Reigning Sound

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Reigning Sound was formed in 2001 by Memphis garage-punk legend Greg Cartwright (vocals/guitar), who is also known for his previous bands The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivians. Originally the band featured Cartwright, Jeremy Scott (bass), Greg Roberson (drums) and Alex Greene (keyboards and guitar.) However, after Cartwright re-located his family to Asheville, North Carolina in 2004, bassist Carol Schumacher, drummer Lance Wille and keyboardist Dave Amel joined Cartwright to complete the current line-up.

Reigning Sound’s debut was "Two Sides to Every Man" was a three-song 7", released in May of 2001. One month later came their first full-length album "Break Up, Break Down" (Sympathy for the Record Industry.) With its country-folk melodies, the first album was to be an early blueprint of where Cartwright’s songwriting was headed.

"Time Bomb High School", (In the Red) was released in August 2002, and is known for its polished sound, pop hooks and near-perfect balance of classic R&B and rock-n-roll. Aside from the many standout originals on the album, cover songs like “Stormy Weather” and “Brown Paper Sack” prove Cartwright has mastered the art of revamping old songs and making them seem like his own.

Reigning Sound’s third album “Too Much Guitar,” (In the Red) was released in May 2004 and with recording help from fellow Memphians Jay Reatard and Alicja Trout from the The Lost Sounds it’s by far Reigning Sound’s loudest and noisiest album to date. Songs laced with psych-pop, garage, soul, country and (of course) too-much guitar almost seem to bury Cartwright’s vocals at times in the loud fuzzy mix. The obnoxiously loud “We Repel” opens the record and from the first chord it’s apparent that it’s not a sequel to any of their earlier records. An opening slot on a huge American tour with the Swedish garage band The Hives helped to promote the album shortly after its release.

“Reigning Sound: Live at Maxwell’s” (Telstar/Spoonful) was released in July of 2005, which was an interesting show to say the least. By the end of the gig Cartwright (with no back-up set) breaks all but three guitar strings and still finishes the show for his usual rowdy crowd. This live album has a unique rough around the edges feel, not to mention it’s also the only place to find the stand out track “I Need You Now,” a soulful Sam Cooke cover that allows Cartwright to pay homage to one of his favorite singers.

In September 2005 Reigning Sound released a rarities comp “Home for Orphans” (Sympathy for the Record Industry.) The album features slower, moodier alternate versions of tunes from “Too Much Guitar” along with some other unreleased tracks.

Late in January of 2006, Memphis based Goner Records released “Reigning Sound: Live at Goner Records,” a daytime in-store performance. This live set was recorded in June of 2005 and with its crystal clear sound gives listeners an accurate account of what Reigning Sound is all about. The album also host great cover songs like “Black Sheep” by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, “Tennessee” by Carl Perkins and “Do Something” by The Swingin’ Yo-Yo’s.

After spending a portion of 2005 recording an album for George Soule with legends Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, the band once again began recording with yet another legend, Mary Weiss, of the 60s band The Shangri-Las, widely know for their hit “Leader of the Pack.” Reigning Sound was the backing band on the first new Mary Weiss album in over three decades. Cartwright also co-produced the album with Billy Miller and wrote nine of the 14 songs featured on the record. Norton Records released “Dangerous Game” in March 2007, receiving rave reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone Magazine as well as performing with Weiss on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

For the latest news on Reigning Sound visit their offical Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/reigningsoundfans - - Rich Tupica 01:42, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

Reigning Sound Discography

Full Length Albums:

Break Up Break Down LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2001, SFTRI 654) track list: Since When/ I Don't Care/ You Don't Hear The Music/ Goodbye/ As Long/ Want You/ So Goes Love/ Take A Ride/ Waiting For The Day/ So Sad/ I'm So Thankful

Time Bomb High School - Vinyl LP (In The Red, 2002, ITR 084) sleeve is different from CD track list: I'm Holding Out/ You're Not As Pretty/ Wait And See/ Dressy/ I Don't Believe (Paul, Hutcherson, Davis)/ I Don't Know How To Tell You/ I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys (Oldham, Richard)/ Stormy Weather (Arlen, Koehler)/ Straight Shooter/ Time Bomb High School/ Reptile Style/ Brown Paper Sack (Larry Rogers)/ She's Bored With You/ You're So Strange

