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The end began a few days after Christmas in 1974. The couple had a late night quarrel about Noack’s career direction, which grew heated. According to his half-sister Pat, Noack snapped at his wife, “You’re just standing in my way!” Clearly not in her right mind, Maudean retrieved a .38 revolver Noack kept in his car’s glove compartment for protection, said “I’ll never stand in your way again,” and – like her son before her – shot herself pointblank through the chest. She died instantly. Noack, his spirits boosted for a time by the combined support of his wife and mother, never fully recovered from Maudean’s death or its traumatic circumstances. Wracked with grief, he sometimes lay on her grave, and kept her bloodied nightgown in a dresser drawer until his death.

From there he mostly called it quits. Music buffs and musicians occasionally sought him out and found him unfailingly gracious and generous, even when broke. But his talent and health seemed increasingly spent. He eked a bare living transcribing lead sheets for other songwriters and numbed himself in bars. On May 11, 1977, less than three years after Maudean’s death, his beloved mother committed suicide in exactly the same way: with a .38 bullet through the heart. She had mental issues of her own, but Noack’s family suspected Eddie’s worsening alcoholism catalyzed her final breakdown. His conviction that the two women he’d loved most ended their lives because of him stole whatever spirit he had left. He died alone on February 5, 1978, with no dreams left to break.

1930-1978 (“Psycho” CD booklet, Bear Family, 2013)

Coda

(Bear Family Records, 2012)

Eddie Noack died on the cusp of his rediscovery by a new generation of punks and roots rockers, gothic and alternative country fans. A fine survey of his wide-ranging legacy is found on two multi-disc Bear Family sets: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1948-1961) and Psycho: The K-Ark and Allstar Recordings (1962-1969). Both are handsomely packaged, with thorough liner notes by Andrew Brown.

(Bear Family Records, 2013)

“Psycho” was out of print for 20 years, but in 1974 a Michigan country singer named James Kittel recorded a hypnotic cover version that received scattered airplay. Elvis Costello heard it and recorded his own rendition during sessions for his 1981 country homage, Almost Blue. Various covers followed. These range from strikingly eccentric (The Sadies with Andre Williams, 1999) to utterly clueless (Trashmuseum, 1986). Most are respectable but uninspiring (Steve Wynn, Beasts of Bourbon, Teddy Thompson, T. Tex Edwards). What’s striking is how little these bring to the song that’s truly new – an unintended nod to Noack’s artistry.

Jack Kittel: “Psycho” (1974)

Elvis Costello & The Attractions: “Psycho” (1981)

Andre Williams & The Sadies: “Psycho” (1999)