The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn Combo

The Ben Vaughn Combo blazed the trail for American music that was way off kilter compared to the competition. Their tri-state type Tex-Mex sound really shook things up. Their reputation as a live act grew exponentially with every show they played. Theirs was a twist on the roots rock scare with a reach something like The Fleshtones, outside of the standard 80s ranch stash. The sort of thing that has a tendency to get written out of history despite being timeless, it doesn't easily fit into any premeditated narrative. When The Many Moods Of Ben Vaughn Combo appeared in 1986, the Combo literally had the world at its feet. Many of the hits you hear when you see him (and the Quintet) today are on this platter.

Long out of print and somewhat sought after, this was the first time that Ben's Rambler car was heard on a record. And not the last. The Andy (then Adny) Shernoff inspired 'I Dig Your Wig' is like The Cramps with a Doug Sahm infusion. The accordion is the secret weapon here. Little used in rock 'n roll and often scoffed at, it allows these songs a setting that your conventional instrumentation would just flatten.