Although the ’70s Senders never broke out of the New York club circuit, the unreconstructed rock’n’roll quartet left behind the Seven Song Super Single as a delightful, all too brief, memento. The rambunctious blend of originals and oldies (Little Richard, Howlin’ Wolf et al.) disproves the conventional wisdom that classicism has to be stuffy; the energy level here matches that of the Ramones in their prime. Bands will continue in R&B and rockabilly no matter what the wave, but few will match the verve of the Senders.
In the mid-’80s, Senders singer Philippe Marcade led the Backbones, using a saxophone player to spice up rough’n’ready soul covers (Ike Turner, Chips Moman, Jerry Ragovoy) and exciting ’60s-styled rock originals on the powerpacked album, which captures the music’s feel as well as its sound.
A few years later, the Senders — three old members plus a new bassist — reconvened. Recorded live at CBGB in August 1988, Do the Sender Thing is a tight, driving rock’n’roll/blues record (kudos to guitarist Wild Bill Thompson) in the Dr. Feelgood/Little Bob Story vein. Only problem: the performances are much hotter than the sound.