Eugene Chadbourne & Evan Johns "Vermin of the Blues" 1987

This is an excellent studio album from the mid-'80s. Held together by a country-rock theme (and suitably recorded in Austin, TX), Vermin of the Blues features as the backing band Evan Johns & His H-Bombs. They rock and follow the Doctor through his roundabout adventures...
...Folk, rockabilly, freak rock, free improv: No boundary remains uncrossed. Songs like "We Tried to Make a Record," "Tongue Tied Jill," "God made Country Music for Good People Like Y'All," and "I Hate the Man Who Runs This Bar" are performed in a pretty straightforward fashion. The tongue-in-cheek lyrics and exceptional energy of the performances are what will prevent you from taking them for genuine country-rock anthems. Yet, nothing tops "Vermin of the Blues," in which Chadbourne literally howls his lyrics to the moon -- funny and impeccable. "Johnny Cash in the Phillipines" revisits "Ring of Fire." Chadbourne couldn't resist slipping in tape collages. Serving as occasional interludes are excerpts from a radio broadcast during which he demonstrated the electric rake. A couple of songs also feature tape overdubs, in particular the "Rockabilly Medley," where things get more chaotic (an obligatory inclusion?). Great band, great studio, a particularly happy-go-lucky set list, all piloted by the outrageous Doctor: This one's a keeper. - Review by François Couture
trax:
01 We tried to Make a Record But We Couldn't Get it together 02 Rakeman 03 Bo Diddley is a Communist 04 Fried Chicken for Richard Speck 05 Breakin' the Law Everyday 06 I Hate the Man Who Runs this Bar 07 Johnny Cash in the Phililipines 08 Rebel Houser 09 Keep a Knockin' 10 Vermin of the Blues 11 My Mother's Eyes 12 Psychotic Reaction 13 666OKKKLOKKK Jump 14 Rockabilly Medley