It was 20 years ago today, that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play...well, not exactly. No one ever really taught the band how to play, and we are all better off for that. But, 1993 was, indeed, a great time to be a
Grifter's fan as
One Sock Missing came out of the nowheresville at-the-time music scene of Mid-Town Memphis.
The Grifters released one of the all-time great records recorded off Lamar Ave. on Deadrick St. in South Memphis at (the former home of) the great
Easley-McCain recording studios as well as in the back room of the flower shop on Poplar, which after this record and all the great reviews came out, got upgraded to the fancy name of "the Shops of Ann Adler" (Everyone got a raise!) It was an honor and a privilege to watch these guys work--through the long running cords, jamboxes, smoke, flowers, Doug & Davis jumping on & off of the control board--all members creating something special. Night after night of good times, almost communal--
Roy Berry was there twistin' knobs and what not;
Jim Cole was there; even
Robert Gordon dropped on by for the bonus track jam! They were exciting times, and it was the true beginning of
Shangri-la Projects, trying to figure out this whole independent record business thing with no budgets.
One Sock Missing didn't receive any local radio play then or thereafter (hasn't since!!!), and it barely got reviewed in the local papers, but, it busted the band out nationally and internationally. Now, today, this 1st official video for
"Bummer" comes out--20 years hence for Grifters' fans past, present, and future to behold and enjoy throughout the world. Pop the champagne,
enjoy the video, & hug a Grifter today!
