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‘King King’ released on 180 gram limited red vinyl

Posted in red devils with tags , , , on February 18, 2012 by J.J.

“King King” is getting the deluxe packaging treatment for its 20th anniversary after all, thanks to Dutch boutique label Music On Vinyl.

This marks the first time The Red Devils’ “King King” has been released on vinyl and, apparently, Music On Vinyl is giving the record the reissue treatment it deserves.

From musiconvinyl.com:

Their only full length album, ‘King King’ is seen as a true Blues classic and Music On Vinyl is honoured to release this album on vinyl for the very first time.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, we decided to do something special: the first 1,000 copies of this double gatefold sleeve album are on bright red vinyl!

• 180 grams audiophile vinyl
• Twentieth anniversary, original released in 1992
• First time on vinyl !
• Gatefold sleeve
• Includes an insert
• First 1000 numbered copies on red vinyl

The official release date is Feb. 20, but the album is apparently available in some independent record stores in Holland.

Over at The Red Devils Facebook group, Patrick Struijker Boudier has already received his copy, posting a picture of the sleeve and the LP (the label noting that the record was licensed from This Way Up). His review, on the Music On Vinyl Facebook page: “Awesome release! Clearly there has been put a lot of thought in this release! Love the job you’ve done guys!”

Music On Vinyl also posted a pic of the limited edition red vinyl at the pressing plant.

Unfortunately, it appears Music on Vinyl does not sell individual orders, but rather distributes to record stores only.

The album does appear to be available for order at www.kroese-online.nl.

And, of course, the album is seeing a reissue on CD as well — also as an import-only.

Here are some other notes on the vinyl version:
Read more »

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‘King King’ reissue coming Tuesday

Posted in red devils with tags , on January 29, 2012 by J.J.

According to several websites, “King King” is set for reissue this Tuesday, Jan. 31, by Universal Import.

For instance, the U.S. amazon.com website lists “King King” as an import at $29.50, with a Tuesday release date.

We’ve not been able to find any information about this release. From our vantage point, it looks like a straight reissue, but we’ll know more when we get our hands on the disc in a couple of days.

Without facts in the way, let’s speculate a little:

  • Not surprising to see a reissue this year, the 20th anniversary of the “King King” record.
  • Unfortunately, that likely means there is no true anniversary reissue coming later in the year. We wish this was a dry run for a bigger product release, but we can’t imagine a company spending so much time and so many resources on putting out “King King” twice.
  • There is no indication of any bonus tracks — but there is really no useful product description at all.

Maybe its just wishful thinking, but we’ve heard “Automatic” on Bluesville on Sirius XM two times last week. Seems odd to play a 20-year-old one-off disc like that — unless the station has a fresh promo copy.

We’ll all find out on Tuesday.

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Ready for 2012

Posted in Uncategorized with tags , on January 19, 2012 by J.J.

Thanks everyone for visiting No Fightin’ in 2011 — and thanks for letting us recover a little into 2012!

We have lots of plans for the blog this year, the 20th anniversary of The Red Devils’ “King King.”

Keep watching this space for some new Red Devils and Lester Butler goodies. You can also follow us on Twitter or watch a bunch of cool videos on our YouTube channel.

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“Better Cut That Out” lyrics

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , on September 5, 2011 by J.J.

While the closer “Better Cut That Out” is a favorite on the “King King” record, one question remains: Just what is Lester Butler singing?

This song is a little rough — Butler sings the second verse twice — and even the album credits are confusing. On the first Def American pressings, the song is called “Cut That Out” and attributed to Junior Wells, whose version obviously inspired the Devils. Subsequent American Recordings versions call it “Better Cut That Out,” with credit going to Sonny Boy Williamson (likely No. 1, John Lee Williamson), which is a much more accurate designation.

The lyric that causes the most trouble is the second line in the first verse. Butler sings the cuplet,

Yeah when you get drunk you wanna fuss and cut
Sure to get drunk you know a rock and roll hearse

Read more »

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USA Today: “King King” raw, rootsy blues

Posted in red devils with tags , , , on September 3, 2011 by J.J.

A glowing “King King” review from USA Today’s Oct. 28, 1992, edition. Is this one of the earlier, mainstream notices of that album?

RED DEVILS LIVE ALBUM BLASTS RAW, ROOTSY BLUES
by Edna Gundersen
USA Today

"King King"

Hellbent for blues, the red-hot Red Devils have cranked out the year’s most electrifying live album, a stunning debut. Even a band this sharp and spirited will be hard-pressed to top it. The raw and rootsy “King King” (***1/2), produced by sonic sharpshooter Rick Rubin, was recorded at L.A.’s King King club, where the Devils served as house band for six years. Whether blasting their own “Goin’ to the Church” or breathing new fire into Sonny Boy Williamson’s loping “Cross Your Heart,” the band outshines any contemporaries with its lean, high-powered and nasty approach to Chicago blues. Catch their opening act on Los Lobos’ current tour (tonight, at the Varsity in Baton Rouge, La.)

