Black Flag – Done ‘50s/’60s Style!

Truly left of center tribute album arrives April 20 and features members of Black Flag and Blondie plus Mike Watt, Peter Case and others.

By Blurt Staff

This isn't your typical news item, and Gimmie Gimmie Gimme: Reinterpreting Black Flag is not your typical tribute record. Instead of roping in fellow punk or hardcore bands to cover the influential punk group's most revered songs, CMH Records/The Secret Life of Records have opted to get members of Black Flag and their friends to flip their songs on their pretty little punk rock heads and give them the flavors of the 1950s and 1960s rock and roll, country, and even surf rock.

"These reinterpretations recall the sounds made popular by artists such as Johnny Cash, Pasty Cline, Roy Orbison, and Brenda Lee," said the album producer, Evan Taylor, in a statement. "The goal of Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie was to create completely new interpretations of classic Black Flag songs while preserving the integrity of the original songs. The record was designed to appeal to a cross-over audience, offering Black Flag fans new takes on their favorite songs wile also giving an introduction to those with other tastes."

The six-song release also includes a cover of Jimmie Rodgers' "In the Jailhouse Now," which was hand-selected and sung by Black Flag's Keith Morris, and features Peter Case (Plimsouls) on vocals and Mike Watt (Minutemen) on bass. Other tracks feature other Black Flag members, such as Dez Cadena and Kira Roessler, as well as Blondie's Jimmy Destri, The Chapin Sisters, and Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust).

Track Listing:

1. "Rise Above" featuring Dez Cadena (Black Flag/ Misfits) on lead vocals and Jimmy Destri (Blondie) on organ

2. "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" featuring Kira Roessler (Black Flag) on lead vocals and The Chapin Sisters on backing vocals

3. "Six Pack" featuring Dez Cadena on lead vocals and Mike Watt (Minutemen) on bass

4. "Nervous Breakdown" featuring Kira Roessler on lead vocals and The Chapin Sisters on backing vocals

5. "In the Jailhouse Now," a Jimmie Rodgers cover featuring Keith Morris (Black Flag, Circle Jerks) and Peter Case (Plimsouls) on vocals, Mike Watt on bass, and Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust) on guitar

6. "Thirsty and Miserable" featuring Dez Cadena on lead vocals and Jimmy Destri on organ