I Still Hate CD's: Norton Records 45 RPM Singles Collection Vol. 2

Norton Records began in 1986 as a necessary extension of the critically lauded Kicks magazine. Readers entranced by the editors' descriptions of incredibly rare and impossible-to-find vintage off-the-wall rock 'n' roll needed a reliable source to buy the music they read about. And a cult label was born. The label brought previously unsung heroes to the forefront, and any New York City musician worth his or her reputation knew these records. This is the second volume of Norton's digital-only I Hate CDs collection, and it once again includes an essential digital booklet for higher learning. As befits a second volume, there are fewer well-known names. Perennial faves like Andre Williams, Mary Weiss, The Dictators, and The Real Kids make appearances, but there's plenty of raw R&B and early rock 'n' roll genius to be heard here. Guitar Frank's "Wild Track" is aptly named. T. Valentine's "Hello Lucille, Are You a Lesbian?" is a bizarre snapshot of a very different world. "Put De Pot on Mary" by Poontang Perkins evokes the spirit of the era when Little Richard was the hardest rock you could easily find.