Primal Scream – 96 Tears/Know Your Rights.

“You have the right to free speech, as long as you're not dumb enough to actually try it.”

Primal Scream’s 1997 album Vanishing Point saw them returning to the dance sounds of Screamadelica after the critical panning of the Stones influenced Give Out But Don’t Give Up (although the album and the single Rocks gave the band it’s highest ever chart positions). However, the party vibe of Screamadelica was replaced with a much darker sound.

As well as recording a cover of Motorhead's Motorhead for the album, these two cover versions were released on the first single off the album Kowalski.

96 Tears is a cover of 60’s one-hit wonders ? and the Mysterians. Yes, the group really was lead by a man who referred to himself as “?” (originally Rudy Martinez but he legally changed his name to “?”). He used the name ? as he wanted to be anonymous – a feat he achieved by disappearing into obscurity after releasing 96 Tears. Primal Scream's version is fairly representative of Vanishing Point in the way it matches electronic blips and beats with raucous, distorted guitars.

Know Your Rights is a cover of millionaire Marxists and Sony-owned revolutionaries The Clash. The original is from their final album Combat Rock which was their most commercially successful thanks to monster hits Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay Or Should I Go?. Primal Scream’s version replaces The Clash’s sharp guitar stabs with a rollocking guitar riff that wouldn’t have been out of place on Give Out….


Primal Scream – 96 Tears

Primal Scream – Know Your Rights

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