While this line-up never recorded another album, the Crawdaddys secured their place in the rock firmament with their next two releases (both on Voxx Records): the single “There She Goes Again” b/w “Why Don’t You Smile Now” in early 1980, and an EP called 5 x 4 in August 1980.
Regarding the title of the EP 5 x 4 by the Crawdaddys, I was thinking of the 1964 Rolling Stones album 12 x 5 myself, but the Stones had previously released a British-only EP called 5 x 5 in August 1964. One of the cuts on the Stones EP is a group-penned instrumental called “2120 South Michigan Avenue" – the street address of Chess Records in Chicago – and the Chicano garage rock band Thee Midniters used it as the basis for their popular track “Whittier Boulevard”.
The Crawdaddys EP includes 4 original songs plus “Pretty Face” by the talented but snake-bit 1960’s British band the Beat Merchants. One of these songs is a monster R&B original called “I’m Dissatisfied” that I would have to say is my favorite Crawdaddys song.
Mike Stax, who later joined the Crawdaddys as their bass guitarist, says of their EP: “5 x 4 is one of the greatest records from the post-’60s era. I think the original lineup was important, as they were one of the first bands to operate on such a purist level. Had they been able to maintain a stable lineup, pursued more original material, and continued to release records on the same level as 5 x 4, they would have been much more well-known today than they are.”
(January 2015/2)