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Red Devils make Indiana debut

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , on July 7, 2011 by J.J.

We’ve covered The Red Devils’ October 1992 gig in Bloomington, Ind., extensively on No Fightin’. But here is yet another advance, a really good interview with Lester Butler by the Indianapolis Star.

Red Devils make Indiana debut
By Marc D. Allan, Indianapolis Star
Oct. 12, 1992

“You really don’t write blues tunes,” says Lester Butler, singer and harmonica player for The Red Devils. “There’s grooves and there’s shuffles. The lyric is what you make up on your own. And I’m having no problem doing that at all.”

jakes_flier1You could say that.

The Los Angeles-based blues band, which makes its Indiana debut Tuesday night in Bloomington, has developed a loyal following at home by playing fiery original and cover tunes every Monday night in a tiny, always-packed club called the King King. (They recorded their first album, “King King,” live at the club.)

Playing with Jagger

The Red Devils have been invited to open for the Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Dixie Dregs and Los Lobos. They’re so hot (and so good) that Mick Jagger invited them to play on his forthcoming solo album.

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Skelly praises Red Devils in NME list

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , , , , on January 9, 2011 by J.J.

The Coral’s James Skelly is quickly becoming one of The Red Devils’ most outspoken supporters.

First he calls “King King” the best thing he’s heard all year, now he adds them to NME’s list of the “100 Greatest Albums You’ve Never Heard.” His thoughts are a little more detailed and expansive than what appeared in Mojo:

Until last year I’d never even heard of this. Our producer John Leckie gave it to me while we were recording “Butterfly House” and it blew my head off. The Red Devils used to play live in L.A. in all these little clubs and Rick Rubin loved them. So he just recorded them live in this club called King King. The band — all amazing players — just sound like they’re on fire. There’s something about the way Rick Rubin’s done it too, it sounds really special. He could have done it in the studio but it wouldn’t have been as good. With “King King” you can hear the whole atmosphere of the club — you’re there, you’re with them, Read more »

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The Coral’s James Skelly on ‘King King’

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , , , on December 26, 2010 by J.J.

The January 2011 edition of Mojo magazine has a Red Devils mention, in the annual “The Best Thing I’ve Heard All Year” section.

James Skelly, singer and guitarist from the psych-folk band The Coral, describes his newfound love for “King King”:

John Leckie played me The Red Devils’ “King King” album when we were in the studio and I haven’t stopped playing it since. It’s from 1992 and was recorded live in Hollywood’s King King club where the group had a Monday night residency and Rick Rubin produced it, and it’s the best thing he’s ever done and it’s the best live album I’ve ever heard. It’s like early Fleetwood Mac crossed with Robert Johnson and Nirvana and they have such an aggressive sound, it goes down so hot to the tape, which really suits them. The singer, Lester Butler, he died in 1998 from an overdose but he’s one of the best harmonica players of all time.

If that’s not enough, check out the four-star review for ex-Blaster Gene Taylor’s disc “Let Me Ride In Your Automobile” on page 101.

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Lyrics: Mr. Highway Man

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , on August 18, 2010 by automatic32

Mr. Highway Man (Chester Burnett), from King King

Highway man, please don’t block the road
Mr. Highway man, please don’t block my road
You got my head spinnin’, little girl I’m goin’ down slow

Got to tell everybody in the neighborhood
Tell everybody in the neighborhood
You’re a sweet little girl, sure don’t mean me no good

-aside- I got to ride

*harp solo*

Flyin’ down the road, got a bottle in my hand
Flyin’ down the road, with a bottle in my hand
I loved a little woman, she loved my best friend

She my rider, baby, baby drive around all night
Up and down the highway, with the moon shinin’ bright
On the(?) highway man, please don’t block the road
You got my head spinnin’, little girl I’m goin’ down slow

*harp solo* end

Transcribed by nofightin.com. More “King King” lyrics here.

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Blue Shadows 1990 dates added to timeline

Posted in red devils with tags , , on July 14, 2010 by J.J.

We’ve tried to verify all the material you see on nofightin.com with links back to source material. In this case, we think the source might have it wrong.
In the King King club Web site’s history section, they have several old fliers and handbills with dates. A calendar labeled “July 1990″ lists several Blue Shadows Monday night gigs for the month.

However, the dates actually correspond with June 1990, rather than July.

It’s likely the bar just got the months screwed up, so we’re going to add these dates to the timeline as June until further verification.

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