  11. 1 2 Corcoran, Michael (November 5, 1996). "Inmates run the Asylum". Austin American-Statesman. p. E2.
  12. ↑ MusicHound Country: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 14.
  13. 1 2 Marymont, Mark (March 9, 1997). "Asylum Street Spanks 'Spanks for the Memories'". Springfield News-Leader. p. 7G.
  14. 1 2 Bumgardner, Ed (January 31, 1997). "Spins". Winston-Salem Journal. p. D5.
  15. ↑ Daily, Patrick (January 30, 1997). "Album Reviews". Get Out. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8.
  16. ↑ "Asylum Street Spankers". Robert Christgau. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
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