The Jukebox Rebel

features in: Album Chart of 1969 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

For their debut LP the Michigan 5-piece (MC5, see?) opted to document a live session recorded in their home state at the Grande Ballroom, Detroit. They lined up: Rob Tyner (lead vocals), Wayne Kramer (lead guitar, backing vocals), Fred Smith (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Michael Davis (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Dennis Thompson (drums). It's widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all-time and a key forerunner to Punk but, speaking as a punk, I'm staring at them blankly, coldly. For all it's got plenty of raw energy, it's also full of the worst excesses. Stick yer guitars up yer arse. And get a fucking haircut.

The Jukebox Rebel
09–Dec–2015

A1	[04:15] MC5 - Ramblin’ Rose [live '69] (Fred Burch, Marijohn Wilkin) Rock
A2	[02:52] MC5 - Kick Out The Jams [live '69] (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
A3	[04:29] MC5 - Come Together [live '69] (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Rock
A4	[05:41] MC5 - Rocket Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa) [live '69] (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Rock
B1	[02:45] MC5 - Borderline [live '69] (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson) Proto-Punk
B2	[06:04] MC5 - Motor City Is Burning [live '69] (Al Smith) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B3	[05:31] MC5 - I Want You Right Now [live '69] (Colin Frechter, Larry Page) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B4	[08:15] MC5 - Starship [live '69] (Rob Tyner, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Michael Davis, Dennis Thompson, Herman Poole Blount) Proto-Punk

ratings by TJR