Roky Erickson - The Evil One [2LP]

Format: 2 x LP
Catalogue No.: FIRELP838
Barcode: 0809236005939
Release Date: 30 oct 2026
Genre: Alternative

Limited ‘EVIL’ Black & White SPLATTER VINYL for Indies only. Both Vinyl LPs come with a collectors 24 page booklet, DL card. Standard CD, collectors 32pp Booklet.
Seminal album from Roky Erickson, the visionary frontman of pioneering psychedelic rock band the 13th Floor Elevators.
Restores the original front cover from the 1981 American LP edition, available for the first time in 45 years.
The vinyl edition is cut at 45 rpm across two LPs for maximum sonic depth, clarity and impact.
The Evil One was produced by Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook.
Brings together all 15 tracks from the original sessions for the first time, uniting the differing ten-song tracklists of the 1980 UK and 1981 North American editions.
Features new liner notes by acclaimed Austin music journalist Joe Nick Patoski, who attended a recording session for The Evil One in 1979. Alongside rare photographs and archival images from the collection of Roky’s then manager, Craig Luckin.
The first release in a new series honouring Roky Erickson’s extraordinary solo catalogue, with Gremlins Have Pictures and Don’t Slander Me to follow in 2027.
The song ‘I Walked with a Zombie’ featured in Season 2 of the Netflix series Wednesday. Season 2 is the #5 most-watched English Netflix series of all time.

The seminal psych-rock classic The Evil One by Roky Erickson And The Aliens is reissued by Fire Records in a deluxe 15-track edition, restoring the original front cover from San Francisco’s 415 Records release for the first time since 1981. Presented across two LPs cut at 45 rpm for maximum sonic depth and clarity, the release brings together the complete recordings from the legendary 1978 and 1979 sessions. The package includes a collector’s booklet with liner notes by acclaimed Austin music journalist Joe Nick Patoski, who attended a recording session for The Evil One in 1979. Alongside rare photographs and archival images from the collection of Roky’s then manager, Craig Luckin.

Following his release from Rusk State Hospital in 1974, Erickson formed The Aliens and channelled his experiences and fascination with horror and science fiction into a singular new sound. Moving beyond the psychedelic garage blues of the 13th Floor Elevators, the band created harder, more ferocious rock built around jagged guitars, strange melodies and a propulsive rhythm section.

Produced by Creedence Clearwater Revival bassist Stu Cook, The Evil One includes some of Erickson’s most celebrated recordings, including ‘Two Headed Dog’, ‘I Walked With A Zombie’ and ‘It’s A Cold Night For Alligators’. Erickson’s unmistakable voice and surreal lyrics, populated by zombies, demons, vampires and atomic monsters, gave the album a character unlike anything else in rock. Both the LP and CD editions feature rare photographs and images from the archive of Erickson’s then manager and the sessions’ executive producer, Craig Luckin.

The Evil One has since become a landmark of cult rock, with its songs covered by generations of artists and its influence extending across punk, alternative and psychedelic music. As Craig Luckin recalls, “Roky considers The Evil One to be his favourite album that he ever recorded. He really loves that album.”

Austin music journalist Joe Nick Patoski, who attended one of the album’s 1979 sessions, contributes a new essay to the LP and CD packaging, exploring Erickson’s extraordinary career, enduring influence and place in Texas rock history.

More than a standalone reissue, this deluxe edition of The Evil One opens an exciting new series honouring Roky Erickson’s extraordinary body of work, with Gremlins Have Pictures and Don’t Slander Me to follow in 2027.

Tracklisting:
SIDE A.
A1 Two Headed Dog (Red Temple Prayer)
A2 I Walked With A Zombie
A3 Night Of The Vampire
A4 Mine Mine Mind
A5 White Faces
SIDE B.
B1 Creature With The Atom Brain
B2 The Wind And More
B3 Bloody Hammer
SIDE C.
C1 Don’t Shake Me Lucifer
C2 Click Your Fingers Applauding The Play
C3 If You Have Ghosts
C4 Cold Night For Alligators
SIDE D.
D1 Stand For The Fire Demon
D2 Sputnik
D3 I Think Of Demons