17 and 1/2 Is Still Jail Bait

VARIOUS-Born Bad Volume Three(CD)

Some people will try and tell you that this series, devoted to the vintage versions of tunes that the Cramps have either covered or used as rock 'n' roll chop shops for bits and pieces of their own originals, is the greatest thing since the peanut butter and banana sandwich with mayo. Although Volume 3 doesn't quite live up to the hype, it does include the occasional moment of genuine goneness (Kip Tyler's anthropological "Jungle Hop," the Frantics' deranged "Werewolf") and three too many songs dedicated to the "Surfin' Bird" craze. Andre Williams steals the show with his sleazy r&b showstoppers "Bacon Fat" and "Jail Bait," two '56-'57 classics that are way more out there than you--or even I--deserve some 50 years after the fact. Game over. (Born Bad Records, no address)