Saturday, January 10, 2026

Songs That REIGNING SOUND Taught Us - plus more PUNKS GOT SOUL

After the Memphis bands Compulsive Gamblers and Oblivians broke up, Greg Cartwright debuted a new group called Reigning Sound with a 2001 single featuring a Gene Clark cover ("Here Without You") on the A-side, and two Cartwright originals on the flip. This was followed by a full length album (Break Up... Break Down) which further defined the sound of Reigning Sound: garage punk energy with an appreciation for mid-sixties pop and soul, and a keen sense of Memphis musical history. 

Cartwright once stated in an interview that seeing Tav Falco's Panther Burns at the Antenna Club sparked a realization of what he wanted to accomplish as a songwriter and performer.

Between 2001 and 2021, Reigning Sound released seven studio albums, three live albums, and an odds & sods comp (Home For Orphans).  The band also backed Mary Weiss of The Shangri-Las on her Norton Records comeback album, Dangerous Game (2007).  All of these albums featured Cartwright's songwriting talent and soulful vocals.  Cartwright announced the end of Reigning Sound in 2022. 

There are cover songs scattered throughout the Reigning Sound discography, most of them "deep cuts" from the 1950's and 60's.  The most familiar song would likely be "Keep On Dancing", a soul cover that was a hit for Memphis garage rockers The Gentrys.  Today's set ends with a John Felice composition that first appeared on the Mary Weiss album. The Real Kids later recorded it for their 2014 comeback album).

While we're on the topic of garage rock, punk and soul, it seems like a good time to trot out Volume #7 in the blog series Punks Got Soul.  This one is packed with 28 great songs, with many moments of "why didn't I think of THAT one before?" while they were being compiled. One of those "aha!" moments happened when esteemed reader Guypinot recently mentioned Evie Sands (whose "I Can't Let Go" was covered by the Hollies and the Dickies).

ELSEWHERE ON THE BLOG: Songs The Dickes Taught Us, Songs The Panther Burns Taught Us, and many more!


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7 comments:

  1. jonderJanuary 10, 2026 at 1:10 PM

    REIGNING SOUND'S JUKEBOX: https://pixeldrain.com/u/iBquLBEr

    PUNKS GOT SOUL Vol. 7: https://pixeldrain.com/u/r5cQEQ5A

    Thanks to Richard for finding "Baby It's Too Late" by Shadden & The King Lears!

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  2. Eric S.January 10, 2026 at 1:27 PM

    So much goodness, so much fun, so much gratitude

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    1. jonderJanuary 10, 2026 at 4:56 PM

      Your comment is very much appreciated. Part of what makes putting these things together worthwhile is knowing that someone else enjoys it too.

      And the music really is a lot of fun. Even the dour Alex Chilton and the imperious Siouxsie sound like they're having fun.

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  3. StinkyJanuary 10, 2026 at 2:12 PM

    This is RIGHT up my alley, Jon. THANKS!

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  4. Crab DevilJanuary 10, 2026 at 2:30 PM

    Thank you!

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  5. RudyJanuary 10, 2026 at 3:09 PM

    This is excellent man, thank you so much!

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    Replies
    1. jonderJanuary 10, 2026 at 5:14 PM

      My pleasure, gents! It was also fun listening to the Reigning Sound versions and guessing which arrangement might have influenced them, especially among the many recordings of "Stormy Weather". (The Gants is a guess, partly based on the release date.)

      "I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys" was first released by The Toggery Five, but I think the Reigning Sound version is closer to Mick's vocal demo.

      "Don't Send Me No Flowers" appeared on the same Gentrys album as "Keep On Dancin" and "Brown Paper Sack". The Breakers' version isn't necessarily better (or closer to the way Reigning Sound did it). The Breakers and The Gentrys were both Memphis bands.

      "Mind Over Matter" was Reigning Sound's choice for the Nolan Strong tribute album "Daddy Rockin Strong".

      "Stick Over Me" appeared as "Stick Up For Me" on Reigning Sounds' album Love And Curses.

      The late great James Luther Dickinson played keys for Flash & The Memphis Casuals. "Uptight Tonight" is a party on wax!

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