tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76566974898712487012024-03-05T20:59:40.602-06:00VINYL GOLDMINE - Lost New Wave & Power Pop GemsFrank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-67769138134207395782011-03-20T15:07:00.002-05:002012-04-05T16:20:56.260-05:00Flying Color<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hjvaw11AiaXl4dcDA7lTpAT_m5ukhHd8WfmLZwFNAQU0RIhl-HGvif_cLC6YLSGEOxMq_5gUu7GTVxpA7rOYjP-2MPC45nNKo9APkCf553KFtmS2InomcaswwpYeX8BfhlwXm2DJsulE/s1600/img059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hjvaw11AiaXl4dcDA7lTpAT_m5ukhHd8WfmLZwFNAQU0RIhl-HGvif_cLC6YLSGEOxMq_5gUu7GTVxpA7rOYjP-2MPC45nNKo9APkCf553KFtmS2InomcaswwpYeX8BfhlwXm2DJsulE/s320/img059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My most recent record store discovery is the self-titled 1987 album by <b>Flying Color</b>. I had no idea who the band were when I first spotted it sitting on the shelf, but it looked like something that could be promising, and a quick phone search revealed that I stumbled onto the one and only record by mop-topped San Francisco quartet Flying Color. It's a bit alarming to think that if I didn't pay a visit to the store that day I might have never found out about this band, because this is one hell of a jangle/power pop album. In fact, it has quickly become one of my favorites.<br />
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Made up of guitarists Hector Penalosa, Richard Chase and Dale Duncan, as well as drummer John Stuart (with vocal duties shared across the band), Flying Color formed in 1984 and were around until the end of the decade, but only managed to put out one single ("Look My Way" b/w "Dear Friend") and one LP during that time. It's a shame, because these guys had something special.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpcaFzdzlx5LACKbHbqR0hTPCjGMu8HPVgkEXYH0VJ_k0NUaFb8f8XEyAedN60RtPtJlAD6sTqRA5ECYZSDmzXSwS7pyZk3CdjwBd3M1mP2MVrI3zOrhSecSRYbhHEtfDUoPJmRfpWXC8/s1600/img058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpcaFzdzlx5LACKbHbqR0hTPCjGMu8HPVgkEXYH0VJ_k0NUaFb8f8XEyAedN60RtPtJlAD6sTqRA5ECYZSDmzXSwS7pyZk3CdjwBd3M1mP2MVrI3zOrhSecSRYbhHEtfDUoPJmRfpWXC8/s320/img058.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Originally the aforementioned single's B side, "Dear Friend" was given a bit of polish to serve as the opener of the album. It's the band's most memorable track and is nothing short of a power pop classic. It's everything a fan of the genre could want out of a song - emotive but not sappy and packed to the brim with ammo in the melody and hooks department. Nothing else on the album reaches quite these heights, but all of it is top-notch. I'd even go so far as to say most of it is better than many power pop bands' strongest songs.<br />
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"It Doesn't Matter" and "Bring Back the Rain" are melancholy gems that represent early college rock at its best. More rocking moments such as "Believe Believe," "I'm Your Shadow" and "Wise to Her Ways" keep the energy up and give the collection a bit of an edge, while tracks such as "One Saturday" and "Farewell Song" are simply pure, jangly pop joy. Certain parts of the album even have a bit of a rootsy twang to them, which only helps the material to stand out more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNmzj0CJNGIRVI7XuyQBk5gds2aiAtVc32BRO3BXDPW-v_4i4PRdwBJndIUodB73G3QQt62No7yC95I1ZoVgHOH6-COtCPQBeS_kK6cFJEYj_NBiK9jpnvWmSOjXcdvFE1Aoh12HYby_B/s1600/flyingcoloralbum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNmzj0CJNGIRVI7XuyQBk5gds2aiAtVc32BRO3BXDPW-v_4i4PRdwBJndIUodB73G3QQt62No7yC95I1ZoVgHOH6-COtCPQBeS_kK6cFJEYj_NBiK9jpnvWmSOjXcdvFE1Aoh12HYby_B/s200/flyingcoloralbum.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
Flying Color are yet more proof that the best music oftentimes gets the most attention. During its time this LP fell off the radar without much notice, but it's essential for any fan of power pop.<br />
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The album was released on CD in 1996, but now appears to be out of print and very difficult to track down. So here, for your listening pleasure, is a vinyl rip:<br />
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<strike><i>Flying Color - self-titled LP (1987)</i></strike><br />
<b>This album is available to purchase currently on CD with bonus tracks! Get it <a href="http://frontierrecords.com/flyingcolor.html">here</a>.</b><br />
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1. Dear Friend<br />
2. It Doesn't Matter<br />
3. One Saturday<br />
4. Through Different Eyes<br />
5. Tumble<br />
6. Believe Believe<br />
7. Farewell Song<br />
8. Bring Back the Rain<br />
9. I'm Your Shadow<br />
10. Wise to Her ways<br />
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Also, the music video for "Dear Friend" has surfaced on YouTube. Check it out below.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8ZhsJAnA3GA" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe> </div>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-85221112576692771602010-10-09T17:05:00.002-05:002010-10-10T01:12:48.991-05:00Slow Children - Self-titled LP and 'Mad About Town'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNlk7NcTPyBJ9nxuQcAHqspStUJbM77oWDQ5JdMb4XZweiO6DGPC7hSjm7tVXc3ifdtfFvMKwArhPNL72psqOfYdfZmPz-_f9SxeYkqvgNQwpffHIPJi3FjSIiE9xE9OaiiVic5QdvEoQ/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNlk7NcTPyBJ9nxuQcAHqspStUJbM77oWDQ5JdMb4XZweiO6DGPC7hSjm7tVXc3ifdtfFvMKwArhPNL72psqOfYdfZmPz-_f9SxeYkqvgNQwpffHIPJi3FjSIiE9xE9OaiiVic5QdvEoQ/s320/front.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
In a time that included no shortage of highly creative and quirky bands, early 80s new wave act <a href="http://www.palshazar.com/slow_children/">Slow Children</a> managed to stand out as one of the most unique and compelling. The duo - consisting of singer <a href="http://palshazar.com/">Pal Shazar</a> and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Chinich - had a lyrical bite and attitude-drenched female vocals not unlike that of The Waitresses, but forged a style all their own on their two albums, 1981's self-titled LP and 1982's <i>Mad About Town</i>. Their most popular song was "President Am I," a minor new wave classic, but the duo released a number of other fantastic songs, including "Spring in Fialta," "Brazilian Magazines," "Late Night Transatlantic," "One More Trauma" and "Vanessa Vascillating."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQL5OmSVmUY-gxRL1jdLbAz4niQaol0lSYuO6Q0nRqd0Qaet82_QQhZfWlm55PScn0T7LRt8tsZj2HAshiWqkZQTrBnMQ2CVXogOdECQP0_Ih6mfyMHhpIe8m3d3-AEA7XROf9YFZUAJf/s1600/front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQL5OmSVmUY-gxRL1jdLbAz4niQaol0lSYuO6Q0nRqd0Qaet82_QQhZfWlm55PScn0T7LRt8tsZj2HAshiWqkZQTrBnMQ2CVXogOdECQP0_Ih6mfyMHhpIe8m3d3-AEA7XROf9YFZUAJf/s200/front.jpg" width="200" /></a>After the band's end following the release of <i>Mad About Town</i>, Shazar went on to release a number of solo albums. In Spring 2010, she and Chinich reunited, began to write new material and even played a gig as Slow Children in New York City. Click <a href="http://www.kennethinthe212.com/2010/04/spring-in-fialta-slow-children-to.html">here</a> for more details.<br />
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Both Slow Children records have yet to be released on CD, but you can check out vinyl rips of both the self-titled and <i>Mad About Town</i> below. Both include B sides, extended mixes and alternate versions.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?8c3g5pbbcl1t924">Slow Children - self-titled LP (1981)</a><br />
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1863144921"><br />
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<a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?8gnrz7vc9denvv0">Slow Children - <i>Mad About Town</i> (1982)</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cxEu8GnDGxo?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cxEu8GnDGxo?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-26827405166963412072010-08-22T23:01:00.000-05:002010-08-22T23:01:41.691-05:00An update on a lack of updates...For everyone who has continued to visit this site, thanks for your interest even though there's been no new content in a while. I've been intending to update for a long time, but it's gotten away from me. The Vinyl Goldmine's not dead yet, though! New stuff is in the works, so please continue to visit.Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-86032002389761389502009-12-18T19:36:00.007-06:002009-12-18T19:48:24.232-06:00Blondie offer up some holiday cheer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEfRCh3_sq4jRsKc6yMZyVU78dkD72DGLTahTFeUT7u0sXltVz6O51CGMTU-UVyPSjga0gkYfCYw4gAbc1mTQ7YvrLpnfGZUuweDhg7EfNyUVedKcnRh4eVNgK2t2q9WEPRFRclw192w9/s1600-h/wethreekingsblondie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEfRCh3_sq4jRsKc6yMZyVU78dkD72DGLTahTFeUT7u0sXltVz6O51CGMTU-UVyPSjga0gkYfCYw4gAbc1mTQ7YvrLpnfGZUuweDhg7EfNyUVedKcnRh4eVNgK2t2q9WEPRFRclw192w9/s320/wethreekingsblondie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416757569174869330" border="0" /></a><br />New wave legends <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blondie</span> have recorded a fun, punky new cover of the Christmas standard "We Three Kings' and have made it available for free download!<br /><br />The band originally performed the song during live shows a few years ago, but this is the first time a studio version has been made available. The track was recently recorded as part of the sessions for a brand new, still unnamed Blondie LP in 2010. Download it here:<br /><a href="http://newmedia.10thst.com/blondie/splash.html"><br />http://newmedia.10thst.com/blondie/splash.html</a><br /><br />Debbie Harry and company also filmed a very low-budget, but fun, music video to go along with the tune, which you can check out below.