7in - Cletus Black – Basements EP (Original 1977 pressing)
Unplayed, original 1977 pressing.
Ohio-native Cletus Black has been writing, recording, and releasing albums and singles for nearly 50 years. His first Privately Pressed album “Suite 7 - Holly’s Drive” came out on his own imprint, Night Wax Records, back in 1978 and it is also the rarest release on the “label”. The other three LPs on Night Wax are surely scarce, even if they’re not “grails”. You’ll never find a copy of any of his records “in the wild”. If it weren’t for Discogs, you might not even know they exist…which is a damn shame. Cletus was also tragically overlooked by the Acid Archives contributors. His albums were all privately pressed (mostly before 1982) and his version of outsider, singer-songwriter Outlaw Country bridges the gap between Circuit Rider and Bruce Springsteen, which is why we’re here to shine a light on this especially talented and prolific underrated artist. His records sell themselves off the turntable (true story) and there should be a whole sub-genre of record collecting named after his record label, Night Wax Records. HIs original material was definitely meant to be listened to after dark and the label design should’ve been embroidered on a silk jacket, back patch, and/or baseball tee to now be sold in vintage clothing stores for hundreds of dollars. This is bizarro world music made for an alternate universe attempting to resemble the one we come from. Cletus Black should’ve, could’ve, and would’ve been a household name under different circumstances. Who knows, maybe it’s not too late. (Lance Barresi - Permanent Records)
“Basements” EP
Cletus Black’s 1977 picture sleeved “Basements) EP contains 4 wonderful songs recorded (according to the sleeve notes) in…wait for it… A BASEMENT. The fidelity and recording quality wouldn’t argue even if they could. The two numbers on the A-Side, “Midnight Pieces” and “That’s The Story” were re-recorded (Classic Cletus move) released three years later on the “Basic Black” LP. These versions are super stripped down demo-esque versions (and that’s saying something) of those tracks. I find these versions to be extremely endearing and heartwarming. I’m especially fond of this version of “That’s The Story”…of my life. Yet another beautiful piece of music that deserves to be heard more widely. Both songs on the flip-side are similar, but one can easily hear why Cletus chose to re-record the A-side joints and leave these on the EP. Both are good, but certainly not Cletus’ best work.
The notes on the back of the sleeve kinda say it all:
“There were these songs, Locked in drawers
Locked in his head, There were his pockets
Empty from living, Paying the rent
There was the basement, Cluttered with junk
Tape deck was running, Singer’s singing’
Bringing to life, The soul - an old friend”.
So do the wine bottles on the front of the picture sleeve.
(Lance Barresi - Permanent Records)
Recorded at: a Basement
All selections published by: Night Wax Music Company
All selections: B.M.I.
All selections: ℗ 1977 Night Wax Music Company
Midnight Pieces: © D. Novak 1977
That's The Story: © D. Novak 1975
All About Baltimore: © D. Novak 1975
Just A Girl: © D. Novak 1976
From: "Basements" by Cletus Black. © 1977 D. Novak
Night Wax Co. 847 Cahoon Rd. Cleveland, Ohio 44145
REVIEWS
“As a songwriter, Black stands on the shoulders of giants…Every song has a distinctive hook and lyrics are sufficiently mature and esoteric.”
Steve Byrne, SCENE MAGAZINE
“His sandpapery voice and emotional depth charges remind me of an alt-country Leonard Cohen, with toasty-oaked, wiskey-soaked shades of J.J. Cale at his edges. Black’s songs come from a heart that’s surely on its way to said color, lined with Springsteen flourishes and melancholy violets…Black’s one hell of a poet…And much larger than local.”
Peter Chakerian, COOL CLEVELAND
“Cletus Black is one of the most distinctive singer-songwriters in the area and-given his knack for lyrics-one whose reach is beyond the region is way overdue…Bloodlines to the Heart builds on the strengths of Black’s solid 2001 offering Black Ice, a disc abundant with hooks that establish a variety of engaging moods and pictures. Black gets a lot of storytelling mileage out of the short, simple phrases from which he typically fashions his tunes.”
Duane Verth, SCENE MAGAZINE
“Cletus Black’s music harks back to a generation of blues and country-informed folk rockers who sprang from the loins of Bob Dylan. His roosty eclecticism, storytelling lyrics, strong song writing craft and tough-hewn voice have much in common with the seemingly bottomless pool of talented Texas singer-songwriters such as Guy Clark, Townes Van Zant and Tom Russell. His music would sound more at home in Austin than in his native Cleveland…”
Anastasia Pantsios, FREE TIMES MAGAZINE
“Cleveland’s lyrical poet, cletus Black is back with his latest batch of rockin’ blues ballads and stories of life. Stuck in Ohio with a Greenwich attitude and a backcountry outlook, Black is kickin’ up some of the best talent around him to deliver his latest edicts…An Ohio original, Cletus Back is an elite wordsmith with a unique musical vision…scope this out…it’s rockin’ blues noir!”
Mark A Cole, BIG CITY BLUES MAGAZINE
“Black is one of the city’s true hidden treasures.”
Jeff Niesel, Music Editor SCENE/FREE TIMES MAGAZINE
