SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT – SPEND A NIGHT IN THE BOX

The Reverend Horton Heat
Spend A Night In The Box
Real Gone Music

It is really hard to believe that Spend A Night In The Box by The Reverend Horton Heat is making its debut on vinyl in 2023. Here is a well-crafted album taking its lead from the great rockabilly and swing bands of the past. It is a classic album from 2000 that sounds as good today as it did at the dawn of the new millennium.

The Reverend Horton Heat is the pseudonym for James Heath and the name of his power trio. For this album that trio included Jimbo Wallace on bass and Scott Churilla on drums. The three make a great sound which taps their collective hats towards the great rockabilly heroes of the past.

The Reverend is not interested in reinventing a genre he obviously loves so much. He simply dives head first into the sound and creates new songs, as an extension of those who went before him. He knows this rockabilly music inside and out. Listen to his guitar on “Sleeper Coah Driver”. He makes that 1954 Gibson ES-175 swing and rock and it is wonderful. What makes him stand out is his ability to, with his band, sound old and current at the same time.

Credit must be given to producer Paul Leary of Butthole Surfers fame. He simply lets the band get on with their sound and listening to this album in 2023, it isn’t a stretch to think that it was recorded live in the studio. Whereas bands like The Cramps or Hank III are rockabilly (or psychobilly as the term has been coined), but twist the genre, The Reverend doesn’t. He plays it straight. There are no twists and turns, just great rockabilly music.

Fans of The Reverend will welcome this vinyl re-release with open arms. There are no bonus cuts, or outtakes, it is a simple rerelease and that is perfect. Spend A Night In The Box was made for vinyl and it is surprising it has taken this long. Although converts will love this, it might also bring him new followers. This is a rocking album, leaving you with very little time to catch your breath. Spend A Night In The Box is an album to simply get into and dig.

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