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ayB7gAUdrG4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ayB7gAUdrG4&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-56088161329364543002009-10-11T14:26:00.009-05:002009-10-11T15:39:49.264-05:00Interview<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN2TOP2JhBH9Djgzf8X1fTigQQ7Ar-JSmLprv44CL-qJSTj6B0gFC9Era4F9eQ7K6vI63eDDKDiTezxLuHAfJLZx2sLKyBdI-JLQf58Zzx9ooeua4DhKVBSqFL4yPa2CqSs1nj6mOi1Dq/s1600-h/interviewband.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 304px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvN2TOP2JhBH9Djgzf8X1fTigQQ7Ar-JSmLprv44CL-qJSTj6B0gFC9Era4F9eQ7K6vI63eDDKDiTezxLuHAfJLZx2sLKyBdI-JLQf58Zzx9ooeua4DhKVBSqFL4yPa2CqSs1nj6mOi1Dq/s320/interviewband.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391433401372185442" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">interviewtheband.com</span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Interview</span> were a British band formed in 1977 in Bath, releasing two LPs and a handful of singles during their existence. They debuted in 1979 with <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Big Oceans</span>, in my opinion a decent but somewhat forgettable album of pub rock (though the single, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"You Didn't Have to Lie to Me,"</span> is catchy enough). Their 1980 sophomore effort, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Snakes and Lovers</span>, is much more compelling and is solid enough to be considered a lost classic. The LP finds a balance between catchy, melodic power pop and thoughtful, more adventurous rock that gives it a truly unique character.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgUBxar2Kl6Nk_o7vMG8X_hVazTgbCD-UdP0UZKJh2o3LrJepH3SNE6BVwgPpE3V9ZgkzHf0k_8kMGLXz4uWVXK_V6AhqfEq3jD7rP-m3aqizUoTc77_Ejcf82meutzQ4Jq3mXKHYiiUb/s1600-h/interviewsnakeslovers.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgUBxar2Kl6Nk_o7vMG8X_hVazTgbCD-UdP0UZKJh2o3LrJepH3SNE6BVwgPpE3V9ZgkzHf0k_8kMGLXz4uWVXK_V6AhqfEq3jD7rP-m3aqizUoTc77_Ejcf82meutzQ4Jq3mXKHYiiUb/s320/interviewsnakeslovers.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391436243315831538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Snakes and Lovers</span> kicks off with <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Hide and Seek,"</span> which would simply be a bouncy pop number if it weren't for its curious lyrics that, according to vocalist Jeff Starrs in an interview on <a href="http://www.seedyroad.com/seedyroad/interview/interview.htm">seedyroad.com</a>, are "about a guy who wonders whether or not he's killed all his girlfriends."<strong><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > </span></strong>The other most accessible tracks on the record are <span style="font-weight: bold;">"It's Over Now,"</span> a breezy 60s-pop inspired gem that really should have been released as a single, and the peppy <span style="font-weight: bold;">"To the People."</span> In a recollection on <a href="http://interviewtheband.com/">interviewtheband.com</a>, guitarist Alan Brain reflects, "The single Virgin chose to release from <span style="font-style: italic;">Snakes and Lovers</span> was "Hide and Seek," which I felt was one of our weaker songs and I'm convinced that "It's Over Now" would have been the better choice. But then again, I've always been a sucker for the catchy, 3 minute pop song."<br /><br />Other songs on the LP find the band taking a more atmospheric, abstract approach, such as the anthemic, hopeful <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Adventurers,"</span> the powerful melodicism of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Crossing Borders,"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Style on Seaview,"</span> which can best be described as sounding like being in a dream. These songs represent pop music at its most intelligent and poignant. Also worth noting is Starrs' vocal delivery, which is no doubt one of the most emotive of its time and is instrumental in conveying the power of the material.<br /><br />All of this adds up to make <span style="font-style: italic;">Snakes and Lovers</span> a genuinely special, one of a kind record that was criminally ignored upon its release, thanks to a lack of marketing and support from the band's label, Virgin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdcdechis77-5IfNobYxIESoDqeerCQnlMQkXaEuxSjIWdp_crnPR-9rQejdHLskyJYbXQ9f1ifvpLAJmcc7I14sO_3lFzI5rJ6FIDtZsaw2Scl2Kcbj526XIFTapJkSsOhjlmTyeF8tP/s1600-h/interviewbigoceans.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdcdechis77-5IfNobYxIESoDqeerCQnlMQkXaEuxSjIWdp_crnPR-9rQejdHLskyJYbXQ9f1ifvpLAJmcc7I14sO_3lFzI5rJ6FIDtZsaw2Scl2Kcbj526XIFTapJkSsOhjlmTyeF8tP/s320/interviewbigoceans.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391439740212993138" border="0" /></a><br />Although Interview's music still has not officially been reissued on CD, in recent years band members have put the albums to disc on their own and are currently marketing them through their <a href="http://www.interviewtheband.com/interview_buycds.html">Web site</a>. In a comment on the music site <a href="http://digivinyltal.blogspot.com/2007/10/interview-big-oceans-1979-snakes-and.html">PVAc to 44.1 kHz</a>, Starrs explained, "We didn't make any money with Interview as Virgin were a very tough company to deal with but alot of people have enjoyed the albums over the years, it seems, and we're at least trying to make a few quids on our creations."<br /><br />The band's site also includes <a href="http://www.interviewtheband.com/interview_listen.html">samples</a> of tracks from both <span style="font-style: italic;">Big Oceans</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Snakes and Lovers</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For more information:</span><br />- <a href="http://www.seedyroad.com/seedyroad/interview/interview.htm">Review and discography of Interview records plus an interview with vocalist Jeff Starrs</a><br />- <a href="http://www.lacieg2s.ca/w3terra/ols/great.htm">"Great Lost Albums" review of <span style="font-style: italic;">Snakes and Lovers</span></a>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-41410880807562016542009-09-21T10:26:00.015-05:002009-09-28T22:54:04.254-05:00Lolita Pop: Sweden's best kept pop secret<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBhDxN6XBfAV7T8aTxgtgHOe45YGIUC5C4zwKOagOlwYnbzGUQZacBJ1SNvayym0GTNIQL-Gql7NJqF2eQoR1khyphenhyphenQuvEG51MVYMgl7KKKlmWLe6e-rfaSZZIE9HOsoaxyuIq5FY4lOrmL/s1600-h/img052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBhDxN6XBfAV7T8aTxgtgHOe45YGIUC5C4zwKOagOlwYnbzGUQZacBJ1SNvayym0GTNIQL-Gql7NJqF2eQoR1khyphenhyphenQuvEG51MVYMgl7KKKlmWLe6e-rfaSZZIE9HOsoaxyuIq5FY4lOrmL/s320/img052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386732423887173090" border="0" /></a><br />It’s usually not clear why an excellent band fails to achieve widespread recognition. It could be a lack of promotion, bad timing, or probably most often combination of factors. Swedish band <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lolita Pop</span> is a prime example of a truly special group that for whatever reason couldn’t break into the American market during their existence from 1979 to 1990 and still remain virtually unknown outside their home country.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB4w6SW1B-LoMiaeTSEKazfLuTUJFa-xPCZIMki0Z5RAItvHMSLZKPABOXav5GdAy-CjWzfKBuhj3HkUgbmEkTx9cZ8QFpvr_YtJDYqTM1kwkTAQdmXax5Pcvs_QIFV4yDGJtZ5dpNBDb/s1600-h/falska+bilder.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB4w6SW1B-LoMiaeTSEKazfLuTUJFa-xPCZIMki0Z5RAItvHMSLZKPABOXav5GdAy-CjWzfKBuhj3HkUgbmEkTx9cZ8QFpvr_YtJDYqTM1kwkTAQdmXax5Pcvs_QIFV4yDGJtZ5dpNBDb/s320/falska+bilder.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383950804725299970" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lolita Pop formed in Örebro, Sweden in 1979 with vocalist Karin Wistrand, guitarists Sten Booberg and Benkt Smith, bassist Thomas Johansson, drummer Peter Olsen and tenor saxophonist Per Eriksson. The band began as a post-punk/new wave outfit driven by their love of New York punk a la Patti Smith and Television, releasing their first album, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Falska bilder</span>, in 1982. It was a much darker, heavier affair than upbeat power pop they would come to be best known for a few years later, but two very important elements of the unit’s sound came through early on: the exuberant, slightly husky vocals of Wistrand and the hard-hitting guitar work of Booberg and Smith.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKUBDGWVbPF8Pa7ULCaZg5koM5JojIgUdgEaV0Z6OUGakgAfwnlMgUiSDmhC1Tp-2RKb1xGlfRk9xEqlINqYfVhVt4-2rCQqsur05jF0ldCWh91YZDmOeySDzjrEqN16g-CPQW5ni0spe/s1600-h/lolitapop1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghKUBDGWVbPF8Pa7ULCaZg5koM5JojIgUdgEaV0Z6OUGakgAfwnlMgUiSDmhC1Tp-2RKb1xGlfRk9xEqlINqYfVhVt4-2rCQqsur05jF0ldCWh91YZDmOeySDzjrEqN16g-CPQW5ni0spe/s320/lolitapop1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383947397165399282" border="0" /></a><br />The band’s early days produced three additional Swedish LPs – <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Fem söker en skatt</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Irrfärder</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Att ha fritidsbåt</span> – as well as their debut, self-titled English language release in 1984. For this release, they reworked some of the material from earlier, Swedish records into English. 1985 single <span style="font-weight: bold;">“2000 år,”</span> nicely summarizes the band's early sound:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsXgt-mjh5s&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsXgt-mjh5s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />After finding success in their home country, the band signed an American deal with Virgin and released their second English-language LP, once again titled simply <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Lolita Pop</span>, in 1987. Despite a U.S. tour and a record full of incredibly catchy pop, the band never found a sizable American audience. Listening to the record more than 20 years after its release, it’s downright puzzling that infectious material such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Mess of Machinery,”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Bang Your Head”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Mind Your Eye”</span> didn’t make a bigger dent in the States, as it’s arguably as good as anything else on the pop charts at the time.