Oh, I might just have to have this.

Amazon.com: Law and Order: 20th Anniversary Edition: Music: The Crazy 8’s

Because the Crazy 8’s were my favorite, favorite, dripping wet with sweat favorite dance/party band in college and after. I was first introduced to their infectious brand of funky saxy ska at a show in… Springfield, OR at a place that was called “Edison’s Bar and Grill.” It was a funky place with books and boyhood memoriabilia that was nailed or glued or screwed down so bar patrons couldn’t swipe it, but it had a big stage and a big dance floor. I went with my friends Lizby and Jean, and we were reduced to puddles of sweat at the end of the first set. What a fun band for dancing! Man! They just kept playing bigger and bigger venues – probably the wildest was an appearance at the University of Oregon EMU (student union) Ballroom.

See this picture? It’s captioned “The Crazy 8s: Breaking Records at the UO in 1984.”

I was there.

I remember the bizarre outfit lead singer Todd Duncan was wearing, and I also remember thinking at the time “What is he thinking? Whatever.” I was way back in the back of the room with my friends, because the front was a total mosh pit… but I was there, and it was big drippy fun. The 8s did a version of “Law and Order” that nearly had us making picket signs and marching on Washington (remember, this was in the Reagan years). Ah, good times.

They never quite hit the big time and eventually disbanded in the 90’s, but they still enjoy regional success for occasional “reunion” gigs. And I think they still must get some airplay, too. They got a nice mention in Willamette Week when the CD was originally released a couple of years ago. I bet the release show/reunion was a blast. They’re still occasionally playing gigs, from what I can tell.

Yep, for a long time while living in Eugene and Seattle, the Crazy 8s were at the very top of my favorites list. I think the last time I saw them was at a concert in Seattle – probably Bumbershoot in the early 90’s, not long before they broke up. That was a fun time because someone started yelling “Hey, Red!” at me from across the room, and it turned into a mini-convention of all the redheaded people in the place. As it was a very large, very packed venue (with plenty of lighting so we could spot each other) I soon found myself dancing with a bunch of total strangers, all of whom had various shades of red hair. The crowd looked at us in some bemusement, but it was fun being part of people who looked like me for a while, and of course the music was great.

Oh, yes. I MUST have this.