The consistently excellent Numero Group label, who are always releasing great archival compilations of obscure music for anyone to hear and also appreciate the historical context, has announced the next entry in their Local Customs series, which highlights a noteworthy music scene or studio. This time around, Cavern Sound documents a music studio with the same name, which was built into an active limestone mine (and former mineral quarry) in Independence, Missouri. That is some Batman meets Rick Rubin illuminati shit.
Founded by Gerald “Jerry” Riegle and a host of engineering partners, the men would rent out their cave to anyone who could afford the $300/day rate. This included gospel artists, local garage bands, country acts, folk singers, and James Brown. Yes, James Brown spent the majority of April 1972 in a cave studio, and even recorded “Think (About It)” with Lyn Collins there. On Local Customs: Cavern Sound, Numero Group shares deep cuts that weren’t released via the underground studio’s many in-house labels, such as Cave, Rock, Cavern, and Pearce. Very creative, guys. Dropping on October 28, the compilation sounds like the musical equivalent of a ragtag, inspirational sports film. How could you not love it? I mean, come on:
“Local Customs: Cavern Sound is the story of a studio, certainly. But also tells the tales of studio rats, high school hopefuls, and unflagging lifers on the fringe of the music business. Fly over country? They were so underground they couldn’t hear the planes, let alone see them.”
Pre-order the 2xLP/CD and listen to samples over here.
Local Customs: Cavern Sound tracklist:
01. Pretty - Mustache in Your Face
02. Fraight - One Girl
03. American Sound Ltd - Aunt Marie
04. The Classmen - Doin’ Me Right
05. Jaded - Lovin’ You’s Blues
06. Larry Sands & the Sound Affair - You’ll Know the Words
07. Sheriff - I Don’t Really Love You
08. Tide - I Wish It Hadn’t Ended That Way
09. Bulbous Creation - End of the Page
10. Mulligan - Think Before You Leave
11. Stone Wall - Living Today
12. Morningstar - Little by Little
13. The Montaris - 7 And 7 Is
14. Baxters’ Chat - Love’s Other Side
15. Burlington Express - One Day Girl (Twenty-Four)
16. The Reactions - In My Grave
17. 21st Century Sound Movement - Feelin’ Down
18. The Dantes - Any Number Can Win
19. Larry Sands & the Sound Affair - If I Didn’t Want to See You Anymore
20. Fraight - William Jones
21. The Classmen - Any Old Time
22. Jaded - The King Was
23. The Dantes - She’s a Part of Me
24. A.J. Rowe - Smoke My Pipe (The Sign Ain’t Right)
• Numero Group: http://www.numerogroup.com