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VUwKJoiSmbc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VUwKJoiSmbc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Nevertheless, the band continued to score chart success in Sweden and reappeared in 1989 with <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Love Poison</span>. Although this LP was also sung in English, this time there was no American promotional push, and the band’s biggest Swedish hit - the fantastic <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Tarzan on a Big Red Scooter</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;" >"</span></span> - was mostly confined to their home country.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNA-Hetajm8&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNA-Hetajm8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Love Poison</span> was arguably Lolita Pop’s finest moment, full of hooky, guitar-driven pop and Wistrand’s best vocal delivery to date. The record gave the band another Swedish hit via the beautiful <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Hey Winner,”</span> and also featured an outstanding take on Magazine's biting post-punk anthem, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Song from Under the Floorboards."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYBs5EFIeQPr3SRwfG85Z9CBRRqRXVhBWGtppudKi1CMBihGN_iM_-2wt_D_7GR7cjcpPvmz56pKFyWDDpKyn_y5eS4Jo2kAzxO4KTtUJVPMQV59LeUT_dUlXfNSMNe-ry8aujNmbRIK/s1600-h/lolitapop3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxYBs5EFIeQPr3SRwfG85Z9CBRRqRXVhBWGtppudKi1CMBihGN_iM_-2wt_D_7GR7cjcpPvmz56pKFyWDDpKyn_y5eS4Jo2kAzxO4KTtUJVPMQV59LeUT_dUlXfNSMNe-ry8aujNmbRIK/s320/lolitapop3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383947720599147138" border="0" /></a><br />Now recording exclusively in English, the band released what would be their final studio album, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Blumenkraft</span>, in 1990. The record featured many highlights, including the melodic single “Here She Comes” and the singalong power pop of <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Live Forever,”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Wingbeats of the Night”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Pay the Piper,”</span> but it also contained more filler than most other Lolita Pop releases and overall didn’t receive a positive critical response. The band split soon after.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WYhMP7VwXY&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WYhMP7VwXY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Since the break up, the band have reportedly played occasional one-off gigs, and Wistrand is currently involved in <a href="http://www.jeremiassessionband.com/">Jeremias Session Band</a>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>During their time, Lolita Pop might not have received the international attention they deserved, but with any luck intrepid new wave and power pop fans will begin discovering the band's music<span style="font-weight: bold;">, </span>no doubt some of the finest forgotten pop of its time.<br /><br />Here are two of the band's albums - their 1981 debut,<span style="font-style: italic;"> Falska Bilder</span> (in Swedish) and their 1987 self-titled English LP.<br /><br /><a href="http://sharebee.com/19adcf9a">Lolita Pop - <span style="font-style: italic;">Falska Bilder</span> (1981)</a><br /><a href="http://sharebee.com/eae6c34d"><br />Lolita Pop - self-titled LP (1987)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lolita Pop lineup:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Founding members:</span><br />Karin Wistrand, vocals<br />Sten Booberg, guitar<br />Benkt Smith, guitar<br />Thomas Johansson, bass<br />Per Eriksson, tenor sax<br />Peter Olsen, drums<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Other members:</span><br />Henrik Melin, Bass (1987)<br />Christer Björklund, drums<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lolita Pop discography:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Falska bilder</span> (1982 –Swedish)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fem söker en skatt</span> (1983 – Swedish)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Irrfärder</span> (1983 – Swedish)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lolita Pop</span> (1984 – first English language release)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Att ha fritidsbåt</span> (1985 – Swedish)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lolita Pop</span> (1987 – second English language release, different than self-titled 1984 album)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Love Poison</span> (1989 - English)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Blumenkraft</span> (1990 – English, the band’s final LP)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Regn av dagar 1982-1990</span> (1993 – “best of” compilation)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klassiker</span> (2008 – 2 disc “best of” compilation)<p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WYhMP7VwXY&feature=player_profilepage"></a></p>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-23220492235237395032009-09-04T22:23:00.004-05:002009-09-04T22:57:34.904-05:00Expressos - Unreleased tracksA while ago I did a <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/05/expressos-promises-and-ties.html">post</a> on the brilliance of short-lived British power pop group the Expressos and their sole record, 1981's <span style="font-style: italic;">Promises and Ties</span>. Fronted by the charming Rozzi Rayner, the band sounded sort of like a cross between early Blondie and the Pretenders, and even though much of their material was just as memorable and appealing as that of those bands, they're sadly remembered by few.<br /><br />Although they broke up before they could follow-up <span style="font-style: italic;">Promises and Ties</span>, they recorded some additional tracks that have never been heard - until now! Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, some unreleased tracks have surfaced:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Hurt" aka "Hurt in Your Eyes"</span> - This was to be the band's final single, and it's a shame it never got released because it's a stunner. It has a much more serious mood than anything on the band's LP and a flawless vocal from Rozzi.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JVbweo4KW8I&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JVbweo4KW8I&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Rehearsals in Hollywood"</span> - The song that would have accompanied "The Hurt" if it had made it out as a single.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZQQQ8C54h2U&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZQQQ8C54h2U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Johnnie B Bad"</span> - Total 60s girl-group, sounding kind of like "Da Doo Run Run."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IsAn38hpm_E&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IsAn38hpm_E&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Three Rs"</span> - More pure 60s girl-group.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8t9Oe0HrZyQ&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8t9Oe0HrZyQ&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"He's Got Something"</span> - A cover of the classic Dusty Springfield tune.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ypNKBqugylU&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ypNKBqugylU&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />"Crazy Sneakers" - Very representative of the late-70s power pop sound, reportedly coming from a session produced by none other than Nick Lowe!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Hz-fODhgEc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-Hz-fODhgEc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-60467642222588218022009-06-02T13:21:00.015-05:002009-09-21T11:34:24.214-05:00The Numbers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeq5WVM1-K8My6tETR2mFZu4ZqIHFXyJRzgy_dJzC0iOBi9mGrPXG4LI_5f74oMFPQn74gSlowWnij6Vm5jFEhdPkbIqmtWFJKaku1U_zVO-jk775DLC9cG5SwpE_zTXFrqG5beqJtwd-/s1600-h/numbers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeq5WVM1-K8My6tETR2mFZu4ZqIHFXyJRzgy_dJzC0iOBi9mGrPXG4LI_5f74oMFPQn74gSlowWnij6Vm5jFEhdPkbIqmtWFJKaku1U_zVO-jk775DLC9cG5SwpE_zTXFrqG5beqJtwd-/s320/numbers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342801348280929506" border="0" /></a>In the early 1980s, Australia was home to a host of excellent pop and new wave bands such as The Reels, The Dugites, Eurogliders, and Flaming Hands, and Sydney’s <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Numbers</span> were no doubt one of the finest. The band went through many lineup changes in their existence from 1978 to 1984, but the one constant was brother and sister duo <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris and Annalisse Morrow</span>. Throughout the group’s existence, Chris shined as a talented songwriter and guitarist, while Annalisse was a strong bassist and gave the material a distinct personality with her hard-edged, commanding vocals.