Kick Out the Jams (song)
"Kick Out the Jams" is a song by MC5, released as a single in March 1969 by Elektra Records. The album of the same name caused some controversy due to inflammatory liner notes by the band's manager, John Sinclair, and the track's rallying cry of "Kick out the jams, motherfuckers!". According to guitarist Wayne Kramer, the band recorded this as "Kick out the jams, brothers and sisters!" for the single released for radio play; lead vocalist Rob Tyner claimed this was done without group consensus.[3] The edited version also appeared in some LP copies, which also withdrew Sinclair's excitable comments. The album was released in January 1969; reviews were mixed, but the album was relatively successful, quickly selling over 100,000 copies and peaking at #30 on the Billboard album chart in May 1969 during a 23-week stay.
"Kick Out the Jams" | ||||
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Single by MC5 | ||||
from the album Kick Out the Jams | ||||
B-side | "Motor City Is Burning" | |||
Released | March 1969 | |||
Recorded |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 2:37 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
MC5 singles chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
When Hudson's, a Detroit-based department store chain, refused to stock the Kick Out the Jams album due to the obscenity, MC5 responded with a full page advertisement in the local underground magazine Fifth Estate saying "Stick Alive with the MC5, and Fuck Hudson's!", prominently including the logo of MC5's label, Elektra Records, in the ad. Hudson's pulled all Elektra records from their stores, and in the ensuing controversy, Jac Holzman, the head of Elektra, dropped the band from their contract. MC5 then signed with Atlantic Records.[4]
Formats and track listing
- US 7" single (EK-45648)
- "Kick Out the Jams" (Michael Davis, Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith, Dennis Thompson, Rob Tyner) – 2:37
- "Motor City Is Burning" – 4:30
Personnel
Adapted from the Kick Out the Jams liner notes.[5]
- Musicians
- Michael Davis – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Wayne Kramer – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Fred "Sonic" Smith – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Dennis Thompson – drums
- Rob Tyner – lead vocals
- Production and additional personnel
- Bruce Botnick – production, engineering
- Jac Holzman – production
Charts
Chart (1969) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[6] | 82 |
Canada RPM (magazine)[7] | 51 |
Release history
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | 1969 | Elektra | LP | EK-45648 |
Cover versions
References
- Stiernberg, Bonnie. "The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time". Paste. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
- SPIN Media LLC (October 2002). SPIN. SPIN Media LLC. p. 70. ISSN 0886-3032.
- Thompson, James H. (March 10, 2000). "MC5: Kickin' Out The Jams". Goldmine. No. 512. Krause Publications.
- Chris Smith (2009). 101 Albums that Changed Popular Music. Oxford University Press. p. 67. ISBN 9780195373714.
- Kick Out the Jams (sleeve). MC5. New York, New York: Elektra Records. 1969.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - "MC5 - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
- "RPM Top 100 Singles - April 7, 1969" (PDF).
- "Pajama Party - Poison Idea". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Spot the Loon - The Fluid". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "LLMF (Live Like a Motherfucker - Wayne Kramer". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Rock and Roll People - Rob Tyner". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Showdown 2: The 90's - The Nomads". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Year One - Give Up the Ghost". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Wake Up: A Tribute to Rage Against the Machine - Various Artists". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Pearl Jam: 12/9/05". nugs.net. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "They'll Be Waking Up Soon - Frankenstein 3000". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Flat Out - The Strypes". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- "Subversions - U.K. Subs". AllMusic.com. RhythmOne. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
External links
- "Kick Out The Jams / Motor City Is Burning" at Discogs (list of releases)