Raven presents on a great value Double CD, three original, innovative albums by the highly regarded group WALL OF VOODOO: Seven Days in Sammystown, Happy Planet and The Ugly Americans in Australia. These unique albums have been long unavailable and are ripe for re-evaluation. Wall of Voodoo emerged from the late 1970s Los Angeles alternative scene with a unique blend of machine-age junk music and off-kilter pop-rock. Like Devo, Wall of Voodoo’s sound was always challenging and entertaining or as once described, “like classy Halloween music, scary but pleasantly so”. Featuring Stan Ridgway as front man, the group made a big splash with clattering, expressive pop songs such as ‘Back in Flesh’, ‘Call of the West’ and the unlikely hit single ‘Mexican Radio’.

There was great intelligence at work and a bite to the music that continued when Ridgway left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Andy Prieboy. Third album Seven Days in Sammystown yielded the hit single ‘Far Side of Crazy’ while the fourth Happy Planet boasted a demented re-working of the old Beach Boys fave ‘Do It Again’. The band was particularly popular in Australia which is where the rambunctious live album The Ugly Americans in Australia was recorded while they were on tour. Also available on Raven by Wall of Voodoo Dark Continent / Call of the West (2-for-1) and Stan Ridgway solo Mosquitos... Expanded. With 140 minutes of superb audio, 35 tracks (including three rare bonus cuts), detailed liner notes and colour booklet this is an impressive package.