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The group’s first release was a 3-track EP, Govt. Boy, in 1979, which took a louder, faster and overall more punk approach than what was to come. At this point, Chris was the focal point of the band, singing lead on two of the three tracks on the EP. By the time the band signed to the Deluxe label that same year, they had begun moving in a more accessible power pop direction, a shift evident on their first single for the label, 1980’s “The Modern Song.” Along with the cleaner sound came a decision to put Annalisse at the forefront. In a 2008 Mess+Noise interview, Annalisse explained of the decision, “You’re young and you’re taking advice from other people. And by that stage we were with a major label and we had a manager and we were with an agency and those people have a very large influence on how you think, because you’re taking advice from people you believe have the experience. And also personally I always thought I was a much better singer than I was a bass player.” This change in direction proved successful for the band, with the single cracking the Australian Top 50 and the band scoring an appearance on the TV show Countdown. Their next single, “Five Letter Word,” was another national radio hit and brought them further into the spotlight.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE7njTwMX4gQiZPMEb30W7jzoAQL9MgHyF_9lht1RfH8D2C864VTU6U7zJr8LiKQXEkAD-BQC6NoiwZlRIx6Knez2XJQFpANNeY6r1mBHnDj38-nDux16mmRcSdpIzaSVStUxIGrDIRoR/s1600-h/The+Numbers+numbers+selftitled.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEE7njTwMX4gQiZPMEb30W7jzoAQL9MgHyF_9lht1RfH8D2C864VTU6U7zJr8LiKQXEkAD-BQC6NoiwZlRIx6Knez2XJQFpANNeY6r1mBHnDj38-nDux16mmRcSdpIzaSVStUxIGrDIRoR/s320/The+Numbers+numbers+selftitled.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342801522067119122" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Once the band released their debut, <span style="font-weight: bold;">self-titled LP</span> in late 1980, they seemed poise to break out internationally.<span style=""> </span>“The feeling I got then was the record company’s expectation was we were going to go absolutely ballistic,” explained Chris in the same Mess+Noise interview. <span style=""> </span>“We were going to go from suburban Thornleigh to Madison Square Garden, we were going to be amazingly huge.” While the debut record included highlights in the form of the previous singles and select album tracks such as the melodic <span style="font-weight: bold;">“I Don’t Know”</span> (which found Chris back on lead vocals) and the punky <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Hello,”</span> third single <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Mr. President”</span> failed to chart and the album - while regionally successful - didn’t break the band as expected.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a series of lineup changes, the band issued a new single, <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Jericho,”</span> and returned to the studio to record their sophomore release, 1982’s <i style="font-weight: bold;">39-51</i>. Armed with more memorable songs and more confident vocals from Annalisse, things looked promising for The Numbers. The album's singles <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Big Beat”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Dreams From Yesterday”</span> as well as standout album tracks such as <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Day to Day,”</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Blacktown”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Dancer”</span> sounded a bit like a rougher-around-the edges version of The Go-Go’s and deserved widespread chart success. Unfortunately, by this point interest in the band had waned and the record went largely unnoticed.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR1LT4qoc-Eb57Mi6Ahzxggwtpz2GcgHMB5pJ3asBdWgyyxfDKpw-O5b8ZZo7TnjRdDAmXKNSLVxx_Hsgk84IEozjBhlq3ZbYoE72v0XN10c23X5tZZwVU3g_4fvFyYPFrUeVGw3VEDhw/s1600-h/3951.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlR1LT4qoc-Eb57Mi6Ahzxggwtpz2GcgHMB5pJ3asBdWgyyxfDKpw-O5b8ZZo7TnjRdDAmXKNSLVxx_Hsgk84IEozjBhlq3ZbYoE72v0XN10c23X5tZZwVU3g_4fvFyYPFrUeVGw3VEDhw/s320/3951.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342801989308117122" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After two albums and years of hard work on the road and in the studio with little commercial success to show for it, The Numbers soon called it quits. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that Chris and Annalisse released more music together, this time as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Maybe Dolls</span>. While this incarnation of the band gave the duo their biggest success to date in the form of the catchy pop singles <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Nervous Kid”</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">“Cool Jesus,”</span> the band once again faced record label difficulties, grew disillusioned,<span style=""> </span>and a recorded second album was never released.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Numbers and the Maybe Dolls never achieved international commercial success, but they created a canon of strong power pop songs worth discovering. In 2007, Australian label Aztec Music brought the band to attention once again by releasing a compilation of Numbers material, including highlights from both EPs, rare B-sides and the complete <i style="">Government Boy</i> EP. The disc is titled <i style="font-weight: bold;">Numerology 1979-1982</i> and is available via the label’s <a href="http://www.aztecmusic.net/">site</a>. In addition, the Blue Pie label recently released the band’s output digitally, and it can be downloaded on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QKENY8/ref=sr_f3_1_rd?ie=UTF8&parent=B000XXUS88&qid=1243963158&sr=103-1">Amazon MP3</a> and iTunes (but beware, many of the tracks are mislabeled in these releases).<br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">The Numbers band members:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Annalisse Morrow - Bass, Vocals<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5SNJAmGghVwmyBaO-imzteVLQ4d_x5IyFw_vnK7SalBzU8Y8zyelmFSe4mgvLruqUEyOgPPsxMXYUyBI5Ci0Ozz2bjJ8-c7ZWUji19K69uzRUEzpp-X2MHWiGMBqY3h2p3UbCKr7p5lt/s1600-h/numbers2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz5SNJAmGghVwmyBaO-imzteVLQ4d_x5IyFw_vnK7SalBzU8Y8zyelmFSe4mgvLruqUEyOgPPsxMXYUyBI5Ci0Ozz2bjJ8-c7ZWUji19K69uzRUEzpp-X2MHWiGMBqY3h2p3UbCKr7p5lt/s320/numbers2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342802536240607106" border="0" /></a><br />Chris Morrow - Guitar, Vocals<br />Simon Vidale - Drums<br />Graham Bidstrup - Drums<br />John Bliss - Drums<br />Craig Bloxom - Bass<br />Russell Handley - Keyboard, Guitar<br />Marty Newcombe - Drums<span class="" id="wikiSecondPart"><br />Collin Newham - Keyboard, Bass<br />Marcus Phelan - Guitar<br />Garry Roberts - Bass</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">The Numbers discography:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Govt. Boy (EP, 1979):<o:p></o:p></i> Government Boy, Private Eyes, Guerilla</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- The Modern Song (single, 1980):<o:p></o:p></i> The Modern Song, Take Me Away</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Five Letter Word (single, 1980):<o:p></o:p></i> Five Letter Word, Alone</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- The Numbers (self-titled LP, 1980):<o:p></o:p></i> Five Letter Word, I Don’t Know, Mr. President, Hello, When I Get Older, The Modern Song, Partys, Talk to Me, OK, Teenage Wonderland, Wind</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Mr. President (single, 1981):<o:p></o:p></i> Mr. President, Private Eyes, Guerilla</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Jericho (single, 1981):<o:p></o:p></i> Jericho (original version), Turn Back (original version)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- 39-51 (LP, 1982):<o:p></o:p></i> Big Beat, Secrets, Day to Day, Somedays, Again, Dreams from Yesterday, Blacktown, Dancer, Turn Back, Telephone, Jericho</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Big Beat (single, 1982):<o:p></o:p></i> Big Beat, Telephone</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">- Dreams From Yesterday (single, 1982):<o:p></o:p></i> Dreams From Yesterday, Again</p><p class="MsoNormal">- <span style="font-style: italic;">Numerology: 1979-1982</span> (compilation CD, 2007): The Modern Song, Five Letter Word, Mr. President, Jericho, Big Beat, Turn Back, Dreams From Yesterday, Alone, Partys, Dancer, Secrets, Day to Day, Again, Take Me Away, Blacktown, When I Get Older, Hello, Govt. Boy, Private Eyes, Guerilla</p><p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal">Links:</p><p class="MsoNormal">- <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thenumbers7983">The Numbers on MySpace</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">- <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/more-than-sum-of-their-past/2008/01/04/1198950049005.html">2008 Sydney Morning Herald interview with Annalisse Morrow</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">- <a href="http://www.messandnoise.com/articles/2030053">2008 Mess+Noise interview with Chris and Annalisse Morrow</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUai7tvaUew">Maybe Dolls promo video for "Nervous Kid"</a><br /></p>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-82112829477130507602009-04-10T12:59:00.003-05:002009-04-10T13:28:25.483-05:00Pearl Harbor & the Explosions - Live in Oakland, 8/24/79<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZTU-_BqOxaeVqe2lgSOpfEoj7mJAQeSkY9Wf4TOqamBrpX46KgjMYijbXKezLHrppGHWKudCtbXU7BGTxHTpxJjzC40YJ0d7k6AQuicJ2mxl8l_eFWbhgheqpuG_pj3MAtIjlj0GDWt_/s1600-h/pearlharborexplosions.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZTU-_BqOxaeVqe2lgSOpfEoj7mJAQeSkY9Wf4TOqamBrpX46KgjMYijbXKezLHrppGHWKudCtbXU7BGTxHTpxJjzC40YJ0d7k6AQuicJ2mxl8l_eFWbhgheqpuG_pj3MAtIjlj0GDWt_/s320/pearlharborexplosions.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323131198003508306" border="0" /></a><br />Head over to <a href="http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/pearl-harbor-and-the-explosions-concert/20040373-5419.html">Wolfgang's Vault</a> to hear a great show from short-lived San Francisco new wave act Pearl Harbor & the Explosions recorded at the Oakland Auditorium on August 24, 1979. Best remembered for their single "Drivin'," the Explosions blended guitar driven, jerky new wave with rockabilly and power pop, all carried by the unmistakable vocals and presence of singer Pearl E. Gates (also known as Pearl Harbor).