Time Bomb High School CD (In The Red, 2002, ITR 084) track list: Stormy Weather (Arlen, Koehler)/ Straight Shooter/ You're Not As Pretty/ Brown Paper Sack (Larry Rogers)/ Wait And See/ I Walk By Your House/ Time Bomb High School/ I Don't Believe (Paul, Hutcherson, Davis)/ She's Bored With You/ Reptile Style/ I'm Holding Out/ I Don't Know How To Tell You/ Dressy/ I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys (Oldham, Richard)/ You're So Strange

Too Much Guitar LP/CD (In The Red, 2004, ITR 107) track list: We Repel Each Other/ Your Love Is A Fine Thing/ If You Can't Give Me Everything/ (You Got Me) Hummin'/ When You Touch Me/ Funny Thing/ Get It/ I'll Cry/ Drowning/ Uptight Tonight/ Excedrine Headache #265/ Let Yourself Go/ So Easy/ Medication

Home For Orphans LP/CD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2005, SFTRI 736) track list: Find Me Now/ If You Can't Give Me Everything/ Funny Thing/ Medication Blues #1/ Carol/ What Could I Do/ If Christmas Can't Bring You Home/ Pretty Girl/ Without You/ Don't Send Me Now Flowers, I Ain't Dead Yet (Donna Weiss)

Live At Maxwell's LP (Spoonful Records, 2005, LP-SR-005) Live At Maxwell's CD (Telstar Records, 2005, TR 049) track list: You Got Me Hummin' (Hayes, Porter)/ I'll Cry/ Funny Thing/ When You Touch Me/ Stormy Weather (Arlen, Koehler)/ I Need You Now (L.C. Cooke)/ Your Love Is A Fine Thing/ We Repel Each Other/ I'm So Thankful/ Brown Paper Sack (Larry Rogers)/ Drowning/ You're So Strange/ Straight Shooter/ Bad Man

LIVE AT GONER RECORDS CD (limited of 200) LIVE AT GONER RECORDS LP (21Gone) track list: Time Bomb High School/ Bad Man/ Reptile Style/ What Could I Do?/ Black Sheep/ Tennessee/ Staright Shooter/ Carol/ Do Something/ Girl/ New Romance/ Two Theives (cut short)/ We Repel/ I'm So Thankful/ I'm Holding Out/ Drowning

"Dangerous Game" LP & CD (Norton Records 2007)

• Mary Weiss ft. Reigning Sound

track list: My Heart is Beating (Greg Cartwright)/ Nobody Knows (But I Do) (Dave Abramson-Andy Maltz)/ Break it One More Time (Greg Cartwright)/ Stop & Think it Over (Greg Cartwright)/ Cry About the Radio (Greg Cartwright)/ You're Never Going to See Me Cry (Billy Miller-Andy Shernoff)/ Danerous Game (Greg Cartwright)/ Don't Come Back (Greg Cartwright)/ I Just Missed You (Andrew Robertson)/ Stitch In Time (Greg Cartwright)/ Tell Me What You Want Me to Do (John Felice-Richard Oakes)/ Heaven Only Knows (Jeff Barry-Ellie Greenwich)/ I Don't Care (Greg Cartwright)/ You Can Stay With Me (Greg Cartwright)/

Compilations:

Root Damage 2xLP/2xCD (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2003, SFTRI 713) track: As Long As You Come Home

Revolver Sampler Winter 2003 CD (Revolver, 2003, cat.no.?) track: Straight Shooter

Broad Daylight Soundtrack CD (Guerrilla Monster Films, 2003, #12300) track: Medication

Superfuzz CD (Lowfly Records, 2005, LF 061) track: I'll Cry

Static Disaster The U.K.: In The Red Records Sampler CD (In The Red, 2005, ITR 1313) track: Drowning

Singles:

Here Without You 7" (Sympathy For The Record Industry, 2001, SFTRI 656) track list: Here Without You (Gene Clark) West Texas Sound Pretty Girl (Sha La La)

If Christmas Won't Bring You Home 7"(Norton Records, 2004, 45-121) track list: If Christmas Won't Bring You Home/ That's All I Want/ Jungle Bell Rock

I'll Cry 7" (Slovenly Recordings, 2005, 702-50) track list: I'll Cry/ Your Love

Don't Come Back 7" (Norton Records 2007) *Mary Weiss ft. Reigning Sound track list: Don't Come Back/Certain Guy

7" Vinyl Splits:

The Hentchmen / Reigning Sound "Rolling Stones Sereies" 45rpm(Norton Records, 2003, 9642) track list: The Hentchmen: Surprise, Surprise (Rolling Stones) Reigning Sound: I'd Much Rather Be With The Boys (Rolling Stones)

source for discography: http://www.grunnenrocks.nl/bands/r/reigningsound.htm