automatic – No Fightin'

The two surprising early Memphis heroes behind “King King” openers

Joe Hill Louis and Willie Nix may not be famous pillars of Sun Records, but their songs were proto-versions of “Automatic” and “Goin’ to the Church,” respectively, some 40 years earlier. A deep dive into the Memphis influence on “King King.” #KingKingXXX

No Fightin’ launches Threadless T-shirt site (summer sale on now)

Pick from three original designs to represent your favorite band and your favorite website.

Keys to the Kingdom: Solving musical mysteries from ‘King King’

A deep dive into the keys to all 12 songs on “King King”

Lester Butler & G. Love on VPRO’s “Lola Da Musica” 1998

Certainly one of Lester Butler’s last televised appearances was made on the March 6, 1998, edition of VPRO’s “Lola Da Musica” program in The Netherlands. Just two months later, Butler would die in L.A. The program — featuring Butler co-billed with folk-hop jammer G. Love — has been widely distributed by fans of both forContinue reading “Lester Butler & G. Love on VPRO’s “Lola Da Musica” 1998″

“Automatic” lyrics

“Automatic” (Willie Love), from “King King” Know you got to have that automatic car Take you so fast and take you so far Come down to lovin’ I bet you didn’t know If you got no money, boy, you still can go

Blue Shadows 1991 on YouTube

Great find on YouTube recently — vintage video of The Blue Shadows, the pre-Def American version of The Red Devils. The description, from user checker764, says: Before signing with Def American Records and being given the name The Red Devils by producer Rick Rubin, Lester Butler’s band was known as The Blue Shadows. They were featuredContinue reading “Blue Shadows 1991 on YouTube”

“Automatic” / “Devil Woman” promo CD single

Picked up a cool little item on eBay a month or so ago: a promo-only CD single for The Red Devils’ “Automatic” and “Devil Woman.” Though it only contains two songs that you should own by now, there are still several notable things about this little single: THE TWO-SONG PAIRING. After having memorized just aboutContinue reading ““Automatic” / “Devil Woman” promo CD single”