<br /><br />The band released only one album, an eponymous effort from 1980, before Harbor embarked on a solo career with 1981's <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Follow Me, I'm Lost Too</span> (1981), <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/03/pearl-harbour-pearls-galore.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Pearls Galore!</span></a> (1984) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Here Comes Trouble</span> (1995).<br /><br />This particular performance includes all nine tracks from the sole LP, most notably the infectious "Drivin'," the effervescent power pop gem "You Got It (Release It)" and the frantic fun of "Shut Up and Dance." The band also plays some covers, including Nick Lowe's "Let's Eat," "Black Slacks" by The Sparkletones and "I Can Feel the Fire" by Ron Wood. Throw in a couple originals that didn't make the album, and you have a set that gives you a better idea of what the band was all about than what was released on record.<br /><br /><a href="http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/dt/pearl-harbor-and-the-explosions-concert/20040373-5419.html">Listen here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tracks:</span><br />1 - Let's Eat<br />2 - Up and Over<br />3 - Don't Come Back<br />4 - Stop Me<br />5 - Black Slacks<br />6 - So Much for Love<br />7 - Nerves<br />8 - Keep Going<br />9 - (Get a) Grip (On Yourself)<br />10 - Drivin'<br />11 - The Big One<br />12 - Shut Up and Dance<br />13 - You Got It (Release It)<br />14 - I Can Feel the FireFrank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-23376960260954500912009-03-16T21:16:00.000-05:002009-03-16T09:37:03.691-05:00THE DB'S - 'The Sound of Music' now available digitally<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8gv7cB0_Ze5OSG8_699dzIVkqdup4nrUuRUkzPG2NL4AkZmQngJ8u45bjO4R0YwrTk8TFeqWq3VkaYcft-zn5hCCI3kYNwaT1kxLteHkA2I6kVNdbrk48MxgCIOlLIf26W-XLa7bjeNp/s1600-h/dbs_soundofmusic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8gv7cB0_Ze5OSG8_699dzIVkqdup4nrUuRUkzPG2NL4AkZmQngJ8u45bjO4R0YwrTk8TFeqWq3VkaYcft-zn5hCCI3kYNwaT1kxLteHkA2I6kVNdbrk48MxgCIOlLIf26W-XLa7bjeNp/s320/dbs_soundofmusic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313793208864700498" border="0" /></a><br />The classic 1987 dB's album, "The Sound of Music," is now available again after years being out of print.<br /><br />The album is the band's fourth, and second after the departure of integral member Chris Stamey. In Stamey's absence, singer-songwriter Peter Holsapple kept the band going strong, creating an album full of straightforward, thoroughly enjoyable jangle rock. The LP features some of the band's finest songs in the form of rollicking and melodic power pop cuts such as "Change With the Changing Times," "Molly Says" and "Sharon."<br /><br />You can purchase the album for download via <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Sound-Of-Music/dp/B001UFR9RG/ref=sr_f3_2?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1237213847&sr=103-2">Amazon MP3</a> and iTunes.<br /><br />Keep an eye out for a brand new dB's record (featuring both Stamey and Holsapple) tentatively scheduled for release this fall.Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-19160489915809539932009-03-15T15:46:00.003-05:002009-03-15T15:55:55.757-05:00THE MOTELS - 'Shock' demos<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHyaq_edge1w-0dumWswkT9Q83y4oUDhFcWk4HYjCa2zEP4usH3pfX_37IrTo23h4lQDe_lk3II5jUtVNQppGNbL2Yvf4ZhHxJLGdbl4JxP1dFrA-N0GoYh9PjDuTsucaq7n-lgcDj9Sh/s1600-h/The+Motels.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 317px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHyaq_edge1w-0dumWswkT9Q83y4oUDhFcWk4HYjCa2zEP4usH3pfX_37IrTo23h4lQDe_lk3II5jUtVNQppGNbL2Yvf4ZhHxJLGdbl4JxP1dFrA-N0GoYh9PjDuTsucaq7n-lgcDj9Sh/s320/The+Motels.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313520904505858690" border="0" /></a><br />Head over to the <a href="http://www.nwoutpost.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26119">New Wave Outpost message board</a> to grab three rare demos from The Motels, recorded during the sessions for their 1985 album, "Shock."<br /><br />The songs,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> "Ice House,"</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"I'm a Liar"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Midnight Nightingale,"</span> are strong enough to have been included on the LP, but for some reason were left off. "Ice House," in particular, is a great slice of upbeat new wave/power pop with a memorable melody and standout vocals by Martha Davis.<br /><br />"Shock" was the final LP from the original band. Davis released a new Motels album, "This," with a new backing band in 2008.Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-67862736707888525352009-02-11T11:57:00.004-06:002009-02-12T09:43:01.351-06:00New Posts Coming SoonThanks to everyone who continues to visit this site despite the recent lack of updates.<br /><br />The Vinyl Goldmine isn't dead, it just went into Winter hibernation.<br /><br />Stay tuned for updates coming very soon...<br /><br />In the meantime, enjoy this new wave/power pop classic, "Switchin' to Glide," by the Kings.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDKjpZvcYOg&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RDKjpZvcYOg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-38096204430146203762008-12-28T14:16:00.003-06:002008-12-28T14:40:53.368-06:00MI-SEX - Castaway / Young Maniacs (7" Single)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2qg29XrXB2n3GD1ADt4Q8gsqYhyTH2fsb8CEza_RvH_td-MT_4TUu5L1c5PVawHfoJvtTx8SDqR8xg6DREoTA1crxQVtAOUo98POuSjCijgAz5uRbmRpsyIaZ-0za2gjRSnFrAFN80GK/s1600-h/castaway_youngmaniacs.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2qg29XrXB2n3GD1ADt4Q8gsqYhyTH2fsb8CEza_RvH_td-MT_4TUu5L1c5PVawHfoJvtTx8SDqR8xg6DREoTA1crxQVtAOUo98POuSjCijgAz5uRbmRpsyIaZ-0za2gjRSnFrAFN80GK/s320/castaway_youngmaniacs.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284941513858628674" border="0" /></a><br />I previously <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/04/mi-sex-where-do-they-go.html">posted</a> a 1984 LP, "Where Do They Go," by New Zealand new wave act Mi-Sex, which was the band's final album and represented a shift from quirky synth pop to more straightforward new wave pop. One of the album's strongest tracks, "Castaway," was actually a single two years prior.<br /><br />The song is one of the catchiest new wave tunes you'll never hear on flashback radio, and one that belongs on any list of the best 80s songs the world forgot (or maybe never knew in the first place). The 1982 single version is quite different from the version that appeared on "Where Do They Go," offering a much less polished take of what would eventually become the album cut.<br /><br />The B side, "Young Maniacs," is an album track taken from the 1981 LP "Shanghaied."<br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?41mfbj3gyth"><br />Mi-Sex - "Castaway" / "Young Maniacs" (7" Single, 1982)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - "Castaway"<br />2 - "Young Maniacs"Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-36659487831494228342008-12-28T13:32:00.007-06:002008-12-28T14:15:59.539-06:00CD Fit for Vinyl: KAI REINER - Self-Titled LP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yID446XkHu43tBeSU6pYb_RWCE_49qbiBudHssbX5UYjCfsB0AQIQ8wO5_tWx0rin8Iec_Gz0w5g8l1eYuRmgZ1YW_nuh0VgdMaef-kT5eVOTD9dcqomoI_jis-LhMQ-pZMGTbY_MbmV/s1600-h/kaireiner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yID446XkHu43tBeSU6pYb_RWCE_49qbiBudHssbX5UYjCfsB0AQIQ8wO5_tWx0rin8Iec_Gz0w5g8l1eYuRmgZ1YW_nuh0VgdMaef-kT5eVOTD9dcqomoI_jis-LhMQ-pZMGTbY_MbmV/s320/kaireiner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284935605077445362" border="0" /></a><br />In his online biography, Hamburg's <a href="http://www.kaireiner.com/pages/sunset_indexpag.html">Kai <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Reiner</span></span></a> says that being dragged to a Brian Wilson concert against his will just a couple years ago changed his life and inspired him to play pop music. It's a bit hard to believe his conversion was so instant and recent, as his 2008 debut, self-titled LP sounds more like the work of someone who has been lovingly listening to power pop music for years.<br /><br />From the opening chords of track number one, "Cold Summer," it's obvious that this record is tailor made to appeal to any power pop enthusiast. The hooks are plentiful, the melodies pristine and the delivery sincere. As the record progresses it doesn't let down, with "Only We Both Know," "Hey K," "I Don't Want Your Crown" and "It's Over" all boasting instantly memorable melodies and spoonfuls of pop sweetness. Closing track "Shine" is another highlight, featuring an excellent chugging beat, an addictive guitar riff and contemplative lyrics. Most of the material is upbeat yet bittersweet, a mood made more pronounced by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Reiner's</span></span> earnest, almost deadpan vocal delivery. Musically, many of the songs bring to mind the power pop classic "Black Vinyl Shoes" by Shoes, with the material's fuzzy guitars and straightforward, unassuming vibe.<br /><br />If you're into pop music with 60s-inspired melodies, loads of hooks and jangly guitars, this one is definitely worth a listen. Besides, any musician that ends his bio with, "Kai has become a much friendlier person now that he plays Pop music. Henry is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kais</span></span> dog. Henry is a nuisance. He has to be taken for a walk twice a day. If not, he will take it out on the furniture," surely deserves plenty of fans.<br /><br />You can say hello to Kai on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/kaireinermusic"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">MySpace</span></span></a> and pick up the CD on <a href="http://cdbaby.com/cd/kaireiner">CD Baby</a>.