One of the things most people don’t know about legendary cult figure and killer Charles Manson is that he was a talented musician. He did not want to be a murder, guys. He just wanted to make great pop records. Okay, maybe that’s not entirely true, but his songs are beautiful. LIE and The Family Jams are creepy, melodic cult tunes that suck you in and make you think that being a Manson girl might not have been so bad. Manson has a hypnotic voice and songs like “Look At Your Game, Girl” or “Eyes of A Dreamer” are classics.So, Manson, now 77 years old, has been in prison for a long, long time, but apparently, some music he previously recorded is soon to be released. Los Angeles boutique storeowner and friend of Manson, Manuel Vasquez, launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funding needed to release a limited run of the vinyl album titled Just Fucking Around. Some sources say 500 copies were pressed, while others claim 999 copies. Either way, the records are going fast (big shocker) and Vasquez is expecting a re-press.Just Fucking Around is material that was recorded in 1980 at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. The artwork features creations by Manson himself, as well as a portrait of Manson that his fellow inmate drew."I've gotten some hate mail from it,” Vasquez said of the project. “There are people not appreciating the release of music by him. People say they don't understand why I'd want to associate myself with this or why I would be interested in releasing it. Most people won't like it. It probably requires an acquired taste. It's really low-fi, mono."Of course some people are pissed about Manson getting donations to release his music. Yes, he was a killer who murdered intentionally. Yes, he slaughtered Sharon Tate. Yes, he was "a bit psychotic." Yes, some people cannot separate the murderer from his music, but they should, because it is worth a listen. Just pretend it’s Brian Wilson or something.
Advertisement