MC 5: Rob Tyner (vocals); Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith (guitar); Michael Davis (bass); Dennis Thompson (drums).

Recorded live at Russ Gibb's Grande Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan on Oct. 30 & 31, 1968.

Includes liner notes by Rob Tyner.

While the Rolling Stones were perhaps the first rock band to merge rock & roll with tales of violent revolution (i.e. their classic "Street Fighting Man"), no one did it as convincingly and as whole-heartedly as Detroit's MC5. Managed by the notorious White Panther Party member John Sinclair, the MC5 rocked with a vengeance that was unparalleled at the time--the band was rewarded years later by being heralded as punk rock originators. Few have been able to top the ferocious intensity of their classic debut, 1969's in-concert KICK OUT THE JAMS.

Although the album fared well on the charts, it was surrounded in controversy from the get-go; the record company wanted the group to edit out a vulgarity included in the introduction to the title track. The friction would lead to the band parting ways from Elektra soon after, but all the hoopla could not take away from the stellar quality of KICK OUT THE JAMS. Be prepared to be blown away by such songs as "Rocket Reducer No. 62," "Borderline," "Starship," and the title track, to name but a few. KICK OUT THE JAMS is the undisputed Holy Grail for fans of blaring, high-energy rock.

Q (7/01, p.88) - Included in Q's "50 Heaviest Albums of All Time".

Q (1/92, p.82) - 3 Stars - Good - "...begins with what is one of the half-dozen most exciting moments in rock'n'roll..."