<br /><br />For a taste, here's the video to "Cold Summer."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6b0rthlTLE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r6b0rthlTLE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-73164150439882578922008-11-03T11:08:00.005-06:002008-11-03T11:47:31.873-06:00MO-DETTES - 'The Story So Far' to be reissued<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMQxt3oh3DJuRIP7eumEVO30HKGUIEIaqcQ5-9GwJoRnf-kY9lHCdoojWfqMyFsoQL2GR4TgySzNk6_fURczvDGwq0pLqMUoLVNYxuI8R-o8zRdWEgq2PiAlURu0TRUOri02umCT4sjH_/s1600-h/modettes+storysofar.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMQxt3oh3DJuRIP7eumEVO30HKGUIEIaqcQ5-9GwJoRnf-kY9lHCdoojWfqMyFsoQL2GR4TgySzNk6_fURczvDGwq0pLqMUoLVNYxuI8R-o8zRdWEgq2PiAlURu0TRUOri02umCT4sjH_/s320/modettes+storysofar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264484865124204018" border="0" /></a><br />London's <a href="http://www.cherryred.co.uk/">Cherry Red Records</a> - which has become one of the premier labels for bringing obscure old new wave releases to CD - will reissue the lone album by The Mo-Dettes, 1981's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Story So Far</span>, on November 27. You can order it <a href="http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/artists/modettes.htm">here</a>.<br /><br />Although the album has long been a cult favorite among fans of both new wave and early punk, up until now it has never been released in any format other than vinyl.<br /><br />At times, the <span style="font-style: italic;">The Story So Far</span> found the band sounding like a darker, edgier version of The Go-Go's, with fiery, melodic pop-punk tracks such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Foolish Girl</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Satisfy</span>, and the classic single <span style="font-style: italic;">White Mice</span>. Other tracks bring to mind The Raincoats and The Slits.<br /><br />Fans who own a vinyl copy will want to pick up the re-release for the inclusion of a booklet with commentary by band members Kate Corris and June Miles-Kingston as well as five bonus tracks, including their final single, the power pop confection <span style="font-style: italic;">Tonight</span>.<br /><br />The track listing for the CD is as follows:<br /><br /><i>Fandango / Satisfy / Dark Park Creeping / The Kray Twins / Paint It Black / White Mouse Disco / Bedtime Stories./ Masochistic Opposite / Foolish Girl / Norman (He’s No Rebel) / Sparrow / Milord / Bonus Tracks- Bitta Truth / Two Can Play / Tonight / Waltz In Blue Mirror / White Mice</i>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-43069589850524875792008-10-31T14:08:00.012-05:002008-10-31T21:57:38.304-05:00DAVID WERNER - Self-Titled LP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhtpit73B6la6gOY_gh1sSqBvbhyEihenammrFDmlWHhCDbmDI4AFD0-KIxuvrLoKfqSz6d3HUoMPVgX07YCzXVzO-1UAJByXAbotKkRW4kbUzhsbWzushTgz7Vxl1qPKosQCYnWMlt3t/s1600-h/davidwerner.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhtpit73B6la6gOY_gh1sSqBvbhyEihenammrFDmlWHhCDbmDI4AFD0-KIxuvrLoKfqSz6d3HUoMPVgX07YCzXVzO-1UAJByXAbotKkRW4kbUzhsbWzushTgz7Vxl1qPKosQCYnWMlt3t/s320/davidwerner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263397186448647602" border="0" /></a><br />I have seen David Werner remembered online for his contributions to 70s glam rock in the style of early David Bowie, but his third and final LP (the only one I have heard), 1979's self-titled release, sounds much more power pop than glam. That said, it's the harder-edged side of power pop with the guitars meaty, loud and up front.<br /><br />There's plenty to rock out to here, but the album's most memorable moments actually come when it tries to branch out a bit. For example, <span style="font-style: italic;">Melanie Cries</span> is a very appealing foray into 70s soft pop (it works much better than it sounds) and <span style="font-style: italic;">High Class Blues</span> successfully attempts Stonesy blues rock.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQCtQG4jeKnvPRp-68AVOGP248ebIXUDAiYOwG2YIrQCJYGkqIQrZgMoR7y_JLTjf1Z-vHKCFitAUjrbEq5-LIWOzuzSiehf6I21CvyEG7Tqu3NO3zQ0vxSTMs9bf4CTtazfEv9be6ygW/s1600-h/davidwernerinsert.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 196px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQCtQG4jeKnvPRp-68AVOGP248ebIXUDAiYOwG2YIrQCJYGkqIQrZgMoR7y_JLTjf1Z-vHKCFitAUjrbEq5-LIWOzuzSiehf6I21CvyEG7Tqu3NO3zQ0vxSTMs9bf4CTtazfEv9be6ygW/s200/davidwernerinsert.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263461589749190194" border="0" /></a><br />It's not surprising that this album didn't reach the masses as nothing really stands out as a surefire single, but it's certainly a worthwhile listen for any fan of late 70s power pop.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ectulng01j1">David Werner - Self-titled LP, 1979</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Can't Imagine</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">What's Right</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">What Do You Need to Love</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Melanie Cries</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Eye to Eye</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Hold on Tight</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Every New Romance</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Too Late to Try</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">High Class Blues</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">She Sent Me Away</span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-71333560302617270792008-10-26T14:06:00.006-05:002008-10-31T18:22:18.421-05:00THE HEADBOYS - Self-Titled LP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd85nrqjcyizuEzc5TXqYQjbYA8ItwF0B7Phux9fK2uBeX_yRMcMMoE07D0tmg1tTRUvjqyA67LaHt1-j2ksb38SqGEv3OHCUSzX_UWH-QMEvyNb1MudDZx1we-rlT8CxjEraVsCQcgmbg/s1600-h/headboys_front.JPG"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd85nrqjcyizuEzc5TXqYQjbYA8ItwF0B7Phux9fK2uBeX_yRMcMMoE07D0tmg1tTRUvjqyA67LaHt1-j2ksb38SqGEv3OHCUSzX_UWH-QMEvyNb1MudDZx1we-rlT8CxjEraVsCQcgmbg/s320/headboys_front.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261547709177457778" border="0" /></a><br />Here's another cool, random record store find - The Headboys.<br /><br />The Headboys were a Scottish power pop act that scored minor chart success in 1979 with their excellent single, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shape of Things to Come</span>. The song was the first track on their debut and only LP, this self-titled release from the same year.<br /><br />As a result of the success of the single, the band planned a U.S. tour and second LP, neither of which came to fruition.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllEz_k2WzAIrHFRnWV8NRZz5imquwMj56r72zAhwSv1QA5XAatxhIzYDVNDz_sSMKYOAh04fmS2pUIncKgzjUHgmpU7iI_mE7Bdbx6l6xGySKzQ4Wv3ugDEOa2ehuIO0EQVS8Q3qGy9-h/s1600-h/headboys_back.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllEz_k2WzAIrHFRnWV8NRZz5imquwMj56r72zAhwSv1QA5XAatxhIzYDVNDz_sSMKYOAh04fmS2pUIncKgzjUHgmpU7iI_mE7Bdbx6l6xGySKzQ4Wv3ugDEOa2ehuIO0EQVS8Q3qGy9-h/s200/headboys_back.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261547854019320098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While nothing on the record is quite as good as <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shape of Things to Come</span>, there's plenty of other worthwhile tracks here such as the incredibly fun <span style="font-style: italic;">My Favourite D.J.</span>, the driving <span style="font-style: italic;">Changing With the Times</span> and the delicate ballad <span style="font-style: italic;">Silver Lining</span>.<br /><br />Definitely worth a listen for any fan of late-70s power pop!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?fi9ejmmgd3e">The Headboys - Self-Titled LP, 1979</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Shape of Things to Come</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Stepping Stones</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">My Favourite D.J.</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Kickin the Kans</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Changing With the Times</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Silver Lining</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Experiments</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Schoolgirls</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Gonna Do It Like This</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Breakout</span><br />11 - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Ripper</span><br />12 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Take It All Down<br /></span><br />Also, check out this video of the band performing<span style="font-style: italic;"> The Shape of Things to Come </span>on Dutch TV in 1980<span style="font-style: italic;">:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ulYAE_GgnU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ulYAE_GgnU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /></span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-37292317993845623392008-10-07T19:45:00.005-05:002008-10-07T21:32:19.338-05:00TOM DICKIE AND THE DESIRES - Competition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUJzKxli1vULkZ7fJzSX1POJKnqnOO9KG8Dgi7Q0yS4SpAJkINHxeDKelJDnR-qeutmfZvfBqETjj3TUe7pySZiImE92aTI3gTXXO1m1H6neqSnLslg_5IcIp6s0-F2Ii2FGy53wI9d0X/s1600-h/tomdickie_competition.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAUJzKxli1vULkZ7fJzSX1POJKnqnOO9KG8Dgi7Q0yS4SpAJkINHxeDKelJDnR-qeutmfZvfBqETjj3TUe7pySZiImE92aTI3gTXXO1m1H6neqSnLslg_5IcIp6s0-F2Ii2FGy53wI9d0X/s320/tomdickie_competition.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254580768000247506" border="0" /></a><br />A few months ago I posted <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/05/tom-dickie-and-desires-eleventh-hour.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Eleventh Hour</span></a> by Tom Dickie and the Desires, a New York City power pop band from the early 80s. That album was the band's second and final LP, released in 1982. The year before they debuted with <span style="font-style: italic;">Competition</span>.