“Sodom & Gomorrah”
by Sky Sunlight Saxon and The Original Seeds
1987 song
One of very few actual new songs on the 1987 LP Takes & Glories is "Sodom & Gomorrah". The musicians involved aren’t known, but while Sky Saxon is caterwauling about nothing in his inimitable way the band is grinding out some magnificently crunchy garage rock noise. Cleopatra of the band SS-20 offers vocals in a supporting role; it sounds like her voice was added after Sky’s and there is a decided lack of chemistry between them.
And actually, it is only assumed that "Sodom & Gomorrah" was recorded just for this album whereas most of the rest of Takes & Glories is made up of older recordings that have been messed with by Sky. It’s conceivable that "Sodom & Gomorrah" too was salvaged from some older recording – there’s an outside chance it’s from the late 1970s since its rhythmic grittiness recalls Fire, Water, Air, for instance – with newly-recorded vocals from Sky. Who knows the real story.
What is true is that "Sodom & Gomorrah" can be considered a real and distinct Sky Saxon track, unavailable anywhere else. That makes it a highly notable song from a thoroughly baffling LP.
