'TIL TUESDAY - A Few Rare Videos

From the new wave-funk fusion of their debut LP, Voices Carry, to the highly sophisticated pop of follow-up albums Welcome Home and Everything's Different Now, Boston's 'Til Tuesday had a truly unique sound highlighted by the exquisite songwriting and singing of Aimee Mann and the guitar work of Robert Holmes. As much as I love Mann's solo work I keep coming back to the old 'Til Tuesday records for a sound I know I won't find anywhere else.

I periodically search for rare or previously-unreleased material from the band, and recently came across some excellent videos of a few songs that never made it to any of the albums. My favorite, Just Like Me, is an amazing keyboard-driven tune with a perfect melody that should have made it to an album. Enough to Save You is more thoughtful pop boasting some really nice guitar work, while Boy has the funk-inspired sound that ran throughout the Voices Carry album. Check out all three videos below. The look is unquestionably 80s, but the sound is timeless.

Just Like Me



Enough to Save You



Boy

THE CRYERS - Self-Titled Debut

Years ago I came across a power pop compilation that turned me on to a number of obscure bands that have since become staples in my collection. I was able to track down LPs and singles for some of these bands, but others I could never find much more information about. One such band was the Cryers, whose compilation tune, Shake It Up (Ain't It Time?), instantly caught my attention as a lost power pop classic.

A recent Google search finally revealed the band's entire self-titled debut LP from 1978, thanks to Power Pop Overdose. The album is enjoyable throughout with songs in the vein of the Raspberries and Shoes, and includes at least one other lost classic in (It's Gonna be a) Heartbreaker.

Check it out here at Power Pop Overdose. Also, check out the site of lead singer Lowry Hamner, who is still making music.

Track listing:
1 - Shake It Up (Ain't It Time)
2 - World's on Fire
3 - I'll Steal Away
4 - Just a Little Rain
5 - All Over You
6 - (It's Gonna be a) Heartbreaker
7 - Live to be Free
8 - Oh, I Get High
9 - Diamond Ladies
10 - I'm on Fire

THE TOURISTS - Luminous Basement

The Tourists are best remembered as the launching pad for Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart prior to Eurythmics, but in its three-album existence the band released some truly excellent power pop that stands strong on its own. In fact, the only major similarity between The Tourists and Eurythmics is that Lennox and Stewart were involved in both. Musically, the former took a much more organic approach to pop, emphasizing 60s-styled, Byrds-eque guitars instead of cold synths. Also, Lennox wasn't fully in the spotlight yet, as lead songwriter and guitarist Peet Coombes shared lead vocal duties.

By request, here is the band's third and final LP, Luminous Basement. It didn't score any significant British chart success as singles (I Only Want to Be With You, So Good to Be Back Home Again) from previous albums had, but it remains a strong power pop record with plenty of memorable, energetic tunes such as Angels and Demons, Don't Say I Told You So and So You Want to Go Away Now.

After the release of this album The Tourists fizzled out as Lennox and Stuart broke off to release the experimental In the Garden, their debut record as Eurythmics. The rest is history, and sadly The Tourists have remained unheard by even many fans of the duo.

The Tourists - Luminous Basement (LP, 1980)

Track listing:
1 - Talk to Me
2 - Walls and Foundations
3 - Week Days
4 - So You Want to Go Away Now
5 - I'm Going to Change My Mind
6 - One Step Nearer the Edge
7 - Don't Say I Told You So
8 - Angels and Demons
9 - Time Drags So Slow
10 - Let's Take a Walk
11 - From the Middle Room
12 - Round Round Blues