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Kick Out the Jams

Kick Out the Jams is the debut album by American rock band MC5. It was released in February 1969, through Elektra Records. It was recorded live at Detroit's Grande Ballroom over two nights, Devil's Night and Halloween, 1968.[5]

Kick Out the Jams

February 1969

October 30–31, 1968

Grande Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan

39:52

The LP peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart, with the title track peaking at No. 82 in the Hot 100. Although the album received an unfavorable review in Rolling Stone magazine upon its release, it has gone on to be considered an important forerunner to punk rock music, and was ranked number 294 in both 2003 and 2012 editions of Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" lists,[6][7] and at number 349 in a 2020 revised list.[8]

Legacy[edit]

In March 2005, Q magazine placed the song "Kick Out the Jams" at number 39 in its "100 Greatest Guitar Tracks" list. The same track was named the 65th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.


"The MC5 were a mercurial band," remarked guitarist Wayne Kramer. "We were inconsistent. All of a sudden, this was the night. It was a lot of pressure for us to be under. I hear it every time I listen to the record. I hear me making clumsy mistakes on the guitar; I hear Dennis all over on the tempos; I hear Rob not quite in the perfect voice he was capable of."[25]

– lead vocals

Rob Tyner

lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Ramblin' Rose"

Wayne Kramer

rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Fred "Sonic" Smith

– bass guitar

Michael Davis

– drums

Dennis Thompson

(June 5, 1969). "The Continuing Saga of the MC-5". The Village Voice. New York.

Christgau, Robert

at Discogs (list of releases)

Kick Out the Jams