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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:
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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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Red Devils Moulin ’93 review from Block

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

Dutch blues magazine Block was an early supporter of The Red Devils, continuing through the 13 years as well.

This review of the the 1993 Moulin Blues Festival comes courtesy of Feelgood. We’ve done our best to do a translation of The Red Devils’ mention — if you have a better translation, put it in the comments.

Also included: A Block ad for the festival.

Finally — I think — the only other act with a magnetic force field of over 100 km: the Red Devils (because: Mick Jagger!) with their busy and fat-accentuated party hardy clichéd blues. No trace of white and yet not heavy. The band consisted of five top strengths, though star parts were played by drummer Bill Bateman (Blasters) and never-stagnant singer/harper Lester Butler, one of the few to handle Muddy’s “Louisiana Blues.” Butler spontaneously fulfilled a request for one of the slow songs to a fan who was killed earlier that week, though hopefully no one outside of those involved had been in the painful mistake still in his ready-made text. No, of course there is a festival for people like us to get back to. And we were.

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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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“If they’re buying drinks, then you’re making money”

Posted in red devils with tags , , , on May 22, 2011 by J.J.

Thanks to Paul Brown of the UK for this clip from the May 1993 edition of Rock Compact Disc Magazine. Interesting for Lester Butler’s pulling back on the Mick Jagger stories by this point and laughing off the image of Jagger being “whisked away” from the Devils after the session.

Note also the alternate publicity shot: In color, with Bill Bateman obscured by Jonny Ray Bartel. (Click on the image to read the article.)

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River Valley Music fest preview, Kansas 1992

Posted in red devils with tags , , , on March 20, 2011 by J.J.

Just a quick little interview with Lester Butler in the Sept. 17, 1992, Lawrence, KS, Journal-World, in advance of the band’s Saturday gig at the River Valley Music Festival.

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Tickets to The Garage, 1993

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , , on February 15, 2011 by J.J.

Picked up a concert ticket from The Red Devils’ gig at The Garage in London Dec. 1, 1993 from an eBay auction recently (No. 18, below right). At the same time, UK Devils fan Paul Brown e-mailed us his own ticket from that show — signed by every member of the band! (No. 27 at right)

The eBay seller’s description said:

One of only a few available for this particular gig. Concert only sparcely (sic) attended due to poor advertising and poor knowledge on the public front about this stunning performer/band … RIP LESTER.BY THE WAY THE GIG WAS AWESOME,AND I TOOK MY DAD GOD REST HIM WHO WAS A HARMONICA PLAYER,AND HE WAS TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY !!!!! 

One thing to note: Paul Size had quit the band a few months earlier, so it was Zach Zunis on guitar for this stretch of shows, and represented in that autograph.

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Block magazine fills in 1993 calendar holes

Posted in red devils with tags , , , , on January 16, 2011 by J.J.

Our good friend Feelgood has sent us a number of magazine clippings that help fill in some of the dates on the Red Devils timeline.

Much of these come from the Agenda section of Block, a blues magazine based in The Netherlands. There are several clippings available, but we’ll start with 1993. The first two images are from the same edition of Block, though we don’t have publication dates for either magazine.


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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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