THE GHOST RIDER OF MEMPHIS RAMBLES ON
Some records require a leap of faith. Sometimes abusing restricted substances and sometimes—one likes to think—reviews help. But whatever it takes to get you to the nearest import record shop and past the first few, “These guys can’t be serious!” is fine with me because Alex Chilton’s Like Flies On Sherbert is a rare and wonderful record and it deserves to be heard.
THE GHOST RIDER OF MEMPHIS RAMBLES ON
ALEX CHILTON Like Flies on Sherbert (Aura import)
by Jeff Nesin
Some records require a leap of faith. Sometimes abusing restricted substances and sometimes—one likes to think—reviews help. But whatever it takes to get you to the nearest import record shop and past the first few, “These guys can’t be serious!” is fine with me because Alex Chilton’s Like Flies On Sherbert is a rare and wonderful record and it deserves to be heard.
I’m generally suspicious of imports, given what the Japanese auto industry has done to CREEM’s home town, but in the music business, where it’s axiomatic that prophets (and even certified saints) are without honor in their own country, you have to take your American music wherever you can find it. The complete Buddy Holly (a six record set) is available only from England and the complete Hank Williams (an 11 record set) is available only from Japan. So there’s probably some divine logic behind the fact that Alex Chilton’s music— Memphis born, bred, and recorded —is available only on reverse lendlease from Britain. Or perhaps it’s corporate economics.