Next in line of my reviews from Record Store Excursion 2012!  Check out the video below if you missed it.  This one bought at Paradise Bound.  

MIKE AND AARON GO TO TORONTO

THE CULT – “Lil’ Devil” (1987 double 12″ single, Polygram)

I had to pick this up. Two 12″ discs, one single.  Although all the Cult studio B-sides are collected on the excellent Rare Cult box set, none of the live ones are.  And I only have one other single from Electric, “Wild Flower”.  This is a double 12″ single, 38 minutes long, including a 19 minute interview with Billy and Ian.

What can you say about “Lil’ Devil”?  It’s sometimes forgotten on radio, next to “Love Removal Machine” and the aforementioned “Wild Flower”, but it’s certainly as good as either of those two songs.  A swaggering rock song, this is a pinnacle of some sort for this type of track.  Four guys in the room with amps.  Marshalls.  AC/DC comparisons were bandied about.

The B-sides include the familiar “Zap City”, a song that has cropped numerous times since, including The Manor Sessions EP and Best of Rare Cult.  If you’re not familiar with it, it’s from the abandoned Peace sessions, which they ditched in order to re-record with Rick Rubin.  It’s a lightning-like rock song, much like what The Cult would later do on Sonic Temple.  It would have fit right in on that album.

Two live tracks, “Wild Thing/Louie Louie” and “Phoenix” are present as well.  I love the live cover, it’s plenty fun.  “Phoenix” is ragged with plenty of guitar noise and even a drum solo.

Last is in the interview.  It’s informative but far too long.  The best bits involve recording with Rick Rubin, and the decision to re-record the album that became Electric.  I could have done without the extended song snippets (most people buying the single already owned the album!).

4/5 stars