<br /><br />While <span style="font-style: italic;">The Eleventh Hour</span> dabbled in dancey new wave to flesh out its power pop base, <span style="font-style: italic;">Competition</span> was more straightforward, filled with full on, high energy rock sing-alongs in the likes of <span style="font-style: italic;">Downtown Talk, You've Lost</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Burnin' Up</span>. Other highlights include the title track, a catchy carnivalesque ditty, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Count on You</span>, a melodic pop tune reminiscent of The Cars.<br /><br />While nothing here is groundbreaking, it's all pretty enjoyable, well-performed and ripe for discovery.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?3umdpcjynnb">Tom Dickie and the Desires - <span style="font-style: italic;">Competition</span> (LP, 1981)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Downtown Talk</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Competition</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">House of Mirrors</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Inside You're Someone Else</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">On the Other Side</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">You've Lost</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Count on You</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Everybody Knows</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting, Waiting</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Burnin' Up</span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-81752824921865415702008-09-15T22:07:00.006-05:002008-09-15T22:21:57.484-05:00BREAKFAST IN BED - Sorry Babe / Going Home (7" Single)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq1pWHgEUVKeVtaDgtsNx6BLstDMegNwHS6fmcC37IPm-t4isRlwubdqJHnroi0e-Sa4thNQzTuUQIknhAEWAy8ajyQvoreODSXjOJUC0sMxwNmXJyxxyfFEhWEdYnZn2KAol6aSSTeWB/s1600-h/breakfastinbed_b.JPG"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq1pWHgEUVKeVtaDgtsNx6BLstDMegNwHS6fmcC37IPm-t4isRlwubdqJHnroi0e-Sa4thNQzTuUQIknhAEWAy8ajyQvoreODSXjOJUC0sMxwNmXJyxxyfFEhWEdYnZn2KAol6aSSTeWB/s320/breakfastinbed_b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246453809960060658" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a cool little single I know next to nothing about.<br /><br />What I do know is that Breakfast in Bed were an Australian band and that they released this single,<span style="font-style: italic;"> Sorry Babe</span> backed with <span style="font-style: italic;">Going Home </span>in 1983 on Jonathon Apple Productions. I don't know if they released anything else.<br /><br />The style is female-fronted power pop in the vein of other Aussie acts from around the same time such as <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/02/flaming-hands-aussie-new-wave-gem-3.html">Flaming Hands</a> and <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/2008/01/dugites-aussie-new-wave-treasure-2.html">The Dugites</a>. For a less obscure reference, it sounds kind of like Blondie.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?1mqn34fn4cw">Breakfast in Bed - Sorry Babe / Going Home (7" Single, 1983)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Sorry Babe</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Going Home<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYkK8jPnUlqWpWXhMGqw8CaktaMTqmwJWb2SruiTUDsnehen8WZw6yJKeC8HjfXOJIwjvu9sx66zyd5_G9c4mlyZT5AgHPQAfj5nBwULc2mPN6uTbF51CDGL3hSEMWyYm7NDEVErkfcHN/s1600-h/breakfastinbed_a.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYkK8jPnUlqWpWXhMGqw8CaktaMTqmwJWb2SruiTUDsnehen8WZw6yJKeC8HjfXOJIwjvu9sx66zyd5_G9c4mlyZT5AgHPQAfj5nBwULc2mPN6uTbF51CDGL3hSEMWyYm7NDEVErkfcHN/s320/breakfastinbed_a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246453621326201362" border="0" /></a>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-13815551056375374402008-09-08T19:18:00.010-05:002008-09-08T19:57:36.645-05:00FAILSAFE - Bravados, A Fistful of Failsafe & Suicide Bridge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61IcT2ulOvUad3ccbHG7TBWZuo3pn2fmINmgDbFgL6sqDV3R226UWss_uoI8OclduNxRh_yqW17PXhyphenhyphenZA5XLfhMym5ECSPZnN06rtwBPS2PUiTrAmPu9D3FsZzWSZIUhAtoXu5CTliUfk/s1600-h/Fistful+front.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61IcT2ulOvUad3ccbHG7TBWZuo3pn2fmINmgDbFgL6sqDV3R226UWss_uoI8OclduNxRh_yqW17PXhyphenhyphenZA5XLfhMym5ECSPZnN06rtwBPS2PUiTrAmPu9D3FsZzWSZIUhAtoXu5CTliUfk/s320/Fistful+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243818254927790722" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">First off, a huge thanks to Tim Ayres for contacting me about this very obscure new wave band and very kindly providing the following biographica</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">l information and vinyl rips. Nice work, Tim!</span><br /><br />Failsafe was a band from the early '80s in Los Angeles which had three releases on their Paris Records label; <span style="font-style: italic;">Bravados</span> (1981), <span style="font-style: italic;">A Fistful of Failsafe</span> (no year listed) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Suicide Bridge</span> (1984), all hard to find today. Failsafe was a mature, understated new wave band playing guitar-based songs with some innovative keyboard effects, vocal harmonies and often interesting musical ideas.<br /><br />The band included:<br /><br />Tim Mockler (12 string, lead vocals)<br />Tom Lloyd (bass, lead vocal)<br />Tod Polidori (drums, vocals)<br />Melanie (keyboard, vocals on <span style="font-style: italic;">Suicide Bridge</span> album)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91qaea6bn-J_K0ZfUun11ftRdQXQLkuGOTFcd0zOdDBcHJY4-PID5oqZuqyMWr-mOffs794ruxXXw8OpKjMpozWZN2Blfm9MkXhZZp1-WJhP5FPPqj5VSvl65uJlFMdSm5M8yUXXeyfy5/s1600-h/Bravados_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh91qaea6bn-J_K0ZfUun11ftRdQXQLkuGOTFcd0zOdDBcHJY4-PID5oqZuqyMWr-mOffs794ruxXXw8OpKjMpozWZN2Blfm9MkXhZZp1-WJhP5FPPqj5VSvl65uJlFMdSm5M8yUXXeyfy5/s200/Bravados_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243817874950748274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bravados</span>, the debut LP, includes a wide variety of rather unconventional new wave songs including a cover of the movie theme <span style="font-style: italic;">In Like Flynt</span>.<br /><br />The band followed the release with <span style="font-style: italic;">A Fistful of Failsafe</span>, a 5-song EP with a fuller production sound and an elaborate cover design imitating Spaghetti Western soundtracks (so much so that it it has mistakenly been listed around the Web as a soundtrack album). It featured a new wave style cover of <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey Joe</span>, a popular song dating back to the '60s performed by various artists (the most fam<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8TYtu1krLKenb0-STjlFoGgzOThnL43rkU1_tA3QseaNf9upMYzXo-Shxkmz8Dp5OrThcnWWs_UPezIeBdFDFcTZFLnIQWTNnD9g6w5aKxoFZ96_N8LZWbHwmmqtHSpuwEWN9obD_n7g/s1600-h/Fistful+back.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8TYtu1krLKenb0-STjlFoGgzOThnL43rkU1_tA3QseaNf9upMYzXo-Shxkmz8Dp5OrThcnWWs_UPezIeBdFDFcTZFLnIQWTNnD9g6w5aKxoFZ96_N8LZWbHwmmqtHSpuwEWN9obD_n7g/s200/Fistful+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243818399620101986" border="0" /></a>ous version is a 1966 recording by The Jimi Hendrix Experience). The EP also includes a remake of Failsafe's own <span style="font-style: italic;">Monica</span>, which originally appeared on <span style="font-style: italic;">Bravad</span><span style="font-style: italic;">os.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Suicide Bridge</span>, the band's second and final LP, took the subtle guitar effects a bit further and flirted with science fiction themes.<br /><br /><br />Guitarist Tim Mockler went on to play with <a href="http://cavisualdesign.com/losangelesband/index.html">Los Angeles Band</a>, which recorded a CD of famous rock songs translated into Spanish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEa7llMXKZ3Gwj1Y-4zmp-oM9UrlB63LIcT7olCIZSeTDgytfldGmAo9d1qS_n1tNIDGcbL_8c3oS0WQWKNWndnExyflnOgK1BABcu8LVkoDg76XyMXfksKER4FVty2uTAgf3Vp4Gv-5K7/s1600-h/Suicide+Bridge_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEa7llMXKZ3Gwj1Y-4zmp-oM9UrlB63LIcT7olCIZSeTDgytfldGmAo9d1qS_n1tNIDGcbL_8c3oS0WQWKNWndnExyflnOgK1BABcu8LVkoDg76XyMXfksKER4FVty2uTAgf3Vp4Gv-5K7/s320/Suicide+Bridge_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243818715523017490" border="0" /></a><br />Check out all three releases at the links below. Tim, thanks again for your efforts in pulling everything together!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?wm1xbygdjyg">Failsafe - <span style="font-style: italic;">Bravados</span> (LP, 1981) </a> <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">You Finally Got It</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Jump Bop</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Monica</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Christine</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Flynt</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Give Me All Your Love</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Rock and I'll Love You</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Dust on the Mirror</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Maria</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">You Live Your Life</span><br />11 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Surfing Guam</span><br />12 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Blood and Sand</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?nsm49yijhdx">Failsafe - <span style="font-style: italic;">A Fistful of Failsafe</span> (EP, no year listed)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Hey Joe (Main Title) </span> <br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Is It You?