In movies, books, fine art and—starting in 2004—CD compilations, John Waters has turned dubious taste into his signature. A John Waters Christmas, his collection of Christmas songs, was remarkable, obscure and often a bit of a test to listen to. This album is his salute to love in all its weird incarnations, and it’s is easier listening and less obscure. Ray Charles, Dean Martin, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, John Prine and Ike & Tina Turner all appear, which almost guarantees a greater degree of listenability.

 

His curatorial tactic involves putting the songs in a new context, namely, on an album with a younger Waters giving a come-hither pout on the cover. In that context, “I’d Love to Take Orders from You” by Mildred Bailey sounds submissive, and “(Night Time is) The Right Time” sounds pan-sexually hedonistic. Tina Turner singing “All I Can Do is Cry” seems deliciously ironic as a title considering her relationship with Ike.

 

Still, the album recalls the exploitation movies Waters loves in that the songs rarely lived up to their decadent promise. A Date with John Waters is really only outrageous when you’re reading the list of song titles. Once you confront the actual songs, the sexy allure of forbidden music is lost in the songs’ true natures. He can say that “Frogman” Henry’s “Ain’t Got No Home” is tri-sexual—the singer can be a man, woman or frog—but you have to want to hear that in the moment of strange invention that led Henry to sing the frog voice. If you don’t, A Date with John Waters is merely an interesting, eccentric compilation album—that’s not bad, it’s just not special, either.