THE SKELETONS "In The Flesh!" 1987/8

Prior to the Skeletons, guitarist D. Clinton Thompson (who also served in the Ozark Mountain Daredevils) and bassist Lou Whitney (producer of the first Del-Lords album) played together in a variety of lineups, including the pride of Springfield, MO - The Morells…

...The former's superb "Driving Guitars" 45 rescued a swell Ventures tune from obscurity, and the pair has continued to mine the vaults of rock, R&B, and country arcana for some minor classics (unearthing tunes, as Robert Christgau put it, "Dave Edmunds would give his doctorate for") and the inspiration to pen their own instant winners. The 'Rockin' Bones' LP (1987) compiled the entire contents of the band's original three pre-Morells singles (from '79-'80, after which three of the Skeletons became Steve Forbert's band) and added three tunes cut after the Skeletons were revived in the mid-'80s. The album, which is simply delightful from start to finish, takes an automotive angle, with Whitney's flawless "Trans Am" and covers like "Gas Money" and the instrumental "B/Gas Accord." If Johnny Otis' "Crazy Country Hop" and Whitney's Presleyesque "Tell Her I'm Gone" break the topical mold, they do nothing to interrupt the magical mood.
Adding a second keyboard player, the Skeletons made an all-new (recording-wise, that is) album, reducing the overt nostalgia in favor of a more integrated old-fashioned sound that brings a wider collection of influences into the studio. Besides a wonderfully updated cover of Sonny Bono's "Laugh at Me" (This time the protagonist is bald!) and the Flying Burrito Brothers' "Older Guys," 'In the Flesh!' (1988) contains the Del-Lords' purposeful "I Play the Drums," the somewhat sappy "For Every Heart," and a brief "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," with the lyrics altered by one note. The playing's great and the spirit never falters, but this accomplished collection doesn't have quite enough of what makes 'Rockin' Bones' so downright upright. In 1991, East Side Digital released a CD, also titled 'In the Flesh!,' that comprised both Skeletons LPs and included a short essay and history of the band by Daniel Durchholz. - Jim Green/Ira Robbins

trax:
1. Outta My Way 2. Older Guys 3. Laugh at Me 4. Waitin' for a Slow Dance 5. Meaning of the Blues 6. I'm Little But I'm Loud 7. Thirty Days in the Workhouse 8. I Play the Drums 9. Primitive 10. For Every Heart 11. Take Me out to the Ballgame 12. Trans Am 13. Tell Her I'm Gone 14. Very Last Day 15. Sour Snow 16. Blood Surfin' 17. Gas Money 18. She Drives Me out of Mind 19. B/Gas Accord 20. Crazy Country Hop
...originally served by Gyro1966...