It took a little while to get this out but we had to do right by Mr. Ford. Our second collaboration with Rotter and Friends, this rad design by Jess Rotter just about sums up Jim Ford and has some clever references to his (recently reissued by LITA) album Harlan County. How many can you find???
The tee comes in S, M, L, and XL in Men’s and Women’s sizes and two smokin’ colorways. Available for purchase by itself or as a sweet tee/CD or tee/LP combo deal from Light In The Attic and Rotter and Friends. Become an instant fan!
Big hugs going around for Jess Rotter and our latest collaboration with Rotter and Friends for the Lee Hazlewood shirt. Check out the interview in Elle and Dossier Journal for the back story and more info on her designs. Oh yeah, and don’t forget you can order the Lee Hazlewood tee here PLUS enter your chance to win one here!
Neil Young may have asked, “Are you ready for the country?” but what we really want to know is, “are you ready for the COUNTRY FUNK”? But wait, what in the hell is “country funk”? The answer is a complicated one, in part due to the fact that “country funk” is an inherently defiant genre, escaping all efforts at easy categorization. The style encompasses the elation of gospel with the sexual thrust of the blues, country hoedown harmony with inner city grit. It is alternately playful and melancholic, slow jammin’, and booty shakin’. It is both studio slick and barroom raw. And while these all may seem unlikely combinations at first glance, upon close listen, it all makes sweet sense.
With bare chest and a whiskey buzz we present to you Country Funk 1969-1975, a melting pot concoction of the music of Dale Hawkins, John Randolph Marr, Cherokee, Johnny Adams, Mac Davis, Bob Darin, Jim Ford, Gray Fox, Link Wray, Bobby Charles, Tony Joe White, Dennis The Fox, Larry Jon Wilson, Bobbie Gentry, Gritz, and Johnny Jenkins. Featuring extensive liner notes by Jessica Hundley (MOJO, The New York Times, Vogue), original album/label artwork, and new illustrations by Jess Rotter of Rotter and Friends (who designed the Lee Hazlewood, Louvin Brothers, and Jim Sullivan tees), think of this as a fantasyland where the Josie-era Meters back young Elvis singing Kris Kristofferson-penned slices of rustic American life and you’ll begin to understand the country funk vibe. It’s from the swamp to the city and all points in between.
And listen children, we wouldn’t send you out in the wold with not a shirt on your back, would we?? Be the star of the bar with these jamboree threads by Jess Rotter / Rotter and Friends featuring her homespun illustrations for the anthology (photos by David Black). Double sided. Double trouble. Boss.
For audio samples, more info and to pre-order V/A - Country Funk 1969 – 1975 (LITA 083 – CD/2xLP/Digital) visit LightInTheAttic.net now.
* All tracks newly re-mastered
* Features rare cuts by Bob Darin, Gray Fox, Dennis The Fox, Cherokee, Gritz and more
* 2xLP housed in a deluxe gatefold Stoughton “Tip-On” jacket with liner notes insert, along with Jess Rotter’s illustrations
* CD with 24-page booklet with liner notes plus Jess Rotter’s illustrations
“[...]the impetus of Country Funk isn’t historical accuracy or even critical rehabilitation. Instead, it intends primarily to be a badass playlist, an alt-universe Nuggets that flirts with kitsch but crams its tracklist with unexpected ideas and flourishes, unlikely filigrees of grit and invention.” 8.4, Pitchfork.com
Available worldwide today at fine record stores and LightInTheAttic.net, 16 funky slices of boot cut boogie all dressed up in a package we like to call Country Funk 1969 – 1975 (LITA 083). Legit barn-burners from the likes of Jim Ford, Bobby Gentry, Tony Joe White, Larry Jon Wilson, Gritz, and many, many more. Featuring liner notes by Jessica Hundley and art by Jess Rotter, pick up Country Funk on CD (Digipak with 24 page book), 2xLP (deluxe “Tip-on” gatefold jacket with book) or Digital download today.
And if you’re in Los Angeles this Sunday, swing by the awesome new record store Mount Analog in Highland Park for the Country Funk release party. There will be DJ sets by the Light In The Attic crew, Turquoise Wisdom, Chicken & Waffles (Jessica Hundley & Jess Rotter), plus a live in-store from the Abigails. Deets in the flyer below and be sure to share the Facebook event page here!
Light In The Attic Records would like to give a warm welcome to artist and publicist guru, Jess Rotter. As the newest member of the Light In The Attic family, she will be spearheading our PR department. Jess recently made the epic cross country move from New York to Los Angeles to join us here in our Southern California offices. As a way to acclimate Jess to her new surroundings we thought it befitting to bombard her with some questions. You can read our Q&A with Jess Rotter below.
So Jess now that your living here in Southern California, what’s has been the main difference between Los Angeles and New York – other than the pizza and bagels?
The avocados here are dreamy, palm trees make me beam, and the beachy breeze.
As some of you might already know Jess is a skilled artist and the owner of Rotter and Friends, a tee shirt design company, which is responsible for many of the awesome designs featured on Light In The Attic tee shirts. Jess, as an artist who has been your biggest influence and how has that influence manifested itself in your art?
I think my dad definitely was a big sole influence to push imagination and passion at a very early age-his records, comic books, and muppet show vhs recordings were definitely my first blocks of visual and inspirational magic.
This last question is something we ask everyone that we interview: What are you listening to these days?
Just got this amazing reissue from a 1973 Chicago band called “Athanor” at Mount Analog today which is so good! Check out the song “Graveyard”. I also can’t turn off lately the Sensations Fix record Music Is Painting In The Air which my friends at Rvng released last Fall and really happy Light In The Attic teamed up with Machu Picchu to distribute the Anonymous record Inside The Shadow, which has always been a favorite staple at Rotter Corner.
It’s Free Basin’ Friday and this week we have a very special prize for ya’ll. We will be giving away a limited edition Lee Hazlewood screen print!! This is the same design used for the Lee Hazlewood tee-shirt and tote bag.
This multi-color print is designed and hand numbered by Light In The Attic’s very own Jess Rotter of Rotter and Friends. Scoring this sweet gem would be an awesome addition to any Hazlewood collection!
For your chance to win, come up with a name for Lee Hazlewood’s mustache. The most creative name will take home this rare Hazlewood prize. Please write your answer in the comment box below. Do not forget to included your email address in the box provided, all addresses will be visible to Light In The Attic employees ONLY. Winners will be announced next Friday via Twitter and Facebook.