</span> <br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Monica</span> <br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Talk Back </span> <br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Suzie Wong (Love Theme) </span> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?dj1mdn9tlme">Failsafe - <span style="font-style: italic;">Suicide Bridge</span> (1984)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Is This the Way It's Done?</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">1943 (in Germany)</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Shout</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">I Can Find My Own Way</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Evacuation of Star Station 7</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Sixteen Years Ago</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Rebel Saint / Luv, Luv</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Big Town / Airport</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">AO</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Hullabaloo </span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-46142263553951264382008-08-25T14:17:00.004-05:002008-08-25T14:37:32.731-05:00'TIL TUESDAY - A Few Rare VideosFrom the new wave-funk fusion of their debut LP, <span style="font-style: italic;">Voices Carry</span>, to the highly sophisticated pop of follow-up albums <span style="font-style: italic;">Welcome Home</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Everything's Different Now</span>, 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.<br /><br />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, <span style="font-style: italic;">Just Like Me</span>, is an amazing keyboard-driven tune with a perfect melody that should have made it to an album. <span style="font-style: italic;">Enough to Save You</span> is more thoughtful pop boasting some really nice guitar work, while <span style="font-style: italic;">Boy</span> has the funk-inspired sound that ran throughout the <span style="font-style: italic;">Voices Carry</span> album. Check out all three videos below. The look is unquestionably 80s, but the sound is timeless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Just Like Me<br /><br /></span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/otw2NV4BDBM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/otw2NV4BDBM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Enough to Save You<br /><br /></span><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UegRj0SJuqo&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UegRj0SJuqo&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Boy<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sn4ApLkKo-0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sn4ApLkKo-0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-66205830387721060742008-08-25T12:07:00.006-05:002008-08-25T14:16:00.057-05:00THE CRYERS - Self-Titled Debut<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBWFqWayEn1LsA1fCK19Tc548fxitqs9hFMFapq4L7cFJr30MEmD1vDuk7D_4h6MdXLFZ2a-vC4A-5kmOUrTjSYmdRSagcMMox4Er_ZfNe4KyZNjTOcA-4wPzehuN_G0JDOuzYJVo-1Q/s1600-h/cryers.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRBWFqWayEn1LsA1fCK19Tc548fxitqs9hFMFapq4L7cFJr30MEmD1vDuk7D_4h6MdXLFZ2a-vC4A-5kmOUrTjSYmdRSagcMMox4Er_ZfNe4KyZNjTOcA-4wPzehuN_G0JDOuzYJVo-1Q/s320/cryers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238534343573799122" border="0" /></a><br />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, <span style="font-style: italic;">Shake It Up (Ain't It Time?), </span>instantly caught my attention as a lost power pop classic.<br /><br />A recent Google search finally revealed the band's entire self-titled debut LP from 1978, thanks to <a href="http://powerpopoverdose.blogspot.com/">Power Pop Overdose</a>. The album is enjoyable throughout with songs in the vein of the Raspberries and Shoes, and includes at least one other lost classic in <span style="font-style: italic;">(It's Gonna be a) Heartbreaker</span>.<br /><br />Check it out <a href="http://powerpopoverdose.blogspot.com/2008/05/cryers-cryers-1978.html">here</a> at Power Pop Overdose. Also, check out the <a href="http://www.lowryhamner.com/">site</a> of lead singer Lowry Hamner, who is still making music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Shake It Up (Ain't It Time)</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">World's on Fire</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">I'll Steal Away</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Just a Little Rain</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">All Over You</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">(It's Gonna be a) Heartbreaker</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Live to be Free</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, I Get High</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Diamond Ladies</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm on Fire</span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-9095424667757931282008-08-09T22:41:00.005-05:002008-08-09T23:12:50.738-05:00THE TOURISTS - Luminous Basement<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Is95Bb24J60RozqExX2B9hZnkAwStCiNOHIOqyz-zBYp7aeA9N7IXEZYAxV6CYalcmMAT2z5v7HNwLOycJunL3hxqX9EBXZ7cftG8N9YA0NRyakMWRkVvH6ZDmgK6qeDaEfoi910wwI-/s1600-h/touristsluminous.jpg"><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Is95Bb24J60RozqExX2B9hZnkAwStCiNOHIOqyz-zBYp7aeA9N7IXEZYAxV6CYalcmMAT2z5v7HNwLOycJunL3hxqX9EBXZ7cftG8N9YA0NRyakMWRkVvH6ZDmgK6qeDaEfoi910wwI-/s320/touristsluminous.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232736742943572130" border="0" /></a><br />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.<br /><br />By request, here is the band's third and final LP, <span style="font-style: italic;">Luminous Basement</span>. It didn't score any significant British chart success as singles (<span style="font-style: italic;">I Only Want to Be With You</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">So Good to Be Back Home Again</span>) from previous albums had, but it remains a strong power pop record with plenty of memorable, energetic tunes such as <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Say I Told You So</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">So You Want to Go Away Now</span>.<br /><br />After the release of this album The Tourists fizzled out as Lennox and Stuart broke off to release the experimental <span style="font-style: italic;">In the Garden</span>, their debut record as Eurythmics. The rest is history, and sadly The Tourists have remained unheard by even many fans of the duo.<br /><a href="http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8FEP94GP"><br />The Tourists - <span style="font-style: italic;">Luminous Basement</span> (LP, 1980)</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Track listing:</span><br />1 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Talk to Me</span><br />2 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Walls and Foundations</span><br />3 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Week Days</span><br />4 - <span style="font-style: italic;">So You Want to Go Away Now</span><br />5 - <span style="font-style: italic;">I'm Going to Change My Mind</span><br />6 - <span style="font-style: italic;">One Step Nearer the Edge</span><br />7 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Say I Told You So</span><br />8 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Angels and Demons</span><br />9 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Time Drags So Slow</span><br />10 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Let's Take a Walk</span><br />11 - <span style="font-style: italic;">From the Middle Room</span><br />12 - <span style="font-style: italic;">Round Round Blues</span>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-71708607192819223002008-07-21T11:19:00.004-05:002008-07-21T11:39:25.051-05:00Unreleased D-DAY Material to be UnearthedAccording to the Web <a href="http://www.davidfore.com/">site</a> of David Fore, the former drummer of Texas-based new wave act <a href="http://vinylgoldmine.blogspot.com/search/label/D-Day">D-Day</a>, there is a CD of the band's previously unreleased material on the way!<br /><br />Here's the excerpt from his site:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"'The Lost Studio Sessions' CD is in the final stages of production. It features the tunes we wrote while waiting for our record to be released by A+M."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span>For those who don't remember, D-Day is most known for the delightfully trashy new wave gem<span style="font-style: italic;"> Too Young to Date, </span>which controversially hit<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>#1 on "Rodney on the Rock" on L.A.'s famous KROQ station upon its release. The band followed it up with just one other single and an LP that are both fantastic, so it will be great to hear what else they had up their sleeves that never saw the light of day.<br /><br />So far there are no details on specific content or exactly when and how the collection will be released. For now, have a listen to the classic <span style="font-style: italic;">Too Young to Date</span> below.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4jORrvPSGWc&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4jORrvPSGWc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7656697489871248701.post-34008352491982918192008-07-21T10:35:00.004-05:002008-07-21T10:47:49.656-05:00Post Your Requests HereSome of you have requested or recommended bands and albums you'd like to see here. I've lost track of most of the suggestions and have given up on sifting through all the old comments, so feel free to repost them in the comments to this entry.<br /><br />Chances are I won't have what you're looking for, but I'm always up for the challenge of hunting down excellent, obscure and forgotten new wave/power pop stuff.Frank Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11247639178770405447noreply@blogger.com18